Spain

Barcelona

A city break in Barcelona offers a feast for lovers of both old and new architecture. Few worldwide city break destinations have combined historic treasures and modernism so brilliantly. City breaks in Barcelona offer exceptional variety, with exciting attractions for families, romantic dining, fashionable boutiques, traditional bars and some of the classiest night-life in Spain. Spend a morning exploring the historic gems of Gaudi’s extraordinary ceramic creations in Parc Güell or the modernist architectural gems in Eixample, or simply take a stroll down the re-developed harbour area before spending the evening exploring fashionable bars and nightclubs in beautiful neighbourhoods like Gràcia, the Born, La Ribera and El Raval that are full of character. There's so much to see and explore, from superb art galleries, the dancing, Olympic fountains, the nearby Universal theme park - Port Aventura, the stunning little designer boutiques and Las Ramblas (a street that bursts with music and colour from the buskers and street artistes).

Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain and one of the most famous tourist destinations in the whole of Europe. Rich with Art and traditions, the historic city offers a Mediterranean climate with temperatures varying between 19-24 degrees during the winter months and around 24-29 in the summer.

Costa Almeria

Sunny and mild, Almeria lies southeast of the Iberian Peninsula on the Mediterranean Sea and still bears the archaeological evidence of its many ancient cultures, from the Tartessos and Phoenicians to the Romans and Visigoths. The Costa Almeria is full of natural beauty but most visitors flock to the lively capital city of Almeria which boasts some stunning sights to see such as picturesque squares, colourful cafes, a ferry port and marina. The lovely beaches, marinas, hotels and sports centres provide plenty to please holidaymakers in the resort towns of Mojacar to the east, and Aguadulce, Roquetas de Mar and Almerimar to the west of the city. The region has imbibed and retained a flavour from Africa, just a short distance away across the Mediterranean.

The Costa Almeria is a region of relatively unspoilt coastline located in the Almeria province of the south-eastern region of Andalucia. The Costa Almeria stretches for about 214 kilometres from Villaricos in the north to Adra in the south. The coast to the north of the Costa Almeria is called the Costa Calida (within the region of Murcia), the coastline to the south is known as the Costa Tropical and even further south is the Costa del Sol. With a charming natural park in Cabo de Gata, historic little fishing towns in Garrucha and Villaricos, or even just a stroll down one of the clean beaches that have earned the coveted blue flag, there is plently to do and see in Almeria.

Costa Brava
 

One of the region’s most popular resorts, Lloret de Mar, boasts an enticing, crescent-shaped beach along with superb nightlife. Beyond the large resorts the coastline is an enchanting mixture of secluded coves nestled amongst jagged, pine-clad rocks and extensive sandy beaches. The Costa Brava is also full of rich artistic heritage. In Figueres holidaymakers can visit the Theatre-Museum Dalí, the largest surrealistic object in the world, which houses a large collection of some of Dali’s most important works. Thanks to its location between the south of France and north of Barcelona, the Costa Brava is a warm area to visit, with warm weather reaching around 82 degrees Fahrenheit (29 degrees Celsius).

Families and couples will love the beautiful village of Tossa Del Mar. It is home to two gorgeous sand and shingle beaches and its network of narrow cobbled streets and stunning mountainous backdrop add a drop of charm to your summer holiday. With so much to see and explore, from looking over the still waters of the Banyoles lake in Catalonia, brushing up on your history at the Dali museum, rummaging through the beautiful lush botanical gardens of Cap Roig to visiting the historical ruins, there is something for everyone in the Costa Brava.
 

Costa Blanca

 

Arguably the most famous coast in Spain, the Costa Blanca draws millions of tourists each year. Lying on the eastern coast, the White coast is one of those resorts where everyone can find their place under the sun as well as sophisticated towns where life goes on 25 hours a day and quaint little villages.

Its clear blue waters and miles of white sandy beaches are certainly a major attraction. Beautiful mountains parallel to the sea are on the north coast and here you can also marvel at the Moorish villages where olive trees and hidden coves abound. To the south is where you will find the beaches with scattered palm trees, dazzling, turquoise sea and rows of cafes and restaurants.

Within the mountainous interior are a series of fascinating medieval towns and fortified villages which have been largely unaffected by modernism and tourism. Inland from the beaches, Costa Blanca has one of Spain's most fertile areas. The region is renowned for its citrus trees supplied all over the world.

Costa del Sol

The Costa Del Sol boasts a beautiful beach, 160-kilometre-long Mediterranean coast and a mild climate due to the coastal strip’s protection from winds, all of which have made Costa del Sol one of the world’s top tourist destinations. Situated right on the coast of the south of Spain Costa Del Sol has an electric night-life as well as routes and excursions for families. 2km inland from the Benalmadena Costa you'll find the biggest amusement park on the Costa del Sol, the Tivoli World Amusement Park; perfect for a family day out. It is located in Arroyo da le Miel and can be reached by the train which runs from Malaga to Fuengirola or by bus from most resorts along the coast. There are also numerous natural parks for tourists to visit and beaches to stroll down. The coast is lined with restaurants and bars for entertainment in the evenings.

