Spain is far more than just beautiful beaches. Here you can wander through Moorish palaces, Roman ruins and medieval towns, chase Atlantic surf in the north and escape to the quiet mountain villages of the Pyrenees in the east.
Spain is easy to get around, with excellent public transport and well-maintained roads, but it’s still worth booking trains in advance, especially on popular routes, as prices rise closer to departure. Here’s a breakdown of the main transport options in Spain:
Domestic Flights: Spain is quite big, so flying can save time if you’re travelling between cities like Barcelona, Seville and Bilbao, or heading to the islands. Airlines such as Iberia, Vueling and Ryanair operate frequent routes. Flights are usually affordable if booked in advance (You can search using Skyscanner to find the best deals), but once you factor in airport transfers, high-speed trains are often just as convenient.
Trains: Spain’s AVE trains are fast, comfortable and connect major cities including Madrid, Barcelona, Seville and Valencia. Journeys that would take hours by car can be done in a fraction of the time, and stations are centrally located, making this one of the easiest and most pleasant ways to travel. Book early (via the national rail RENFE website) for the best fares.
Long-Distance Buses: Companies like ALSA run comfortable, air-conditioned coaches across the country. Buses can be cheaper than trains and reach destinations not served by rail, though journeys are longer.
Metro and Trams: Cities such as Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia have efficient metro systems that are simple to navigate. Trams operate in some cities and coastal areas, offering an easy way to get around without a car.
Car Hire: If you’re exploring rural Andalusia, the Pyrenees or small villages off the main rail routes, renting a car gives you flexibility. Roads are generally in excellent condition.
Ferries: Ferries connect mainland Spain with the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands, as well as short international routes. They’re slower than flying but can be a scenic and relaxed option, especially if you’re travelling with a car. You can book tickets in advance via Direct Ferries.
Spain is a year-round destination, but the best time to visit is usually spring and autumn when temperatures are warm without the intense summer heat. July and August bring peak crowds and soaring temperatures, especially in the south, while winter is mild in many regions but colder inland and in the mountains.
Planning your trip
I always book my accommodation through trusted providers like booking.com and Hostelworld, but always read the reviews carefully.
Spain is part of the Schengen area, so some visitors will not need a visa, but you may need to keep an eye on your Schengen area day count, depending where you’re from.
I always recommend checking the official government advice from your own country of citizenship. For example, I’m from the UK so I use the UK Government’s Foreign travel advice website, and navigate to the “Entry requirements” section of the country I wish to visit. That will show me the most up-to-date advice and the correct links to use to apply for a visa officially, without being scammed. E.g. “Spain: Entry requirements”.
Be aware that if you just google “Spain visa”, you’ll find lots of 3rd party websites offering to do the application for you, which at best will charge you quite a lot of money and at worst may scam you completely.
If you would rather someone else take care of the application for you to save you time and hassle, I can recommend iVisa. iVisa offer an end-to-end visa application service where they take care of the entire application for you. You just need to sign up via their website and fill out the information they need from you for the application. Note that they charge a fee for this service, so it will be more expensive than applying directly yourself.
Here are some of the resources I’ve found particularly useful for travelling in Spain. Download the apps before you go to ensure a smooth and stress-free experience! Check out my Useful Travel Resources page for my complete go-to list of websites and apps.
Currency:
Euro (EUR)
Capital City:
Madrid
Languages:
Spanish
