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Spain is a versatile country. If you want to enjoy long summer evenings during a holiday or last minute, then the Spanish costa's are the place for you. If you prefer an active holiday, hike through the Pyrenees or the Sierra Nevada or go hiking on the Canary Island of La Gomera. A city trip to Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia , with their internationally acclaimed museums and churches, will introduce you to Spanish life and history. You can book the holiday well in advance, but there are also many options at the last minute. Spain also includes the Balearic Islands , with islands such as Ibiza, Menorca and Mallorca. Each island has its own character. The Canary Islands are Spain in miniature. Discover the bustling Gran Canaria , the volcanic Lanzarote or the green La Palma and enjoy the beach and sun!

Food & Drink in Spain
Spain has four major culinary regions: the north coast, the interior, Andalusia and the east coast. On the north coast dishes with fish, shellfish and beans predominate, in the interior people eat a lot of roasted meat. In Andalusia the meals contain a lot of fish, fruit and salad and on the east coast you will find a variety of dishes. Typical Spanish dishes are tapas. These are small hot and cold dishes such as calamari (fried squid rings), king prawns a la plancha (fried shrimp) or the typical Spanish type of manchego cheese. The tortilla (potato omelette), paella (rice cooked in stock, the ingredients used depend on the region, for example fish and shellfish, but also chicken) and gazpacho (cold soup of vegetables and herbs, usually tomato) are delights from the Spanish kitchen. Spaniards like a glass of wine with their food, both at lunch and dinner. A well-known Spanish wine is the rioja. Other well-known Spanish drinks are the sangria and sherry (jerez). Sangria is red wine flavoured with fruits, usually orange. From the Canary Islands comes the Ron Miel, the typical honey rum. Spaniards have a warm meal twice a day, around 3:00 PM and later in the evening, around 10:00 PM.

Location.
Spain is located in southwestern Europe and together with Portugal, Andorra and Gibraltar it forms the Iberian Peninsula. Spain borders France and Andorra to the north and Portugal to the west. The Mediterranean Sea is located on the eastern side of Spain and extends to the Strait of Gibraltar. The north and southwest of Spain borders the Atlantic Ocean. Spain also includes various archipelagos, such as the Canary Islands. These 7 islands are located in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Morocco. These are Tenerife, Gran Canaria, La Palma, La Gomera, Fuerteventura, El Hierro and Lanzarote. The other Spanish archipelago is the Balearic Islands. These are located in the Mediterranean Sea. The most famous and largest islands are Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera.
On the coast of Morocco there are two more Spanish cities: Melilla and Ceuta. Melilla is located opposite Málaga and belongs to the province of Málaga. Ceuta is opposite Algeciras and Cadiz. Ceuta is also a free port and can be visited by tourists with a boat trip from the mainland.

Spain is the second most mountainous country in Europe after Switzerland, with the Pyrenees in the north and the Sierra Nevada in the south. You can climb the highest mountain in Spain on the Canary Island of Tenerife. It is the Pico del Teide mountain, with a height of approximately 3718 m.

Attractions in Spain.
Are you going on holiday to the Costa Brava , with places like Malgrat de Mar and Lloret de Mar? Then a visit to Barcelona should not be missed. Barcelona is the city of Gaudí's fairytale buildings, the bustling Ramblas and the world-famous Camp Nou football stadium. The Costa Dorada is also a beautiful destination, easily accessible by car and therefore also suitable for a holiday at the campsite. Visit not only the well-known places such as Salou and Cambrils, but also the lesser-known but no less beautiful hinterland. You can see it all!

If you are going on holiday to southern Spain, you should also take a trip by car to the 'white villages' in the interior. You will get to know life in mountainous landscapes and untouched nature. The white villages are repainted every year! A visit to the Alhambra in Granada is more than worthwhile: an impressive Moorish fortress with palaces full of Islamic art, such as mosaics and carvings. In the west of Spain is the oldest university city in Spain, Salamanca. In this inspiring city you will also find many monasteries and museums. The Spanish capital Madrid is located in the centre of Spain. Here you can visit the Royal Palace. Art lovers can visit the Prado Museum, which has a collection of works from the 14th to the 19th century.

