You Deserve Spain

By Godfrey Lydon

You Deserve Spain


This year, more than ever, you deserve a real holiday. You deserve Spain.

Not only is Spain the most popular European destination for sun and beach holidays but it’s also home to some of Europe’s best city break destinations and top cultural attractions.

Spain has 8,000 kilometres of coastline in total stretching from the north to the south of mainland Spain to the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands. Spain also has diverse and beautiful landscapes and incredible history and culture with 49 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Alhambra in Granada below. Read more to discover why you should visit Spain this winter.

Sites, including the Alhambra in Granada below. Read more to discover why you should visit Spain this winter.


Mainland Spain

Costa del Sol is a famous region of Andalusia where the mountains meet the Mediterranean Sea in the south of Spain. The coast area runs for about 180 kilometres with endless beaches, idyllic landscapes of cliffs and coves and pleasant temperatures all year round.

The revamped city of Malaga is well worth visiting and so too are the nearby towns and villages and the exclusive restaurants.

Other coastal areas include Nerja (below), Torremolinos, Benalmádena, Fuengirola, Estepona and Marbella and the upmarket Puerto Banús.

In the mountains, you’ll find beautiful villages with whitewashed houses and narrow, winding streets adorned with flowers including Frigilana and its charming old quarter, Antequera and its stunning prehistoric dolmens and Ronda (below) with its historic bridge over a deep ravine.

On the east coast of Spain, Alicante in Costa Blanca offers charming seaside villages, cities with vast beaches and seaside promenades as well as good food. Alicante is a city with a great atmosphere, interesting cultural attractions and a lively nightlife scene. Two cultural highlights are the Museum of Archaeology (MARQ) and the Castle of Santa Bárbara where you can enjoy a beautiful panoramic view across the city and its port. The town of Elche has the largest Palm Grove in Europe and has been declared a World Heritage site. You can take a boat trip on the Mediterranean sea in Alicante (below), Benidorm and Torrevieja.

Tarragona is located on the north-east coast of Spain in the province of Costa Dorada. This region has over 200 kilometres of coastline and pleasant temperatures throughout the year. It has many beaches and coves where you can relax and enjoy the calm waters as well as cities brimming with nightlife, golfing options as well as nautical and sports activities.

The beach resorts of Salou and Cambrils are well known to tourists. Windsurfing, paddle boarding and boat trips are some of the attractions you will find here and these resorts are also the centre of nightlife on the coast of Tarragona.

The Costa Dorada has more attractions than just beaches. A trip to the PortAventura World theme park (below) is the perfect place for families to spend a few days. For a more cultural experience, Tarragona is well worth visiting. Here you’ll find the ruins of the Roman city of Tarraco. The other large city in the region is Reus which is the birthplace of the architect Antoni Gaudi. Inland, the charming medieval village of Montblanc is also recommended.


Canary Islands

The Canary Islands are Europe’s number 1 sun destination and offer year-round warm temperatures. These islands off the coast of Africa are renowned for their beaches and a range of outstanding natural attractions. The beaches are perfect for relaxing in the sun or enjoying water sports such as windsurfing and scuba diving.

In the interior you'll find spectacular landscapes ranging from the volcanic scenery of Lanzarote (above) and Tenerife to the sand dunes of Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria and the green forests of La Palma and La Gomera. Much of this landscape is ideal for hiking, cycling, rock climbing and even caving. Five of the seven islands in the Canary Islands archipelago have been declared a Biosphere Reserve and there are four national parks.

 

Balearic Islands

The lush natural landscapes of the Balearic Islands are one of the most popular destinations in the western Mediterranean. Majorca is the largest of these islands and its main attractions include its capital, Palma, the Cabrera National Park and the mountains of the Sierra de Tramontana.

Ibiza is famous for its rich biodiversity and cultural attractions including Sa Caleta and the historic centre of Eivissa and has been declared a World Heritage site by the UNESCO. Ibiza is also known to party goers all over the world for its exhilarating nightlife.

Menorca and Formentera are the two smaller islands and are havens of tranquillity in this corner of the Mediterranean.

 

City Breaks

Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, Malaga and Seville are all great cities to visit for a short trip. All these cities have their own unique culture as well as shopping, exquisite restaurants, good accommodation and direct flights from Ireland.

Madrid’s attractions include the Art Walk which has three famous museums, including the Prado Museum. Other top places to visit include the trendy Chueca district, the Gran Vía with its theatres and shops, the historic Madrid de los Austrias and the various parks including Madrid Rio, the Retiro Park and Real Madrid’s Bernabeu football stadium.

Barcelona has a welcoming climate, great food combined with unique things to do and see including Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia, many parks, markets, the Ramblas, the medieval Gothic quarter, Barcelona’s Nou Camp football stadium and the delightful seafront with nearly five kilometres of beaches.

Bilbao is in the heart of the Basque Country in northern Spain. It’s famous for the spectacular Guggenheim Museum with its iconic large-scale spider sculpture exterior and amazing titanium panels.

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Malaga is a seaside town in the Costa del Sol that is lovely to walk around and remarkably rich in art and culture. It’s the birthplace of Picasso, where you can visit his Museum House and the Picasso Museum.

Seville is the capital of Andalusia and famous for its monuments such as the Alcazar, the Cathedral and the Giralda. The first two are World Heritage sites and the last is one of the city’s emblems. The nearby city of Cordoba is also worth visiting on your trip to Seville.

 

A holiday TO Spain has something for everyone this Winter. Book your next Spain break with Budget Travel!

You will find lots of deals for couples, families and friends at Budget Travel. Check out our unbeatable Late Deals or call us now to book on 01 435 0024.