The Iberian Peninsula, rich in history and cultural treasures, vibrates to the rhythm of festivals, ferias and flamenco, which you can enjoy between visits to the Sagrada Familia basilica in Barcelona, the mosque-cathedral in Cordoba or of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao.
While the spirit feeds on art and history, we nibble on tapas washed down with rich wines, under the generous sun, from which we protect ourselves in the shade of century-old buildings and orange trees.
Welcome to Spain.
To discover
Trips to Spain: tailor-made tours, hotels and stays from our partners
Read alsoWhen to go to Spain?
Weather, events... The best period by region
Ibiza, the party
Capital of the eponymous island in the Balearic archipelago, the city of Ibiza became, in the 1970s, the unmissable meeting place for hippies.
The party is still in full swing there, every summer.
But the city has many other things to offer.
It is enough to stroll in Dalt Vila on foot, to realize it.
You have to go in this old quarter, along the narrow and winding streets, to meet the inhabitants.
The old women and the men are sitting in front of their doors, simply, and discussing, as one can only do in Spain.
To cool off, Ibiza is full of more or less trendy bars and restaurants... We prefer the most typical and good ones like La Oliva, between the high walls, where you dine by candlelight with a sea view.
Read alsoBalearic islands, which island to choose for your stay?
Majorca, Ibiza, Menorca... Our map and our travel advice
Santiago de Compostela, the holy
The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela (Galicia).
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Final destination of the pilgrims who travel the various eponymous paths, the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela would house the tomb of the apostle Saint-Jacques.
In the old town, the cathedral and the Pórtico da Gloria are marvels of Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque architecture.
Without forgetting, right in the center, the Alameda with its camellias and the Paseo da Ferradura, a promenade offering a superb view of the cathedral.
Ultimate goal of a difficult path for some, and even for others why not try the "End of the road" massage for better muscle recovery of the pilgrim or traveler who arrives in Santiago de Compostela?
We are spoiled for choice…
Read alsoRoads to Compostela: these amazing statistics on the profile of travelers
trendy Barcelona
Park Güell, one of the tourist epicenters of the capital of Catalonia.
Luciano Mortula-LGM/stock.adobe
Stroll through the narrow streets of the
Barri Gotic
, discover the Miro foundation, marvel at the flamboyant creations of Gaudi and marvel at the gigantic works of the
Sagrada Familia
, take a dip in the Mediterranean between two visits and treat yourself to a crazy night in trendy bars and clubs, the bustling Catalan capital leaves visitors little respite.
Then head for
Park Güell
, and
Barceloneta
, a former fishing district for its bars, refreshments and idleness on the seafront, and a well-deserved rest.
For foodies, you have to take a trip to
La Boqueria
, a market located in
El Raval
, with an entrance from
La Rambla
.
An unmissable stop both for the choice of products and for the atmosphere.
Read alsoWhere to sleep in Barcelona for less than 150 euros per night?
Our ten favorite hotels
Seville, the white
The sumptuous Giralda, testimony to the rich history of the capital of Andalusia.
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All the guides agree that it takes 3 days to visit Seville.
After the cathedral and its
Giralda
, which can also be visited during services, which adds to the magnificence of the place, you have to go to the
General Archives of the Indies
.
Then to the
Alcazar
, former royal palace of Moorish inspiration and its gardens and to the
Plaza De España
, built for the 1929 exhibition. Don't forget to attend a flamenco show.
A word of advice: given the tourist crowds, don't hesitate to take a pass (which acts as a skip-the-line) to visit Seville, and book visits to the monuments in advance.
To relax, in the late afternoon and evening, head for the
Alameda district
, where the bars follow one another, we are spoiled for choice!
Read also48 hours in Seville, the vibrant Andalusian
Cadiz, almost an island
Cadiz Cathedral, seen from the sea, a must in Andalusia.
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"The Beauty of Cadiz has velvet eyes - The Beauty of Cadiz invites you to love"
, the name of the city of Cadiz went around the world with the song by Luis Mariano.
This Andalusian port city experienced a considerable boom in the 16th century.
There are over 100 watchtowers, including the iconic
Torre Tavira
, which was traditionally used to spot ships.
On the waterfront stands the dome
of Cádiz Cathedral
, dating from the 18th century.
