10 Reasons To Visit Spain

Here are my top 10 reasons to visit Spain while traveling through Europe!

After spending a week traveling solo along the southeast coast of Spain, I am beyond thrilled to write some more articles about this country.

I visited Madrid, Toledo, and Barcelona back in January and absolutely loved it.

Now it’s April! I have a few weeks off from school, and I have my Spanish language exam coming up soon.

So I decided to travel to Spain again to practice my Spanish and see more of this gorgeous country.

This time I visited Valencia, Alicante and Murcia (with a brief afternoon in San Javier).

Budget Travel Tips for Spain

After experiencing more heartwarming Spanish culture, I wanted to write about the best reasons to visit Spain.

Many of the same glorious things recur in every city I’ve visited.

Though I haven’t explored nearly as much of the country as I’d like to, I’m going to assume that most of these features remain consistent throughout Spain.

Here are 10 reasons to visit Spain!

Plan your stay in Spain with my complete list of Europe Travel Tips!

Top 10 Reasons To Visit Spain

1. The sunny weather

Actually, this isn’t a very legitimate point since the weather in Spain obviously changes depending on the time of year and the region.

BUT regardless, both times I’ve traveled to Spain the weather has significantly lifted my spirits.

This past week was filled with sun, blue skies, light ocean breezes, beautiful sunsets, and warm temperatures.

Even in December, the cool temperatures were bearable because of the consistent sunshine.

So overall the weather really is wonderful in my experience.

reasons to visit spain sunny weather over the city — Spain is such a gorgeous country!

2. There are flowers EVERYWHERE

Flowers maintain a constant presence in Spain.

You’ll see small flower pots sitting outside houses and long vines wrapped around bridges, archways, and railings. And in all the parks and gardens, flowers are abundant.

Flowers add gorgeous colors and sweet scents to the urban space and truly enhance the beauty of Spain.

locals in spain setting up flower decorations on a building — Flowers are everywhere in Spain, which I absolutely love.

3. The beautiful countryside

The Spanish countryside is incredibly romantic.

From the sloping green hills dotted with tiny villages to the jagged snowy peaks of the mountains, traveling through Spain will bless you with some gorgeous views.

This is definitely one of the best reasons to visit Spain!

lush green countryside views in spain — Taking a bus or train around Spain is the best way to see the countryside.

4. Classic Spanish architecture

The buildings in Spain are an enticing mix of traditional elegance and colorful charisma. From the big cities to the small towns, I always enjoyed just roaming around and admiring everything in Spain.

The streets are filled with saturated colors and captivating patterns.

Humble residential homes are painted bright colors, and massive government buildings are filled with detail and decoration.

If you love taking photos of beautiful buildings, Spain is the place to be.

ornate spanish church — Spain has some amazing architecture.

5. Spanish food

Spanish food is rich and bursting with flavor. The key is to not eat too much of it, otherwise, you’ll explode.

There are carbohydrates galore, but they are always dressed up with some fresh ingredients.

Local classics include toasted bread with crushed tomatoes, paella filled with local seafood and spices, or fried potatoes drizzled with spicy sauce.

The indulgence continues when you start trying the local cured meats and cheeses.

And then there are the delicious delicacies like churros con chocolate, pastries, ice cream, and coffee. You’ve just got to try it all.

spread of spanish cheeses at a local market — Spanish food is rich, but just walk often and eat in moderation to maintain balance.

6. Beautiful public squares

Public squares seem to be the life force behind Spanish cities.

They are perfect for people-watching, meeting up with friends, relaxing on a bench, or grabbing a drink at the surrounding bars and restaurants.

Appearing frequently throughout cities, public squares are filled with flowers and stunning architecture (of course).

Other common finds include fountains, street performers, statues, monuments, benches, tapas bars, and coffee shops.

reasons to visit spain colorful public squares — All throughout Europe, the public squares are the heart and soul of a city.

7. Friendly Spanish people

Generally speaking, people in Spain are very outgoing, loud, passionate, generous, and kind-hearted.

The Spanish are not afraid of opening up and showing compassion to people they’ve never met before. At least in my experience!

I’m very grateful that waiters, shopkeepers, policemen, market vendors, and everyday pedestrians are always willing to start a conversation with an American student whose Spanish is mediocre at best. And whose love for paper maps always makes her look like a confused tourist.

people gathered at a sunset in spain — Do yourself a favor and chat up some Spanish locals!

8. The beaches

With plenty of coastline along the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean Sea, the beaches in Spain are heavenly.

Some beaches, near the more populated areas, are long, spacious and flat. They are amazing for sunbathing, surfing, and socializing.

The beaches near the more remote areas are rugged and framed by cliffs. Either way, the beaches in Spain are always inviting.

blue water at a beach on the coast reasons to visit spain — After living in London, the Spanish beaches felt like heaven!

9. Local markets

Most towns and cities in Spain have a covered, spacious hall home to the Central Market.

Here, the produce is always fresh, the bread and pastries always smell heavenly, and the prices are always super cheap.

Markets are like safe havens for me, since eating in nice restaurants all the time doesn’t agree with my student budget.

I thoroughly enjoy walking out of a market with heaping cartons of juicy fruit, freshly baked bread, plates of olives, and blocks of delicious cheese. And I’ve only spent a total of 5 euros or less.

heaping piles of fruit and veggies at a local street market — Always check out the local market while traveling!

10. Magnificent religious buildings

Churches and cathedrals are super common throughout all of Europe.

But Spain has had a particularly diverse and sometimes turbulent religious history that led to some incredible religious buildings.

Spain has been the home of Muslims, Jews, and Christians for centuries. The spiritual architecture left behind is simply incredible.

Some churches, synagogues, and mosques are small, humble, and simple. Some are magnificent and proud, with massive spires and domes shooting up into the sky.

Either way I always enjoy admiring and learning about the different religious buildings throughout Spain.

spain churches — A more elaborate church in Spain

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Hopefully, these 10 reasons to visit Spain have convinced you to book a trip to this stunning European country!

Before traveling to Spain:

Visit Bookaway to find and book affordable and reliable transport around Spain.

Browse Hostelworld for the best hostels around Spain. This is the perfect way to save money and meet other travelers!

Consider getting travel insurance. I recommend Squaremouth Insurance for US residents! But you can read my Budget Traveler’s Guide To Travel Insurance for more info.