Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, the Balearics — Spain's best, arranged for you.
Spain is one of the world's most visited countries — and that popularity is entirely deserved. It has great cities, extraordinary food, a coastline of remarkable variety, outstanding wine regions and an energy that is distinctive and infectious. The challenge is not whether Spain is good but which part of Spain is right for you.
Barcelona is one of the world's great cities — Gaudí's architecture, the Barri Gòtic, the Eixample's modernista buildings, La Boqueria, Barceloneta beach and a restaurant scene that has grown from traditional Catalan to genuinely world-class. Three nights is a minimum; five nights allows for Montserrat and the Penedès wine country.
Madrid is underrated relative to Barcelona — its art museums (the Prado, Reina Sofía, Thyssen) form the finest collection in the world, the food culture is extraordinary and it makes an ideal base for Toledo, Segovia and Salamanca. Seville, 2.5 hours south by AVE high-speed train, is one of Europe's most beautiful and atmospheric cities.
Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza each offer very different characters. Mallorca has extraordinary scenery in the Tramuntana mountains, excellent cycling and the most sophisticated hotel and food scene of the three. Menorca is quieter, more family-oriented and significantly cheaper. Ibiza combines world-famous nightlife with genuinely beautiful quieter corners in the north and east.
Andalusia — Seville, Granada, Córdoba, the White Villages, the Costa de la Luz and Jerez — represents Spain at its most theatrical and most atmospheric. The Alhambra in Granada is one of Europe's most extraordinary buildings. The Costa de la Luz, facing the Atlantic rather than the Mediterranean, is windswept, less crowded and genuinely beautiful.
May, June and September are ideal for most of Spain — warm, manageable crowds, excellent outdoor dining. July and August are peak season on the coasts. Madrid and Seville can reach 40°C+ in summer — spring and autumn are far more comfortable.
Spain has one of the world's great food cultures — from pintxos in San Sebastián to jamón ibérico in Andalusia to rice dishes in Valencia. Several Spanish restaurants rank among the world's best; the street food and tapas culture is extraordinary.
Spain's AVE high-speed rail network is outstanding — Madrid to Seville in 2.5 hours, Madrid to Barcelona in 2h45m. For regional travel and smaller towns, a hire car is more practical. We coordinate transport as part of every Spain itinerary.