Cadiz also has superb beaches.
Don't leave without taking the time to stroll around the superb
Plaza de Mina
, in the shade of its giant trees.
Read alsoSeven reasons to discover Cadiz and the south of the Costa de la Luz
Madrid, the royal
Plaza de Cibeles, between Paseo del Padro and calle Alacala, a meeting place for the inhabitants of the Spanish capital and one of the liveliest places in Madrid.
cainfantes
Sometimes discarded in favor of Barcelona, Madrid, the capital of the Kingdom of Spain, has many attractions with its famous museums in particular: the
Prado
, the
Reina Sofía
and the
Thyssen
.
Walking around Madrid also means discovering emblematic places such as the amazing
Royal Palace
,
Plaza Mayor
,
Puerta del Sol
or the famous
Gran Vía
and its shops.
Each neighborhood offers a different experience:
La Latina
is great for tapas,
Las Letras
, literary district, was home to great writers of the 17th century such as Lope de Vega, whose house is now a museum.
Between two visits, a siesta is essential in the fabulous
Retiro
Park , 125 hectares and more than 15,000 trees, all the same!
Read also48 hours in Madrid, a weekend between culture and gastronomy
Toledo, the medieval
Not far from Madrid, Toledo is full of treasures in its old town, overlooking the plains of Castile-La Mancha.
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Recommended excursion from Madrid, it takes a day to visit Toledo, also called
"the city of 3 cultures"
, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Not to be missed: the cathedral and the synagogue of
Santa-Maria la Blanca
, which became a church and then a museum today.
Big crush, for the
monastery of San Juan de Los Reyes
and its cloister populated by orange trees.
If there is a little time left, the visit
to the Toledo bullring
is also interesting.
In summer, you can cool off in freshwater pools located in the middle of nature, in the vicinity of the city.
Cordoba, “the beautiful Andalusian”
The Alcazar.
Cordoba is best visited out of season, to avoid the mass of tourists and the heat that hits Andalusia on sunny days.
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Cordoba is a small but very beautiful city, which is worth a visit.
Rich in its cultural and religious mix, as evidenced by its sumptuous mosque-cathedral.
The other must-see monument in Cordoba is the
Alcázar
located near the cathedral.
Built on the ruins of the ancient Moorish fortress, a defensive building that was the residence of the Catholic kings after the Christian reconquest of Cordoba.
When to go?
Cordoba is a city where it can quickly get very hot in summer.
Not to mention the alleys saturated with tourists.
Spring and autumn are much better times to visit Cordoba.
And in all seasons, El Rincon De Carmen, a typical restaurant in the city, serves its specialties in a friendly atmosphere.
Granada, the Moorish
The Alhambra, one of the most visited sites in Granada and Andalusia.
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The
Alhambra
, the
Albaicin
district , the city's watchtowers, the
Sacromonte
,
Granada
Cathedral and the
Royal Chapel
, attending a flamenco show… The list of things to see and do in Granada is long!
The city conceals numerous testimonies of the Moorish era.
It was indeed the capital of the Nasrid dynasty, which reigned over part of the Iberian Peninsula from the 13th to the 15th century.
Small suggestion: in order not to lose a crumb of the visit to the Alhambra, follow a guide.
And for souvenirs, you have to go to
the Alcaicería
market, Granada's old silk market, in the pedestrian streets between the
Bib-Rambla square
and the Cathedral of Granada.
Tapas are an institution in Granada: you have to taste the teriyaki chicken from Entrebrasas, an institution.
Bilbao, the basque
The Guggenheim Museum, designed by Frank Gehry, has become an emblem of Bilbao and a must in the tourist capital of the Basque Country.
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Bilbao owes its charm to the mixture of the avant-garde and the traditional aspect of its old town, full of charming streets and bars offering pintxos, the Basque tapas.
The visit to this city in northern Spain begins with the
Guggenheim Museum
, designed by Frank Gehry.
Inside, one of the most important private collections of modern and contemporary art in the world.
On the other hand, it is impossible to imagine passing through Bilbao without visiting the
old town
and strolling through the famous “seven streets”, discovering the
cathedral
or the elegant theater inspired by the Paris Opera, the
Arriaga
.
For amateurs, Azurmendi,