Spain is very different. In Barcelona, you want to wander the streets endlessly and look at Antoni Gaudi’s buildings. In the north of Spain there are tons of beaches, and Bilbao has one of the most amazing museums I’ve seen. In Santiago de Compostela I immediately wanted to take a backpack and walk more than a hundred kilometers on foot along the Santiago Way, but I haven’t made up my mind yet.
In this article, I will tell you what to see in Spain and how much everything costs.
📌 Input data
When is the season: in the south from April to October, in the north from May to early September.
Currency: euro, 1 € .
Language: Spanish, Catalan. Not all locals speak English well.
⛅ Weather
People travel to Spain all year round. The beach season in the south of the country lasts from April to October. In summer the temperature often rises to +30 °C, and then any excursion becomes an unbearable ordeal. The only way out is the beach. Winters are mild, and in Barcelona the temperature usually does not fall below +15 °C.
It rains frequently in the north of the country. In summer, the average temperature is +25 °C and the water temperature is +17 °C. I like refreshing water, so I usually go swimming when the weather is nice. In winter, it’s +8…13 °C degrees in northern Spain. This is a good time to explore the sights.
💸 Money
The official currency is the euro. It is always better to take cash with you, because payment terminals are not available in all small towns or souvenir stores.
📍 Cities and attractions in Spain
Barcelona is a good place to start a trip to Spain. When I first went there for a day, I had mixed feelings. It has beautiful streets, houses and tons of sights, but it’s hard to be a hurried tourist in the city: there’s too much to see.
I really got a feel for Barcelona when I went there for the second time without rushing. I walked along the crowded promenade in the evening, watched a soccer game in a sports bar, and swam in the sea in the heart of the city. Then I realized that Barcelona is both dynamic and unhurried in the Spanish way: in some areas you can feel peace and quiet, while in others you can find yourself in a crowd of people always in a hurry.
My main advice is to come to Barcelona for at least a week. During this time, you will have time to see all of Antoni Gaudi’s buildings, walk along the seafront and stroll through the Gothic Quarter. This is a narrow street where the spirit of the Middle Ages mixes with modernity, and gray, gloomy, but beautiful buildings in the Gothic style are adjacent to bars and restaurants.
Many tourists purposefully come to Barcelona to see the Sagrada Familia. It has been under construction for 120 years – it is the most famous long construction in the world. Its opening is tentatively scheduled for 2026, and for Barcelonans it will be bigger than the Olympic Games and any other events.
To visit it is better to buy a ticket in advance on the official website, because it is almost impossible to buy it day in day out. The ticket costs 17 €. The time of entry is indicated on it. I advise you to come in advance: there are always giant queues at the cathedral. If you don’t get in in time, the ticket will be burned.
The famous architect Antoni Gaudi envisioned the cathedral to be like a mysterious forest. Inside, your eyes run wild and you can’t believe that such a thing is possible. The high vault is really held as if on tree trunks, and multicolored stained glass windows refract the sun’s rays and fill the room with bright light.
Antoni Gaudi designed some other incredible buildings that are well worth a visit. My favorite is the Casa Mila, or quarry. Locals call it this because of its gray color. The building looks like a rock with bird’s nests acting as balconies. I find it melancholic and stark in the midst of the bright and colorful Barcelona, but at the same time powerful and fabulous.
Across the street from Casa Mila is the Quarter of Discord. It is so named because three modernist architects decided to secretly compete and build wall-to-wall buildings. One of them is also a Gaudi creation.
Mount Tibidabo is a place I went to only because of the TV series Friends: at the foot of this mountain, Joey, the hero of the sitcom, met a crying beauty. Tibidabo amazed me: I did not expect to see such beauty and the view from the top. There’s also Spain’s first amusement park on the grounds. Tickets are sold on the park’s website for 12,7 €, but you can buy them on the spot. There is no big rush on weekdays.
