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Spain
Spain is one of the most visited countries in Europe and famous for cities like Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Valencia and many more. Madrid, the capital city, is located pretty much in the middle of the country. The first documented history of the city dates to the 9th century, even though the area has been inhabited by humans since the Stone Age, so expect to find a lot of history here! There are lots of museums that are worth visiting, beautiful plazas and the Royal Palace of Madrid, my personal favorite.
In the north of Spain you will find Donostia/ San Sebastian, a city with over 300 bars and a breathtaking beach. It’s part of the Basque country, a part of Spain that wants to be separated from the country. In the north of Spain you will also find the Camino de Santiago, a very famous hike that is about 500 miles long and takes about a month to complete.
On the east coast you will find Barcelona and the Balearic islands. To see the most important sights of Barcelona you should plan to stay for 4-5 days. Make sure to visit Park Güell, the Sagrada Familia, explore the old town and eat some tapas. The food and wine in Spain is amazing, so make sure to try some traditional dishes. I lived in Barcelona for 6 weeks and one night I discovered this cute authentic restaurant in the old town, called El Callejon. The service was amazing and I had the best tapas in my life there.
“El Callejon, Barcelona”
“Rooftop bar, Barcelona”
The four largest islands of the Balearic Islands are Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, and Formentera. Each of the islands have their own charme and come with a large diversity of things to do. From sailing, hiking, swimming in turquoise blue water, exploring old towns and huge cathedrals, partying in the clubs to yoga teacher training, these islands have something special for everyone.
If you go further down south you will find the Canary Islands. The fact that they are right next to Africa explains why there’s a never ending spring on these islands. The 8 islands, Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro and La Graciosa are a perfect place to visit in winter, because it’s pretty much the only spot in Europe that will still be warm. Which island is the best for you depends on what you want to do. Tenerife and Gran Canaria are probably the most popular islands of all 8.
In Tenerife you will find a vast diversity of landscapes. The north of the island is super green and has some really high mountains with endless hikes you can do. In the middle you will find the main volcano, El Teide. Tenerife used to consist of 3 separate islands, but the eruptions of over 300 volcanoes connected those over time. The landscape of the Teide national park is full of dry lava and makes you feel like you’re walking on another planet. If you want to go to the very top of the volcano, you should book the tour for the first day you’re visiting. Due to strong winds it often gets rescheduled to the next day, so it’s better not to plan it for the last day you’re here.
What I enjoyed most about the Canary islands are the black beaches you will find everywhere. On Gran Canaria you will even see a landscape that looks like a desert!
Things to do and see in Spain
Explore Madrid, the capital city
Explore the bars in San Sebastian
Hike the Camino de Santiago
See Gaudi's art in Barcelona
Eat tapas and drink Spanish wine
Visit Seville
Visit Valencia
Do island hopping at the Canary Islands
Hike up the Teide, the highest point of Spain
Party in Ibiza
Visit Malaga
See the Balearic Islands
Spain Travel Guides
Below you will find different blog posts about Spain. The best time to travel to Spain is Spring and Autumn. The summer here, specially in Madrid, gets really hot and the winters are cold. The only place in Spain and Europe that is still warm in December are the Canary Islands. Here you can still go to the beach in January. If you have any questions about traveling to Spain, don’t hesitate to send me an email! I answer every email I get.
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How to travel Tenerife, Canary Islands
Tenerife is one of the Canary Islands and has a large variety of different landscapes, like lush green forests, black and white beaches and dry volcanoes that make you feel like you’re walking on Mars.
Useful travel tips
1
Remember the size
Spain isn’t a small country! There is a lot more to see than just Madrid and Barcelona. If you really want to get to know the country you should visit some other cities, visit the Balearic and Canary islands and meet some locals! Try some tapas, book an airbnb experience with a local, go on a hike, explore Spain's countryside and learn how to have simple conversations in Spanish.
2
Siesta is real!
In Spain the siesta is a big deal! Many shops, restaurants and offices close their doors from 1-4 pm. The best thing that you can do is to adjust to it and enjoy a siesta yourself. The cities will get busy again in the evening.
3
People eat late
The locals in Spain eat much later, which is typical for the southern european countries. Dinner usually starts around 10pm and can last a few hours. People don’t rush to have their meals and rather enjoy them with their family and friends.
4
There is more than one language
If you have been learning Spanish for years, but then you visit San Sebastian in the north, you might not understand anyone. The reason is that the Basque region, same as Catalonia, have very strong identities that are very unique and important to the locals. The language, food and culture is different from the rest of the country. Depending on where you go it will be beneficial to adjust to their language.
“Rose ice cream, Barcelona”
“Street in Barcelona”
Basic Spanish
Like I always say, knowing how to say simple things like “Hello”, “Thank you” and “Delicious” can open doors and hearts. People will really appreciate it if you just try to say a few Spanish words, because it shows your interest in their culture.
Typical words & phrases
Hola — Hello
Buenos días — Good morning
Buenas tardes — Good afternoon
Buenas noches — Good evening / Good night
¿Cómo te llamas? — What’s your name?
Me llamo — My name is
(Yo) tengo … años — I am … years old.
(Yo) soy de — I come from…
¿Cómo estás? / ¿Qué tal? — How are you?
Bien, gracias — Good, thank you
Muy bien — Very well
¿Y tú? — And you?
¡Gracias! — Thank you!
¡Muchas gracias! — Thank you very much!
¡Perdon! — Excuse me
Por favor — Please
Lo siento — I’m sorry
Numbers
Uno — one
Dos — two
Tres — three
Quatro — four
Cinco — five
Seis — six
Siete — seven
Ocho — eight
Nueve — nine
Diez — ten
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October 13, 2022
