Bucket list: 9 brilliant things to do once in your life in Spain
Alhambra
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Alhambra and the Generalife gardens in Granada are the most visited attraction in all of Spain. The red brick Moorish fortress has some of the best-preserved examples of Islamic architecture in the world and are a must see for anyone visiting Spain.
Guernica
Spain’s museums are of course full of wonderful paintings, but if you were only able to see one it must be Picasso’s Guernica in Madrid’s Reina Sofia Museum.
After having read a graphic description of the carnage following the bombing of Guernica by Hitler’s air force during the Spanish Civil War, Picasso painted a black and white mural depicting the horrors of war.
Visit the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao
A marvel of modern architecture the Frank Gehry-designed Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao has given the city a reputation for being on the cutting edge of art and culture.
Hike the Camino de Santiago
The popular pilgrimage to the shrine of St. James in the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain has been a well-trodden route for centuries. Whether you walk the entire route from France or just a section of it you will have accomplished something worthy of a bucket list.
Party the night away in Madrid
American novelist Ernest Hemingway once said: “Nobody goes to bed in Madrid until they have killed the night.” Famous as a place where people don’t hit the clubs until after midnight Madrid has more bars than any other European capital.
Ski in the morning and have lunch on the beach
Spain’s Sierra Nevada Mountains near Granada are one of the few places in the world where you can ski and swim in the sea on the same day. Geographically Europe’s most southerly ski resort you can hit the slopes from November until the middle of May.
Pintxos in San Sebastián
Spain is, of course, famous for its tapas, bite-sized tasty morsels of food that you get when you order a beer, and while Granada and Seville might think they are doing it right nothing beats San Sebastián. From tapas bars, to die for and restaurants serving out of this world food nothing on the culinary map even comes close to the Basque Country in northern Spain.
Wine tasting in La Rioja
Never mind Napa and head instead to the wine-making region of La Rioja along the banks of the Ebro River. Scattered with dozens of vineyards producing world-class wine, Rioja is a must stop on any gourmets trip to Spain.
Watch El Classico
Arguably the biggest football rivalry on the planet, nothing compares to the excitement and atmosphere when Barcelona plays Real Madrid. Whether you watch the game at the Nou Camp or the Bernabeu, it is bound to be an experience you will never forget.
These are just a few ideas for your next Spanish holiday and are ones we think you will enjoy.
