Situated along the Iberian Peninsula lays the dreamy country of Spain. Spain is a place that attracts many repeat visitors. Those that are new guests are usually blown away by how pleasant and good of value a vacation to Spain is. Dreamy private villas in Spain, food, wine, beaches, sun, history and so much more sweep people off their feet while they explore this European country.
If you are a newbie traveler, Spain’s welcoming culture and ease of just about everything from transportation, food and day to day activities make it a great choice country to start your international travels. For those more well-seasoned travelers, Spain offers a relaxing place to not have to worry over every little detail of your days. No matter what, Spain is a great value destination with plenty on offer.
As you round up a list of places you are considering to go for your vacation, here are five reasons to choose Spain:
The Architecture
Old buildings that retain their charm and functionality are dotted all across this country. Roman ruins can be seen throughout the lands showing the different paths history has taken. To this day the Roman Theater in Merida is still used for performances. In the center of Madrid many visitors are surprised to be able to marvel at an Egyptian temple. The Egyptian’s did not live there, but they did however gift the Temple of Debod to the city in 1968. Often the cause of neck cramps to visitors, so many varied and stunning cathedrals can be seen. The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is a place of international pilgrimage. Ancient Mosques dating back 1000 years dot the country too. The Mezquita in Cordoba is unique in all of Europe and has been listed as a World Heritage Site since 1984.
The Food and Wine
How can one think of going to Spain and not think of lavishing in their amazing food and wine? Spain has a strong reputation for having some of the best food and wine in the world. One of its claim to fame is being home to the world’s oldest continuous operating restaurant. Casa Botin has been running since 1725. The painter Goya used to be a waiter there. If you do get a chance to go, definitely try the pig roast. Another restaurant of world-wide reputation is El Cellar de Can Roca. In 2013 this restaurant won the prestigious award to best restaurant in the world. If you can’t get a seat there, at least try to walk by and check it out. Then keep meandering your way around and discover your own little gem of a restaurant. Spain has so many delightful cafes and restaurants to experience.
Amazing Accommodation
Given the long and diverse history, Spain has no shortage of beautifully constructed places to stay. Many savvy travelers are veering away from the traditional hotel bookings and instead opting to rent their own place. When traveling with a group of friends or as a family this can be a great value option. By renting a private place visitors still have all the amenities of home yet also a touch of luxury to remind you that you are in fact on vacation. In Spain you can be enjoying beach front views or be cozy and tucked up into the hillside among ancient groves of trees. Some guests like to go there simply to have a staycation. No matter what your travel style is, you can’t really go wrong with having a nice place to stay.
Enjoy Paradise along the Mediterranean Coast
One of the most delightful places in the whole world, the Mediterranean Coast is considered by many to be as close to paradise as it comes. Spain has hundreds and hundreds of miles of beaches. Of those about 577 of those have been award Blue Flag status. What this means is that there is a guarantee that the water quality is and will remain high. In addition many of those beaches are accessible to people with disabilities. This puts Spain at the tops of global rankings for having some of the highest accessibility standards.
The other great thing about Spain’s beaches is because there are so many of them you have a lot of options. Sometimes it’s fun to join the crowd, be near a bunch of restaurants and just get lost in the mix of it all. Other times your mood might want to take you farther away where you can find your own patch of beach in somewhere off in a secluded cozy cove. In addition Spain also receives about 300 days of sunshine a year. That is pretty amazing! So no matter when you are able to squeeze a vacation into your busy schedule, chances are pretty good you’ll get some Vitamin D while you are there.
World Class Art
Some of the world’s best known and loved artist were from Spain. Surrealist fans can lose themselves while taking a tour of Salvador Dali’s house. There is always something so interesting about being able to see how a mastermind artist lived. Others take a trip to Malaga, the birth place of Pablo Picasso. Here there is a museum with 300 some pieces of his work. The Guggenheim Bilbao is a vibrant and dynamic building and art space. It is engaging to visitors by having them enjoy both the art inside and ponder at the architectural beauty of the structure from the outside.
As you look at places to spend your precious and hard earned vacation time it is almost certain that you will find great value by spending your time in Spain.