Spain is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe. Many Europeans consider Spain as a priority destination when planning their next holiday. Spain is most popular among residents of Great Britain, Italy, France, Central European countries and Scandinavia.
Spain began to consider tourism as an important economic sector already at the end of the 19th century. Since the beginning of the 20th century, tourism infrastructure began to develop in some places along the coast. Tourism on the Mediterranean coast of Spain began to develop most actively after the Second World War. At first, the most famous and rich began to come here, and later a holiday on the Mediterranean Sea in Spain became available to everyone.
Spain became the second most visited country in the world in 2023 (after France). More than 72 million foreign tourists visited Spain in 2023.
Why do European holidaymakers choose Spain?
Why is Spain so popular? Why does Spain attract tourists? There's no secret: Spain has everything most people need for a successful holiday.
Beaches. Many Europeans would like to spend their holidays by the sea, next to the beach. Spain has a very long coastline. There are many beautiful beaches on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean in Spain.
Warm and sunny weather. Residents of many northern countries would like to spend their holidays in a country with a warm and sunny climate. (Some northern countries may only have a few days of sunshine in winter.) Spain is one of the warmest and sunniest countries in Europe. The Mediterranean coast and the Balearic Islands are suitable for beach holidays in summer, spring and autumn. The Canary Islands attract European holidaymakers at any time of the year, especially in winter.
Culture and art. Most tourists don't want to spend their entire vacation on the beach. Culture, art and history are also of interest to most holidaymakers. Spain is a country with a rich history. There are cultural treasures of different nationalities on the Iberian Peninsula. An astute traveler can see art in a variety of places, not just museums. Look, for example, at the works of the architect Antonio Gaudi in Barcelona. There is a lot of beauty that is not mentioned in the guidebooks.
Spanish cuisine. Food is one of the most accessible pleasures. Spanish cuisine is very diverse. You probably love it: gazpacho, paella, seafood, olive oil, Spanish wine. It is believed that Mediterranean cuisine prolongs life and makes it happier. (We remind you: food is a pleasure of taste, not a pleasure of quantity.)
Healthy lifestyle. Passion for nightclubs, noisy parties, and excessive drinking have become unpopular. We began to take more care of our health and less succumb to bad habits. Many of us use vacation to improve our health. Spain provides many opportunities for a healthy lifestyle: sports (swimming, surfing, skiing, golf), hiking and cycling along nature trails, clean air and Mediterranean cuisine. (This is absolutely necessary for people who lead a sedentary lifestyle and sedentary work, for example, IT specialists.)
Easy to get to. Good transport accessibility is also important for tourists. There are many airports in all resort regions of Spain. Flights to Spain from most European cities are not too long and not very expensive. Many cities can also be reached by rail or car.
Reasonable prices also increase the tourist attractiveness of Spain.
General information about Spain
Spain (España, Kingdom of Spain) is one of the largest countries in Europe. The length of Spain from west to east is approximately 1,000 kilometers (620 miles), and from north to south - 840 kilometers (520 miles). This does not include the Canary Islands.
Spain is located in southwest Europe, on the Iberian Peninsula. To the west of Spain is the Atlantic Ocean, and to the south and east is the Mediterranean Sea.
Spain borders Portugal to the west, Morocco and the British territory of Gibraltar to the south, and France and Andorra to the north. You have the opportunity to visit these countries while traveling around Spain.
Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Zaragoza and Malaga are the largest cities in Spain. Cities that are located on the Mediterranean coast are the most popular among tourists. Madrid (the capital of Spain) is located in the central part of the country.
Spain is one of the most mountainous countries in Europe. Mountain plateaus occupy about 90 percent of the country's territory. This is partly why tourists visit mainly the Mediterranean coast, the Balearic and Canary Islands.
The international airport of Madrid (Barajas) is one of the busiest airports in the world. Barcelona El Prat Airport also serves a large number of flights.
Spain has a rich history. The first people settled here about 35 thousand years ago. Many people of different nationalities, cultures and religions have influenced the development of this country. Many architectural monuments have been preserved in Spain. History buffs will be interested in seeing the historical sights of Spain.
The Prado Museum is the most famous museum in Spain. It is located in Madrid. Many other museums in Spain are famous throughout the world: the Picasso Museum and the National Art Museum of Catalonia, located in Barcelona. The National Museum of Sculpture is located in Valladolid. The El Greco Museum is located in Toledo. The Guggenheim Museum is located in Bilbao. The Museum of Abstract Art is located in Cuenca.
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Spain holiday
Spain has been a popular holiday destination for decades. Many European countries do not have such a long sea coast, there are not so many beaches and such a warm climate as in Spain. This is why many Europeans choose Spain as their holiday destination.
Not only Spain can offer such wonderful holiday destinations on the Mediterranean coast. France, Italy, Greece, Croatia, Turkey, Cyprus also have beaches on the Mediterranean coast and you can spend a wonderful holiday in these countries too. (I have been to these countries, except Croatia, and I am convinced that they are wonderful travel destinations. I recommend that you visit all of these countries.)
Spain has some advantage over its competitors in the tourism market. These are the Canary Islands, which are suitable for a beach holiday in winter too.
Where to go on vacation?
The southern coast of Spain runs through the territories of Andalusia, Murcia, Valencia and Catalonia. You can have a wonderful holiday in any of these regions.
Andalusia has access not only to the Mediterranean Sea, but also to the Atlantic Ocean too. There are good surfing spots along the Atlantic coast.
The Costa del Sol is also located in Andalusia and is one of the most popular holiday regions among residents of Northern European countries.
There are such famous cities as Malaga, Marbella, Torremolinos, Benalmadena, Fuengirola on this part of the coast.
Catalonia is also very popular among European tourists. We definitely recommend visiting Barcelona if you have not been there before.
That doesn't mean Valencia and Murcia aren't good choices for a holiday. Make a travel plan for several years and visit all these regions sequentially.
It will be even more difficult for you to make a choice if we remind you of the existence of the Balearic Islands. The largest and most famous islands of the archipelago among tourists are Mallorca, Minorca, and Ibiza. The tourist season on the islands begins a little earlier and lasts a little longer. The best time to visit the islands is from April to October.
The Canary Islands (Tenerife, Gran Canaria) are also part of Spain and are located significantly south of the main territory of Spain. This is probably the only winter beach destination in the EU.
Attractions and interesting Events
Spain suggests not only rest on the beaches on the sea resorts. There are many historical attractions and cultural, sporting and business events. The best-known Spain cities are Madrid and Barcelona. Both cities offer plenty of interesting sights and events. But this is only a small part of interesting places for tourists in this country. Thirteen Spanish cities included in the list UNESCO World Heritage sites list: Alcala de Henares, Ávila, Cáceres, Córdoba, Cuenca, Ibiza, Salamanca, San Cristobal de la Laguna, Santiago de Compostela, Segovia, Toledo and Tarragona. A total amount is 42 such significant objects in Spain. By the number of UNESCO World Heritage Site Spain is the second in the world after Italy (45 historically significant sites).