Spain Backpackers' Guide

A Guide to Spain

Spain is more than bullfights, flamenco dancers and crowded beaches. It's a spectacular and diverse country with the north resembling the rolling, green hills of Ireland and the south giving you a taste of Moroccan landscapes and architecture.

Its tremendous history is reflected in its prehistoric cave paintings, Moorish palaces, crumbling castles, Roman ruins, Gothic and Renaissance cathedrals as well as some very distinctive modern architecture.

The uniqueness of Spain lies in the separate kingdoms which made up the original Spanish nation. These regions remain diverse in their language, culture, cuisine and art. They include: Andalucía, Aragon, Asturias, Basque Country, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Cantabria, Castilla La Mancha, Castilla León, Catalonia, Extremadura, Galicia, La Rioja, Madrid, Murcia, Navarra and Valencia.

Spain can be enjoyable any time of year. The ideal months to visit are May, June and September (April or October in the south). At these times you can rely on excellent weather, yet avoid the heat of July and August. An alternative idea to insufferable the heat of the south in summer is to head north. Asturias, Galicia and Cantabria are all cooler than the south.

But there's decent weather in some parts of Spain virtually all year round. Winter along the Mediterranean coasts is mild, while in the height of summer you can retreat to the northwest, to beaches or mountains - anywhere to escape the heat.

Excellent and quiet beaches can be found near Malaga, Huelva and Almería in the south as well as near the coasts of La Manga, Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and Euskadi. If you do enjoy extremely developed resort towns, there are plenty of crowded beaches on the Costa de la Luz and the Costa del Sol. Of interest to many is the harbour of Almerimar with cosy bars, just south of El Ejido (Almeria).

Some of Spain's most unique architecture can be found in Córdoba, Salamanca, Granada, Toledo, Barcelona and Madrid. The visionary architecture of Antoni Gaudí and the Picasso museum are in Barcelona while Madrid is home to Spain’s top three art museums.

If you would rather get some fresh air, Spain is filled with opportunities to visit wildlife parks and get in some trekking. The Pyrenees, especially around the Aragón area, are some of the best areas for taking a wander. Andalucía has its Sierra Nevada mountain chain with luxurious skiing resorts near Granada. Winter sports are possible from November through May. Between Guadix and Baza (with its famous horse market) one can find cave-dwellings, cave hotels, and beautiful natural parks.

Spanish people are very open-hearted and comunicative. You won't have any problems getting to know the locals, especially in the big cities like Madrid or Barcelona. Buen viaje!

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