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Explore the Many Facets of Spain with These Fascinating Experiences

Pallavi Siddhanta

Last updated: Apr 3, 2017

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Planning a holiday to Spain anytime soon? Have gone through umpteen itineraries, trying to figure out the top things to do in Spain? The country packs a combination of varied experiences ranging from breathtaking architecture, to beaches, to vibrant parties that just don’t stop! We’ve put together a list of some of the most fascinating things to do in Spain, making your trip an affair to remember for a very long time!

Marvel at the magnificence of La Sagrada Família, Barcelona

la sagrada familia, things to do in spain

What if we told you that there’s a cathedral in Barcelona, which has been under construction since 1882? Built by Antoni Gaudí, the cathedral was conceptualized with natural symbolism, the tall towers and pillars designed like trees and glass mosaic ceilings that light up the interiors of the structure with sunlight. After the construction is completed, it will stand at a height of 170 metres, then making it the highest religious building in Europe. Interestingly, Gaudí is also buried in one of the four chapels of the church. While the church has eight towers at the moment, the final structure will boast of 18 towers. 12 will be for the apostles, four for the evangelists, one for the Virgin Mary, and the last tower–also the highest–will represent Jesus Christ.

Party the night away in Ibiza

ibiza parties, things to do in spain

Its hard mantle to be the party capital of the world, and Ibiza works hard to live up to it. The liveliness and the energy at Ibiza are infectious, with sunset boat parties to luxury beach clubs and shacks where the vibe never dims. Some clubs you must explore in Puerto de Ibiza are Privilege, Amnesia and Space.

Ibiza offers the best of both worlds. When not partying, you can head to one of its pristine white beaches, reminiscent of the 80s. The local culture of Ibiza is just as interesting as its parties. Festa del Vi Payés is a festival celebrating locally-made wine, and witnesses over 5000 attendees each year. The flea market in Ibiza is also worth a visit, especially if you’re a shopaholic.

Explore Alhambra in Granada

alhambra, granada, things to do in spain

The castle of Alhambra is a must visit for both lovers of history and architecture, and speaks the story of a mild flirtation between Spain’s Arab rule and Moorish culture. The palace of Alhambra was built as a fortress for rulers when Spain was ruled by Arabs. It was destroyed during wars, and then restored by Christian intervention.

The Alhambra, along with its intricately crafted interiors, ceilings and mazes, is also home to the oldest surviving cypress garden in the world. A multi-level garden with water fountains, palms, cypresses, roses and honeysuckle, the garden looks like it is straight out of a painting!

Squish and throw some tomatoes at La Tomatina in Buñol

la tomatina, things to do in spain

The La Tomatina, held in Buñol, is the largest state-controlled food fight in the world. The festival started out unexpectedly at a street fight once, when a participant started pelting offenders with tomatoes from a vegetable vendor nearby. After this, the La Tomatina festival in the little Mediterranean town of Buñol only kept attracting more and more travellers to Spain.

There are many fun-filled paella cooking contests on the day of the festival. The tomatoes are supplied by the town administration to participants in large trucks, and are also washed out by fire fighters with water hoses. The acidic quality of the tomatoes acts as a disinfectant and bleaching agent for the streets as well. Talk about having fun while cleaning up your city!

Dig into some tapas

tapas, things to do in spain

When the concept of tapas was developed, the idea was to create a platter of small, bite-sized food that’ll help you gulp down a mid-meal alcoholic drink. Tapas in Spain consist of meats like veal, venison, pork, beef and seafood. Bars specializing in intricately crafted tapas menus have cropped up everywhere in Spain. Try the colourful tapas bars in Barcelona, or simply hop into the Lavapies neighbourhood in Madrid for a mouth-watering tapas selection and a unique local vibe.

Road trip a la ZNMD!

road trip, things to do in spain

Bolly-travel buff? This is for you! The charms of Spain are oft hidden in the beautiful countryside. Take the lovely Zindagi Milegi Na Dobara route to explore Spain with all due intimacy. Marvel at the architecture of Barcelona, explore the streets and beaches of Costa Brava, go on a day cruise from Valencia, walk around the small, cobbled streets of Buñol, indulge in some tapas in Madrid and watch the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, while experiencing the sun-soaked country on a drive!

We’ve chalked out the route for you! Barcelona > Costa Brava > Figueres/Cadaques > Valencia > Buñol > Los Belones > Andalusia > Seville > Pamplona

Live your Game of Thrones dream at Osuna, Andalusia

bullring, osuna, things to do in spain

Visit the Bull Ring at Osuna, Andalusia to find yourself in Daznak’s Pit. Game of Thrones’ lovers, remember how Daenerys’s biggest dragon, Drogon, took off with her during an attack, leaving the Sons of the Harpy in the lurch? Spot the sand pit where it was filmed in Osuna, 103 kilometers from Málaga. You can also walk into the family run Casa Churros restaurant, where the owners have crafted a special tapas menu with dishes and drinks named after popular references from the HBO series. Some of them are Dragon Fire Wings, Shots of Ice and Fire, Iron Crown Roast, Blackened Artichoke Heart of Cersei and Tyrion’s Sweet and Sour Jumbo Shrimp.

Watch a vibrant flamenco performance Corral de la Morería, Madrid

flamenco performances, things to do in spain

The oldest running flamenco show in Madrid, Corral de la Morería is where you should head to for an authentic, rustic flamenco experience. The flamenco troupe at the restaurant has eight performers (two guitarists, two singers and four dancers). The a la carte menu here is specifically designed to please patrons, which includes premium meat and cheese selections. It is served in three courses, along with the finest varieties of wine. You can witness a show with food and drinks at Corral de la Morería starting at 47 Euros.

Walk along the El Caminito del Rey

el caminito del rey, things to do in spain

The El Caminito del Rey, pinned along the walls of a narrow gorge in El Chorro, has often been referred to as one of the most dangerous walkway in the world.. Located at a distance of about 65 kilometers from Málaga, the El Caminito del Rey is a narrow walkway, at a height of 328 feet upwards from a swiftly flowing river. A 2.5-hour trek along the side of the gorge takes you to a narrow bridge over it–more than enough to satisfy the daredevil in you. The walkway remained closed for a decade after some accidents were reported at the gorge. Adventure buffs sprung back to action at the El Caminito del Rey after it was renovated and reopened in 2014.

Take a day cruise in Valencia

day cruise in valencia, things to do in spain

The lovely Mediterranean Sea and the sunny beauty of Valencia’s Marina del Rey makes for a very romantic affair. There are daytime cruises, sunset cruises and cruise parties to choose from, if you wish to sail for a while around Valencia. Catamaran cruises and yachts start from about 24 Euros, which include 2-3 hours on the sea. You can sunbathe, swim or just relax with champagne and paella as you sail the seas.

Pallavi Siddhanta Follow

A traveller with happy feet, lover of beaches and brooks, local food and culture, nothing cheers her up as well as Neruda and a cup of coffee.

Comments

Patricia Haggblom | on 27 July 2018

Best Spanish festival there is! La Tomatina is one of my favourites- and trust me when I say that I've been to a LOT of festivals! I went last year with Stoke Travel, and honestly couldn't have found a better group to travel with. Great people, great vibes, overall greatness. So great that I'm headed again this year!