Top Five Places to Visit in Spain

Located in the south of Europe, Spain is one of the most visited countries in the world: in 2013, more than 60 million tourists visited this sunny country. With large cities filled with museums and monuments, small villages offering delicious traditional cuisine and a variety of seaside resorts with pristine beaches, Spain is an ideal travel destination. Now… where should you start? Here the top five places to visit in Spain this year!

640px-Toledo_Skyline_Panorama,_Spain_-_Dec_2006

Madrid and its museums

The city of Madrid is one of the most popular destinations in the country. Do not miss the Prado Museum, which houses the largest collection by Italian masters outside of Italy; the Reina Sofia Museum, where you will find Picasso’s Guernica; and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, one of the largest private collections in the world. All three museums are located within walking distance of the centric Retiro Park, one of the city’s many green spaces. If you are less into art and are looking for something more unusual, then you must visit the Costume Museum, the Naval Museum and the Museum of Ham- the latter being a tapas bar ideal for grabbing a drink and tasting several varieties of jamón ibérico cured ham. A great day trip from Madrid is Toledo, one of the best preserved medieval cities in Spain as well.

Barcelona and its architecture

Barcelona is synonymous of Gaudí: the city’s main landmarks were designed by this famous architect. The easiest way to explore this city is by booking a hotel near the city center: in this way, you will be able to walk around the Gothic Quarter, Las Ramblas and El Born, three places worth visiting. The most recognizable symbol is the unfinished basilica of the Sagrada Familia. Climb up one of the two completed towers and enjoy views towards the city center before taking a stroll around the colourful Parc Güell or the El Raval district, filled with enchanting squares and narrow streets lined with cafés and shops.

Cádiz and its beaches

The Costa Brava and the Costa del Sol have their share of fans… and those who are looking for less crowded and more natural beaches must visit the southern province of Cádiz. Tarifa is an idyllic town ideal for kite-surfers and wind-surfers, and the white sandy Bolonia beach will make you not want to leave. Head to any of the seaside restaurants if you want some fresh seafood straight from the sea.

Skiing in the Spanish Pyrenees

Many do not know that Spain is a skiing destinations. There are plenty of ski resorts all over the country, from the Sierra Nevada mountains near Granada in the south of Spain to the Pyrenees. Check out Baqueira, Cerler and Formigal, two chic resorts offering more than two hundred kilometers of white powdery snow.

The North of Spain

Spain’s northern provinces are often overlooked. If you want to discover Spain’s more authentic side, try to visit the beaches and tapas bars of San Sebastián, walk part of the Way of St. James across Galicia or take a stroll around Bilbao’s Old Quarter. Do not miss the traditional side of Asturias, a province with several large towns and small villages peppered along the rugged northern coast.

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