Spain has passion and vibrancy unlike any other country in Europe. Rich in culture and history it has so much more to offer visitors than just miles of beautiful coastline.

Spain’s most famous cities include the magnificent capital Madrid, Valencia, Barcelona and Cordoba, each brimming with some of the best museums and galleries in Europe, not tomention oodles of bars and restaurants.

The historical cities of Granada and Cordoba are architectural delights, packed with charm and Moorish influences including the romantic Alhambra Palace which dominates the Granada skyline from its hill-top perch.

Outside the big cities and towns remain many off the beaten track destinations from Andalucia’s pretty hillside villages to the medieval towns of Rupit and Toledo providing travellers with a glimpse of a more traditional way of life.

Much of the eastern coast is taken up by Costa-style resorts but there are still many secret hideaways with empty beaches, boutique hotels, spas and a fine selection of traditional restaurants and bars. The rugged northern coastline, picturesque fishing villages, lush greenery and gourmet delights provide visitors with a multitude of experiences. And the spectacular scenery of the Picos de Europa Mountains, Sierra Nevada and the Pyrenees provide an array of outdoor pursuits from mountain climbing, canyoning, and horse riding to more sedate activities such as nature walks and painting.

What ever you decide to do in Spain you will be accompanied with fine wines, gourmet food and plenty of colourful fiestas.

The Costa del Sol style resorts on Spain’s south coast are known for their year-round sunshine and beaches, but the provinces of Andalucia and Murcia have much more to offer with a dazzling array of attractions.

Andalucía was the last province recaptured from the Moors by Spain’s medieval rulers and has some fabulous architecture. Its cities and towns combine modern glitz with a fascinating legacy of centuries old Islamic and Christian monuments, most notably the Alhambra Palace in Granada, the Alcázar of Seville and the Mezquita of Córdoba, all delighting the senses with their mix of colour and shapes.

The province of Murcia is sandwiched between the beach resorts of Almería and the heaving resorts of the Costa Blanca to the north. Its 250km of coastline experiences over 3000 hours of sunshine a year guaranteeing the perfect beach holiday. The capital Cartagena is a busy university town packed with museums and some interesting architecture including the lavish Santa Maria Gothic Cathedral. It is also Spain’s premier naval port.

Away from the big cities and coastal resorts are whitewashed hillside villages, orange trees, olive groves, vineyards and an abundance of national parkland. The snow-capped Sierra Nevada Mountains, with unique alpine vegetation and picturesque villages, provide endless opportunities for walking, climbing, horse riding and skiing.

The Parque Nacional de Doñana is of supreme ecological importance as a wetland reserve and a major site for migrating birds. The park comprises of distinct ecosystems, scrubland, costal dunes, marshland and lakes which attract colonies of flamingo, eagles and Iberian lynx.

This is one of Spain’s most enticing regions not only for its fascinating heritage but for its party loving inhabitants who love socialising in the innumerable tapas bars, restaurants and festivals. Andalucía’s countless festivals are deeply rooted in religion and local tradition and display the provinces own art form flamenco, an electric mix of dance, song and music.

The culturally rich west coast of Spain, lapped by the Mediterranean Sea, is lined with beach resorts, cosmopolitan cities, and gorgeous islands. To the north are the Pyrenees and Spain’s neighbours France and Andorra.

The state of Valencia is a romantic Mediterranean region composed of three provinces, Alicante, Valenca and Castellón, rich in history, beautiful towns, great food and miles of superb coastline.

Valencia is home to the Fallas Fire Festival when huge bonfires are lit on every street and the famous La Tomatina Festival, a tomato throwing festival attracting large crowds of revellers.

Further north is Catalonia, a strongly independent region with two official languages, Spanish and Catalan, whose proud inhabitants strive to keep their culture alive. The cosmopolitan city of Barcelona is the capital of this region and has a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere. Architecture of Gaudí litters the city, such as the incredible Sagrada Familia Cathedral and La Pedrera. And the Gothic Quarter and Montjuic are also well worth visiting too.

Located close to Barcelona is the jagged Monseratt Mountain with beautiful nature trails and unusual rock formations. Perched half way up the eastern slopes is the Santa Maria de Montserrat Sanctuary and the Benedictine Monastery, one of the great religious shrines of Spain.

Some 100km north of Barcelona is the Montsenay National Park. Its mountain peaks form the highest points along the Catalan coastal range and is rich in flora and fauna and the perfect place for hiking and horse riding.

Off the eastern coast of Spain are the Balearic Islands of Ibiza, Mallorca, Menorca, Formentera and Cabrera. Mallorca has some spectacular mountain scenery and rural villages ideal for walking and hiking holidays. Away from the bustling resorts of Ibiza are secluded beaches, olive groves and rural retreats.

Northeast of Catalonia, in the province of Girona, is the Garrotxa Nature Park. This outstanding area is the most well conserved volcanic region on Iberian Peninsula and provides some spectacular walks across the volcanic landscapes. Geographically speaking the area is volcanically inactive but not extinct.

Northern Spain has miles of pristine golden-sand beaches, lush green valleys, soaring snow-capped mountains and centuries-old villages each with their own customs, traditions and fantastic cuisine.

Lying close to the French border within the Basque country is the chic town of San Sebastian, boasting some the best restaurants in the country. Fine surfing beaches are also to be found in the surrounding coastline. Meanwhile the capital Bilbao has undergone something of a revival in recent years with the arrival of the Guggenheim Museum, an amazing example of modern architecture.

Bordering the Basque Country is the smallest region in Spain, La Rioja offering some spectacular scenery and fine nature reserves. La Rioja is a world-renowned wine producing region and wine tasting tours are plentiful.

Some 20 kilometres inland from the northern coast is Picos de Europa, one of Europe’s last mountain wilderness areas. It consists of three major massifs, Central, Eastern and Western. The Central and Western massifs are separated by the mile deep Cares Gorge. The gorges and valleys create the ideal playground for adventurous outdoor pursuits including canyoning, mountain biking and hiking.

Other regional highlights include the city of Pamplona, a famous stop on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage and home to the world renowned Fiesta de San Fermin, a famous festival climaxing in the ‘running of the balls’.

And Santiago de Compostela, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the north west of Spain. The cathedral dominates the main plaza and has been on the pilgrimage route since the 9th century and hosts many religious festivities. It is also a university town and so has a lively entertainment scene.

The climate varies from temperate in the north to hot and humid the south. The northern coast ranges from 70°C during the summer months to only 8°C in winter. The rainy season tends to fall in spring and autumn.

Madrid’s high altitude and proximity to mountain’s causes wide variations in winter and summer temperatures. In the peak of summer the midday heat can be extreme with mild evenings. In contrast, winters bring temperatures down to just below freezing.

Barcelona experiences a wonderful climate with hot summers and cool winters. The ideal months to visit the city and the Costa Brava are May, June and September when the temperatures are less humid.

Southern Spain enjoys a mild Mediterranean climate with hot sunny summers and mild winters. Temperatures in land can reach up to 40°C during the months of June to August.

In the peaks of the Pyrenees and Sierra Nevada it snows between 90-120 days a year. The Pyrenees receive more snow than the Alps but have a milder climate, summers are particularly pleasant here and ideal for outdoor activities.

The main airports in Spain are Madrid Barajas International, Barcelona El Prat International Airport, Malaga Airport, Seville San Pablo Airport and Bilbao International Airport. Iberia Airlines is Spain’s national airline.

Spain is has a good rail network connecting all major towns and cities in the country. There are also several high speed trains called AVE operating between Madrid, Seville, Malaga and Barcelona.