Drawing from Good Housekeeping magazine and adding our personal experiences we selected our preferred destinations in Spain. You can organize a road trip or visit them separately, in any case, book your holiday dialysis first and be ready for a majestic experience. Here we go:
Seville: There are lots of lovely places to visit in Andalucia, but Seville is one of the most popular and with good reason. For a start, warm weather is all but guaranteed – the Spaniards don’t call it the ‘Frying Pan’ for nothing. The city’s old town and former Jewish quarter, Barrio de Santa Cruz, is home to the huge Gothic cathedral, the Alcázar Palace and the La Giralda bell tower. For a lively night out, visit one of Seville’s famous flamenco shows or a hole-in-the-wall bar. And if you’re hoping to stockpile ceramics, stop by the Tirana neighbourhood, which has lots of pottery studios.
Madrid: Often overlooked by tourists for Barcelona, Spain’s capital may not have beaches but it has plenty of landmarks, from its wide boulevards and pristine parks to its incredible culture. At the Prado Museum, visitors can admire works by Spanish masters including Velázquez and Goya. Another highlight is the Plaza Mayor, the city’s main square, which dates back to the 15th century. The grand Royal Palace is also worth a visit – in between tapas pit-stops, of course.
Barcelona: A cultural city with its own beach, Barcelona is a Spanish holiday destination that lets you combine a city and seaside break. High-brow highlights include the Picasso Museum, the art nouveau La Sagrada Familia and Gaudi’s other great Barcelona work, Park Güell. After winding your way through the Gothic Quarter’s narrow medieval lanes (and its restaurants and bars), you can put your feet up at the beach.
Mallorca: It’s not hard to see why Mallorca is such a classic Spanish holiday destination for Brits. The island has it all, from a vibrant capital and gorgeous beach resorts to the spectacular Serra de Tramuntana mountain range, lively port towns such as Sóller and inland villages favoured by artists such as Deià. Palma has a charming old town, an imposing Gothic cathedral and lots of excellent restaurants. From there, you can catch an old-fashioned tram all the way to Sóller for lunch at one of the restaurants lining the harbour.
