Spain is one of the world's great holiday countries; but it has much more to offer than its endless beaches and its southern sun. Its tourist attractions lie not only along its coasts but inland: not only world-famous sights like the Alhambra in Granada, Seville Cathedral and the monastery of Montserrat but a variety of beautiful scenery, numbers of picturesque villages and towns and a profusion of splendid churches and castles, many of them awaiting discovery well away from the beaten tourist track. From sizzling cuisine and riotous fiestas to cutting edge contemporary art, age-old museums and a palpitating beach culture, Spain sure packs a punch. It’s feisty, sexy and hot like a sensual flamenco dancer who captivates with her mesmerising moves.
Spain's climate varies from temperate in the north to dry and hot in the south. From June to August on the coastal areas, casual beach wear like flip flops, vests, loose fitting clothing and shorts will suffice. It can get unbearably hot in the city, so be prepared to brave the weather with plenty of water, a hat and sunscreen. Spain has two main groups of islands that are popular with tourists: the Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera) located 193km (120 miles) southeast of Barcelona, and the Canary Islands off the west coast of Africa (mainly Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and La Palma). Whether you are a culture vulture, history buff or beach bum, it’s almost inevitable that with Spain, it’ll be love at first sight.
Schengen Visa The Schengen Visa has made traveling between its 25 member countries (22 European Union states and 3 non-EU members) much easier and less bureaucratic. Traveling on a Schengen Visa means that the visa holder can travel to any (or all) member countries using one single visa, thus avoiding the hassle and expense of obtaining individual visas for each country. This is particularly beneficial for persons who wish to visit several European countries on the same trip. The Schengen visa is a “visitor visa”. It is issued to citizens of countries who are required to obtain a visa before entering.
Transport There are many different ways to get around Spain…Hire a car, get a taxi, get a bus, motor scooter or a bike. Driving around is a breeze with the modern network of autovias. Most taxis are un-metered with set prices for certain journeys, only getting them at nighttime is a pain. Local buses in towns and cities are very good. A suburban train line connects airports with several key locations. Within Spain, the AVE now operates commonplace. Although most of the district is a pedestrian area, so walking is a great option to see city and countryside alike.
Currency Spain has the euro (EUR, €) as its currency. Therewith,Spain belongs to the 23 European countries that use the common European money. One euro is divided into 100 cents. A lot of shops do not accept banknotes of €100, €200 and €500, due to concerns about counterfeiting and burglary. For safety reasons, credit card use in some parts of Spain increasingly requires a PIN-code. ATMs are readily available, mostly near shopping and nightlife areas. Mostly everywhere you can find an ATM.