Spain travel guides

April to October offers the mildest weather across Spain, with September and October standing out for fewer crowds in Madrid and Barcelona. Madrid summers can be very hot, reaching 25-40 degrees Celsius, so spring and autumn are more comfortable for sightseeing. In the north, Bilbao and the Basque coast are best from May to September under a milder oceanic climate.

Spain packs three very different world-class city experiences into one country. Barcelona is defined by Gaudi's UNESCO-listed architecture, from the Sagrada Familia to Park Guell, plus Mediterranean city beaches; Madrid holds the Prado, Reina Sofia, and Thyssen museums alongside the Royal Palace; and Bilbao pairs Frank Gehry's titanium Guggenheim with Basque pintxos culture. Tapas, flamenco, late dining, and high-speed rail day trips round out the appeal.

Plan roughly 4-5 days each for Madrid and Barcelona and 3-4 days for Bilbao. High-speed AVE trains make combinations easy: Madrid to Barcelona takes about 3 hours, Madrid to Seville about 2.5 hours, and Valencia is 2-3 hours from either. From Bilbao, San Sebastian is about an hour away and the Rioja wine region around 2 hours, making the north a natural add-on.

Spanish city centers are very walkable, and each major city has an efficient metro: Madrid's 12-line network costs about 1.50-2 euros per ride, Barcelona's TMB metro about 2.40 euros, and Bilbao's metro about 1.50 euros with the Barik card. Between cities, the high-speed AVE rail network is the fastest option, with taxis, Uber, and Bolt available for short hops. Reusable transport cards in each city are cheaper than single tickets.

Spain's major cities are considered very safe, with walkable streets at night in most areas and excellent tap water and healthcare. The main issue is pickpocketing in busy tourist zones such as La Rambla and the Gothic Quarter in Barcelona and around major squares, so keep valuables secure. The Europe-wide emergency number 112 covers police and ambulance services.