Our favourite places to visit in Spain
Like Portugal and Greece, Spain is a perennial favourite holiday destination for us Brits. From its sunny cities such as Barcelona and Seville, to its capital Madrid, there are lots of holiday destinations in Spain that are perfect for a cultural city break. If it's beaches you want, head south to the sun-baked shores of Marbella.
The country is home to various island groups, too. The Balearics, consisting of Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and lesser-visited Formentera, are perfect holiday choices. Ibiza may have a rowdy reputation, but in reality the island has a much more serene side and Dalt Vila, its hilltop old town, is beautiful.
And Mallorca may be a more popular choice, but Menorca is just as captivating, with its charming port towns and rural retreats – we love Villa Le Blanc Gran Meliá on the Santo Tomàs seafront.
Over in the volcanic Canary Islands, there are more sunny Spanish holiday destinations to choose from, including old favourites Lanzarote and Tenerife, the latter of which has a dream hotel for foodies in the form of the Ritz-Carlton Abama.
And in the heart of Andalucia, Hacienda de San Rafael is the perfect base if you're hoping to explore Seville and its imposing Gothic cathedral.
Read on for the best destinations in Spain for a summer holiday.
Lanzarote
For a holiday in Spain with a more dramatic than average landscape, try Lanzarote, with its volcanoes, lava fields, black and red earth, and intriguing rock formations. It also has whitewashed houses, palm groves and, of course, beautiful beaches. Away from the coast, don’t miss the charming villages inland.
The island has been designated a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO – to really appreciate the Mars-like scenery, head into the Timanfaya National Park, or book a trip to the Montañas del Fuego (which means Mountains of Fire) to see the volcanic cones, curious geology and lava fields.
Where to stay: In the smart Playa del Cable area of the island’s capital Arrecife, Hotel Villa Vik is an adults-only boutique retreat where you’ll feel like part of the family.
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Mallorca
It’s not hard to see why Mallorca is such a classic Spanish holiday destination for Brits. The island has it all, from a vibrant capital and gorgeous beach resorts, to the spectacular Serra de Tramuntana mountain range, lively port towns such as Sóller and inland villages favoured by artists such as Deià.
Palma has a charming old town, an imposing Gothic cathedral and lots of excellent restaurants. From there, you can catch an old-fashioned tram all the way to Sóller for lunch at one of the restaurants lining the harbour.
Where to stay: A Belmond outpost in Deià in the island’s north-west, La Residencia is one of the most luxurious hotels on Mallorca, with peaceful gardens, a superb spa and several hundred works by local painters.
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Tenerife
Another island within the Canary archipelago, Tenerife has a landscape that’s as mesmerising and unusual as its counterpart Lanzarote. It’s the biggest of the Canary Islands, which are off the coast of West Africa, and home to the looming Mount Teide, a dormant volcano and the loftiest peak in Spain.
As it’s a volcanic island, some of the beaches have black sand, but there are regular golden shores, too.
Where to stay: The Ritz-Carlton Abama is the ultimate place for fine-dining on Tenerife, since it’s the proud owner of several Michelin stars, spread across its many restaurants, which include Basque and Japanese options.
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Barcelona
A cultural city with its own beach, Barcelona is a Spanish holiday destination that lets you combine a city and seaside break. High-brow highlights include the Picasso museum, the art nouveau La Sagrada Familia and Gaudi’s other great Barcelona work, Park Güell.
After winding your way through the Gothic Quarter’s narrow medieval lanes (and its restaurants and bars), you can put your feet up at the beach.
Where to stay: Close to the Passeig de Grácia, Almanac is a perfectly positioned design hotel, with a rooftop pool, bathrooms made with Ibizan marble and free minibars in the guest rooms.
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Menorca
Another Balearic beauty, Menorca gets slightly less footfall than its neighbours Mallorca and Ibiza, but it shouldn’t be overlooked. Stay at a rustic finca on a farm and enjoy the bucolic backdrop; or check in to one of its many renovated historic hideaways and boutique guesthouses. Menorca’s retty port towns include Mahón and Ciutadella.
