Choosing a Spanish Vacation

How to decide upon the perfect getaway to Spain.

Sep 13, 2008 Alex Keshen

A short guide to help travelers decide where along the Mediterranean Coast of Spain to spend their vacation time.

When planning a Mediterranean holiday, the sun-scorched beaches of Spain’s southern coast conjure images of sizzling summer heat. The cities of Barcelona, Valencia and Malaga all sit at the edge of the Mediterranean Sea, and are all popular tourist cities. Although there are a variety of destinations to choose from, each catering to different tastes, choosing an ideal vacation spot is not always as easy as uno, dos tres.

Barcelona

Being the largest city of the three, Barcelona is likely the first destination along the Mediterranean coast to come to mind. With an average high of 28 degrees Celsius in the summer and 13 in the winter, Barcelona’s weather is comfortable year-round, however, it is also the coolest of the three cities.

What Barcelona is arguably the most famous for, is its unusual architecture. In the centre of the old city, the Barri Gòtic, or Gothis Quarter, is home to many of the city’s Gothic style of buildings, while parts of the Eixample district are home to Barcelona’s more eccentric buildings, such as the Casa Batllo.

Balearic Islands via Valencia

For those looking for a gateway to the Ibiza, part of the Balearic Islands, Valencia would be your choice. The island lies approximately 80 km off of coast of Spain in the Balearic Sea from Valencia, making it very accessibly by ferries to the mainland as it only takes a few hours to get there. The island itself is a major tourist hotspot, particularly with a younger and hedonistic crowd. Valencia also has ferry connections to other islands in the archipelago: Mallorca and Minorca. With a warm climate (ranging between 15 degrees Celsius in the winter to 30 in the summer), it makes a perfect beach party getaway.

Malaga

Art lovers rejoice! Malaga, along the Costa del Sol is the birth place of Pablo Picasso and is in very close proximity to some of Spain’s most historic cities. Due to it’s location in the south of Spain, Malaga enjoys the warmest weather of the three cities. With highs of 17 degrees Celsius in the winter and 30 in the summer, Malaga is a prime destination at all times of the year.

Sevilla, Cordoba, Granada and Jaen are all within easy reach of Malaga by train or car. Also close by, is the tourist hotspot Marbella. The resort area is well known for being a playground for wealthy vacationers from the UK, Ireland and other European nations.

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