Spain
Spain Guide
Spain is one of the most popular destinations for holidaymakers from all over Europe, who mostly visit for the sandy beaches and nightlife of the Costa del Sol and the Costa Blanca. It is known for its cuisine such as ‘paella’ and ‘tapas’ and fine wines as well as the laid back lifestyle. Festivals are a popular attraction too, especially around Easter time and culturally, Spain is famous for flamenco and bullfighting.
Located in the south west of Europe and on the Mediterranean Sea, Spain borders with Portugal to the west and France to the north. The landscape is varied - there are mountains and valleys, dotted with Moorish castles as well as areas of remote wilderness and desert. Visitors may be surprised to know that Spain has the 2nd largest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world. With your car hire Spain, you can really explore all that the country has to offer. In cities such as Granada and Seville you can see the influences and architecture left by the Moors and Arabs as well as the Romans. If you visit the capital city of Madrid, you can see the grand architecture and pretty plazas and it has some of the best museums in the world. Barcelona is well known for being a cosmopolitan city and a stroll along ‘Las Ramblas’ is a must. It is also famous for the work of Gaudi, especially seen at the Parc Guell and the unfinished church of Sagrada Familia. Bilbao is most visited for the Guggenheim Museum and has its own distinct sense of style. The town of Pamplona is mostly known for the famous ‘Running of the Bulls’ and for something completely different you can visit Bunol, for the ‘La Tomatina’ tomato fight. Some visitors to Spain, take part in the pilgrimage of St James’ Way ending at the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela.
The Canary Islands are also part of Spain, even though they are in fact closer to Africa than Europe. The volcanic island of Tenerife is the most popular with holidaymakers, for its black sandy beaches and mass tourism. In comparison, Gran Canaria is much quieter and has spectacular sand dunes. Lanzarote and Fuerteventura are also volcanic islands that have adapted to tourism and attract visitors from all over Europe.
The Balearic Islands are to the east of Spain and are very popular with tourists too. Ibiza is well known for its nightclub scene and partying, where as Mallorca is much more family orientated. Menorca is very relaxed and has a lot of natural beauty.