Spain Information

Spain, one of the largest countries in Europe, occupies four-fifths of the Iberian Peninsula. A land of extraordinary geographical and cultural diversity, it has much to offer the tourist. While the Mediterranean beach resorts on the Costa Blanca, Costa Brava and Costa del Sol continue to attract sunseekers, the north coast is gradually gaining in popularity.

Once away from the holiday costas, you could only be in Spain. In the cities, narrow twisting old streets suddenly open out to views of daring modern architecture, while spit-and-sawdust bars serving wine from the barrel rub shoulders with blaring, glaring discos. Travel is easy, accommodation plentiful, the climate benign, the people relaxed, the beaches long and sandy, the food and drink easy to come by and full of regional variety. More than 50 million foreigners a year visit Spain, yet you can also travel for days and hear nothing but Spanish.

Geographically, Spain's diversity is immense. There are endless tracts of wild and crinkled sierra to explore, as well as some spectacularly rugged stretches of coast between the beaches. Culturally, the country is littered with superb old buildings, from Roman aqueducts and Islamic palaces to Gothic cathedrals. Almost every second village has a medieval castle. Spain has been the home of some of the world's great artists - El Greco, Velázquez, Goya, Dalí, Picasso - and has museums and galleries to match. The country vibrates with music of every kind - from the drama of flamenco to the melancholy lyricism of the Celtic music and gaitas (bagpipes) of the northwest.

When visiting mainland Spain it's easy to make a short stopover in bustling Barcelona. This city on the Mediterranean Sea has many tourist attractions such as the Sagrada Familia, the 1992 Olympic Venue, Ramblas boulevard and the Camp Nou stadium, home to FC Barcelona. An informative web site to find lodging in the city, or near the airport is easytobook.com. Besides hotel accommodations, they offer information on what to do and what to see while you are there.

Geography & Climate
Geographically, Spain is bounded to the north by the Bay of Biscay, France, and Andorra; to the east by the Mediterranean Sea; on the south by the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean; and on the west by Portugal and the Atlantic Ocean. In the south west the 13km wide Strait of Gibraltar separates Spain from Africa.

Spain is extremely hot during mid-summer, in July and August. The rest of the year the climate is generally temperate in the north, but warm in the south. The best time to visit is during spring or autumn, except for the Atlantic coast, which has heavy rains in October and November. August is the busiest month, while May and October are the best times for both ideal weather and fewer crowds. Madrid and the high central area can get very cold during winter.

Population
44.1 million (official figures, 2005).

Language
Spanish is the official language, but English is widely understood in areas frequented by tourists. Catalan, Galician and Basque are spoken in the relevant areas.

Religion
There is no official religion, but the majority of the population is Roman Catholic.

Time
Mainland Spain/Balearics: GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).
The Canary Islands: GMT (GMT + 1 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).

Currency
Spain's official currency is the Euro (EUR). One Euro is divided into 100 cents. Money can be exchanged at bureaux de change and major hotels, but banks give the best rates. All major credit cards and travelers cheques are widely accepted at most hotels, restaurants, and shops. ATMs are widespread and are generally the cheapest and most convenient method of obtaining money.

When To Go
Spain can be enjoyable any time of year. The ideal months to visit are May, June and September (plus April and October in the south). At these times you can rely on good-to-excellent weather, yet avoid the extreme heat - and the main crush of Spanish and foreign tourists - of July and August. But there's decent weather in some parts of Spain virtually year round. Winter along the southern and southeastern Mediterranean coasts is mild, while in the height of summer you can retreat to the northwest, to beaches or high mountains anywhere to escape excessive heat. The best festivals are mostly concentrated between Semana Santa (the week leading up to Easter Sunday) and September to October.

What to Wear
What type of clothing should I pack?
In Spain, people dress differently according to the season, the place they are going to, and the circumstances. In the coast, because of the mild climate, it is usually not necessary to pack warm clothes; while in the interior, you should dress according to the season. In the interior of Spain, temperatures vary greatly from one season to the next, with very cold winters, and really hot summers. Spanish people don't dress up too much to go out, although of course, it depends on where you are going.

Spain through its Wine Routes
Quality, innovation, creativity… All synonyms for Spanish gastronomy. The revolution that has led to Spanish cuisine becoming the world leader can also be applied to our vineyards. The superb and extensive range of wines available has enabled Spain to become the second largest producer in the world. By the following the paths of its viniculture, you can discover Spain whilst sampling unique, exquisite wines.

Its tradition, care, refinement and renewal are some of the key factors that have placed Spain at the forefront of the world's wine producers. Spanish wine producers have managed to apply a perfect combination of modern production techniques and the expertise inherited from the thousands of years that Spain has been making this most highly appreciated nectar. The end result is a selection of wines that boast unrivalled quality and acknowledged international prestige. Furthermore, the variety of soil and climate that exist in Spain gives rise to an extensive range of wines, each with its own special qualities and traits, allowing one to easily distinguish between the different regional producers. Exploring the many wine routes is the perfect way to discover the exceptional natural beauty of these regions and their notable monumental heritage, at the same time as youdelight in their liquid delicacies and enjoy a fascinating culture.

Skiing in Spain
If skiing is your thing, you should already be thinking about Spain as a destination for next season. Our country is ideal for the sport. There are loads of reasons to come to one of the many ski resorts to be found all over Spain. Quality snow andplenty of winter sun, along with first-rate facilities and a broad range of complimentary activities are bringing more and morepeople to Spanish slopes every year. Why not come and join them?

Spain is Europe's second most mountainous country, with a long skiing tradition, and provides all the necessary facilities for you to practise the sport. We have 36 ski resorts spread all around the country. You just have to choose which one.