Spain pulls in over 100 million visitors each year, making it the world’s second most popular destination. But what is it about this sun-soaked country that keeps people coming back?
From Moorish palaces to late-night tapas bars, here’s what Spain does better than anywhere else.
1. A History Written in Stone
Spain’s past reads like a thriller.
The Romans ruled Iberia for over 600 years before the Visigoths took over, who then surrendered to the Moors in the 8th century. This layered history left behind some extraordinary architecture.
Head to Tarragona to see its UNESCO-listed Roman ruins, including a clifftop amphitheatre.
Modern Spain is defined by Franco’s dictatorship (1936-1975), which ended with a remarkably peaceful transition to democracy.
2. The Alhambra
The Alhambra in Granada is one of those places that justifies the flight to Spain on its own. This Moorish palace complex, set against the Sierra Nevada peaks, was largely built in the 13th and 14th centuries when it served as the last stronghold of Islamic Spain.
The Nasrid Palaces are the jewel in the crown. Their courtyards, including the famous Court of the Lions with its fountain sculpture, showcase Islamic architecture at its finest. From La Vela Tower, you get sweeping views over Granada, the Sierra Nevada and the surrounding villages.
3. Bullfighting
I’ll be honest: I attended a bullfight in Barcelona years ago and regretted it the moment the first stage began. But ignoring this tradition would be dishonest when discussing what Spain is famous for
Bullfighting has been embedded in Spanish culture since the 8th century. Ernest Hemingway made it famous internationally through Death in the Afternoon, which explores the ritual and ceremony. While increasingly controversial, it remains part of Spain’s cultural identity, particularly in Seville.
4. Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí
Spain’s artistic legacy is formidable, but two names stand head and shoulders above the rest.
Pablo Picasso, born in Málaga in 1881, co-founded Cubism and changed the course of 20th-century art. Salvador Dalí, from Figueres near Barcelona, became the face of Surrealism with his spectacular moustache and even more spectacular paintings.
If you’re in Andalusia, visit Marbella to see Dalí sculptures lining Avenida del Mar.
Spain’s artistic tradition also includes El Greco, Francisco de Goya, Diego Velázquez and Joan Miró.
5. Flamenco
This isn’t just music and dance; it’s raw emotion turned into art. Flamenco originated in 18th-century Andalusia and now sits on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
The vocal music (cante) is accompanied by guitar, castanets, hand-clapping and heel-clicking. The dance (baile) changes with each performer’s interpretation.
You’ll find flamenco shows across Spain, but Seville is considered one of the best places to experience it. I saw a wonderful performance in Granada that still gives me goosebumps.
6. Gaudí’s Barcelona
Antoni Gaudí took Catalan Modernism and turned it into something otherworldly. The movement used iron, tiles and concrete to create shapes inspired by nature, and Gaudí was its genius.
Seven of his buildings, including Park Güell and Casa Batlló, have UNESCO status. But the Sagrada Família is his masterpiece, an enormous basilica he worked on from 1883 until his death in 1926.
Even if you only have a day in Barcelona, make the Sagrada Família your priority. Gaudí’s intensifying Catholic faith during the project earned him the nickname “God’s Architect”.
7. Catholic Heritage
Nearly 70% of Spaniards identify as Catholic, and this shows everywhere. You’ll find a church in every neighbourhood and Christian symbols throughout daily life.
Spain has some of Europe’s most spectacular cathedrals, including the majestic Seville Cathedral, the third-largest in the world.
For many modern Spaniards, Catholicism is more cultural than religious. But the traditions remain strong, particularly around Catholic holidays and celebrations.
8. Wild Fiestas
Each Spanish region has a patron saint with a dedicated festival day, and some of these have become internationally famous celebrations.
The Pamplona Bull Run during San Fermín and La Tomatina tomato fight in Buñol near Valencia top most people’s lists. Visit Valencia in March for Las Fallas, one of Spain’s biggest festivals celebrating San José. Or catch the Carnival in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the world’s second-biggest after Rio.
9. Football Obsession
Is football the new religion in Spain? Maybe.
The country is home to Real Madrid and Barcelona, two of the world’s best teams. When they play each other in El Clásico, the entire nation stops.
Spain won the FIFA World Cup in 2010 and has claimed three European Championships. It’s hard to overstate how much this sport means to Spanish identity.
10. Island Escapes
Spain’s islands each have their own personality. The Canary Islands—including Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote—sit closer to Africa than mainland Spain and have dramatic volcanic landscapes.
The Balearic Islands—Mallorca, Menorca, Formentera and Ibiza—float in the Mediterranean. Palma de Mallorca ranks among Spain’s most beautiful coastal cities, while Ibiza remains Europe’s nightclub capital.
11. Mediterranean Beaches
Spain’s 4,000 miles of coastline range from the golden sands of Costa del Sol to hidden coves in Catalonia. The beaches alone draw millions of visitors each year, with the Mediterranean’s warm waters and year-round sunshine making it irresistible.
12. Late-Night Culture
The Spanish are Europe’s night owls.
They shop late, eat late and stay out late. Other than tourist-oriented businesses, you’ll struggle to find a restaurant open before 8 pm.
Most Spaniards wouldn’t dream of dining before 9 pm. If you turn up as restaurants are opening their doors, you will likely be the only diner.
13. The Food
Spanish cuisine rivals any in the world. Let’s start with paella, originally a farmers’ lunch that became an international icon.
Valencia is paella’s birthplace. Traditional Valencian versions contain chicken, rabbit and beans—no seafood. Coastal areas added seafood later. Mixta paella (meat and seafood) makes traditionalists wince.
Tapas evolved from free bar snacks into a global phenomenon. Typical dishes include patatas bravas (potatoes in spicy tomato sauce), tortilla, chorizo, calamari, local cheese and olives. Evening tapas with friends is ingrained in Spanish culture.
Then there’s jamón ibérico, the finest ham you’ll ever taste. The best comes from Black Iberian pigs (pata negra, named for their black hooves) that feed on acorns (de bellota), giving the meat its rich, sweet flavour
14. Liquid Gold
Olive oil is the not-so-secret sauce in Spanish cuisine.
Spain produces half the world’s olive oil. Andalusia’s temperate climate is perfect for growing olives, and Spanish olive oil has a distinctive, fruity, nutty flavour and is more yellow than Italian varieties.
15. World-Class Wine
Spain ranks third globally for wine production after Italy and France. From one million hectares of vineyards and 400 grape varieties come some exceptional wines.
Cava is Spain’s answer to Champagne, a sparkling wine made traditionally in regions around Barcelona, particularly Sant Sadurní d’Anoia. It’s less acidic than Champagne with an intense, sometimes fruity flavour. Perfect with tapas.
Rioja from North Central Spain is synonymous with Spanish wine. These crimson-red blends, primarily from Tempranillo grapes, have high tannin content and fruity notes. They’re also the traditional base for sangria, that fruit-packed wine cocktail served everywhere.
Sherry from Jerez is a fortified wine aged in barrels, creating flavours from bone-dry salinity to nutty richness. Fino sherry is the local favourite.
Gone are the days when sherry meant something sickly-sweet at Christmas. Dry styles are now in vogue, served chilled or in cocktails.
About Bridget
Bridget Coleman has been a passionate traveller for more than 30 years. She has visited 70+ countries, most as a solo traveller.
Articles on this site reflect her first-hand experiences.
To get in touch, email her at hello@theflashpacker.net or follow her on social media.