Tibidabo has a cathedral where you can easily climb all the way up to the statue of Christ. Standing on the balcony, be sure to hold your head up and look up at Jesus. You will get goosebumps – he seems so majestic and huge. The cathedral stands as if on a pedestal, which makes it look even higher and more majestic
Park Güell is another Gaudi masterpiece that is very popular among tourists: there are houses like from the fairy tale “Hansel and Gretel”, shaped winding benches and tunnels that resemble a jungle. The park is far away from the center, so I do not recommend going there if time is short.
Part of the park is open to the public for free, while a ticket to the main area with access to most of Gaudi’s buildings costs €10. It must be purchased in advance on the website and arrive exactly at the time indicated.
Montjuïc Mountain is home to the sports venues where the 1992 Olympic Games were held, the National Museum of Art, and the castle overlooking Barcelona. I advise you to walk around the Spanish Village, an area where the architecture of different regions of Spain has been recreated.
After the walk it is worth seeing the singing fountain, which was built in 1929. It works from 21:30 to 23:30 in summer, from 19:00 to 20:30 in winter, and from 20:30 to 21:00 in fall and spring. I was impressed not so much by the fountain as by the whole picture: the architecture, the street, the lighting and the music.
Valencia is a resort city with a beautiful clean and large beach. There is plenty to see and do when the sun goes down: Valencia is known for its futuristic science district. It’s a must visit if only to see the buildings from the outside. There’s a long alley with buildings that resemble spaceships. They house an oceanarium, a movie theater, a tennis court, a science museum, and a concert hall.
I’ve been to the science museum and liked a few of the displays, such as the large dinosaur skeleton. A ticket to the museum costs 6,2 € and to the oceanarium costs 22,9 €. They are sold on the museum’s website.
Valencia Cathedral houses the Holy Grail, a Christian relic whose authenticity is recognized by the Vatican. The building is not like typical European cathedrals. The mixture of several centuries and styles has made it not very noticeable, it lacks the standard pointed spire, but at the same time it is hard to look away from it. One of the walls is reminiscent of the Roman Colosseum.
Salou is a tourist town with hotels and apartments along the beach. I love new places, but I always stop by this small resort town if I have the chance. Time seems to stand still there, and the sea is always clear.
Despite the large number of people, I like the beach in Salou. It is not crowded even in high season. I was in Salou right after the cold and refreshing ocean in Portugal, and the water seemed too warm.
Not far from the city is the PortAventura amusement park and Europe’s only Ferrari Land. I am afraid of roller coasters, but for the sake of experience I made myself ride the highest European slide. In a few seconds the carts accelerate to 180 km/h and rise 112 meters. Those who sit on the front row are even given transparent glasses so they can open their eyes without fear of strong gusts of wind.
People come to Alicante for its clean beaches, many of which are marked with the Blue Flag, a sign of coastal cleanliness.
In Alicante it is better not to plan big and long excursions. Here you just need to sunbathe, swim and drink sangria. Calm and measured rest during the day is replaced by night dancing in numerous city bars and clubs.
I suggest going up to Santa Barbara Castle, a 9th century fortress that towers over the city. This is probably one of the few sightseeing places I recommend visiting in Alicante. I love looking at the little streets and houses from above, and the blue of the sea catches my eye.
Santa Barbara had an archaeological dig and found Bronze Age artifacts. History buffs can walk around the museum itself, but the viewpoint was enough for me. Visiting the fortress is free of charge. You can get to the top by elevator for 2,7 € or on foot.
Madrid is the capital of Spain and a city where you can spend more than a week walking through museums, parks and streets. I may not be forgiven by the people of Barcelona, but Madrid seemed truly royal to me. Wide streets, luxurious buildings, a large number of museums rightfully give it every reason to be the capital of Spain. Madrid is also very photogenic. You can get incredible pictures from almost any point.
It is better to come to Madrid in the fall or spring: it is no fun to go sightseeing in the sweltering summer heat.
