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Travel guide, from the UK

Spain

Spain has 19 regions, and each one feels different. Madrid has the Prado, Barcelona has Gaudí's buildings, and Andalusia has the Alhambra in Granada, the Real Alcázar in Seville and the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba. There are islands too: the Balearics in the Mediterranean and the eight Canary Islands in the Atlantic. With 50 UNESCO World Heritage properties and fast AVE trains between the main cities, Spain suits a city break or a longer tour.

Photo: Arthur Hinton, Unsplash License

A tower of the Plaza de España in Seville reflected in its canal under a pink sunset sky
When to go
Spring, from March to June, is many people's favourite time, and autumn stays sunny from Madrid southwards. Summer days usually pass 30°C, and inland and in the south the nights can stay above 20°C, so check for heat warnings and wildfire advice. The north is milder and wetter. In winter, the Canary Islands need only a light jacket. Big events include Las Fallas in Valencia, which peaks from 15 to 19 March, Holy Week from 21 to 28 March 2027, Seville's April Fair and San Fermín in Pamplona in July.
Getting there from London
Direct flights to Madrid take about 2 hours 30 to 2 hours 45 minutes, from Heathrow, Gatwick, London City, Luton and Stansted. Barcelona is about 2 hours 10 minutes, with flights from the same airports and from Southend. Málaga is about 2 hours 50 minutes away, Seville about 2 hours 40, Valencia about 2 hours 20 and Palma about 2 hours 25. All of them have direct flights from several London airports.

What to do in Spain

  1. 1The Alhambra, GranadaThe Nasrid Palaces let in a set number of visitors every half hour, strictly at the time printed on your ticket. Tickets carry your name, so bring ID, and the date and time cannot be changed. Allow about three hours for the whole site.
  2. 2Sagrada Família, BarcelonaGaudí's basilica sells tickets online only, so book before you travel. Its central Tower of Jesus Christ is 172.5 metres tall, and 2026 marks 100 years since Gaudí's death.
  3. 3The Prado, MadridSee Velázquez's Las Meninas, Goya's Black Paintings and Bosch's The Garden of Earthly Delights. The Paseo del Prado and the Retiro park beside it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021.
  4. 4The Real Alcázar, SevilleThis royal palace shares a UNESCO World Heritage listing with Seville Cathedral and the Archivo de Indias. Book online. It opens from 9:30 to 17:00 between October and March, and until 19:00 from April to September.
  5. 5Toledo and CórdobaBoth are easy trips by high-speed train. Toledo, a UNESCO World Heritage city, is about 30 minutes from Madrid. Córdoba, home of the Mosque-Cathedral, is a stop on the Madrid to Seville line, and its courtyards festival is held in May.
  6. 6Mount Teide, TenerifeTeide is a volcano 3,718 metres high, in a national park that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A cable car climbs the mountain, and the path to the summit needs a permit booked in advance.

Getting around

Fast trains are the easy way between the big cities. Renfe's AVE links Madrid with Barcelona and with Seville in about 2 hours 30 minutes, and with Valencia in under 2 hours. Renfe's low-cost Avlo and the private operators Ouigo and Iryo run on some of the same lines. Madrid has 15 metro lines and a 24-hour airport express bus, and Barcelona's metro runs until 2am on Friday and Saturday nights. ALSA coaches cover routes across the country. For the Balearic Islands, flights from Barcelona take about 50 minutes, or you can go by ferry. If you hire a car, note that central Madrid is limited to zero-emission vehicles and residents.

Living in the UK on a non-UK passport? You'll need a visa for Spain.

Spain visa from the UK →

Where these facts come from

Fees and rules are checked against official and visa-centre pages. Rules change: we confirm everything again before you pay.

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