Tourism in Spain: the passionate traveller’s paradise

Spain has over 8,000 km of coastline, much of it graced with romantic beaches. If your idea of beauty is off the beaten track, check out the striking rock formations on Playa de Las Catedrales, the best beach in Galicia. Baking in the hot sun more your speed? Head south to Costa del Sol in Andalusia. Couples crazy for Gaudí should head to Barcelona to admire his art: on Passeig de Gràcia, they can be in awe of the private residences he built, before going on to admire the impressive Sagrada Família, which should be completed by 2028. To end the day, why not peer out on the gorgeous city sitting atop of Park Güell, another one of Gaudí’s masterpieces. Though it may sound cliché, you can’t go to Spain without trying the paella in Valencia. Share a Paella Valenciana, made from meat instead of seafood—it’s the original way to prepare paella.

Capture your kids’ imaginations with a trip to Toledo, a city known since pre-Roman times for sword-making. Visit Mariano Zamorano’s Swords and watch sparks fly—first as the steel is tempered and polished, then in your children’s eyes. At breakfast, try some delicious churros, one of Spain’s most well-known treats. The doughy pastry deep fried and dipped into creamy hot chocolate is too delicious to miss.

Take a trip to Madrid with your artsy mates and consider the genius of Picasso and Dali at the Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, the Museo del Prado and the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza. For a more rugged excursion, hike through the breathtaking regions of northern Spain. Walk all or part of the 800 km Camino de Santiago, an ancient pilgrimage to the tomb of St. James. It’s a trek known to change people’s lives. Let it, along with the rest of Spain, change yours.