In Madrid, everyone goes to the Prado Museum, the national museum of art, which is considered one of the best museums in the world. The works of the most famous masters of the 15th-18th centuries are presented here: the expositions include Bosch, Raphael, Goya, Rubens and Velasquez. Even small lovers of painting will enjoy wandering through the arched halls. Tickets are available on the museum’s website for €15.
The Royal Palace offers a glimpse of how Spanish monarchs lived: it preserves the interiors, the throne room and the famous royal kitchen with utensils dating back to 1861. Tickets cost €10 and can be purchased on the palace’s website.
Soccer fans are advised to visit the Real Madrid stadium. The stadium tour includes a visit to the locker rooms, benches, VIP boxes, a panoramic view of the stands and a tour of the museum. The interactive museum shows the team’s history, honors earned, players and coaches on large screens. Still on the tour, you can walk through the tunnel from which the players enter the field.
Toledo is located 80 km from Madrid and is on the list of Unesco protected cities. The main attractions of Toledo are its streets and houses. It is worth a visit, even for a couple of hours, to walk across the bridges, some of which were built by the Romans.
In Toledo you can descend into the Caves of Hercules, see the 14th century synagogue and imagine how people lived centuries ago. The houses resemble scenes from medieval movies, and the alcazar, or fortress, on top of the hill looks majestic and a little intimidating.
You can spend several hours in the Cathedral of Toledo. It is the main and one of the largest cathedrals in the country. I was struck by its size and the mix of styles – Baroque and Gothic. In the museum of the cathedral I advise you to take an audio guide.
Granada is located in the south of the country. Muslims lived there for a long time, so the city combines European and Arab features. The small streets reminded me of the medina in Morocco. I would recommend coming here to see how two cultures can coexist in one city.
In Granada you should visit the famous Alhambra fortress, which has been preserved since the 13th century. It is a pleasure to walk around it. Everything is made in a restrained but luxurious style: smooth lines, arched windows, water bodies in the courtyards. Before visiting, it is better to read the history of the fortress. You can buy a ticket in advance on the website, it will cost 14 €.
The streets and souvenirs remind me of Morocco, only they don’t like to bargain here, and the prices are twice as high
It often rains in Santiago de Compostela, but it’s not just for the beach: it’s the final point on the pilgrims’ route along the Way of St. James.
There are few attractions in the city itself: the main square with St. James Cathedral, the streets nearby and a park. But I recommend going there because of the atmosphere. I got into the city in the evening, came to the square and was surprised at how many people were just sitting on the sidewalk in a circle: talking and laughing, playing guitar, singing and dancing. There was a sense of general celebration and unity, as if I had become part of this multi-kilometer journey.
In the cathedral, after the service, which lasts about an hour, there is sometimes a ceremony to light the largest censer in the world, which weighs 80 kilograms. Several monks swing the censer, which hangs in the center of the temple, and each time it rises higher and at the end it is carried from one end of the temple to the other. The ceremony is always performed on the most important church feasts. You can see the video, dates of the feasts on the official website of the temple.
Bilbao was the beginning of my acquaintance with the north of Spain. When I landed at the airport, I was very surprised. I was used to a Spain without high hills with sun-scorched grass, but in the north I could see mountains and bright green forests from the window. I have never seen such nature anywhere else. At the same time, there are few tourists, which makes the destination even more interesting and memorable.
The Guggenheim Museum of Modern Art is a must-see in Bilbao. There are many interactive exhibitions, such as a large number of TVs and light installations, works by Dalí and Picasso. The temporary exhibitions change. I went to the Chagall exhibit. I didn’t understand anything, so it’s best to read up on the artist beforehand. You can buy a ticket to the museum on the website for 13 €.
Even if you don’t have time to go inside, I suggest walking around nearby. The building is made of glass and metal and looks a bit like a ship. Uneven lines and imprecise shapes combine so harmoniously that it is impossible to look at the museum.
