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Spain see + do
The variety of the attractions in Spain means that itineraries can satisfy everyone from the beach bum to the gourmand, the history buff to the design fiend. Most visitors land first in Madrid, the buzzing capital, known for its nonstop nightlife and world-class art museums. From here, you can tour the ancient cities of central Spain like Toledo, Segovia, and Ávila. Or, zip down to Andalucía on the high-speed AVE train for the passionate flamenco and fascinating Moorish architecture of Seville and Córdoba.
Barcelona, Spain's most cosmopolitan city, is a must for lovers of contemporary art and design. The Catalan capital blends Mediterranean charm with looming Gothic steeples, cutting-edge style, and the fanciful architecture of Modernisme (the Catalan interpretation of Art Nouveau). Nearby, you can escape to the ruggedly beautiful coasts of the Costa Brava or the slate-roofed villages of the Pyrenees.
The northwestern swath of the country is "green" Spain, a region of lush mountains, small villages, and incredible coastal scenery that contrasts sharply with the better-known Spanish images of bullfighting and flamenco. Head north for hiking in the Picos de Europa national park or to explore the quiet towns along the Cantabrian coast. Turn your compass east to sample the vibrant Basque Country, where Bilbao's spectacular Guggenheim Museum and the delectable cuisine of San Sebastián await.
Never mind that it's a cliché: If you see only one sight in Barcelona, head to the Eixample and see Gaudí's resplendent Sagrada Familia. An...more
see the Barcelona guideDuring the second half of every September, San Sebastián is overrun by actors, directors, and cineastes from all over the world as it hosts its annual film...more
see the Bilbao + Basque Country guideThe Basque Country's oldest museum has just added a brand-new modernist concrete wing to the 16th-century Dominican convent that houses its collection. The...more
see the Bilbao + Basque Country guideLess than 35 minutes away by train from Barcelona's Sants station, Sitges is a small, self-confident seaside town. It was "discovered" as a bohemian outpost in...more
see the Barcelona guideThe north and northwest of the island are all about beautiful villages and rugged coastline, with the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range stretching down the...more
see the Ibiza + Mallorca guideOn Mallorca's south coast, visit the lovely fjord-like coves, notably Cala Figuera, with its bottle-green–trimmed boathouses; Cala Llombards, which calls...more
see the Ibiza + Mallorca guideFacing the Cantabrian Sea, the Basque coastline—a 150-mile stretch from Muskiz on the western edge of Vizcaya to the border of France—is a surfer's...more
see the Bilbao + Basque Country guideLike the city it calls home, the Arriaga theater has gone through its own dramas and difficulties—from a devastating fire in 1914 to floods in the...more
see the Bilbao + Basque Country guideOn weekends and summer weekdays, Bilbao's tourism office offers two separate 90-minute walking tours of the city. One covers the Casco Viejo area, including the...more
see the Bilbao + Basque Country guide
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