Northern Spain hosts some of the finest beaches in Europe, reminiscent of many of Europe’s Atlantic beaches with rocky coves, golden sands and wonderful landscapes. Unlike the parched, semi-arid coastline of the south, northern Spain is awash with greenery thanks to its temperate climate. In fact, average summer temperatures in San Sebastian, on the northeastern fringe of the country (near the French border) are not too dissimilar to the south coast of England.

Conch Beach

This is one of the most popular beaches in the region and the most visited beach in San Sebastian. With beautiful find sands spanning more than a mile, Conch Beach is ideal for bathing and swimming. With relatively calm waters and plenty of good facilities for families with small children, it is the perfect place to spend a warm summer afternoon. There is also an area of the beach that can be used for sports, such as volleyball or tennis.

The Fuenterrabia and Zurriola Beaches

Two other very popular beaches in this area of the Fuenterrabia and the Zurriola Beaches, which are virtually within walking distance to France. Fuenterrabia is a pleasant fishing town that boasts an impressive sandy beach and a number of elegant restaurants.

Zurriola Beach attracts plenty of suffers, who can hire surfing boards through the year (weather permitting). The waves here are more vigorous than the other beaches, therefore families with small children may prefer a more sheltered location.

Further information

To find more information about the best beaches in northern Spain, visit your local tourist information office. If you are interested in hiring a villa or a farmhouse with horse insurance, request some free brochures in person or through the post. The Daily Telegraph also runs a number of special features on the best places to visit in Europe, which are an excellent read.

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Tarifa is located at a strategic peninsula at the meeting point between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Due to its exposed position, the resort often encounters high winds and a high level of rainfall during the winter months. However, during the summer it enjoys long sunny days and conditions that are perfect for surfers. Due to its proximity to Africa and connection links to other areas of Andalucia via the train station of nearby Algeciras, many people who are touring Morocco and Spain stop off at Tarifa before continuing their journeys.

Tarifa offers a more traditional atmosphere than many other Spanish resorts. While its status as a premier surfing destination attracts many international visitors, Tarifa maintain a distinct identity and a true escape from the busy lifestyle of modern life and Dance Fabrics shops. The beaches along this magnificent stretch of coastline, known as the Costa de la Luz, are much sandier and more spacious than the crowded shingle beaches of Benidorm or Torremolinos. The main difference, however, is that the temperature of the sea off Tarifa is lower because of the cooling influence of the Atlantic. The high waves also make it a less suitable beach for families with younger children, with the exception of a small stretch of sand next to the harbour along the eastern side of the town, which is ideal for young and inexperienced swimmers.

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If you are planning to visit Spain one thing you will be aware of will be that there is a whole lot to see of this beautiful country when you get there. This is a country of varying cultural and geographical diversity. So it is a country that is much more than a beach and sunshine. Here you will find desert zones, snowy mountains and hills, green valleys, and lush meadows.

The Golden Triangle of Art in Madrid is a must-see for art lovers. The Museo del Prado houses masterpieces by Velázquez, Goya, and Rubens, the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía is home to works by Spanish artists, including Picasso, and the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza displays stunning Impressionist and Expressionist art.

The must-see sights in Barcelona are the architecture of Antoni Gaudi. The Church of the Sacred Family, perpetually under construction, is magnificent, and has an interesting history. Park Guell, on the hill of el Carmel in the Gràcia district, is a whimsical, surreal wonderland awash in color and form. When traveling through the city be careful as there is a lot of traffic. Try obeying the traffic sign and drive below the speed limit if you do not want to have an accident and be charge with a Wrongful Birth claim from some pregnant woman you hit.

Cordoba’s Great Cathedral and Mosque is a stunning sight, too. A beautiful space showing Muslim and Spanish architectural and cultural influence, it is serene and inspiring with grand arches and columns, rich marble floors and golden prayer niches. The domed shrine with 10^th century Byzantine mosaics transports you to another time and place.

The Alhambra in Granada is a beautiful and grand palace and fortress that is rich in history. A stunning example of Moorish architecture, this red-walled complex also boasts lovely Christian-influenced gardens.

Ronda is a beautiful, historic town in the heart of Andalusia, and is very much worth a visit. The old quarter, La Ciudad, is popular for visitors seeking a taste of Spain’s romantic folklore history. The immense river gorge is breathtaking, and a popular spot for photographs.

