Are you looking for things to do in Spain or a thorough Spain travel blog? Keep on reading!
In the early hours of the morning on August 26th, 2012, we stepped off of our overnight flight and were in Barcelona! Though we were exhausted and it was a long flight for the kids, we were pumped with energy and excitement. We were all in great moods and had no idea what our future would hold. This was only our second time in Spain, but we walked with our heads held high as we exited the Barcelona Airport, for the first time as Spanish residents and the beginning of this travel blog Spain and more!
Contents
- Travel Blog Spain
Things To Do In Spain by Autonomous Community and Facts about Spain
- Spain Coasts
- Things to do in Spain
- Things to do in Andalucia Spain
- Things to do in Aragon Spain
- Things to do in Asturias Spain
- Things to do in Balearic Islands Spain
- Things to do in Basque Country Spain
- Things to do in Canary Islands Spain
- Things to do in Cantabria Spain
- Things to do in Castile-Leon Spain
- Things to do in Castile – La Mancha Spain
- Things to do in Catalunya Spain
- Things to do in Extremadura Spain
- Things to do in Galicia Spain
- Things to do in La Rioja Spain
- Things to do in Madrid Spain
- Things to do in Murcia Spain
- Things to do in Navarre Spain
- Things to do in Valencia Spain
- Organized Tours
- 8 week Road Trip Spain & France
- Other resources for your Visit to Spain
- Are you trying to figure out the best places to live in Spain?
- Move to Spain Consulting
- Move to Spain Relocation Packages
Travel Blog Spain
Things To Do In Spain by Autonomous Community and Facts about Spain
Since that time, we have scoured the country and visited as much as we could. Most of the time we wrote about our experiences and shared them with you. There are a total of 17 Autonomous Communities in Spain or regions of Spain, so think of them similar to US States. We have had the pleasure of experiencing all but the Canary Islands and the 2 Autonomous Cities in the north of Africa. Let’s just say you are in for a treat with this post, as we are going to cover some of our favorite things to do in Spain, from each area!
Let me start by saying, you really need to visit more than Barcelona and Madrid! We love both of those areas, but Spain offers a wealth of experiences all over the country. Step a bit off of the beaten path and of course visit some favorites, but plan to really explore the country. You will see many of the best places to go in Spain right in this blog post, so keep on reading!
We will first list the things to do in Spain by autonomous community, and then we will share a couple of our Spain road trip routes with you! There is a wealth of information below, including many facts about Spain! Of course, we are a family of 4 and are traveling with kids, so many items highlight what to do with kids. I guarantee that adults will love it all too, so keep on reading and hopefully, this will provide inspiration for your visit to Spain!
Spain Coasts
Spain Costas or the Spanish Coasts provide a great variety of beaches, towns, and coves to choose from. Spain is known as the Iberian Peninsula, which is shared with Portugal. Being a peninsula means there is plenty of Spanish Coastline to discover and experience. Along the south and east are the Mediterranean beaches. Then the west and north provide you with Atlantic or Bay of Biscay beaches.
Things to do in Spain
Of course, we have a list of things to do in Spain that we’ve experienced, but you may also trust Spain Guides as a great resource. It is a complete guide to all the top attractions in Spain, including the Sagrada Familia and the Alhambra Granada.
Things to do in Andalucia Spain
Andalucia is pretty much the entire south of Spain and we happen to live in a town along the coast of Granada. We have explored this area extensively, and there is so much to see and do. You may be looking for things to do in Seville or possible things to do in Córdoba, as popular day trips from Madrid. Our first couple of years here, we were on adventures all of the time and took many road trips. We will share with you some of our highlights!
Things to do in Costa del Sol Spain (Malaga)
- Our travel guide of 25 things to do in Malaga Spain!
- Segway Málaga Experience – City & Gibralfaro, with amazing views
- Don’t Miss This Costa del Sol Gem – Estepona
- Meeting the Lobos! You can see wolves. Between Málaga and Cordoba
- You Must Visit Ronda Spain and A Town Where People Live Under a Rock!
- Ronda Spain and An Amazing Prehistoric Cave – Off The Beaten Path
- Ronda a week of Spanish Immersion for Alan
- The Nerja Caves Frequently Asked Questions
- 6 Wise Tips – Cuevas de Nerja (Nerja Caves)
- Pueblo Blanco – Frigiliana Spain a “Photo Walk”
- More Things to do in Malaga – fun for everyone!
- Malaga Spain Food Guide – just what you need to know
- Celebrate and American 4th of July in Macharaviaya Spain!
- Rooftop Bar Malaga – This is list to save for the perfect rooftop bar Malaga! Perched high above the city you will enjoy views of the city center, the port, the sea and more!
