In majestic Madrid, the Prado gallery houses haunting El Greco paintings, and 20th-century art fills Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim in Bilbao. It’s easy to pack your Barcelona visit with Gaudi’s eccentric mosaics, while in vibrant Seville the royal palace Alcazar drips with Moorish influence. Snorkel in the warm Mediterranean waters off sandy beaches, threaded along the southern Spanish coast.
In Malaga, take a romantic walk to the craggy ramparts of Gibralfaro Castle for views of the sandy coastline. Wake up in your romantic restored townhouse hotel, to fall in love with hot, sensual Seville. Andalucian neighbour Granada's Moorish Alhambra is dotted with carved ceramics and Koranic inscriptions. For solace, it’s easy to lose yourselves exploring Barcelona’s medieval lanes in the Gothic Quarter.
It's a short walk from Barcelona’s centre to the urban beach for seaside fun or a thrilling cable-car ride to Montserrat’s hilltop monastery. Paddle at the golden sands of Costa Brava’s resorts, and spot dolphins from glass-bottomed catamarans off Malaga’s coast. Sporty families whoosh down the ski slopes at the Sierra Nevada rugged resort.
A Spanish night out starts, and ends, late. For local flavour, Madrid’s passionate flamenco tradition lives on in local tablaos restaurant-theatres. In Seville, explore the eclectic riverfront bars with hip locals or if you’re the clubbing type, head to busy resort Torremolinos for a frenetic dance party in laser-filled clubs.
Valencia is king of paella; try the traditional version made with snails and rabbit. Madrid is the place to dine on local chickpea and meat stew cocido madrileño accompanied by a rich Rioja wine. Watch the world go by in an outdoor café while dipping fried churros pastry into thick hot chocolate, or end your Barcelona evening sipping Catalonian cava in a cosy wood-panelled bar.
