Barcelona is magnificent. But if Barcelona is all you see of Spain, you've only met a small part of this country. Spain is one of the most visited countries in the world, and most of the reasons why sit outside Catalonia.
Beyond Barcelona, the luxury of Spain lives in its regions. Eat your way through San Sebastián's pintxos bars and Michelin tables in Basque Country, sleep in a palace hotel in Seville or Granada, see the Alhambra, and slow down among the vineyards of Rioja and Ribera del Duero, where world-class wine costs far less than Bordeaux.
Key facts
- For food: Basque Country, with San Sebastián at its heart.
- For history and palace hotels: Andalusia, with Seville, Granada and Córdoba.
- For wine: Rioja and Ribera del Duero. Stay at Marqués de Riscal or Abadía Retuerta.
- Book ahead: Alhambra tickets often sell out.
- Caviar trip: Spain is planned privately for you rather than as a group departure.
The Regions That Deserve Your Time
- Basque Country: Gastronomy and culture, with a world-class food scene and fewer crowds than you'd expect
- Andalusia: History, flamenco and palace hotels
- Balearic Islands: Beaches and nightlife, busy in summer
- Galicia: Outstanding seafood and the end of the Camino de Santiago, very quiet
- Rioja and Ribera del Duero: Wine country, beautiful and calm
Basque Country: Spain's Culinary Crown
Photo: Paul / Unsplash
San Sebastián is famous for having one of the highest numbers of Michelin stars per person anywhere in the world. In a city of fewer than 200,000 people, you'll find restaurants that would be headliners in Paris or Tokyo.
- Arzak: Three Michelin stars since 1989, and the home of new Basque cooking.
- Mugaritz: Experimental and challenging, with two Michelin stars and a long run on the World's 50 Best list.
- Pintxos crawl: The Basque version of tapas, turned into an art form. Old Town bars stack their counters with tiny masterpieces.
If food is the reason you travel, our San Sebastián food guide has the bars, the Michelin tables and where to stay.
Andalusia: Where History Lives
Photo: Jorge Fernández Salas / Unsplash
The highlights here: a private tour of the Alhambra in Granada, flamenco in the caves of Sacromonte, sherry tasting in Jerez, a night in a palace hotel in Seville, and a slow drive through the white villages from Ronda to Zahara de la Sierra.
The Alhambra in Granada is not optional. This Moorish palace-fortress, built mostly in the 13th and 14th centuries, is one of the most visited monuments in Spain and one of the most beautiful buildings on Earth. Tickets often sell out, so book ahead.
Where you sleep matters just as much here. Our guide to Andalusia's palace hotels covers the converted convents and palaces worth the stay.
Wine Country: Rioja & Ribera del Duero
Photo: David Mapletoft / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Pix Tresa / Unsplash
Spain's wine regions have gone seriously luxe. The Hotel Marqués de Riscal, designed by Frank Gehry, is an architectural stunner set among the vineyards of Elciego. And the wine is world-class for a fraction of what you'd pay in Bordeaux or Napa.
- Rioja: Tempranillo blends. Stay at Marqués de Riscal.
- Ribera del Duero: Bold reds. Abadía Retuerta is a restored 12th-century abbey with rooms.
- Priorat: Powerful Garnacha on steep slate hillsides.
- Jerez: Sherry, and the bodegas of González Byass.
Still choosing between Iberian neighbors? Read our Portugal vs Spain comparison.
Book a free consultation and we'll plan your Spain trip around what you love most.
Cover photo: Hotel Marqués de Riscal over the vineyards of Elciego. Roderich Kahn / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Destination Guide
Destination Guide
Destination Guide