Things to do in Granada Spain
- Amazing things to do in Granada Spain!
- An Experience Glamping in Spain! Yurts, Tipis, Igloos, Gypsy Wagons!
- Hiking in Granada Spain – check out Monachil
- Granada Albaicíin on Segways!
- Day Trip to Pampaneira, Las Alpujarras Mountains (Granada, Spain)
- Water Fight! Lanjarón – Fiesta del Agua y del Jamón
Things to do in Costa Tropical Spain
- A Roman Bridge – Exploring In Our Own Backyard
- Friday Market – Almuñécar Spain
- Marina del Este Sailing Charter – La Herradura & Almuñécar
- Testing The Spanish Fruits Of Almuñécar
- Nude Beaches – Almuñécar
- Where it’s Made – Bodega Montero (Ron Pálido Rum Factory Motril)
- Almuñécar – Costa Tropical Video (Granada, Spain)
- 65 Reasons Why We Love Costa Tropical Spain
- Do you see what I see? (Paragliding – La Herradura, Spain)
- Day Trip to Pampaneira, Las Alpujarras Mountains (Granada, Spain)
- Pops Of Color In Southern Spain – Almuñécar
- What‘s In The Water? Something Exciting!
- Water Fight! Lanjarón– Fiesta del Agua y del Jamón
- Where it’s Made – Bodega Montero (Ron Pálido Rum Factory Motril)
- Almuñécar – Costa Tropical Video (Granada, Spain)
- How Olive Oil Is Made in Otivar, Spain
- 5 Days of Celebration In Almuñécar – Día de Andalucía and Carnaval 2014
- Don’t miss your chance to experience Marina del Este La Herradura.
- Remember to check out our other blog. We share everything you need to know so you may Enjoy Almunecar Spain!
- Why not check out some of the rooftop bars & amazing restaurant terraces in Costa Tropical?
Things to do in Seville and Cordoba Spain
- Feria de Abril –Seville Spain
- If you have 2 or 3 days in Seville, you will want to try these great things to do in Seville. Plus you will want to add a day trip too!
- Córdoba– A Great One Day Itinerary
Things to do in Jaen
- Itinerary – 2 days in Jaen
Things to do in Cadiz Spain
- Carnaval of Cádiz 2013
- Carnaval Cádiz Chirigotas
Things to do in AlmerÍa Spain
- Artisan Soaps In Vera Spain – Naturalmente Mediterraneo
- An Amazing European Road Trip Winding Down Week 8
Okay, I think you get the idea now. Of course there is more for you to discover on our blog, but we do love Andalucia!
Things to do in Aragon Spain
Okay, I will have to admit we don’t have an all-inclusive list of things to do for this area, but we did spend a few days in Zaragoza at the end of our 6-week European road trip, summer 2013. During that road trip we drove through Spain, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, France and Andorra. As we traveled back home from France we had 3 nights in Zaragoza to just do nothing.
We visited the city and explored a bit, but the kids had an absolute blast shredding in Zaragoza. Look how little they were! Growing up in Spain has been a real treat for them.
Things to do in Asturias Spain
Ah, Asturias Spain! This was part of our 8-week road trip summer 2016. We were just able to have a small taste of the area, but we sure loved it. We received a warm welcome and private tour in Oviedo from some of our blog readers, who have now lived in Spain a couple of years.
This city really felt good to us and we would even consider it as a place to live. The countryside in Asturias is amazing and there is no shortage of adventure and activities either.
- Arriondas Spain, Rolling on the River Sella our canoeing experience
- Exploring Oviedo and tasting the amazing Asturias cider
Things to do in Balearic Islands Spain
The Balearic Islands are an archipelago of Spain off of the eastern coast of Spain in the Mediterranean Sea. The four largest islands are Mallorca, Minorca, Ibiza and Formentera. There are many minor islands and islets close to the larger islands, but we have only visited Mallorca so far. We spent a glorious week in a luxury villa and had an absolute blast.
- Things To Do In Alcudia Mallorca With Kids
- Luxury Villa Mallorca Spain
- Learn to Kitesurf Mallorca Spain
- Adventures with Anya – Watersports Mallorca!
- Mallorca Catamaran Tour with Alcudia Sea Trips
- How To Windsurf Better Than 007
Check out our list of things to do in Mallorca!
Things to do in Basque Country Spain
We didn’t have a chance to stay overnight in the Basque country, but we did manage to spend the day in Bilbao on our drive from Santander to La Rioja. It was wonderful to visit the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao and we highly recommend it with kids. We also drove back through the Basque country and stopped by San Sebastian, on our drive from La Rioja to Bordeaux.