The climate on the Costa del Sol is one of the best to be found in southern Europe with little rain fall in the winter and hot sunny weather throughout the summer. Generally the temperature will not fall much below 15 degrees in the winter and will reach highs of over 38 degrees in the summer.

Costa Dorada

Situated along the coast of Catalonia and to the south of Barcelona, the Costa Dorada is described as the golden coast with stretches of gold, flat, sandy beaches and lively towns. There are quaint, little towns scattered inland, giving holidaymakers plenty to explore; from the rustic olive groves and almond trees to the calm, shallow waters of the beaches that the area has to offer. The Costa Dorada is a peaceful and romatic part of Spain and is the place to visit if your looking for natural and unspoiled Spain.

Do not miss exploring the towns of Reus, Valls, Montblanc and Tortosa, as well as the great medieval monasteries: Poble, Santes Creus and Scala Dei. Also not to be missed are the pretty landscapes of Prades and Siurana, not to mention the rugged mountain ranges brimming with big game reserves (Tivissa, Cardo and Ports de Tortosa).

The picturesque coast of Dorada is teaming with beaches, charming villages and intriguing history and culture. Here you can enjoy an exciting nightlife, stunning views and the best of rural Spain.

Granada
 

Granada, situated inland to the South-West of Almeria, is famous for the stunning Alhambra palace. Small tip-due to the Alhambra's popularity it's advisable to purchase all tickets in advance. The historical city has tiny streets to explore, excellant tapas restaurants and you can go on a tour to visit the Cathedral and Royal Chapel where the 'Reyes Catolicos' are buried. Enjoy the annual Granada International Festival of Music and Dance which takes place around June/July. Granada is full to the brim of astonishing architecture and history for everyone to enjoy but that's not all Granada has going for it; across the Darro River on the second hill is El Albaicín, the old Muslim casbah that, like the Alhambra, is special enough to have been proclaimed a World Heritage Site.

Among its cobbled medieval streets and crumbling churches, you'll find the Arab baths and the Archeological Museum, along with a myriad of little shops and bars, and fabulous panaoramic views from the Iglesia de San Nicolás.

Madrid

Spain's capital Madrid is famous for being a great nighttime city (its late bars and clubs attract people from all over) but this magical city also offers plenty to see and do during the day. Madrid has a lot of history and famous art work to offer and these can be seen in any of Madrid's museums that also operate tours on a daily basis. You can choose between a traditional sightseeing tour or tours with a particular historical, architectural or culinary slant. As well as a magical history to learn about, the city has a dynamic night-life with numerous clubs and bars to visit.

Visitors can get a unique view of Madrid aboard one of the open-top double-decker buses where you can see all of the city's highlights, from historical sites and monuments like the Royal Palace, Madrid's most beautiful building, to the modern Madrid with its skyscrapers and cosmopolitan architecture. The Madrid City Tour enables complete flexibility to hop on and off as many times as you like.
 

Madrid is situated directly in the centre of Spain and reaches temperatures of 29-32 degrees celcius in the summer months and around 15-26 in the winter months.

Murcia

Situated on the east of Spain, Murcia is about an hour from the nearest beach and is one of the smaller regions of Spain. The region of Murcia has miles of sandy beaches (known as the Costa Calida, 'Warm Coast' ), rugged mountains and lakes and rich vegetation such as oranges, lemons and even grapes and apricots. Murcia also claims one of the better climates in Europe with more than 320 days of sunshine per year.

The quaint little town offers spanish fiestas, wonderful food, stunning scenery, superb beaches and friendly local people that all combine perfectly to make a wonderful holiday.

The Mediterranean region of Murcia is not only known for its beautiful beaches but also for a great number of natural beauties. Its natural rustic charms are precisely what make Murcia an outstanding place to visit in Spain. With striking wide open spaces and historic buildings such as the Cathedral de Santa Maria, city hall and the Palacia Episcopal, there are lots of things to do and see in Murcia.

Valencia

Valencia is Spain's third-largest city with a population of about 740,000. It lies on the Mediterranean coast some 350km south of Barcelona with a climate that tends to be mild all year round and it is just a 15 minute tram journey from the center of town to any of the beaches. One of Spain's greatest festivals, Las Fallas, takes place every March when you can enjoy a colourful week long party of fireworks and bonfires every night. In Valencia you can enjoy a fantastic city break full of Art, history and culture but it also offers it's holidaymakers sun, sand and electric nightlife.

With mountains, spanish orange groves and picturesque ancient and modern architecture the city has much to offer. There are tours which travellers can take to explore and discover the city and surrounding region with a guide and this buzzing city has a magical Old quarter with an exciting town center. There's also a very modern area called Barrio del Carmen where some of the exciting nightlife is.

There are plenty of stunning sights to see in Valencia's old town, especially the Torres de Serranos that guard the entrance to the city, and the lively Mercado Central. While you're in Valencia, be sure to take in the Museo de Bellas Artes (Museum of Fine Arts) and be sure to view the stunning architecture of Valencia's Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias (City of Arts and Sciences). Outside of town, take a boat ride on the lagoon at the Parque Naturel de la Albufeira, visit the medieval fortress town of Morella, and make sure to try the region's famous Paella.