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Travel and Regions in Spain

Travel

Travel in Spain is enjoyable and safe with 17 autonomous regions to explore, each with its own cuisine and culture. Click on a region below to get a quick travel guide for each region:

Madrid. Center of country. Madrid, the capital of Spain, is located in a region of the same name. The Madrid region consists of 179 towns, so while you definitely should not miss all that the capital city has to offer, remember that there are still 178 other cool places to explore! Don´t miss a traditional Castillian meal in the picturesque town of Chinchón or stop by to see the storks of Alcalá de Henares, though one of the biggest draws has to be the majestic town of El Escorial, where you can visit the tombs of the Catholic Monarchs.

Throughout the region, adventure and sports tourism are in full throttle year round: from horse-rideing to hang-gliding, hot balloon rides to sky-diving, you can certainly find a way to pump up the adrenaline in Madrid. If that´s not your speed, you can follow one of many hiking routes to through the towns and countryside. Madrid tours

Other regions:

Andalusia. South. Known as "Al Andalus" during 800 years of Arab rule, this region is famed for satiating tapas, authentic flamenco, and warm, open people. Items of particular interest to travelers are Alhambra Fortress of the Moors (Granada), the biggest mosque in the world (Cordoba), and one of Spain's three medieval synagogues (Cordoba). Andalusia tours

Aragon. Northeast. The capital of Aragon, Zaragoza, is a popular stopping point for travelers between Barcelona and Madrid. However, for the traveler who is looking for more than just a pit stop, the Aragon region is one of Spain´s most historic, offering impressive displays of Spain´s renown Mudejar architecture, as well as bountiful examples of Roman architecture. Aragon tours

Asturias. Northwest. Located on the Bay of Biscay, Asturias is famous for its apple cider, cheeses, and seafood. Any traveler to the Asturian region should not miss its signature dish: la fabada asturiana. Asturias tours

Balearic Islands. East. A string on islands in the Mediterranean Sea, these islands are a extremely popular destination point for beach goers. The most famous island, Ibiza, is known for it´s party scene, while those looking for a more relaxing, meditative vacation should check out Mallorca, Menorca, and of course Formentera (made famous by the film Sex & Lucia) Balearic Islands tours.

Basque Country. North. "Ongi Etorri" to the Basque country! if that welcome looks unfamiliar, it's likely because the Basque language is am indigenous, pre-Latin language. Known for it's delicious pintxos, beautiful landscapes, beaches, and world-famous surfing spots, this region, dear to the heart of Earnest Hemingway, offers one particular item of interest you simply cannot miss: The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. Basque Country tours

Canary Islands. Western Africa (off the coast of Southwest Morocco). The Canary Islands represent one of the farthest reaches of The European Union. This tropical region, located off the Northwestern coast of the African continent, consists of seven islands: El Hierro, La Gomera, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, La Palma, Gran Canaria, and Tenerife. The islands themselves are a hotbed of Eco-Tourism in Spain boast of untamed jungles, rolling dunes, beautiful coasts, volcanic mountains, and sculpted landscapes carved by lava. Canary Islands tours

Cantabria. North.With over 60 beautiful beaches on the Bay of Biscay, you'll never run out of new places to build your sandcastles in Cantabria. A hot summer vacation spot for relaxing on white sand beaches, you can also find a wide range of outdoor activities, from white-water rafting, diving, hiking, canoeing, climbing, windsurfing, and horse riding to winter sports such as snowboardin. A true haven for the outdoorsy types! Cantabria tours

Castilla-La Mancha. Center. Located in the bosom of Spain, the Castilla-La Mancha region is famous for its literary ambassador, Don Quixote de la Mancha. An epicenter of rural tourism in Spain, you can do everything from visiting prehistoric caves to hiking through special tourist routes–even follow the train of Don Quixote himself! In addition, Castilla-La mancha is a popular region for sports and adventure tourism, offering opportunities for trekking, mountain-biking, horse-riding, canoeing, climbing, fishing, hunting, and even extreme sports such as paragliding and bungee jumping. Castilla-La Mancha tours

Castilla y Leon. Center-West. Formerly the two independent kingdoms of León and Old Castilla, these days Castilla y León holds court over some of the best roasted meats in Spain, including their famed suckling pig and roasted lamb. You can try one of these hearty specialties on not one, not two, but three World Heritage Cities: Salamanca (a sandstone university town known for massive amounts of study abroad students and wild weekend partying), Ávila (one of the oldest cities in Spain with notable Christian, Jewish, Islamic roots), and Segovia (known for its impressive Roman Aqueduct). Castilla y León also produces one of the very best wines in Spain: Ribera del Duero. Castile and Leon tours. Related MAP features: >>>Salamanca, The World's Favorite City

Catalonia. Northeast. Home to the bustling cosmopolitan city of Barcelona, Catalonia also offers almost every type of landscape imaginable, from mountains to forests, beaches to volcanic parks, and wetlands to farmlands, as well as impressive opportunities for unique eco-tourism. Catalonia offers a rich cuisine, impressive wines, and speciatly liquors. A long line of rugged coast, the Costa Brava, stretches along the entire Eastern border of the region and provides some of the best diving in Spain. Catalonia tours

Extremadura. West. Waaaaaaaaaaay off the beaten track of international tourism, Extremadura is a haven for nature lovers, providing some of the best natural parks in Spain. Bird-watchers will love the Monfraque National Park, known for its rare Black Vultures and the Spanish Imperial Eagle. Two names you might remember from your high school history classes might be the Conquistadores Balboa and Pizarro, both of whom are from this region. Check out the spoils of Pizarro´s plundering in the town of Trujillo with its show-stopping castle and mansion. Extremadura tours

Galicia. Northwest. If Galicia's savage coastline, frequent rain, tales of witches and ghosts, Celtic ruins, bagpipe players, and misty countryside doesn't charge your imagination, perhaps a pilgrimage down the Camino de Santiago will. As Spain's major Atlantic port, Galicians have always looked outward towards the sea as sailors and immigrants to the Americas (so much so that in Latin America, Spaniards are all grouped together under the term "Galicians." Galician cuisine is one of the best in the country, though as the bulk of foreigners come as pilgrims, there are still plenty of secrets to be discovered by the curious traveler. Galicia tours

Murcia. Southeast. Renown for itss amazing beaches, this Mediterranean region offers a wide range of natural beauty to explore, a place were desert wastelands mix with lush and sweeping fertile landscapes. With over 800 years of history, Murcia offers an exhilarating array of tourist attractions. It's coastline is called "La Costa Cálida" or "Warm Coast," and is much more pristine than other beaches in Spain that see a lot more tourism. If you are a sea-food lover, you'll love the Murcian cuisine–be sure to try the lobster! Murcia tours

Navarra. North. Bordering France on the Eastern Pyrenees mountaints, The Navarra region is home to Pamplona, home to the legendary festival of San Fermín or "The Running Of The Bulls," and immortalized in book "The Sun Also Rises" by Earnest Hemingway. The Camino de Santiago cuts its way through Navarra, offering pilgrims a view of monasteries, chapels, and beautiful landscapes along the way. Sports aficionados will enjoy the many opportunities for rural tourism, including horse riding, fishing, skiing, golf, hunting, and more. Navarra tours

La Rioja. North. Famous for Spain's heralded Rioja wine and birthplace of the Castillian language, la Rioja is an ancient and breath-taking region to visit. Castles, archaeological ruins, pre-historic vestiges of the original Iberian people, and even traces of dinosaurs are spotted throughout the rolling hills and vineyards. A winding drive through La Rioja is something you'll never forget! La Rioja tours