Spain

El Castell de Guadalest is a small mountain village above the Costa Blanca. Visitors come for its rock-hewn entrance, historic streets and view over a turquoise reservoir, rather than for a long list of major monuments. It works especially well as a day trip from the coast when you leave enough time for the village … Read more

Altea is a holiday resort on the Costa Blanca with about 20,000 inhabitants. The place is especially popular with German holidaymakers. Although in summer many thousands of tourists spend their holidays in Altea, it is clearly calmer here than in the neighbouring town and mega holiday resort Benidorm. Altea is rather popular with older tourists. … Read more

Calpe, also written Calp in Valencian, is a coastal town on the Costa Blanca distinguished by the Penyal d’Ifac, a steep rock rising beside the sea. Visitors can combine sandy beaches, an old-town walk, the salt flats and a protected natural park. The rock is not a casual promenade for everyone: the summit route has … Read more

A narrow-gauge railway runs along the northern part of the Costa Blanca from Alicante via Benidorm to Denia. The train is especially popular with tourists, as it is a great route, the fares are very cheap and the train connects all the important holiday resorts of the region. The train is given many names. Some … Read more

The time in Spain is the same as in Germany (Central European Time or Central European Summer Time). At least this is true for mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Ibiza, etc.), but not for the Canary Islands.  On the same day, summer time and winter time will also be introduced. Since Spain is … Read more

Spain is in comparison to many other holiday countries around the Mediterranean rather cheap. At least the majority of things are cheaper in Spain than in France or Italy. If you come from expensive regions in Germany, e.g. from Munich, the prices in Spain are probably felt to be somewhat lower. If you come from … Read more

Spain’s coast changes character as you travel. The rocky coves of the Costa Brava, broad urban beaches of Valencia, resort towns of the Costa del Sol and green Atlantic shore of the north offer very different holidays. This guide follows the mainland coast by region, then looks at the islands. The traditional “Costa” names are … Read more

Spain’s postal service is called Correos. Its yellow signs and letter boxes are familiar sights in towns and cities, but opening hours, postage and delivery options are easy to misunderstand if you are posting something during a short holiday. A postcard is simple; a parcel, registered letter or important document deserves a little planning. Here … Read more

Spain is much more than a single statistic. Its population has grown, its regions differ sharply in climate and geography, and the distance between a northern Atlantic town and a Mediterranean resort can be substantial. This page brings together useful facts for travellers and explains where a number needs a date or a definition. Figures … Read more

Spain’s public holidays are national, regional and local. A single list is helpful for orientation but cannot tell you whether a particular museum opens or whether a parade will block your hotel street. This guide explains the main dates and how to check the details for your trip. At a glance Check the current year’s … Read more