The 30 greatest holidays in Spain for 2025
Let’s get into the mood here. Before you start reading suggestions for where to go and what to do in Spain this year, you’d better get yourself a glass of wine. It might well be the rioja you know and love, but what about trying something from Navarra, Galicia or Lanzarote? You can find excellent wines from all over the country, but that doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with a classic drop of rioja – and the same goes for your holiday choices.
That’s the thing with Spain. While we hope to give you plenty of new ideas for your getaway this year, there is always something new to discover in your old favourites, too, whether that’s the tree-lined, culture-packed streets of Barcelona, chi-chi Marbella, the pastures of the Pyrenees or that gorgeous little village in the middle of nowhere that you don’t want to tell anyone about.
July and August are, of course, the most expensive time for beach holidays, but increasing temperatures in those months mean you might be more comfortable lying on the sand in May, June, September or October instead, if you can get away then.
If you fancy a city break, there are great bargains to be had, both for flights and accommodation. A long weekend in the sunshine in Seville, Valencia or Palma, or hitting the latest cultural highlights of Madrid or Malaga will do you the world of good – with or without that glass of wine.
Explore the best holidays for:
Food and wine
1. Gastronomic delights: Catalonia
The distinctive cuisine and superb wines of Catalonia are getting a boost as the region has been designated a World Region of Gastronomy in 2025, the first European destination to receive the accolade. Find out just how good the food is on a tour with expert Gijs van Hensbergen. In between lavish meals and wine tastings – on a route that starts in Barcelona and heads up to France – you take in the region’s modernista architecture, the Greek and Roman ruins of Empúries, and the Dalí museum in Figueres.
The trip with Martin Randall Travel takes place from November 14-10 and costs £4,810pp, based on two sharing, including flights, accommodation in two hotels, breakfast, four lunches, four dinners and all activities.
2. Seafood, sherry and strolls: Vejer de la Frontera
To understand the culinary traditions of a region fully, you need to get out and explore the area. On the Atlantic coast, Cadiz province is a real gastronomic hotspot and, on this holiday that combines cooking, eating and walking, based in the whitewashed hilltop town of Vejer de la Frontera, you’ll see why. Cookery sessions, market visits and sherry tastings alternate with coastal and countryside hikes led by a local environmental expert – and there is plenty of time to relax on the beaches of the underexplored Costa de la Luz, too.
The five-night Active Hiking and Culinary Holiday with Annie B’s Spanish Kitchen costs from €2,375pp (£2,003), based on two sharing, or €2,725 (£2,299) for singles, staying at La Casa del Califa boutique hotel, B&B, most meals and all activities included. Book flights separately to Jerez, Gibraltar, Seville or Malaga.
3. Spanish capital of gastronomy 2025: Alicante
This laidback seaside city is in the spotlight this year, with a programme of festivals, food tours and cooking competitions all aimed at making visitors realise just how good the cuisine in this part of Spain is. Go to try the best rice dishes and fabulous seafood, the local turrón nougat and the wines of the province, with a few museum and market visits in between – or just head for the beach.
Stay at the stylish Casa Alberola Alicante, right by the Mediterranean, with doubles from €134 (£113). You can fly to Alicante from most UK airports.
4. Walks and wine: Catalonia
If you like – or have yet to discover – Priorat and Montsant wines, why not try a few in the vineyards scattered across the hills in the Priorat, a scenic corner of Catalonia? Close to the Costa Dorada in Tarragona province, with olive groves and almond orchards stretching across the countryside, this area is somewhere you can be as active as you like with all sorts of sporty options, or just stroll around the villages of caramel-coloured stone, musing on where to have lunch or your next glass of wine.
Stay at the Priorat Aparthotel, in a 200-year-old building in Falset, the main village in the area. The Irish owners will advise you on walking and cycling routes as well as visits to wineries and olive mills. Studios cost from £78 per night. The nearest airport is Reus.
5. The wines of northern Spain: Basque Country, La Rioja, and Castile and León
When you see that the legendary Tim Clarke is leading a wine tour, you know you’re in good hands and a lot of fun is guaranteed. After a couple of days tasting and eating your way around La Rioja, you travel to the Ribera del Duero in Castile and León. You then try the white wines of Rueda on the way down to Segovia, before flying back from Madrid. Food all along the route is superb and plentiful – but you might need to factor in a couple of recovery days afterwards.
