Spain

Top cities of Spain

The capital of Spain since 1562, is located at the geographic center of the Iberian Peninsula. Because of its central location and high altitude, the climate of Madrid is characterized by warm dry summers and cool winters. Madrid is a city of great monuments. Among its highlights are the medieval center dating back to the Habsburg Empire and the Prado Museum. But Madrid is not just a cultural destination. It is also a lively metropolis with many pubs, cafes, discotheques and nightclubs that open late into the night.

Barcelona located at the Mediterranean sea in the very north of the Spanish coast, is certainly the most cosmopolitan and economically most active city in Spain. It has always proved its will to be modern, to follow the latest international tendencies or be ahead of them. To the tourist, this is evident specially in its architecture, which so well reflects the general approach to life in this always pulsating city. Of course, Barcelona has an old history, and there are monuments of Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance periods or still before, but nevertheless, it has been a center of Modernist architecture and is distinguished specially by the works of Antoní Gaudí, that is at the top of modernity.

For those visitors to Majorca who have never ventured beyond Palma Nova or Magaluf, a visit to Palma will be a real eye opener and will hopefully demonstrate that there is more to the island than neon lit all night bars, and all day British breakfasts. Although the City of Palma is the commercial and cultural centre of Majorca, the depth of history, culture and nightlife here often takes visitors by surprise, and with the increasing popularity of the long weekend city break amongst travelers, we felt that a guide to Palma was a long overdue omission to our site.

The largest of the seven Canary Islands, Tenerife sits in the Atlantic Ocean just off the coast of North Africa and enjoys eternal sunshine – one of the reasons that makes this beautiful island such a hotspot for millions of tourists every year. Tenerife is a volcanic island that has been sculpted over time by several eruptions, the last being in the early 20th century. It has a great mix of rugged terrain, dramatic landscapes and a sub-tropical climate with temperatures averaging 20°C – 22°C in the winter months and 26°C – 28°C in the summer. Over the years Tenerife has become a popular holiday destination and it’s easy to see why with dozens of great resorts to choose from. From the well-known resorts of Playa las Américas and Los Cristianos, the stunning cliffs at Los Gigantes to the pine forests in the national park...this island has so much more to offer other than great weather.

Ibiza is one-sixth the size of nearby Majorca, over five times the size of Mykonos (Greece), and ten times the size of Manhattan Island. Ibiza has become famous for the association with nightlife and the electronic music that originated on the island. It is well known for its summer club scene which attracts very large numbers of tourists, though the island's government and the Spanish Tourist Office have controversially been working to promote more family-oriented tourism. Ibiza is the home of the noted port in Ibiza Town, a popular stop for many tourists and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

People may tell you Andorra’s nothing but skiing and shopping. They might add that Andorra la Vella, its capital and only town, is a fuming traffic jam bordered by palaces of consumerism. (Fact: Andorra has over 2000 shops – more than one for every 40 inhabitants). They are right to a point, but also way off course. Shake yourself from Andorra la Vella’s tawdry embrace, take one of only three secondary roads in the state and discover some of the most dramatic scenery in all of the Pyrenees. This mini-country wedged between France and Spain offers by far the best skiing in the Pyrenees.