Surprising Highlights in Spain.
Valencia on the Mediterranean Sea is the birthplace of paella, the famous rice dish with ingredients such as fish or chicken. The city has a rich history with hundreds of bell towers and other buildings, such as Lonja de la Seda, the Silk Exchange, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This exchange is still traded. Near Barcelona you will find the museum of the artist Salvador Dalí in the town of Figueras. This extravagant artist lived in one of the towers of the museum until his death in 1989.
It is always quite windy on the Canary Island of Fuerteventura. Fuerteventura also means 'high wind'. This makes the island popular with many water sports enthusiasts.
Beautiful nature can be found in the Grazalema National Park in Andalusia, a rugged area with ravines and green valleys. Art and culture can be seen in the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, in the north of Spain. One of the best museums in the world that gives you an overview of modern and contemporary art.

Some tips to make payment transactions in Spain easier:
The currency in Spain is the euro.
Credit cards are generally accepted.
Many places have an ATM (cajeros) where you can withdraw money.
Banks and post offices are usually open from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM and sometimes on Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. They are closed on Sundays.
A 5 to 10% tip is customary in drinking and dining establishments.

What is the voltage in Spain? The mains voltage is generally 220 volts. In principle, an adapter is not necessary, otherwise you can usually get it at the reception of your accommodation.
Is the water drinkable in Spain? The tap water in Spain is good to drink, but it has an aftertaste. We recommend that you drink bottled mineral water.
How is public transport in Spain? The train connections in Spain are reasonable and even very good between the major cities. There are connections between almost all cities in the country.The bus connections are also reasonable. Most cities can be reached by bus. The roads in Spain are generally well maintained and paved, especially in the tourist areas.

What is the history of Spain?
Spain has had many Moorish influences. The Moors invaded the country in the 8th century and brought Arab culture to Spain. They founded a great number of cities and made them prosper. Especially in southern Spain you can still find a lot from the Moorish period. The cities of Córdoba and Granada are well known with sights from the Moorish period, such as the Alhambra (fortress) in Granada.

The mountain areas of northern Spain were never conquered by the Moors. From there began the re conquest of Spain from the 12th century by the Christian kings of Castile and Aragon. The Moors kept getting pushed back to the South. In 1492 the last Moorish territories were conquered by the Spanish king. From that time on, the whole country was centrally ruled from Madrid and Spain became Catholic. Columbus discovered America in 1492. Columbus, born Italian, was given three ships by the Spanish king to find the way to the Indies, but ended up in America. From this period, the Spanish kingdom was further built up. This was accompanied by many wars and revolts. Spain is now a democracy. The head of state is a king and the population elects parliament. Spain joined the European Union in 1986.

Economy of Spain:
The Spanish economy is primarily based on services, which make up about three-quarters of the country’s GDP. The service sector includes tourism, banking, finance, telecommunications, energy, transport and logistics, and business services. Industry contributes around one-quarter of the GDP, with manufacturing and construction the main contributors. Agriculture makes up just 1.5% of the GDP.

Spain has a highly developed infrastructure, with good road, rail and air links throughout the country. It is well connected to the rest of Europe, with the high-speed AVE train connecting Madrid to Barcelona in just two and a half hours.

The Spanish economy has been growing steadily since the 1990s, with a period of strong growth in the mid-2000s. Since then, however, the economy has been affected by the global financial crisis, with the country suffering a severe economic downturn. In 2012, the Spanish economy was in recession, with unemployment at 27% and the public debt reaching a record high of 93% of GDP.

Since then, the Spanish economy has been recovering, with GDP growth of 3.2% in 2017. The unemployment rate has also fallen to 17.2% in 2018, although this is still comparatively high.

Spain is a major exporter of goods, with exports accounting for around 30% of GDP. The country’s main exports are automotive products, food and agriculture, chemicals, and textiles. The main export partners are France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy and Portugal.

In recent years, Spain has also become increasingly attractive to foreign investors, with the country receiving over €18 billion in foreign direct investment in 2018.

Overall, the Spanish economy is highly diversified and competitive, and it has a strong potential for further growth. The country is well-positioned to benefit from its strategic location, with good connections to the rest of Europe and a highly developed infrastructure.