The trip, from October 20-25, with Kirker Holidays costs from £2,896pp, based on two sharing, including flights, five nights’ B&B in two hotels, most meals and wine tastings.
Culture
6. Cross the country by rail: Madrid to Gibraltar
Get a real flavour of Spain’s different landscapes on this unescorted trip by train, which you can tailor to suit your interests. After a couple of days in the capital (staying at the sumptuous Mandarin Oriental Ritz), head south to explore Cordoba, Seville, Jerez and Ronda, with a final scenic journey through a landscape of hilltop white villages to Algeciras, across the bay from Gibraltar.
The trip with Ffestiniog Travel has a guide price of £2,225pp, based on two sharing, for 10 days if you fly to Madrid and £2,800 for 11 days if you travel from the UK by train. The package includes travel to Madrid, accommodation, including breakfast and a tour of Cordoba’s Royal Stables.
7. Parador road trip: Madrid, Castilla La Mancha, Andalusia and Extremadura
You will drive around a sizable chunk of central Spain on this unescorted tour, staying in some of the country’s most characterful parador hotels along the way. Flying to Madrid, spend two nights in historic Toledo (with spectacular views of the city from the parador terrace), before heading south to underrated Jaén on the way to checking in to the coveted Granada parador. Then it’s a beautiful drive across Andalusia to the dramatic hilltop town of Ronda, swinging north towards Carmona. The last few days are spent driving through the fascinating region of Extremadura, exploring Zafra and Mérida.
The nine-day, self-drive trip with Cox & Kings costs from £1,525pp, including flights, eight nights’ B&B, transfers and local support.
8. A city for solo travellers: Valencia
Considering a trip on your own? This itinerary is a happy mix of group activities and free time – most afternoons are free and you will stay in beautiful Valencia for the whole week, so you can fully unpack and relax.
You’ll have a boat trip on the Albufera lake to see the rice fields and have a go at making paella, as well as exploring inland, including Elche with its vast palm groves, the pottery workshops of Manises and Teruel, and Albarracín in Aragón.
The eight-night holiday is available in April, May, June, September or October and costs from £1,919pp with Riviera Travel, including flights, accommodation (no shared rooms), breakfast and four dinners. For more inspiration, see our expert guide to Valencia.
9. Off-radar in the north: Navarra
Everyone knows about the bull-running in Pamplona in July, but there is a lot more to this region in northern Spain. You will eat splendidly and the wines are exceptional, too. On this seven-day, self-drive tour, take in the Pyrenees, the Irati forest (famed for its beech trees), the medieval town of Olite and the wild desert landscapes of the Bardenas Reales, which have featured in Game of Thrones.
The Discover Navarra tour with Caminos costs from £850pp, based on two sharing, including accommodation and car hire. Flights not included. Nearest airports are Biarritz (in France) or Bilbao, or take the ferry from Portsmouth or Rosslare to Bilbao.
10. Discover the wild west: Extremadura
On this self-drive tour, travel from south to north through the undervisited, sparsely populated region of Extremadura in the west, staying in hospederías, hotels in grand traditional buildings. Highlights include the city of Mérida, with its rich Roman heritage, the Jewish quarter in Hervás and Monfragüe National Park.
Cáceres has World Heritage status because it is so well preserved, but you can also see superb contemporary art at the Helga de Alvear museum. With exquisite ibérico ham, wines and local cuisine, every meal in this part of the country is a gourmet extravaganza, too.
The 11-night trip with Sunvil costs from £1,450pp, based on two sharing, including breakfast, flights from Stansted and car hire.
11. Get a feel for flamenco: Granada
If you have always fancied learning how to stamp, twirl and strut to the rhythms of flamenco, head to the village of Moclín near Granada for a week of expert tuition and immersion in local life. You may be familiar with the village from Alan & Amanda’s Spanish Job on BBC One, in which Alan Carr and Amanda Holden buy a rundown property there, renovate it and reopen it as a B&B.
If you are totally inexperienced, don’t worry: this is a small group, aimed at solo travellers, and classes take place in the privacy of the stylish rural hotel where you stay.
The seven-night Flamenco: Dance, Music and History course from June 17-24 with Granada Cultural Holidays costs €1,950 (£1,644) for one person. If there are two of you, the second person pays €1,550 (£1,306) if also taking the course and €1,250 (£1,054) if just coming along for the fun of it. Book flights separately to Granada or Malaga.
