The fact that Spain is a wonderful holiday destination is not news to anybody, with the wonders of its Mediterranean coastline, rugged islands and beach resorts explored by tourists the world over.
But while destinations like Barcelona and Mallorca have been welcoming large numbers of tourists for decades, many of the country’s main cities remain under-explored by tourists.
Even the capital flies under the radar for many, with plenty of potential visitors unaware of its wealth of artistic and cultural heritage, as well as beautiful hotels and world-famous restaurants. Alhough growing in popularity, the beautiful beaches and fantastic cuisine of cities like Valencia and San Sebastian are often passed over.
With the knowledge that a country so blessed with wonderful regions can be difficult to plan a visit to, we’ve rounded up a list of the best cities to visit in Spain, along with a recommendation on where to stay.
Barcelona
Barcelona benefits from year-round good weather, with temperatures around 14C even in January
(Getty Images)
It will not take long to realise that Barcelona is a unique city in Spain, characterised as much by Catalan influences as it is by Spanish, and also by a desire to be different.
Nowhere is this more apparent than in the city’s architecture. The main landmarks, including the Sagrada Familia, Casa Batllo and Park Guell, are the work of one man, Antoni Gaudi, who championed the region’s own ‘Catalan modernisme’ style. The most popular districts, such as the Gothic Quarter and areas around the Old Town, are also drastically different to Madrid’s 17thcentury historic centre. While the presence of beaches is nothing unique for Spain, they have the added bonus of being unusually close to the city centre.
Catalan art is also more on the eccentric side, with the works of Dali and the city’s most famous adopted son, Pablo Picasso, proving that a forward-thinking attitude has existed in the city for centuries. See pieces from both at the Museu Nacional d’Art and the Picasso Museum. Unsurprisingly, the city’s main festivals are also a little unusual; visit in September for La Merce to see performances throughout the city and the region’s famous ‘construction’ of human towers.
Where to stay
The city is blessed with fantastic hotels, but the Iberostar Paseo de Gracia is perhaps the best for…
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