Europe's most geographically and culturally diverse country — Moorish palaces in Granada, Modernista architecture in Barcelona, pilgrim routes in Galicia, and year-round sun in the Canaries.
- Capital
- Madrid
- Population
- 49,315,949
- Area
- 504,782 km²
- Languages
- Spanish
- Currency
- Euro (€)
- GDP
- $1,799,511M
Good to know
Driving side
Right
National dish
Tortilla española
Annual visitors
36,410,000 (2020)
Safety
Very low (0.69/100k)
Avg temp
14.1°C
Religion
Christianity
Coast
Coastal
☎ Police 091 · Ambulance 061 · Fire 080
Travel guide
Spain (Spanish: España) is famous for its friendly inhabitants, relaxed lifestyle, its cuisine, vibrant nightlife, and world-famous folklore and festivities, and historically the core of the vast Spanish Empire. It has the second-largest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites after Italy and the largest number of World Heritage Cities. With great beaches, mountains, campsites, ski resorts, superb weather, varied and fun nightlife, many cultural regions and historic cities, Spain is a popular tourist destination in Europe for any kind of trip.
© Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA)
Explore Spain
Best time to visit
The best time varies by region. Mainland cities: April–June and September–October. Beach destinations: July–August (crowded) or June/September. Canary Islands are warm year-round. Ski season December–March in the Pyrenees.
Visa
EU/EEA nationals enter freely. US, UK, Canada, Australia and most Western nationalities get 90 days Schengen visa-free. Spain processes tourist visas quickly for others.
Highlights
The Sagrada Familia is a unique piece of architecture built by the world-renowned architect — Antoni Gaudi — in Barcelona.This Roman-Catholic church in Barcelona is breathtakingly beautiful and what makes it historically significant is that it holds the title of being the largest unfinished Roman Catholic Church in the world. Under construction for over a century, since 1882, the church was consecrated in 2010 and has been proclaimed a minor basilica.
Public holidays
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (86)
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Major cities
Madrid
Spain's passionate capital — world-class art museums, vibrant nightlife, and the freshest jamon in the world.
Barcelona
Gaudi's playground — a city of surreal architecture, golden beaches, and a legendary food scene on Las Ramblas.
Seville
The birthplace of flamenco and tapas, with breathtaking Moorish architecture and an electrifying Semana Santa procession.
Valencia
The birthplace of paella, with a futuristic City of Arts and Sciences, stunning old town, and 300 days of sunshine.
Bilbao
The Basque industrial city transformed by the Guggenheim Museum — and home to a remarkable density of Michelin-starred restaurants.
Granada
The Alhambra palace complex, a UNESCO masterpiece of Moorish architecture, towers above a city of tapas bars and flamenco caves.
San Sebastian
Europe's pintxos capital in the Basque Country — more Michelin stars per square meter than anywhere on earth, on a perfect bay.
Palma de Mallorca
The capital of the Balearic Islands — a stunning Gothic cathedral, old Arab baths, and gateway to the island's coves and mountains.
Ibiza
The White Island — world-famous nightclubs, but also a UNESCO old town, prehistoric salt lakes, and clear-water calas.
Cordoba
The Mezquita — one of the world's most extraordinary buildings, a forest of columns with a Christian cathedral growing inside a mosque.