12. Put pen to paper: Sierra de Aracena
Join bestselling writers Joanna Quinn, author of The Whalebone Theatre, and Manni Coe, who wrote brother.do.you.love.me, at the Finca Buenvino, a luxuriously laidback rural hotel and family home in the hills northwest of Seville. Whether you want to get started with an idea that’s been buzzing around your head or shape a work in progress, morning workshops will awaken your creativity. Talks on Andalusian culture, walks along drovers’ paths, stargazing and a lot of superb food, including the local ibérico ham, of course, will shift the most stubborn writer’s block.
The five-night Andalucian Writers’ Retreat with Toma & Coe runs from September 29-October 5 and costs €2,490 (£2,099) per person in a private room, including all meals and wine. Book flights separately to Seville. Transfers arranged on request.
Nature
13. A changed island: La Palma
The volcanic eruption of 2021 was devastating for the people of La Palma in the west of the Canaries, but the island now monitors any potential volcanic activity to be able to safely welcome visitors. A new road twists through this transformed landscape, which you explore with an expert guide. You will also hike through the lush pine and laurel forests, which, thankfully, were unaffected by the volcano. Cooling off in the rock pools that formed on Los Guirres beach is another new experience to enjoy.
The seven-night, self-guided holiday with Inntravel (01653 617001) costs from £850pp, in a traditional cottage (small hotels also available). Walking routes, maps, car hire and return flight from Tenerife to La Palma included. Flights from the UK to Tenerife can be arranged.
14. Pay tribute in the ‘Sacred Riverside’: Galicia
You may have done a few walking holidays in Spain but possibly never in landscapes like the Ribeira Sacra in the south of Galicia, where vineyards and dense forests carpet the hillsides flanking the River Sil. Staying in traditional houses with a night in the Parador de Santo Estevo, a former monastery, your efforts are rewarded at the end of each day with excellent food and Ribeira Sacra wines. The route ends in Ourense, where you can wallow in the natural thermal springs before trying a few of the city’s tapas bars.
The self-guided trip costs from £1,245pp for nine nights with On Foot Holidays, with breakfast, six picnics, three dinners and luggage transfers. Flights to Santiago de Compostela not included.
15. Make a splash: Pyrenees to the Basque Coast
River rafting, canyoning, kayaking, snorkelling and surfing are just a few activities on offer through this week based near the medieval village of Aínsa in the mountains of Aragón, and another week by the beach in San Sebastián in the Basque Country.
Guides and instructors are on hand and you can tailor the thrill-level of the activities to suit your brood.
The trip with Pura Aventura can be taken from May to October and has a guide price of £2,200pp, based on a family of four, including 13 nights’ accommodation, car hire, eight breakfasts, some other meals and seven activities. Book flights separately to Barcelona or Zaragoza.
16. Uncover Spain’s green side: Cantabria
Caves, coast, mountains and countryside – the northern region of Cantabria packs a lot into a small area, from the elegant seaside city of Santander to the astounding cave art at Altamira. Long, sandy beaches are great for surfing and the traditional way of life is very much the norm.
The Costa Quebrada, the coastline which stretches west of Santander for 10 miles, has just become part of the Unesco Global Geoparks Network in recognition of the distinctive geology of its rock formations and cliffs. The beaches are pretty impressive too.
Stay at El Castillo de los Locos, a boutique hotel overlooking Los Locos beach in Suances. Doubles with sea view from €120 (£101), including breakfast. Fly or sail to Santander.
17. Fall for the Alpujarras: Sierra Nevada
Chris Stewart’s series of enchanting books, including Driving Over Lemons, A Parrot in the Pepper Tree and The Almond Blossom Appreciation Society, put the spotlight on the breathtakingly beautiful Alpujarras on the southern slopes of the Sierra Nevada between Granada and the Mediterranean. Bring the books to life by exploring the mountains with the writer himself this autumn, enjoying a long lunch at his idyllic farmhouse hidden in the valley and joining the village fiesta in Mairena.
No need to worry whether you’re fit enough either, as the aim is to walk at a pace that is comfortable for everyone.
The holiday runs from September 14-21, based in the charming guesthouse Las Chimeneas, and costs €1,075pp (£908), based on two sharing, including all meals and transfers from Malaga airport. Flights not included.
18. The real White Isle: Ibiza
If you are more interested in exploring Ibiza than dancing the night away (although the two things are not mutually exclusive), it is much better to avoid the crowds – and mind-boggling expense – of July and August.
