From magnificent monuments and landscapes to the exceptional food and traditional dances, here are 10 reasons that will persuade you to visit Spain!
There’s nothing more exhilarating than exploring new destinations and experiencing what they have to offer. If you are still undecided on where to spend your holiday, keep on reading Oh My Good Guide list of reasons for choosing Spain:
1. Reason to visit Spain #1: Amazing food to taste
There’s no question that Spaniards know how to enjoy the simple things in life. This certainly reflects on their dishes so we can say gastronomy is one of the very good reasons to travel to Spain.
Due to a long history of invasions, Spanish cuisine has been highly influenced by many cultures. Wine, oil, and olives were passed on from the Greeks and the Italians, meat and fish from the Celts and honey, almonds, and spices from the Moors. As a matter of fact, nowadays Spain makes 44% of the world’s olive oil, surpassing Italy and Greece!
Spanish dishes are usually described as hearty, rustic, and very delicious and we couldn’t agree more. We are sure you’ve heard of tapas: the little portions of food that traditionally used to be served up with a drink in a bar. Tapas are extremely popular, not only because people get to taste a variety of dishes, but also because it encourages sharing and provides a more convivial eating experience.
Paella, a vibrant Spanish rice dish has held a place of honour and practicality in Spanish homes for centuries. Other prominent dishes are Gazpacho, Jamón, Churros, Patatas Bravas, Chorizo and Tortilla de patatas. It’s pretty obvious that with such a wide variety of flavours, Spanish cuisine can satisfy even the most demanding palates!
TIP #1: Food is a religion in Spain and when it comes to food culture you should be really well informed. Check the most relevant Spanish food facts, eating times and traditions in our dedicated article.
TIP #2: If you would like to learn more about Spanish food, you should definitely join one of our highly-rated Food & Wine experiences, available in different cities across Spain!
2. Amazing beaches for summer holidays in Spain
Good beaches and sunny days are definitely two of the best reasons to visit Spain, especially for summer vacations. Spain’s peninsular location in Europe gives it two coastlines; one along the Atlantic and one along the Mediterranean. Together with the most ravishing islands, they sum up to more than 5,000 kilometres of beautiful beaches for your holidays to Spain.
From busy beaches with lively crowds and packed beach bars to more isolated pine-dusted coves, Spain’s best beaches won’t leave any sun-lovers disappointed.
Plus, if you were searching to upgrade your social media content, these beaches are practically begging to be Instagrammed! Some of the hottest spots are La Concha Beach in San Sebastian, Playa de Las Catedrales in Galicia, Platja de Ses Illetes in Formentera, and the beaches of Sitges in Catalonia. With so many amazing beaches, do you really need more reasons to visit Spain?
TIP: If you want to discover more about the gorgeous Spanish coastline and its beautiful coastal towns, we have the perfect post for you! If you are thinking about visiting the Spanish Islands instead, we’ll help you decide between Canary or Balearic Islands!
3. 47 listed UNESCO sites to discover
As we mentioned before, Spain has a rich, long history and boasts a wide variety of monuments that bear a deep cultural heritage, since many civilizations left their traces in the Spanish culture. So whether you are a history buff or not, the country is home to 47 masterpieces of cultural significance or natural beauty which were given the distinction of being UNESCO World Heritage Sites. With so many sites listed, it is no wonder Spain has the third most UNESCO Sites of any country in the whole world! In fact, the best places for your holidays to Spain.
A few distinguishable monuments are the works of Antoni Gaudí in Barcelona, the Alhambra and Generalife in Granada, the Roman remains in Tarragona, and the historic city of Toledo. We promise a trip through any of these 47 sites of importance is absolutely worth it. It will bring you one step closer to this multihued and impressive mosaic of traditions and customs.
If you want to check out some amazing monuments in Malaga, consider booking our Malaga highlights & sunset tour!
4. Amazing sceneries for unique road trips
For any road trip lover, Spain is the ideal holiday destination! Why so? Here are the main reasons why travelling to Spain if you love road-tripping is a good idea: Spanish roads are in perfect conditions and they are all free (except for a few highways), rental cars are quite cheap and the variety of sceneries you can watch along the way is just endless.
Some of our favourite road trips are:
- Andalusia Road Trip: Spain’s essence – explore this beautiful Spain region and learn about Andalusia Moorish roots in cities like Seville, Cordoba, Granada, Malaga or Ronda. Apart from enchanting whitewashed cities, you can also enjoy its rich nature, staying in some of Andalusia’s original rural hotels and doing some eco-tourism!
- Northern Spain in 15-days: Discover the Basque Country, Cantabria, Asturias and Galicia with our 2 weeks Northern Spain road trip itinerary!
- Spain in 2 weeks: Only 2 weeks in Spain? No problem! Just follow our 15 days road trip itinerary and you will discover the main and most beautiful cities in Spain!
Don’t worry if you don’t have as many days as we advise in our Spanish road trips posts above, you can always adapt the itinerary. Also, you can help yourself with one of these 21 apps that will help you all along your Spanish trip.
5. Best reasons to visit Spain: Nature and landscapes
Do you want to disconnect from the bustle of everyday life? What about rejuvenating outdoors in nature while taking in spectacular views? Spain’s landscapes will take your breath away! There is a great diversity of landscapes from lush forests to dry deserts, from volcanoes to lakes, along with a long list of mountains; these natural wonders never cease to amaze.
