Things to do in Spain

There are just too many things to do in Spain. The diversity and variety it offers are endless. One visit to one place is not enough to capture all the richness and vibrance that the various regions of Spain has to offer. We have divided the top things to do in Spain into a few different categories to make it simpler for visitors to Spain. Top on the list are the must-see attractions including the famous festivals Spain is known for. The Spaniards love their food and drink and you should also partake of the delicious Spanish cuisine when you are visiting. Shopping and nigh. tlife are some things you might enjoy when in Spain which has so much to offer. And once you have done all that you need to do, why not relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery that this vast country is blessed with?

Must-see attractions

Spain has some of the best museums in the world and if you go there, you have to visit at least one of the many renowned museums it has. The Guggenheim in Bilbao’s Abandoibarra district is one such museum, which is the first of its kind in Europe. A modern art mecca, the architecture of the Guggenheim is an amazing conflation reflection Bilbao’s past and future, with its historic waterway featuring prominently in the design. It houses Picasso’s Guernica amongst its rotated collections of Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art. Salvador Dali’s museum Teatre-Museu Dali is another must-see in Catalonia. The surreal is what you can expect when you enter the salmon pink, egg-topped palace building complete with the brilliant and spectacular paintings and artwork on display. The museum is also a mausoleum as Dali is actually buried in the crypt right below your feet. In Barcelona, you have to appreciate Gaudi’s genius by visiting Sagrada Familia and Parc Guell, some of the strangest buildings in the world. Modernisme, the Catalan version of Art Nouveau and Gaudi’s contribution to it is particularly rarefied in the organic complexity of his works.

Running with the bulls in Pamplona is one of the many festivals in Spain that is truly a once in a lifetime experience. It is scary, loud and one of the most raucous party you will ever come across. La Tomatina is another festival that is not for the faint-hearted. Tomato-fighting happens on the streets of Bunyol. The fireworks of Las Fallas in Valencia and the mock battles of Moros y Cristianos in Alcoy are some other festivals you might want to catch when in Spain.

Eat, drink and be merry

No visit to Spain is complete with tapas crawling in the major cities of Spain. Where elsewhere in Europe, one would pub crawl, in Madrid, you can go for a tapas crawl, starting from the central Puerta del Sol and tucking into all the small dishes of ham and cheese or fried prawn, anchony canapes, fried potatoes in spicy brava sauce you can get as you wash them down with beer or the house wine. If you’re feeling the pinch then why not go for free tapas? In Granada and the assorted hinterlands, tapas are actually a complimentary courtesy.

Spain’s Galicia is also a seafood paradise and it is no wonder that the patron saint there was originally a fisherman. For some of the best seafood in the world, including scallops, eel, clams, mussels, prawns, lobster and crab, head to one of the many local restaurants for a sampling at a very affordable price.

Spain is also famous for its wines so another great way to spend your holiday would be to visit the vineyards. Marques de Riscal, Roda, Ysios and Muga offer tours of the vines, the oak casks and the aged Rioja for you to enjoy in the town of Elciego for example. You can even watch artisans crafting in-house barrels in Haro’s Muga, a wonderful old bodega by the town’s train station.

Shop till you drop and dance the night away

Spain is home to big named brands like Loewe, Zara, Mango and Desigual, well-loved by the entire world. So this is the best place for you to go Spanish and buy up the big Spanish brands that are cheaper and offer the latest pieces than back home. The malls like El Corte Ingles in Madrid and Barcelona are open almost all-year round and house all your shopping needs. For a more authentic experience, open-air shopping at flea markets and shopping at side-street stalls are highly recommended. El Rastro in Madrid is one such place where you can test your bargaining prowess.

Kick back, relax and enjoy the view

The Pyrenees has beautiful national parks where you can hike and enjoy the spectacular view. While perhaps not quite relaxing, you can definitely take in the beautiful sights of mother nature at its best here. Catalunya’s Parc Nacional d’Aiguestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici and Parque Nacional de Ordesa y Monte Perdido are two such parks where you can enjoy the unspoilt habitat. The glacial streams, high-altitude lakes, barbarous granite pinnacles and alpine canyons are just some of the more impressive natural splendors you can find here.

Spain is of course known for its beaches so a definite must-do when you have done everythine else is to take time off and laze at one of the many beautiful sunny beaches. From city beaches, to nudist beaches (yes, really!), to beaches where you can party till dawn, to pristine beaches where you can just relax and soak up some rays, Spain has it all.