Despite having an area twice as big as the UK, “I’m going on holiday to Spain” is commonly used by Britons when describing that they’re visiting the vast, varying country or one of its islands. Home of the flamenco, tapas, preeminent sportsmen, the guitar and Benidorm as we know it, the variety you can experience on Spain holidays is about as broad as it gets. It isn’t all about living for the moment in Spain however, with 42 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, it offers the visitor the second highest number of historic locations on the planet. There is no such thing as a typical Spanish holiday but no matter where you go, you can expect sunshine on your shoulders and a distinctive, passionate culture all around you.
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Intricate and elegant, world renowned architect Antoni Gaudí’s magnum opus Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família to give it its full, Catalan name, is one of Barcelona’s most iconic landmarks. Despite construction beginning in 1882, la Sagrada Família isn’t scheduled for completion until 2026 – 100 years after the death of its enigmatic architect. Stupefyingly beautiful and incredibly moving, a visit to Barcelona wouldn’t be complete without visiting the incomplete monument, that’s as exquisite inside as it is out.
Plaza Mayor has long been the go-to destination for tourists on Spain holidays. The epicentre of Madrid, the plaza is rectangular in shape and surrounded by a grandiose balconied building containing apartments. Finished in 1619 and renovated time and again in the four centuries since, Plaza Mayor has played host to a large number of events including bullfights, football games and even executions. Nowadays no such thing occurs but it remains the place to visit if you find yourself in the Spanish capital.
The world famous tomato fight held on the last Wednesday of August in the Valencian town of Buñol offers the most fun you may ever have. Dating back to 1945 when rowdy youths fought with the fruit while brawling, La Tomatina is now an official event that leads to the population of Buñol tripling. The local government has provided all the tomatoes since 1975 and has set aside rules to ensure the safety and enjoyment of everyone participating.
One for the adrenaline junkies, the infamous Running of the Bulls is one of the most dangerous and exhilarating activities you’ll ever take part in. It is also one of the most famous Spain attractions. The Running is part of a week long festival in the city of Pamplona during the month of July, and its origins are rumoured to date back as early the 14th Century. The run begins when a rocket is thrown in the air before a second rocket signals the bulls are loose and heading down the pre-determined course to the arena; this second rocket is your signal to run your heart out!
San Sebastián, or Donostia in its native Basque, is a city in the north of Spain famous for its cuisine. In a country known for its culinary majesty, San Sebastián lays claim to being the best of the lot. Boasting a large number of Michelin star restaurants, it isn’t just in fancy restaurants that you’ll get exemplary cuisine in San Sebastián. The care and attention to detail that chefs from dive bars to award winning restaurants put into their food results in what’s been described as the best consistently quality food in the West. Having set up the country’s first gastronomical society or Txoko back in 1870, the tradition of first-class food is deeply entrenched in Donostian culture, so it any wonder that the place takes such pride in its food? Cheap Spain holidays don’t get any tastier!
Essential info
Currency – Euro
Language – Spanish
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Important numbers – 020 7589 8989
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