Travel Guide to Spain

Spain: Why go

You can have 101 different types of holiday in Spain. Forget long-haul flights or the '80s Costa Brava associations; dig a little deeper and you'll discover culture, art, history and fantastic food on your European doorstep in sunny, friendly Spain.

History buffs will be in their element, touring Granada’s Alhambra palace, Seville's lofty Giralda cathedral and museums, Carmona’s necropolis, Cordoba’s Mezquita mosque or Ronda’s bullring. Art lovers will be intoxicated by the 'Paseo del Arte' in Madrid (the Golden Triangle of Art, encompassing the Paseo del Prado, Reina Sofia and Thyssen-Bornemisza museums) or the Picasso museum in Barcelona. Foodies will be torn between visiting Valencia for its fresh paella, Seville for its myriad tapas bars, and the top-notch international restaurants of Madrid. Night owls will thrive in Ibiza's infamous clubs, Barcelona's happening bars, or the Fallas celebrations in Valencia.

Prefer to escape the city bustle? Let Mallorca's natural scenery seduce you or hike the craggy coastline of Tenerife. Or try the remote Sierra Nevada, where you can canter on horseback through beautiful green foothills or whizz down snowy pistes in the winter.

Active types can windsurf in gusty Tarifa, go wreck diving in Gran Canaria or surf 6ft waves off the Atlantic coast. Those wanting to relax can take chugging trains through the spectacular hilltop villages of Andalucia, or laze on golden beaches in Lanzarote.