We also accidentally spent the day in San Sebastian, as it was a stop of on our way to Bordeaux France and we ended up being stuck in the city. After visiting the beach we started to leave, but all of the roads were blocked in every direction. It turns out there was a bike race going on and we were trapped. Oh well, a couple more hours for us to partake in the festivities.
Things to do in Canary Islands Spain
This is the one and only region in Spain we have yet to visit. So we don’t have any personal tips for you. That said, we know others who do!
- 8 Things to do in Canary Islands by Ytravel
- 24 Things to do in the Canary Islands by Hand luggage only
Things to do in Cantabria Spain
We spent a few days in Cantabria (Santander and Loredo), during our 8-week summer road trip. We enjoyed surfing lessons, excluding Alan’s accident. Santander was a beautiful city and we would love to return.
Of course we managed to walk every inch of town, but it was also nice to ride the Hop On Hop Off bus.
- This is certainly something for the entire family, Surfing lessons in Santander and a bit of a mishap
- Santander hop on hop off bus, but we didn’t hop off!
Things to do in Castile-Leon Spain
Without a doubt, we really need to explore this area more. We managed to spend a bit of time in Salamanca and would love to return there.
This is a large Autonomous Community, so we will need to return and check out other areas in the future.
Things to do in Castile – La Mancha Spain
We have driven through this area numerous times, but have yet to stop and take it all in. On our to do list, we want to visit Toledo, Cuenca, Albacete and so much more. If you have some things to recommend for this area, just let us know.
Things to do in Catalunya Spain
Oh I am sure you know all about this one. There are so many great things to do in Barcelona, as it is a top destination for Spain. We started our life in Spain with a few days in Barcelona. It was also the launching point, via ferry, for our 6 week European road trip. I also spent a couple of days on my own to visit my best friend from the USA, who was in for a visit.
Things to do in Barcelona Spain
- Americans Living In Spain = Stop #1 Barcelona
- A Ferry boat ride from Spain to Italy Departing from Barcelona to Rome!
- Of course this is one of the most visited cities in Spain, so you should certainly make a stop by. Here are some things to do in Barcelona With Kids?
Each time, we have just had a small taste of the city, so we hope to give it a deep dive in the future.
- Rooftop Bar Barcelona – With Barcelona being one of the top-visited cities in Spain, there is no shortage of great views and vantage points. Take a peek at our list of rooftop bars and restaurants in Barcelona!
Things to do in Costa Brava Spain
A travelers guide to Costa Brava, you are in for a unique experience in this area!
Things to do in Extremadura Spain
Without a doubt, the Roman Ruins in Merida have been the best we have seen in Spain. It was absolutely amazing and to think we almost just drove on by, when returning home from our visit to Portugal.
- Certainly a trip to remember! Chapel Of The Bones In Portugal and Amazing Roman Ruins in Mérida!
Things to do in Galicia Spain
We absolutely fell in love with the nature, sea, mountains, and vibe in Galicia. We intentionally stayed in a small village, so we could just absorb it all. It was a great place to visit in the summer, but it seems a little too slow of pace for us to live.
- This Will Make You Want To Visit Galicia
- Here is a guide for Things to do in Galicia!
Things to do in La Rioja Spain
La Rioja is the land of wine! We spent a week in the small town of Navarrete, but of course explored. Lars was volunteering for Diverbo so the 3 other Wagoners were off to do some wine tasting!
- 1 Day Of Luxury at Marques de Riscal La Rioja
- Wonderful, One Week of Rioja Wine in Northern Spain!
- Of course we didn’t make it or the event, but every June in Haro there is a massive wine fight! We will make it there one day. Battle of the wines!
Things to do in Madrid Spain
Who doesn’t love visiting Madrid? We have been several times, but it just seems we are having too much fun enjoying the city to write too much about it. Without a doubt, we highly recommend doing the Madrid food tour, as it is the perfect combination of food, culture, history and sightseeing.
- Of course this city is amazing and may seem vast, so it is tough to narrow down what to do. Here’s our list of Things To Do In Madrid Spain with kids!
- Give Them Wings And They Are Off! Lars Goes To Madrid
- 8 Day Intensive Spanish Course – Did Alan Survive?
- Rooftop Bar Madrid – As you know Madrid is right in the center of Spain and in the summer it can get pretty hot. One great way to cool down is to spend the day at a rooftop bar Madrid style, with a pool, food, and good friends.
Things to do in Murcia Spain
There is so much to do in this area and it was part of our original scoping trip for places to live in Spain. This was high on our list of places to settle, but Costa Tropical won out instead. We still like to go to the area for a visit and it was the final stop on our 2016 road trip.
