Spain’s best holiday destinations to visit in 2023

With over 8,000km of coastline and dozens of sprawling cities and scenic towns, Spain has long been a favourite destination for Brits looking for everything from sunshine and warmer temperatures to medieval architecture and Mediterranean cuisine.

With 48 Unesco World Heritage Sites (the third most in the world), world famous festivals and the Guinness World Record for the highest number of Blue Flag beaches in the world, Spain is an attractive proposition for holidaymakers the world over.

The Iberian country welcomed over 100 million international visitors in 2022; Brits made up over 15 million of these.

Beach resorts such as Benidorm, Mallorca and Malaga have long been sun-seeker favourites, although cities such as Seville are becoming increasingly popular destinations.

We’ve rounded up some of the country’s best holiday destinations along with all the details you need to plan the perfect Spanish getaway.

Madrid

While Spain’s capital is sometimes overlooked by tourists in search of a weekend break, it possesses much of the same attraction that has made other Spanish cities so popular.

With the almost mile-long shopping street – Gran Via – at its centre, visitors can branch out from here to visit either of its most famous plazas (Puerta del Sol or the 16th century Plaza Mayor), the Royal Palace or the impressive Retiro Park. Major galleries such as the Reina Sofia and the Prado house the works of artists including Picasso and Goya, while foodies may want to head to the Mercado de San Miguel (a glass-fronted indoor food market) or the Sobrino de Botín restaurant (listed by Guinness World Records as the oldest restaurant in the world in continuous operation).

Outside of the centre, some of the city’s other districts are deserving of an afternoon spent sipping coffees or window shopping. Chueca and La Latina are best for the former (as well as evening drinks), while Malasaña provides independent shops and cafés that are perfect for a slow afternoon.

Best time to go for good weather

For bearable temperatures and less rain, visit in April, May or September, where temperatures average around 19C, 24C and 27C respectively. While you may see some rain during these times, it is far less frequent (or heavy) than in the UK.

Best time to go for cheap prices

The cheapest time to visit is between September and…