Go in April or October, outside the clubbing season, and try some of the seven new hiking routes, which range from six to 30 miles, along the island’s coastal and countryside paths.
Stay at Finca Melvin, a traditional villa with four bedrooms and a pool (plus a children’s pool) near the cafés, galleries and street markets in the village of Sant Carles and a two-minute drive from Aigues Blanques beach. A week’s rental in April costs from £2,714 with Oliver’s Travels. Flights not included. For more on Ibiza, see our expert travel guide.
Beach
19. A greener getaway: Lanzarote
César Manrique was the artist and architect who played a key role in promoting a more sustainable approach to tourism on his native island and turned the natural volcanic formations into visitor attractions all over Lanzarote. El Islote de La Fermina, a spectacular lido complex in the capital Arrecife that he designed in the 1970s, has reopened with a smart new look after being abandoned for decades.
Lanzarote Retreats specialises in environmentally friendly accommodation inspired by Manrique. New on its books this year is the Finca Botanica Tao, a stylishly restored traditional house in the centre of the island, where you really get a feel of local life. The property has five bedrooms and a pool and is a 10-minute drive from Famara surfing beach. From €1,544 (£1,302) per week. For more on Lanzarote, see our expert travel guide.
20. Bliss out on the beach: Costa de Almería
Easyjet will launch flights to Almería at the eastern end of Andalucia this summer from Bristol and Southend, adding to its existing services from Gatwick and Luton. With returns from less than £50, this makes a break to the underrated city of Almería pretty tempting, as well as to the beaches in the province.
Mojácar, a pretty hilltop village with a lively beachside strip, is a popular base for holidays. A week in April at the Parador de Mojácar starts from £681 per person, based on two sharing on a B&B basis, flying from Southend.
21. Take a dip: Formentera
Not much encouragement is needed to make anyone sink into the pale turquoise water that laps the beaches of Formentera, but improving your swimming skills is a pretty good excuse for a holiday on this idyllic Balearic island south of Ibiza. Highly experienced coach James Ewart will help you both hone your freestyle technique and gain confidence in open water with swims around the island’s scenic coast.
The five-night holiday with SwimQuest costs from £1,599pp, based on two sharing, from October 5-10, including accommodation, breakfast and lunch. Book flights separately to Ibiza.
Active
22. Pedal your sins away: the Camino de Santiago
A Jubilee Year occurs whenever St James’s Day, July 25, falls on a Sunday, as happens in 2025. For pilgrims slogging their way across Spain to Santiago de Compostela, this has historically meant all their sins are absolved. While these days a lot of people tackling one of the pilgrimage routes do so for spiritual or fitness reasons, rather than religious beliefs, it still counts as a bonus.
You’ll feel you’ve earned a bit of salvation if you cycle the last 125 miles of the Camino Francés, through the stunning landscapes of El Bierzo and Los Ancares, as it involves a few steep climbs.
The self-guided, seven-day trip with Saddle Skedaddle costs from £1,395pp, including B&B accommodation and airport and luggage transfers. Bike hire costs £140 (£280 for e-bikes). Available from April to September, but bear in mind the route will be particularly busy in summer this year. Book flights separately to Santiago de Compostela.
23. Get fit on the Costa del Sol: Marbella
Feeling flabby and foggy? The Midlife Reset Luxury Retreat is all about transforming your mind as well as your body. As well as yoga and meditation by the Mediterranean, gym sessions, spinning and swimming, there are workshops focused on improving your eating habits and fitness routines. You’ll leave feeling a lot more positive about all aspects of your life. Staying at the Puente Romano Beach Resort, one of the best hotels in Spain, which has excellent sports facilities, means your mood miraculously lifts as soon as you arrive.
The three-night break from March 13-16 with 38 Degrees North costs £1,999pp based on two sharing, or £2,399 in a single room, including activities, breakfast and lunch. Book flights to Malaga separately.
24. Cycling through lush valleys: Murcia
Ride through some particularly picturesque countryside on this escorted trip in Murcia in south-eastern Spain. A route along a greenway leads to the hilltop town of Caravaca de la Cruz, an important place of pilgrimage, where your group is based for three nights. Cycling along paths and quiet roads in the bucolic Ricote Valley, with vestiges of the area’s Moorish heritage, your view is of palm trees, olive groves and citrus orchards. This trip works particularly well for solo travellers and it is well worth adding on a day or two in the provincial capital at the end, which is celebrating its 1,200-year anniversary this year with lots of street festivals and events.
