Missing Spain

 

 

I lived in Spain for two months last summer, working as an Au pair. Afterwards, I took the liberty of making my way around this fun, diverse and gorgeous country. I’m happy to say that I managed to see almost every place I wanted to go in Spain, although I didn’t quite make it to Valencia but there’s always next time. Despite all the weird things that the Spanish do, there’s so much to do in and see in Spain that it remains one of my favourite countries in the world. Despite all odds, Spain is still relatively cheap – with the general rule being the further south you go, the kinder it will be on your wallet. If you’re looking to visit Spain and want to hit the hot spots, check out my list of favourite places and why I fell in love with them. 

 

 

 

I’m not really a fan of big cities, only a few seem to really catch my attention but Madrid is one of them. This city oozes “cool” and has so much going on, all the time, that you can’t help but get caught up in the beauty of it. Madrid is the only place I’ve stumbled out of a club at 6 am, to see clusters of couples who were in their 70’s walking out of their favourite cafe. You know a city is good when even the elderly are out making the most of it at any hour. Check out Templo de Debod at sunset for one of the best views over the city. Even though alcohol’s banned, most people bring some beers or sangria to this great look-out spot. 

 

 

 

Do you love gorgeous beaches? Sangria in the sun? Making the most of island life? Well, Spain’s got all this for you and more. Tenerife is the largest of the Canary islands and simply a must-visit if you’re craving some beach action. Once you’ve figured out where to stay in Tenerife you’ll want to start planning how to spend your time. Tenerife boasts some of the most striking landscapes, called The Finger of God. You can spend an afternoon in a park that has the world’s largest collection of parrots, Loro Parque, or head to the oldest cathedral Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción. There’s so much to do in Tenerife, providing you can pull yourself away from the gorgeous beaches for long enough to explore. 

 

 

 

There’s so many wonderful things about Granada, but for whatever reason far too many people miss this town off their list. Here you’ll find the Alhambra, undoubtedly one of the most breath-taking buildings in all of Europe. In many cafes, restaurants and bars, when you order a drink it will come with gratis tapas, that is – free tapas. It is possible to spend an evening moving from establishment to the next, ordering a drink and filling yourself up on delicious fare. The old town is lined with beautiful buildings, with little markets popping outside of the streets. It’s cheap while the locals are laid-back and friendly. What more could you want from a city?

 

 

 

I’ve spoken time and time again about my affection for San Sebastian. It’s a great city, with incredible food, gorgeous buildings and an irresistible beach that is literally on the city’s front door. San Sebastian manages to be the perfect fusion between France and Spain – all the beauty, charm and chic of France, while being fun and unpretentious in an purely Spanish way. Although there’s not a lot to see here, except the beaches, a few cathedrals and the wonderful bars it’s definitely worth a visit for at least a few days. 

 

These are my top four places to visit in Spain. I miss living in Spain almost every day and can’t wait for the opportunity to revisit. Have you ever been to Spain? Where was your favourite place?