Welcome to Spain!

Spain or España, as it is called in Spanish, is a beautiful country situated in the Mediterranean region of Europe and is quite diverse in nature. The Spanish mainland is bordered to the south and east by the Mediterranean Sea, making it a peninsula, called the Iberian Peninsula. It shares the peninsular area with Portugal at the western end of the Mediterranean Sea.

The peninsular area measures 580,825 square kilometres, of which four fifth of the area belongs to Spain. In the north, Spain is bordered by Andorra, France and the Bay of Biscay. The Atlantic Sea also borders the southern end.

Spain has some interesting places to visit. Madrid, the capital of Spain, is a flourishing city; Barcelona is another pulsating city and is located on the coasts; Seville is an interesting city and is also the place where the flamenco music and dance originated; Pamplona, the historical capital of the Basque Country is also famous for the encierro or the running of the bulls. If you plan on vacationing in Spain during the running of the bulls it is strongly recommended that you book your Spain accommodation early to avoid disappointment.

With an average altitude of 600m, Spain is the highest country in Europe, second only to Switzerland. The landscape of the country consists of mountains, highlands and plateaus. Although Spain is situated in the temperate zone, it still has a diverse range of climate because of its rugged relief. The landscape has snowy mountains, green meadows and huge saline and marshy areas. There are also deserts in the south east region of the country. Check out our Spain weather guide for some information about the best time to visit Spain, along with a six day weather forecast.

Spain is divided into several autonomous regions known as autonomias. Some of the autonomias, especially those which have their official language other than Spanish, have their own historical traditions. These include the Basque Country or Euskadi, Analucia, Catalonia or Catalunya, Galicia (Galician), the Balearic Islands or Illes Balears (Catalan) and the Valencian region or País Valencià

A trip to Spain can never be disappointing as there are a number of things a visitor can see and do. It has great beaches, several cultural regions, historic cities and an active nightlife.

Spain has become a popular destination for golfers who want to take a golf holiday. The Costa del Sol region alone has 45 golf courses. Endowed with good weather and fabulous golf greens playing golf in Spain is a smart choice. What's more, after a good game there is great Spanish cuisine and excellent entertainment to be enjoyed.

The seaside town and villages- known as Villas Marineras offer a lot for visitors. There are long stretches of beaches spanning several kilometres and the beautiful landscape just beckons you. Here you can indulge in a variety of Spain tours and activities ranging from water sports, adventure sports and hiking.

The population of Spain is steadily increasing, chiefly due to the migration of people from poorer and politically unstable countries such as Columbia, Argentina, Cuba, Peru, Ecuador and Romania. The common factor amongst these countries is that they either have a linguistic or historical attachment to Spain.

Fiestas are a major part of Spanish culture. All of Spain eagerly awaits these fiestas and a lot of planning goes into making the fiestas a success. Each region and city has its own unique fiesta which is often held in the honour of its patron saint. During the fiestas there are processions, dancing, firework displays and bullfights. People enjoy wearing their regional costumes for the fiestas.

The Moors have greatly influenced Spanish architecture. The Great Mosque of Cordoba is one of the most visited monuments, as is the Alhambra in Granada which is conserved as it was when it was originally built. The Spanish Moors established their own unique style known as the Caliphal style. Later the Moorish architects who stayed back developed yet another style known as the Mujedat style which combined the traditional style along with Gothis and Romanesque features. Join a tour in Spain today, to explore the great archetecture, sights and sounds of the fabulous country.

A typical Spanish meal uses more olive oil than a typical British family may use. There are special dishes which use veal and lamb. In addition, Spain is a paradise for those who like sea food. Second only to Tokyo, Madrid has the largest fish market in the world. To accompany a typical Spanish meal there are aromatic and young wines from the region called Vinos de Madrid. If you want to finish your meal in a traditional way then you must try a cup of Anisado de Chinchon or anisette schnapps.