It’s fair to say that Spain travel, for the tourist, is split into distinctive types of trips: the beaches, the cities, and the cities with beaches.

Visit Madrid

Most round trip Spain travel will start in Madrid or Barcelona. Madrid is a scintillating mixture of fine-dining, hedonistic nightlife, astonishing art, and irresistible cafes. It is in Madrid that the different facets of Spanish life are most obviously apparent (although aficionados of one particular aspect – flamenco or wine, for example – will have another favorite destination). Spain’s perpetual willingness to experiment also makes Madrid one of Europe’s most exciting cities in the arts and gastronomy.

Visit Barcelona

Barcelona is one of Europe’s nightlife capitals, and one of the continent’s most popular tourist destinations. Attributed to the surplus of restaurants, clubs, and bars, hedonistic revelers have traveled there for decades. Barcelona is also famous for the work of Gaudi, who has several iconic architectural wonders around the city. All of these are worth visiting, as are the several museums and galleries in the city. On a journey to Spain, you will be able to Browse through La Boqueria, for a large selection of some fresh ingredients and varieties of cooked meals, wander through the maze-like narrow streets and find yourself in Barcelona’s charming beaches.

Visit Northern Spain

There are many other cities in the Spain travel packages that warrant visits. Bilbao, in the north of the country, may have had a tough past but it has come into the 21st century with a wealth of new projects and investments (notably the Museo Guggenheim) that have given it a global reputation for the arts. The city is portrayed as a tough, soulful city and the clash between these two sides of its personality is undoubtedly what makes it such an exciting place to be.

Nearby San Sebastian charms with its laid-back atmosphere, renowned restaurants, and local wines. Pamplona excites with one of the world’s most infamous festivals, Running of the Bulls. Furthermore, the north is also home to the renowned red wine, La Rioja.

Visit Southern Spain

Valencia is another of Spain’s most famous cities, and one of its liveliest. While the beaches at nearby Costa Blanca inevitably prove the most attractive to European holiday-makers, it’s on the streets of Valencia and Murcia that one really sees the culture of the region. And, of course, no trip to Spain would be complete without sampling some paella, right? In Valencia, you’ll find the very best available.

Trips to Spain inevitably focus on the country’s beautiful beaches, and rightly so. Head towards the south of the country for beautiful Islamic architecture, incredible food, astonishing beaches and the very best of the country’s flamenco. Seville is a particular delight and should be sought out on any tour of Spain.

Visit the Spanish Islands

Finally, when mainland Spain is all covered, you have the islands. Ranging from the unashamedly raucous (Ibiza) to the sublimely relaxing (Menorca), these islands make for a great couple of days (or weeks) on Spain tours.

There’s plenty more on offer in Spain – from the north’s rugged coastline in Galicia to the charming villages dotted throughout the country – so if you plan on going on a tour to Spain, be sure to plan on going back again and again.