There are several sculptures set up next to the museum. I remember most of all the 9-meter spider, whose name is Mama. She stands on long, thin metal legs and symbolizes the boundless love and care of a mother – such associations came to the mind of the creator of the sculpture.
The second interesting sculpture is a 13 meter tall dog bedecked with flowers. I thought it didn’t fit in with the overall landscape, but it certainly looks amazing.
The cable car, which is located near the museum, takes you up to the observation deck and park on Mount Archanda. From there you can see the airport, the museum from a different angle and residential neighborhoods. The ticket costs 3,6 € round trip. You buy it on the spot.
40 kilometers from Bilbao is the island of Gastelugache, which I recommend visiting. It became popular because Game of Thrones was filmed there. From there you have an incredible view of the small chapel, the winding bridge and the waves crashing on the embankment at high tide. The views are incredible: on the way to the bridge you have to walk 1.5 kilometers from the bus stop to the parking lot, and around every corner the island opens up in a new and exciting way.
🏠 Housing
I usually book hotels on Booking, but I always check on the hotel’s website. Sometimes there are more favorable offers there, for example, breakfast or other service is included.
In summer in Barcelona, it’s hard to find a hotel in the center cheaper than 90€. I stayed in a chain hotel NH, which was far from the main sights and the room cost 90 €.
You can spend the night in Bilbao for 50-60 €. In Salou a room near the beach in season costs 70-80 €. I have stayed twice at the Casablanca Playa Hotel. It is located near the sea. It has a good breakfast and a modest but clean interior.
In Valencia, I stayed at the Hotel Dormavalencia. It is conveniently located and inexpensive. On Booking they write that it is a hostel, but the rooms are all individual and with a bathroom. In season I rented a room for 50 €. The rooms are small but clean, there is a coffee shop nearby.
Airbnb. I love private accommodation in Spain: you can live in an authentic apartment. I only book with “superhosts,” which is the official rating the site gives to apartment owners with an impeccable reputation. I have always been lucky with both the apartment and the price. For example, in Santiago de Compostela we rented a clean large apartment in the very center for five people for 250 € for four days.
In Barcelona, the government forces Airbnb to pay high taxes, so you can’t rent cheap apartments through this site.
🚌 Transportation
Automobile. High-speed roads in Spain are toll roads, but you can always take the free ones through small towns. It will take longer, but it will be cheaper. When planning a route, I use the Viamischlen website. It shows possible routes, cost of roads and gasoline. For example, the Barcelona-Valencia section will cost almost 40€, and from Bilbao to Madrid you can get there for only 10€.
It is convenient to travel between major cities by train. The high-speed AVE train will take you from Madrid to Barcelona in two hours. A ticket will cost an average of 70 €. From Bilbao to Madrid you can travel for 20 €. Train tickets are sold on the official website of the Spanish railroads. In general, trains are a great competition to domestic flights and their fares are more favorable.
It is convenient to travel short distances by bus. For example, from Alicante to Valencia is easy to get in 3 hours, the ticket costs about 22 €. You can calculate the cost of the trip and buy a ticket on the website of the Spanish bus company Alsa.
🥘 Food
Spanish cuisine is different and delicious. Seafood is eaten in all regions. In port cities, there is always a neighborhood with restaurants that are not beautifully designed, but they cook fresh and delicious food. I like fried anchovies, dorada and calamari.
Always remember about the Spanish siesta – it is a long rest break due to the intense heat. In many cities restaurants are closed from 14:00 to 17:00, so before visiting I advise you to check the opening hours. It is also worth bearing in mind that the Spaniards dine late: many restaurants start serving dinner only after 20:00. In Bilbao, the only local food we could eat was tapas in the bar at 18:00.