- How To Take A Mud Bath Lo Pagan (Mar Menor, Spain)
- An Amazing European Road Trip Winding Down Week 8 ending in Murcia
- Artisan Soaps In Vera Spain – Naturalmente Mediterraneo
We spent 3 nights near Murcia and just relaxed in our rental apartment, with a little facemask spa fun. Of course we did also check out Cartagena and a return visit to the mud baths of Lo Pagan.
Unfortunately we don’t have a long list for this area, as it was just a drive through Pamplona on our way from La Rioja up to Bordeaux France.
Things to do in Valencia Spain
The similarly named city of Valencia is another city we could easily see ourselves calling home. We think Valencia is also one of the best places to live in Spain.
- Lars & Anya in Valencia, Spain. This was just a quick interview with the kids only a few days after arriving in Spain. We took a little vacation before making our way to the town where we planned to live.
- 7 Things To Do In Valencia With Kids, your kids will love it all, so be sure to give it a try!
- Segway Valencia– Adventures with Anya
- This really is a magical city and the perfect mix of old and new. The City of Arts and Sciences Valencia Spain is certainly worth a visit.
- Valencian Paella Recipe & A Cooking Class
Of course we still need to make it to the Valencia Fallas in March, when the city is ablaze!
Organized Tours
There are also many organized tours for you to enjoy from being active on walking or biking tour, to enjoying a food or wine tour. There is so much to do and Viator has so many great offers for you. Click here to see their latest Deals!
8 week Road Trip Spain & France
- An Epic 8 week Summer Road Trip in Europe!
- The 8 Week Road Trip in Spain & France Has Started!
- Alcudia Mallorca Things To Do With Kids, we spent a full week here and there was no shortage of fun things to do.
- Next we were off to Valencia! Oh how we love this city and here are 7 Things To Do In Valencia With Kids
- This was a great food tour and the kids absolutely loved it too. Finding Gems in Madrid For Foodies
- Salamanca was the next stop and here are17 Things To Do In Salamanca With Kids
- We spent a little over a week in Galicia and it was stunning! This Will Make You Want To Visit Galicia Spain!
- From cider to rolling on the river, we had a blast outdoors in the Asturias! It’s Time To Visit Asturias, Get A Taste Of Northern Spain
- Santander gave us a bit of a surprise. We didn’t know we’d like it so much. Double-Decker Santander Bus Tour
- You can’t go wrong with all of the wine available in this region! We spent a Wonderful One Week in Rioja Northern Spain!
- Time to go to France for a couple of weeks. When You Are Flat-Out Tired,1 Week In France
- This was the most amazing summer destination by far! Here are13 Fun Things To Do In Morzine France
- The kids were able to fly across the French Alps and even into Switzerland! Fantasticable The Most Amazing Zipline Ever!
- Making our way back home after An Amazing European Road Trip. It’s all Winding Down in Week 8
- We just happened upon this and we were so happy, what a great experience. Now It’s Time To Enjoy Some Montblanc French Wines
- Artisan Soaps In Spain – Naturalmente Mediterraneo
- Where did we stay during the 8 week road trip through Europe? We share every place we stayed and how we booked it. From Luxury to Misery, 8 Weeks of Accommodation
- As usual the entire road trip expenses were captured, calculated and shared with everyone! The Wonderful 8 Week European Road Trip Cost
- It wouldn’t be a road trip with out some good music! 8 Week Road Trip Playlist – Make Memories With Music
Other resources for your Visit to Spain
9 Useful Tips For A Car Hire In Spain
13 Gifts Of Spain You Need To Get For A Spain FanExploring Spain – Tips and Recommendations
What To Buy In Spain – Souvenirs Or Gifts From Spain!
What is Spain known for?
LGBTQ Spain
Spain is one of the most culturally liberal and welcoming countries for LGBTQ+ travelers. People in large cities and in most of the country are very open-minded and accepting. In fact, Spain was one of the first countries to legalize same-sex marriage (2005) and hosts one of the world’s largest Pride celebrations drawing 1.5 million people every year. Here is a guide to LGBTQ Spain!
Are you trying to figure out the best places to live in Spain?
Perhaps this will help you out, Moving Abroad? How To Select The Country, Town & Make The Move. Historically there having been many Americans moving to Spain, but in the recent years things are changing! We have helped hundreds of Americans move to Spain and we know many living in Spain.
Move to Spain Consulting
If you want a quick answer or someone to speak with, we also offer consulting. Check out our Spain consulting page now, for our latest offers!
Move to Spain Relocation Packages
From relocation planning and visa application, to residency and getting settled, we offer our expertise and knowledge. We can help you with your move to Spain with children or without. We also offer custom packages for your move to Costa Tropical. Click here tor read more about our move to Spain packages.