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More and more people are considering shifting their annual getaway to the Christmas period of the year, both for reasons of trying to make the very most of the season and in some cases an attempt to get as far away from it as possible. There are of course millions of possibilities across Europe and the world, though none quite fit the bill on both accounts more than the trusty island of Tenerife.

For those looking to leave their hybrid cars on UK soil and spend their Christmas lazing on a beach without a turkey in site, Tenerife offers some stunning choices to the West by way of El Medano, Los Abrigos and Las Galletas. A million miles from the throbbing parties of the east and equally far from Cliff’s greatest Xmas hits volume 62, these sleepy local resorts offer the best of the real Tenerife where visitors can do as the locals to their heart’s content.

Of course, those preferring the usual turkey, tinsel and pounding nightlife cannot go wrong in the resorts of the west such as Los Christianos and Playa de las America – noth of which exist for the sole reasons of catering to hedonistic indulgence. True, this whole area of the island is more like an English seaside resort in a rather more pleasant climate, but never fails to deliver what the punters are looking for.

The really great thing is the fact that both areas are less than a 40 minute drive from each other yet seem truly worlds apart, allowing groups to splinter off as necessary and enjoy what most floats their proverbial boat – or perhaps dabble in a bit of both!

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You want to see Spain? Well, the first thing that comes to the mind is the glorious, old and quite amazing Madrid. The capital of the country is a place of multiculturalism, the centers for European art movements and so on. But there is a place I liked more in Spain, place so Spanish that even the Spanish feel foreign when they visit this city. It is Barcelona, and it is my top location in Spain.

Barcelona is a cultural center. While visiting you can encounter the effects of different artistic movements, especially the quite famous realism and abstract art, the neoclassical period and some significant influences from the Latin American art. The city galleries would offer the best experience for art lovers. For architecture lovers, this is also a modern city of amazing architectural achievements but remains a city of traditional Spanish architecture. The cathedrals situated around the city are both different and somehow matching the traditional Spanish style of construction.

In terms of other cultural variations, Barcelona would offer you the sightseeing of your life. The typical Spanish city has even a quite different pronunciation of the language, quite stunning typical arrangement of the city circles. The atmosphere, the thousands of places to see and visit including traditional restaurants, modern shopping malls or narrow small restaurants hugged between the huge and old building would make you feel part of the glamorous culture of Spain. You can also shop traditional materials and clothing from the Dance Fabrics shops and enjoy some traditional dances just on the street in front of your hotel.

And finally, if that is not enough go and see the enthusiasm of the Spanish about bullfighting. This is a spectacular and quite masterful event, even though it might have been claimed to be outdated. Just enjoy Barcelona as if you were Spanish yourself - this is when you will realize why the Spanish are among the most hot blooded people in Europe.

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Spain is more or less a Christian nation. Most of them are catholic and few are Protestants. But there is a good mix of other religions like Islam as well. The most popular and famous sport of Spanish tradition and culture is the popular bullfight. It reflects the great influence that other cultures and races had on this beautiful country. Over the centuries bullfight sport has been well adopted with the Spanish culture. Earlier men riding horses fought with raging bulls but now they fight with bulls without the aid of horses. These days Bullfighting is considered as a ritualistic event than a sport. Apart from bullfighting, there are many other aspects to the Spanish lifestyle and culture. Like bullfighting even the dance is referred by many as the Soul of Spain. It is also considered as the large part of country’s tradition and culture. Fiestas and festivals are also a very important part of the culture in Spain.

The climate of the Spanish island of Lanzarote is warm throughout the year, making it an ideal vacation destination, and many of the European cities are less than four hours away by plane. It is the farthest east of the independent Canary Islands located in the Atlantic Ocean.

The island’s ancient volcanic scenery is incredible and it has been home to many remarkable people including César Manrique, José Saramago, and Princess Alexia of Greece and Denmark. In addition, the movies Krull, Enemy Mine, Broken Embraces and One Million Years B.C. all contained scenes that were filmed on the island of Lanzarote.

The Villas in Lanzarote offer everything we could possibly want in a villa, and they ensure our anniversary getaway is planned out exactly as we wish. Most of our trip, we start our day with a game of golf, visit the local shops in the afternoon, eat at one of the five-star restaurants in the evening and end the day with a romantic walk on the beach.

