Spain is positioned in the Iberian Peninsula of South west Europe. The country has the second largest number of UNESCO World Heritage sites in the world, making Spain a culturally rich country to visit. My trip to Spain took me on the road through Madrid to Barcelona, I hope this summery of Spain helps you to plan your trip.
Best Time to Visit
The weather in Spain varies depending on the region you are visiting, the further south you go, the warmer the weather. The south and east coast is perfect to visit all year round.
Things to do and see
- Gaudi’s La Sagrada Familia: This Cathedral is always over crowded, so it is a good idea to book priority access accompanied by a guide. Which would allow you to head straight inside the UNESCO World Heritage-listed cathedral.
- Madrid’s Tapas tour: You can book a tour to sample tapas dishes at four popular restaurants while learning about the ingredients. Treat yourself to a selection of Tapas while in Madrid.
- Spend a day in Morocco: From the shores of Gibraltar you can take a boat ride to Tangier in Morocco and spend the day shopping in the souks and bazaars of North Africa. Lunch is often included in a round trip as well as the transport.
- Spanish cooking classes: Learn to prepare cuisine from Spain and Catalonia during a cooking class in Barcelona. You can learn to prepare paella and other food at the home of the chef with other tourists.
Food
Each region of Spain has its own specialty worth trying. Many of the restaurants in Spain are known by the different regions they come from. While Spain’s tapas are very popular in Spain and throughout the world, there are some more Spanish foods you must try on your trip to Spain, the three most popular dishes to try are Paella, a rice dish that originated in Valencia the southwest of Spain. The most traditional paella is a mixture of chicken or rabbit mixed with white and green beans, vegetables and seafood. The second dish to try is gambas al ajillo which is Spanish prawns lightly cooked with garlic and chill. The final dish to try is gazpacho which is a Spanish tomato soup usually eaten as an appetizer.
Transportation
Air: There are domestic flights connecting all the big cities in Spain. There are also many cheap flights to Spain from the U.K and other European cites.
Roads: The quality of the roads in Spain are good and well maintained. Some motorways are operated by tolls which can be paid by cash or credit card. Rural roads are of different qualities some better maintained then others.
Rail: Trains in Spain are comfortable and cheap, there are not many routes connecting many cities in Spain. The main domestic train routes are Catalonia to Andalusia then to Madrid. There are also international trains from Spain to Portugal and France.
Taxi: Uber is available in Spain and so are metered taxis. Taxi drivers will charge you extra for luggage.
Ferry: International ferries connect Spain to Portsmouth, Canary Islands, Algeria, Morocco and the Balearic Islands. There are also network of ferries and boats connecting all the different ports in Spain.
Bus: Every city in Spain has local buses and trams that connect the whole city. Coaches are very popular in Spain and travel to places trains cannot. There are different coach companies connecting all of Spain, there is also an international train service that goes to Portugal and France. I recommend these websites for planning your bus trip. www.movelia.es, www.alsa.es, www.auto-res.net, http://www.omio.co.uk/coaches/spain
Visa
Visas are not required for all E.U, U.S, Canadian and Australian nationals. For stays of up to 90days in a 6month period.
Language
The official language spoken in Spain is Spanish, other languages are also spoken like Catalan in Catalonia, Barcelona and Ibiza. Galician in Galicia. Valencian in the Valencia Region. English is also widely spoken in the tourist industry.
Money
The official currency in Spain is the Euro (EUR) ATMs are commonplace in big cities, most machines will accept all major credit and debit cards. Be aware that foreign cards usually incur charges. Most big cities have Currency exchange bureaus where you can change foreign currency to Euros. You will need your passport to exchange money. However, the exchange rate in Spain is not great, better to change your money before you arrive.
Tipping
The typical amount in restaurants is 10%, a service charge is usually not added to the bill. Taxi drivers and porters expect a small tip also.
Social etiquette
Smoking is banned in enclosed public areas and is not allowed on public transport, in bars or restaurants, except in designated areas. If caught smoking outside of designated areas, you may be stuck with a hefty fine. The main religion in Spain is Roman Catholic, along with a small minority of Muslims and atheists. Spanish eat quite late, lunch is usually between 2-3.30pm and dinner between 9pm and 11pm.
Adaptor
There is one plug associated with Spain the standard Type F plug with the two-pins.
Wi-Fi
There are many Internet cafes throughout Spain, most hotels and restaurants provide free Wi-Fi also.
Ruth’s Lonely Planet 