View of Seville and the Guadalquivir river

🇹🇭 Southern Europe · 48M people

Travel to Spain: the complete 2026 guide

Moorish Andalusia, royal Madrid, Gaudí's Barcelona, gastronomic Basque Country, festive Balearics, volcanic Canaries. Spain offers the cultural diversity of a continent in a single country. 1h30-3h flight from Paris.

📅 When to go? 🗺️ See itineraries

Spain at a glance

Capital

Madrid

Language

Spanish + regional

Currency

Euro (€)

Time diff

None

Flight from Paris

~2h direct

Average / day

€60-180

Visa

Best season

May-June, September-October

Photo : Taisia Karaseva / Unsplash

In 30 seconds

Why visit Spain

1

17 autonomous regions = 17 distinct cultures

Moorish Andalusia, Catalonia, Basque Country, Celtic Galicia, royal Castile. Each region has its language, cuisine, identity.
2

Tapas, paella, pintxos gastronomy

Tapas Madrid-Seville, San Sebastian pintxos, Valencia paella, Iberian ham Salamanca. The culture of "eating differently" — small shared portions.
3

Varied climate, 300 sunny days/year

Mediterranean on the coast, continental in Madrid, Atlantic in the North, subtropical in the Canaries. Somewhere in Spain it's sunny year-round.
4

Easy short-haul, massive low-cost

Paris-Barcelona, Madrid, Malaga flights from €30 (Vueling, Ryanair). EU, euro, easy Spanish, decent English in tourism.
5

Moorish, Gothic, Gaudí architecture

Alhambra of Granada, Cordoba mosque-cathedral, Sagrada Familia, Plaza Mayor. 49 UNESCO sites (2nd worldwide after Italy).

Calendar

When to go to Spain

Very variable climate by region. Andalusia: avoid July-August (45°C). Basque Country: avoid October-March (rain). Madrid: temperate except summer and winter.

Full when-to-go guide →

Ideal Fair Avoid · Click for details

Jan

🌡 5-12 °C

Feb

🌡 6-14 °C

Mar

🌡 8-17 °C

Apr

🌡 10-20 °C

May

🌡 14-24 °C

Jun

🌡 18-30 °C

Jul

🌡 21-34 °C

Aug

🌡 21-33 °C

Sep

🌡 18-29 °C

Oct

🌡 13-23 °C

Nov

🌡 9-17 °C

Dec

🌡 6-13 °C

Detailed programs

Recommended itineraries

1 week

1-week itinerary

📅 1 week 💰 📍 Barcelona · Madrid

See itinerary →

2 weeks Best-seller

2-week itinerary

📅 2 weeks 💰 📍 Madrid · Toledo · Cordoba · Seville · Granada · Valencia · Barcelona

See itinerary →

1 month

1-month itinerary

📅 1 month 💰 📍 Barcelona · Valencia · Andalusia · Madrid · Basque Country · Galicia · Canaries OR Balearics

See itinerary →

Destinations

Cities & islands of Spain

Center

Madrid

Royal capital

Catalonia

Barcelona

Gaudí + sea

By traveler profile

Which trip suits you?

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Families

Andalusia (Seville, Cordoba), Valencia (City of Arts), Costa Brava beaches. Direct flights, short distances.

💑

Honeymoon

Spanish paradores (former palaces), Balearics (Formentera), Ronda in Andalusia. 5-7 days €3,000-6,000.

🎒

Backpacking

€20-35 hostels, €12-15 menu del día, low-priced AVE (TGV) if booked early. 14 days backpacking €900-1,200.

🍷

Gastronomy & wine

San Sebastian (pintxos), Rioja (wine), Salamanca (ham), Madrid (cocido). Starred restos Asador Etxebarri, Mugaritz.

🥂

Luxury

Marbella hotels, Mandarin Oriental Barcelona, Finca Cortesin, Six Senses Ibiza. €500-1,500/night.

🏖️

Beach & party

Ibiza (clubs), Mallorca, Costa Brava, Formentera. Secret beaches: Cabo de Gata (Andalusia).

In pictures

Spain in photos

Spain

Madrid

Barcelona

Must-do

Signature experiences

✨

Alhambra visit

Book 3 months ahead

✨

Madrid tapas tour

La Latina, Malasaña

✨

San Sebastian pintxos

Parte Vieja

✨

Flamenco in Seville

Tablao Casa Anselma

✨

Sagrada Familia

Visit + tower climb

✨

Valencia paella class

Authentic rice + broth

✨

Camino de Santiago

Camino francés

✨

Diving in Cabo de Gata

Marine natural park

Plan your trip

Practical info

📄

Spain visa

No visa for EU nationals. Valid ID card or passport.

Read guide →

🚄

AVE (Spanish TGV)

Madrid-Barcelona 2h30, Madrid-Seville 2h30. Book 4-8 weeks ahead.

Read guide →

🛡️

Travel insurance

EHIC sufficient for routine care. Water sports and trekking: supplement useful.

Compare →

💳

Travel bank card

Cash always useful for tapas. Wise/Revolut OK.

Compare →

How much

Spain budget

💰 Calculate my budget →

Backpacker

€900

✈️ Low-cost flight: €60
🏨 Hostel/B&B: €25/night
🍷 Menu del día: €15/day
🚄 AVE + bus: €150

Recommended

Comfort

€1,800

✈️ Flight: €150
🏨 3-4★ hotel: €85/night
🍽️ Tapas + restos: €40/day
🚄 AVE: €250

Premium

€5,500

✈️ Business flight: €400
🏨 Paradores + 5★: €300/night
🍽️ Starred restaurants: €100/day
🚖 Driver: Included

Our picks

Prepare your trip to Spain

Our tested and updated comparisons for a smooth trip to Spain.

🏢

Best travel agency for Spain

Tailor-made agencies, organized tours, free quotes. Our selection for Spain.

See comparison →

🛡️

Travel insurance for Spain

Medical coverage, repatriation, cancellation. The best insurance for Spain.

See comparison →

📡

eSIM for Spain

Data plans, network coverage, pricing. The best eSIM to stay connected in Spain.

See comparison →

Combine with

Yellow and white tram on a Lisbon street

🇵🇹

Portugal

Land border, road trip

Traditional Moroccan building near the Atlas mountains

🇲🇦

Morocco

1h ferry from Algeciras

Road between green fields near mountains in Tuscany

🇮🇹

Italy

2h flight, Mediterranean

White and blue houses of Santorini facing the Aegean Sea

🇬🇷

Greece

3h flight, islands and sun

FAQ

Best time to visit Spain? +

May-June and September-October. Avoid July-August in the South (Seville, Cordoba 45°C). Mild winter in Malaga and Canaries (18-22°C).

Andalusia or Catalonia for first trip? +

Andalusia for Moorish culture and cultural shift (Alhambra, Mezquita, flamenco). Catalonia for Gaudí, sea and modern gastronomy. Combine both = 12 days minimum.

Do you need a visa? +

No for EU nationals. Valid ID card or passport.

Avoiding Barcelona crowds? +

Come October-April. Book Sagrada Familia 6+ weeks ahead. Avoid Las Ramblas for restaurants. Gràcia and Sant Antoni neighborhoods > saturated El Born.

Budget for 14 days? +

Backpacker: €900-1,200 flight included. Comfort: €1,800-2,300. More expensive than Portugal, less than Italy.

Balearic alternative in summer? +

Costa Brava (Cadaqués, Tossa), Costa de la Luz (Cadiz), Cabo de Gata (Almeria) much less crowded than Mallorca/Ibiza in July-August.