A little more
Spain.
A lot less roaming.

Travelling to Spain: what to know before you go

Spain offers Moorish palaces, Gothic cathedrals and Gaudí's modernist buildings, long beaches, mountain villages and a food culture built around late, sociable meals. Its regions differ strongly in language, cooking and character, so it rewards repeat trips as much as a first visit.

Where to go

• Barcelona. Antoni Gaudí's Sagrada Família, Park Güell and Casa Batlló sit alongside the medieval Gothic Quarter, the Boqueria market and a city beach.
• Madrid. The Prado, Reina Sofía (home to Picasso's Guernica) and Thyssen-Bornemisza museums are within walking distance of each other, with Retiro Park, the Royal Palace and lively tapas streets in La Latina nearby.
• Granada and the Alhambra. The hilltop palace complex of the Nasrid dynasty, with carved stucco halls and the Generalife gardens.
• Seville. The Real Alcázar royal palace, one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in the world with its Giralda tower, and the sweeping Plaza de España.

Best time to visit

Spring (April to June) and autumn (September to October) are the best times for cities and touring, with warm days and fewer crowds. July and August are very hot inland, particularly in Seville, Córdoba and Madrid, and the coasts are at their busiest.

Staying online in Spain

Mobile coverage is strong in cities, towns and along motorways and high-speed rail lines, with 4G nearly everywhere and 5G in larger cities. Some mountain areas, rural interior regions and the more remote parts of the Pyrenees can have weak or patchy signal. Free Wi-Fi is common in hotels, cafés, and many stations and airports. Spain is in the EU, so visitors from outside it should install an eSIM before they fly and switch it on when they land.