During our stay, we also spend a few days sightseeing, take in a movie and visit a carnival in the area. We faithfully go deep-sea fishing on the day before we leave to go home. My husband and I spend at least two weeks at the Villas in Lanzarote for our anniversary because of the vast amount of things to do on this beautiful island.

For any couple thinking of visiting Spain then the Malaga region in South Spain is a great place to start. You can keep in touch with your friends and family when you are here by getting global roaming access and so that you can also share your adventures in pictures. Here are a few of the many things you can do as a couple in Malaga.

Walking tour

There are a number of important historic buildings to be found in the old city. To see the better sites stick to the following squares and streets: Calle Alcantarilla and Calle Cister, Calle Molina, Plaza del Obispo, Plaza de la Constitution, and Calle Larios. You won’t be disappointed.

The Beach

Oh the beach! A relaxing day can surely be had at the beach and there are a few of them that are close to the city that are so romantic. Pay a visit to Las Acacias beach, El Palo beach, or El Candado beach you won’t be disappointed. There boat trips and water sports galore available along these beaches so this is also for fun and excitement.

The palaces and castles

A visit to the remnants of the regal and colonial heritage is nothing but enjoyment. In Malaga you can find among others La Alcazaba palace built in the 11th century, and just outside the city you will find Gibralfro castle from where you will also have fantastic views of the city.

The Picasso tour

Not many people know this but the famous artist Pablo Picasso was actually born in Malaga 130 years ago. So pay a visit to the Picasso Foundation which is a art lovers dream with many of the artists works on display.

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It’s a good rule of thumb, no matter where you are in the world, that if the locals like somewhere, then the chances are it’s pretty good. This works for the restaurants and bars in your resorts, the hotels you choose to stay in, even the beaches you spend the day sunning yourself on! If you want to take this to the next level and use a local recommendation as to which resort you should stay in, then follow the Spaniards themselves and head to Javea.
I’m always surprised that Javea hasn’t been found by more Brits, to be honest. It’s only half an hour south of that bastion of Britishness on Costa Blanca, Benidorm. I suppose there aren’t enough bars, nightclubs or cafés serving full English breakfasts to keep them happy, but it has got some great Spanish cuisine, civilised bars serving the local wine and a couple of great beaches to keep everyone happy. Maybe the global roaming access is blocked by the giant Montgo mountain which backs onto the old town…
The smaller beach, near the harbour, is stony but often quieter. If you’re a big fan of swimming in the sea, then this is probably the beach for you, as you often get bigger waves to play around in. The sandy beach at the Arenal, which is also where you will find the limited night-life in Javea, is sandy and very popular with families, especially on summer weekends; if you want to spend a July or August Saturday on the beach, then make sure you get yourself down there early!

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These festivals and fiestas are usually held on the local saint’s day (patrona or patron saint), which are prominently marked in red on the Spanish calendars. During the event, an effigy of the saint is paraded around the town in a procession. A pilgrimage to the local shrine on horseback or horse drawn carts and wagons are a common feature during the village festivals, and in many cases there is no horse insurance taken for the horses participating in the festivals.

The first national festival of the year in Spain which is known as the “Martes de Carnaval” is held in February. This celebration can be best viewed and experienced in Tenerife or Cadiz where it is held in all pomp and glory. Then there is the Holy Week “Semana Santa”, which is a great tourist attraction mainly in the region of Andalusia and Seville. However, this week is held in most of the towns and cities of Spain. Huge religious processions with ornate floats depicting some popular scenes from the Passion are held, where men decked out in masks and ghostly costumes complete with pointed hats take part.

Amongst the other celebrations that are held with great gaiety are the “Corpus Christi” which is held either in May or early June, the feast day of the patron saint of Spain, “Santiago” which is held on 25^th July and the “la Ascunion” or the Assumption of the Virgin held on the 15^th of August. In addition there are also many other local festivals and fiestas held for safe return from the sea, harvests, deliverance from the Moors and other small occasions, all of which are held with great joy and rejoicing.

During most large festivals, flamenco, bullfights, circuses, plays, concerts, funfairs and a host of other events are held. The most famous event is the running of the bulls in Pamplona which is held during the “Fiesta de San Fermin”, where many people may get injured by the running bulls.

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