Information about Spain
Spain’s sun, siesta and sangria mixed with a great shot culture will never disappoint. Here you feel good whether you choose the mainland’s exciting cities or the islands’ popular beaches. How about a hike on Tenerife’s volcano Teide? Shopping & tapas at La Rambla in Barcelona and a dip in the sea afterwards. Or a cold beer in Madrid, the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao or the magical Alhambra with its Moorish palaces?
Here you will find practical information and facts about Spain.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION ABOUT TRAVELING IN SPAIN
Weather and best time to travel
Southern Spain’s summer heat thaws the coldest Swede. The northern parts of the country have a more temperate climate with hot summers and mild winters thanks to their proximity to the Atlantic. In the central parts of the country it is an inland climate with very hot summers and cold, dry winters. Here is Madrid and frying during the summer months and a visit here is most pleasant during winter, spring and autumn. The east coast and the popular cities of Barcelona and Valencia have a subtropical climate with mild winters and deliciously hot summers. The warmest and driest are the southern parts, which get extra heat from the North African winds. The winter here is like warm spring months in Sweden, if you want to sunbathe & swim during the winter, the Canary Islands are the best option. Visit vaultedwatches.com for Spain – Europe’s most popular tourist destination.
Money
In Spain, euros (EUR) are used. Credit cards work in many places, but charge a little extra cash as not all restaurants in the countryside accept cards. There are plenty of ATMs in the cities.
In general, the prices are lower here than in Sweden, so take the opportunity to eat and drink well!
Transport
Train:
Train traffic in Spain is extensive and works very well. The state railway is called Renfe and has a well-developed and efficient network of train lines. Spain and Renfe are known for their high-speed trains and have Europe’s most extensive line network for these, which means that you can travel extremely fast between the larger cities. You can travel the 600 kilometers between Madrid and Barcelona in just 150 minutes! From the larger cities you can also take the slower regional trains which in turn offer the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful views.
Bus:
The many private bus companies cover the whole country well. The largest bus company is called Alsa and has long-distance buses around almost the entire country. they also have regional routes so ask at the local ticket office and they will help you.
Tips
In most countries, tips are part of the salaries of employees in the service industry. Therefore, it is good practice (and sometimes directly necessary) to give tips to, for example, cleaning staff, waiters, guides, drivers, etc. depending on the country you are visiting. Therefore, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with how much is normally given in tips and to whom before you embark on your journey. Find information on tips in Lonely Planet’s guidebooks.
FACTS
CAPITAL: MADRID
LANGUAGE: SPANISH
CLIMATE: MOSTLY SUBTROPICAL
CURRENCY: EURO
RELIGION: THE MAJORITY ARE CATHOLICS
INFORMATION ABOUT SPAIN
A delightful culture
Spain is a large country so you will inevitably make two different trips if you travel to Mallorca or to Madrid. But the Spanish culture is wonderful wherever you go. Here you can get Spanish flamenco and classical guitar playing and Moorish palaces but also your charming, wherever you are. Here you get Spanish guitar playing, flamenco dancing and Moorish castles, but also a hard story with war, poverty and dictatorship. The Spanish language is a pleasure to listen to and not all Spaniards are so fond of speaking anything else.
The addictive Spanish cuisine
Juicy tomatoes, sweet oranges, smooth olive oil, strong cheeses and large garlic. With the delicious ingredients, it is not unexpected that Spanish cuisine offers great dining experiences. Start the day with a cup of hot chocolate to dip your “churro” in or a piece of toast with garlic, olive oil and sun-ripened tomatoes. Later in the day, a delicious paella with seafood, chicken or maybe rabbit is on the menu. And of course you have tapas, this wonderful Spanish phenomenon that has something for all tastes. For food, you enjoy a good wine or why not an ice-cold “cerveza”, with or without alcohol.
Spain comes to life in the evening
You must not think that Spain is dull and quiet just because the streets are quiet and empty in the afternoon and early evening. You still have a siesta during the hottest hours of the day and then eat dinner much later in the evening than we Swedes do. It is not until late in the evening that you meet the locals at the restaurants, bars or city parks.
Fiestor
Spaniards love festivities and parties. Already at the beginning of January, the Thirteenth Day of Christmas is celebrated in style. The Catholic Church also celebrates Easter on a much larger scale than is done in Sweden. Especially in Andalusia, one sees long processions of hooded participants, large saint figures and massive gold thrones carried on the shoulders of the many participants. The rest of the year, the cities celebrate lots of different festivals. Everything from bullfighting in Pamplona to Fallas in Valencia or the various village festivals in southern Spain.
