FOR THE SOCIAL BUTTERFLY.

BALERIC ISLANDS ( Ibiza).

Maybe you’ve heard of it? If you haven’t, it might not be for you. 

MADRID.

A much higher octane party scene, especially for the gay community, and a lot of the club scene focuses around money. However, this IS Spain after all: land of the egalitarian club experience where everyone can get in and have fun.

BARCELONA & SITGES (especially if you’re LGBT).

Barcelona has a reputation for being a party city, but that’s really more tourist-oriented and in reality, Catalans are really laid back and favor the “slow burn” approach of drinking moderately for a thousand hours at a time. Local bars are key for this city; just look for anywhere with a 70s looking sign and a crowd of people with funny glasses, man mullets, and chicks with bad bangs chain smoking outside, and you’re probably good to go.

SUMMER SPOTS & FESTIVALS.

Some party hot spots are really only worth going to in the Summer, which in Spain is late may to late September. This includes Ibiza and the islands, Malaga (at the heart of Costa Del Sol), and Sitges. A good rule of thumb is to consider whether there’s a beach or not, Barcelona being the only real exception.

FOR THE ART ENTHUSIAST.

BASQUE.

Guggenheim.

BARCELONA AND AROUND.

Figueres/Cadaques (Costa Brava): Dali, Gaudi, Miro and Modernisme movement and architecture

MADRID.

Prado, Reina Sofia, and countless other museums

FOR THE FOODIE.

THE BIG THREE.

Barcelona, Granada, and San Sebastian. All for different types of tapas, San Sebastian and Barcelona for fine dining (outside Barcelona in the countryside as well).

ONLY HAVE TIME FOR TWO?

Choose Barcelona & San Sebastian.

GO FOR BROKE.

If you can only pick one - good luck - we would have to choose San Sebastian. It has the best mix of high and low, and the most incredible pintxos (tapas) culture and is truly a city not to be missed. Or, actually, you could choose Barcelona and do just as well! You can head up the coast and inland, north of Barcelona, to hit some Michelin starred and recommended restaurants that showcase excellent examples of Catalan cuisine. Here, too, you can mix high and low.

FOR THE SUn-WORSHIPPER.

BEST OF THE COAST.

Costa Brava, north of Barcelona and Nerja on the Costa del Sol in Andalucia.

ISLAND HOPPING.

The Balearic islands of Ibiza, Mallorca, Menorca, and Formentera.

The Canary Islands.

FOR SURFERS.

Asturias.

FOR RUGGED SCENERY.

San Sebastian and Basque country for a more rugged scenery, but really only during the summer;

THE CITY-LOVER.

Consider the big three: Madrid-Seville-Barcelona.