Many of them are included in the 47 UNESCO World Heritage Sites we mentioned above which highlights just how generous was nature’s touch to this country. Some of these noticeable sites are the Pirineos-Monte Perdido in Aragon which is shared with France, Bardenas Reales in Navarra, Caminito del Rey in Málaga and Las Médulas in León.
TIP: If you would like to discover Spain off the beaten path, have a look at our dedicated post with special recommendations and top itineraries! Also, take a look at this special Rural Spain Holidays if you are seeking some peace.
6. Surprising festivals to take part in
One of the reasons why you should visit Spain is because it is the country of fiestas and festivals! Spaniards are always in the mood for a celebration and what better way to reflect their traditions than by an array of festivals all year round?
From the smallest village to the most modern city suburb, everyone devotes a few days a year to these special occasions. Coinciding your visit with such an event will propel you right into the heart of the vibrant Spanish culture and Spain holidays traditions
From religious to flower exhibitions, from music to heritage; Spain hosts marvelous fiestas that will blow you away. Even though each festival has its own particular characteristics, there are a few common denominators to all of them — fireworks, guitar, flamenco, and horses! Some widely known events are the Holy Week (Semana Santa), the San Fermin (Pamplona Bull Run), the Tomatina Tomato Fight and the Carnival.
7. Super friendly people to meet: my favorite reason to visit Spain!
Mi casa es tu casa (my house is your house), that’s what the Spaniards say and stand for. Spanish people are famous for their hospitality and kind-heartedness towards friends and strangers. From the young to the old, the locals have an overwhelming hospitality that is incompatible across the globe and know the Spain holidays traditions.
Maybe it’s their culture or style of living that is just welcoming of new people. Whether you are looking for directions, a homemade recipe, some good company, or even an intellectual exchange, the Spanish will show you their way of life like no other tourist would. Make sure to learn some basic phrases in Spanish that will help you break the ice.
If you stay in touch, we assure you that they will consider you a close friend, an amigo, and they will cherish your friendship dearly. So don’t be afraid to reach out, because meeting new people can actually change your life in the best, most unexpected ways!
8. Flamenco shows that you will always remember
Flamenco is without a doubt the most important musical-cultural phenomenon in Spain. The dance is tightly tied to the music that was brought by the gipsies in the fifteenth century. Flamenco consists of hand-clapping, castanets, and rhythmical stamping of the dancer’s feet. It is essential for an artist to invoke a response, to know they are reaching deep into the soul of their audience.
Flamenco live shows are exhilarating, challenging, and physically stimulating. The dancers know a basic set of moves and timings, but everything else is improvised as the music piece develops. The singer, the dancers, and the guitarist all closely interact. They inspire each other and ultimately work together to perform in sync until the end of the song. This whole extraordinary, emotional experience is something you will certainly never forget. ¡Olé!
9. A vast selection of wines to try
Wine is, of course, one of the top 10 reasons to visit Spain. Spanish wine has been produced since the first century AD. Grapes are the third biggest crop in Spain after grains and olives and there are over 400 different varieties! The main varieties, though, are the reds Tempranillo, Bobal, Garnacha, and Monastrell; the whites Albariño, Airén, Verdejo, Palomino, and Macabeo; and the three Cava grapes Parellada, Xarel·lo, and Macabeo.
Some more numbers; 15.5% of the world’s vineyards are in Spain, making Spain not the top country in the world in terms of area covered by vineyards, but the top exporter of wine in the world, too.
Also, Spain is the number one worldwide producer of organic wine. It has over 80.000 hectares of land is specifically registered and documented as organic. The basic types of wines you will find are:
- Tinto – red wine
- Rosado – rose wine and blush wine
- Blanco – white wine
- Espumosos – the general term for all sparkling wines
- Cava – a special sparkling wine, similar to Champagne
- Sherry, also known as Jerez – a type of wine with higher alcohol that can age for decades
If you can’t already tell, wine is kind of a big deal in this country, which explains why this is one of the reasons people from around the world visit Spain.
If you would love to learn more about Spanish wines, you should definitely join one of our Food & Wine experiences, available in different cities across Spain!
10. Last reason to visit Spain: Its streets, buildings and history!
All in all, there is a wide range of reasons why you should visit Spain. It offers a magical experience with the snow-capped mountains, the vast monuments, the stone castles, the ancient ruins, and the sophisticated but modern cities.
Let’s not forget about the astounding villages, though. A tangle of narrow cobbled streets lined by whitewashed houses, their wrought-iron balconies filled with planters of colourful flowers paint the most idyllic picture.
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With an exquisite swagger, bravado and charm, along with natural beauty and diversity, Spain is bound to astonish you. What are you waiting for?
Now it’s your turn! Can you add some more reasons why visiting Spain should be on your travel bucket list? Let us know in the comment section below and don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter to stay tunned in!
Enjoy your Spanish holidays and count on us if you need a hand with your trip planning!
Would love to visit Spain someday! Most especially roaming around these UNESCO World Heritage Sites. I am big fan of culture, history, and architecture, guess I’ll never get enough of wandering the streets and admiring the rich history of Spain.