In the south of the country, I recommend trying paella – rice with seafood. Its birthplace is Valencia. Once I wanted to have paella for dinner, but the waiter, who speaks poor English, stubbornly refused to take the order. It turns out that paella is eaten for lunch, it is believed that it should be cooked only from fresh seafood. In tourist places it is also served for dinner, but it is better to try the dish where traditional rules are adhered to.
Paella will cost 12 €. I liked the small restaurant J.M. There, fresh seafood is prepared simply but very tasty. The interior is extremely modest: there are paper tablecloths on the tables, there are few tables, and they stand close to each other. Dinner for two people cost 30 € with drinks.
Tapas are any appetizer with beer and wine. For example, a piece of baguette with fish, meat or vegetables. A portion costs 1-3 €. Among the inhabitants of small northern towns, it is usual and customary to go to a bar in the middle of the day, have a glass of wine and eat some tapas.
In northern Spain, I like the brand “100 montaditos” – these are small restaurants with inexpensive sandwiches. There are 100 different toppings on the menu. I’m always trying different sandwiches, but so far my favorite fillings are teriyaki chicken, jamon and salmon. One sandwich costs 1-2,5 €.
Jamon is a raw pork ham. The older the jamon, the more flavorful and expensive it is. On average, meat is cured from 6 to 36 months. But there are some that are aged for 3-4 years. Its cost reaches several thousand euros per ham. I am not a connoisseur or a fan of jamon, but sometimes I like to taste it with melon and a glass of wine.
Catalan cream, or crema catalana, is similar to crème brûlée, except it contains milk instead of cream. I like the hard sugar crust and the delicate cream that melts in your mouth. A portion costs an average of 6€.
Stores. If you live in apartments, you can save money on food and don’t have to go to cafes and restaurants. Local supermarkets sell fresh and delicious food.
The most popular supermarket brands are Eroski, Carrefour, Mercadona and Lidl. The most budget-friendly are Mercadona and Lidl. A 500 g steak can be bought for 5 €, two burger patties for 2.5 €, fresh salad leaves for 0.99 €, a kilogram of tomatoes for 3.8 €. The cost of jamon starts from 1 € per 100 g.
Alcohol. Sangria is a traditional drink made of white or red wine with carbonated water, pieces of fresh fruit and ice. I like to drink sangria on the beach: very refreshing. A liter carafe at the bar costs an average of 12 €.
Cava is a sparkling Spanish wine from Catalonia. One of the most popular producers is Freshenet. I advise you to try the brut: I like its sour notes. Cava goes well with seafood and smoked meat appetizers. A bottle costs on average 4-5 €.
Sherry is a fortified wine. I found it too bitter. Sherry is drunk with cheeses, seafood and fish. A bottle costs from 5 € and up.
🎁 What to bring from Spain
Every region and even every city has its own traditional souvenirs. I always recommend getting something from the supermarkets.
Ham from the supermarket is inferior in taste to products from specialty shops. 100 g of jamon costs 1-2 €.
Chorizo is pork sausage with paprika. I don’t eat sausage, but I buy it to make pizza. Thinly sliced circles of sausage give it spice and flavor. One sausage costs 2-5 €.
A 200 ml bottle of cava will cost 2 € and is a good substitute for a magnet or keychain.
Souvenirs made of multicolored glass. Most often small statuettes of bulls are brought from Spain: although bullfighting is banned in many regions, the animals remain a symbol of the country. A souvenir costs from 5 € and more.
Soccer paraphernalia of the clubs Real Madrid and Barcelona. A fan scarf in the souvenir stores of the two most feared rivals costs almost the same – 10-15 €.
📱 Internet
Free wifi is most often available in chain coffee shops and fast food restaurants such as McDonald’s and Starbucks. And rarely in local restaurants.
For a short tourist trip you can buy a prepaid SIM card – prepago. Vodafone has a tariff for 10 €, which includes 5 GB of internet. I usually have enough traffic for using maps and short surfing. I check social networks only in the hotel when I connect to the free wifi.