This wild, rugged island has a serene, sleepy pace. Enjoy the peaceful pine-lined coast with its sandy beaches and rocky coves, and the island’s towns set above ancient harbours.
Where to stay: Villa Le Blanc Gran Meliá is a five-star resort steps from the sand on the south coast, with white-washed architecture, an infinity pool surrounded by bars and restaurants, and a spa where you can book in for Anne Semonin treatments.
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Marbella
On the mainland, Marbella is one of the major holiday destinations within the southern province of Andalusia. The Costa del Sol resort has a backdrop of the Sierra Blanca mountains and a vast 27-kilometre stretch of shoreline. As well as its beautiful beaches, the area is known for its golf courses.
The coast is also home to the aptly named Golden Mile (a stretch of some serious real estate), which leads down to Puerto Banús marina, with its staggering super-yachts and fancy restaurants.
Where to stay: If you’re aiming to eat well while you’re in town, booking a stay at the Nobu outpost will be a sensible move, especially if you want to enjoy the brand’s famous black cod miso.
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Ibiza
It may have a somewhat rowdy reputation (which isn’t totally unjustified), but there’s another side to Ibiza, away from the super-clubs (of which there are indeed many) on the San Antonio strip. The island has long-attracted spiritual sorts, here for the magnetism and the sunsets, which are a ritual every evening.
In the hillside Dalt Vila (or Old Town), stroll the cobbled streets, or head to quieter villages, such as Santa Gertrudis, which has brilliant boutiques, traditional bars and excellent restaurants such as Bottega Il Buco.
Where to stay: If you’re here for hedonism in the form of food, book a stay at Oku, which has a superb Japanese restaurant where the chef is known to wander over to your seat to cook tableside. It has a robata grill and a raw bar, as well as a sake selection, for added authenticity.
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Madrid
Often overlooked by tourists for Barcelona, Spain’s capital may not have beaches but it has plenty of landmarks, from its wide boulevards and pristine parks to its incredible culture. At the Prado Museum, visitors can admire works by Spanish masters including Velázquez and Goya.
Another highlight is the Plaza Mayor, the city’s main square, which dates back to the 15th century. The grand Royal Palace is also worth a visit – in between tapas pit-stops, of course.
Where to stay: Rosewood Villa Magna is on the Paseo de la Castellana, a major thoroughfare that runs through the city, so you’ll be perfectly placed to explore the main sights.
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Gran Canaria
Another holiday destination in Spain that’s part of the far-flung Canary Islands, Gran Canaria has a similar landscape to its neighbours, with black-lava beaches (as well as white-sand ones), a colourful capital, Las Palmas, and a mountainous interior.
For buzzy nightlife, head to Playa del Inglés on the southern coast; or marvel at the scenery of the Maspalomas Dunes overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
Where to stay: Salobre Hotel Resort & Serenity is a five-star resort that has two 18-hole golf courses – and there are buggies ready for you at reception. The peaceful Maspalomas retreat also has an excellent wellness centre, a shuttle service to whisk you to the beach and cabanas around the pool.
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Seville
There are lots of lovely places to visit in Andalucia, but Seville is one of the most popular and with good reason. For a start, warm weather is all but guaranteed – the Spaniards don’t call it the ‘Frying Pan’ for nothing.
The city’s old town and former Jewish quarter, Barrio de Santa Cruz, is home to the huge Gothic cathedral, the Alcázar Palace and the La Giralda bell tower. For a lively night out, visit one of Seville’s famous flamenco shows or a hole-in-the-wall bar. And if you’re hoping to stockpile ceramics, stop by the Tirana neighbourhood, which has lots of pottery studios.
Where to stay: An hour or so’s drive south of the city (but worth it for the peace and quiet), Hacienda de San Rafael is an 18th-century hideaway on an olive estate in the Andalusian countryside. It’s roughly halfway between Seville and Jerez, so you’ll be able to visit both cities during your stay.
Alternatively, explore Seville on an exclusive tour with Good Housekeeping holidays. You'll explore various towns as you take in the gardens and architecture, plus you could meet Gardeners' World star Nick Bailey on one of our tours.
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