Spain

Smile! Ole!

Spain is popular as a holiday destination because of its warm weather, delicious food and affordable, fun things to do! You can make so many plans easily in Spain, you can love history, culture, the seaside or the mountains, there’s a bit for everybody! Good weather is a known characteristic of Spain, it’s perfect to plan outdoor activities such as going to unspoiled beaches in Costa Brava, finding the best rooftop to enjoy the sunset and a glass of Spanish red wine or spending a Sunday afternoon doing a tapas tour as a real Spaniard.

Whether you’re tracking down an artistic artisan workshop or you’re taking part in a village fiesta, a private tour will fill your trip with unique memories you’ll cherish forever. Spain will make sure you’ll go back home with a complete new image of this beautiful and historically rich country. Not to mention the friendly and open-minded people!

Eat Tapas

Go from bar to bar trying tapas as you go, while you might as well get a pint with every small meal. Eventually you will work out your favourite bars and your favourite dishes, mine were any with cheese in. Some of the most well known dishes include, tortillas, patatas bravas and a large amount of chorizo based meals.

Alhambra in Granada

This giant fortress will take an entire day to walk around, but make sure you do it as you will find it as a highlight on any European guide on things to do. The first Nasrid king, El Ahmar, chose this building as it overlooked the entire city of Granada, offering you a great view for some quick snaps. The price for entry is around 13 euros, while it is about 9 euros for children (I’m pretty certain they offer student discount if that helps). Alhambra is only ever fully open between March and October, so make sure you time your visit perfectly, as you would be disappointed through the winter.

Ski the Sierra Nevada Mountains

If you are staying in Malaga then you actually have a relatively short journey before you can get your ski’s on. The Sierra Nevada ski resorts are famous worldwide due to the fact that you can ski in the mountains and then head down to the beach to get a tan all within the same day. Don’t be fooled into thinking that this makes any difference on the ski resort as it is definitely one of the best you will find in Europe, despite the contrast of weather in such a close distance.

See Gaudi’s architecture in Barcelona

The highlight of Gaudi’s work can be found in Parc Guell, which holds a number of his structures. Gaudi is known and respected around the world and was regularly influenced by forms of nature, which is definitely evident in the curves through all of his architecture. Casa Batllo is also worth a visit, a beautiful building designed by Gaudi, really illustrating how different he was to his contemporaries.

Dance to the flamenco

The passion of Flamenco is palpable as it creates a relaxed yet lustful atmosphere. Flamenco is a bit unusual to me as it is all very prepared, as each dance move is practiced and perfected over a large amount of time, following a strict framework of rhythmic patterns. I tend to be more impressed by dances that are natural, such as salsa or street dancing, however I still feel you should give Flamenco a go if you’re in Spain for an extensive period of time.

Go to Camp Nou

You do not have to be a football fan to appreciate the size and structure of Camp Now, Barcelona’s football stadium. However, if you are a football fan, try and pick up some tickets and bare witness to possibly the greatest footballer of all time, Messi. If you do, try and learn some of the chants before you head to the game, or go to a bar beforehand and befriend someone heading to the match.

Walk along Las Ramblas

This street is set out only for pedestrians, something I wish we had more of in the UK, as the street is lined with markets. Soon as you get tired, you can stop off in a cafe on the Las Ramblas, where some coffee and tapas can go a long way.

Party hard in Ibiza

There is no bigger party than the ones in Ibiza, from April till October. The welcome parties and ending parties are normally legendary as they welcome in the re-opening of the clubs for the summer. Be prepared to spend a lot more than you would like to, as the entry to clubs is normally about EUR 80!

Aqueduct, Segovia

La Tomatina, Bunol (Valencia)

I expect this to be on everyone’s list, as possibly the greatest festival in the world! The party starts with a massive feast on Paella. The following morning thousands of people take to the streets with tomato’s in hand, ready to throw to their hearts content. This is potentially one of the biggest food fights in the world, although make sure you squeeze the tomato before throwing so that it bursts upon impact, preventing them from feeling any pain at all (even if it’s minimal from a tomato). As soon as the bottle rocket sounds, it’s clean up time and everyone heads on to a bar or to wash themselves.

Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao

This is by far the greatest museum I have ever been to, and I’m a Londoner surrounded by astoundingly good and free museums. Frank Gehry’s masterpiece highlights some of the most bizarre art you will find, mainly from the 20th century. The shape of the building itself is something of a wonder, with more curves than David Beckham’s free kicks.

Benicassim festival

Spain’s biggest music festival is growing in reputation every year as people leave the muddy festivals in the UK for a party on the beach in Barcelona. Benicassim, or Festival Internacional de Benicàssim, as it is known in Spanish, lasts for four days in a beach rocking, music pumping, drinking mayhem.

Running with the bulls, Pamplona

Views of Ronda

A magnificent bridge spans the gorge between the new town and the old town, which you can find through taking a picturesque drive through the Andalucía Mountains. If you plan on visiting, make sure your camera is fully charged as the images are unbelievable.