The seven-day trip with Explore costs from £849 for six nights’ B&B (solo supplement £178). Book flights separately to Murcia or Alicante.
Family
25. Family favourite: Menorca
Renowned for having some of the best beaches in the Spain, Menorca has always had strong eco credentials, too – long before sustainability became a buzzword – and has been a Unesco biosphere reserve for more than 30 years. It is also a top gastronomic destination with small-scale producers, great tapas bars and restaurants that use as much local produce as possible.
Stay near idyllic Cala Morell on the north-western coast at Villa Garbo, a chic five-bedroom property with room for extended family or a group of friends, that costs from £2,998 for a week in June – but drops to £1,698 in September – with Vintage Travel. Book flights separately.
26. Check in, chill out: Tenerife
Planning a big family holiday can be a nightmare when everyone has different ideas about what makes a great hotel.
If you like a bit of luxe, the Royal Hideaway Corales Resort in Costa Adeje should make everyone happy – there’s even a gaming room for sulky teenagers. The beauty is that it comprises three independent hotels, one of which is adults-only while the other has suites with one or two bedrooms. You can hang out together when you want to, for as long as you want to. The new five-star Royal Hideaway Corales Villas, opening in March 2025, cranks the standard up a few more notches. Swim-up suites from £358 per night. For more on Tenerife, see our expert travel guide.
27. Fun for the family: Costa de la Luz
Jet2 starts flights to Jerez this year, from Manchester, Leeds-Bradford and Birmingham, making it much easier to get to the spectacular beaches of the eastern Costa de la Luz on Spain’s Atlantic coast.
A holiday at the Iberostar Waves Royal Andalus on the magnificent La Barrosa beach in the resort of Novo Sancti Petri means never having to worry about the kids – or adults – being bored, what with the pilates classes, tennis courts and a golf course next door. Mind you, it is all too easy just to while away the afternoon with a platter of fried fish and a bottle of rosé at the beach club. The atmospheric cities of Cádiz and Jerez – and a string of seaside towns and beaches – are all within easy driving distance.
A week’s stay for two adults and two children in a beachfront suite on a half-board basis starts at £2,236 with Jet2, flying from Birmingham.
Luxury
28. Asturias: the region that has it all
With rising temperatures making the south of Spain uncomfortably hot in summer for some, more people are looking to the cooler northern coast. The principality of Asturias has around 200 miles of coastline, with superb, unspoilt beaches and mountains where brown bears roam. Oviedo, the elegant regional capital, with excellent restaurants and boisterous cider bars, is an increasingly popular city break destination.
Narbasu, a gorgeous countryside hotel, is run by the Manzano family, who are behind several of the best restaurants in Asturias – including Casa Marcial, which has three Michelin stars. Doubles from €149 (£126), including breakfast. Fly to Asturias from London Gatwick with Vueling.
29. All-inclusive luxury: Majorca
If it has been years – or even decades – since you had an all-inclusive package holiday in Majorca, you will be surprised at how upmarket the scene has become. Just look at the five-star Zafiro Palace Andratx, which has added the likes of electric mopeds and a concierge service to its all-inclusive package. Most of the restaurants are à la carte, so no queues for the buffet here, either.
The Zafiro Club section elevates the luxe factor with suites with more privacy, a separate pool and Jo Loves products. All-inclusive Redefined packages cost from £2,537 for a junior suite for two people with a plunge pool for a week in May with airport transfers. Flights not included. For more Majorca inspiration, see our expert travel guide.
30. Fairmont La Hacienda Costa del Sol: a new luxury hotel in Andalusia
The quieter, western end of the Costa del Sol has been creeping upmarket for a few years now, with a string of five-star resort hotels that are a world away from the tired old package holiday image.
Opening in April is the Fairmont La Hacienda Costa del Sol, where a quarter of the accommodation is in villas with private pools. The spa has a yoga studio, and chef Benito Gómez, who has two Michelin stars at Bardal in Ronda, is in charge of the signature restaurant. Doubles from €400 (£338), including breakfast. Fly to Gibraltar or Malaga.
This piece was first published in February 2023 and has been revised and updated.
About our expert
Annie has been living in Madrid on and off for more than 30 years. She never gets tired of exploring the oldest parts of the Spanish capital and discovering new tapas bars.
