Spain travel advice
Andalucia travel advice
Andrew Appleyard, from our supplier Exodus, shares his Spain travel advice:
“Everyone always heads to the cities of Andalucia – Cordoba and Granada and Seville – but I think if you can get into the heartland of Spain and base yourself in a rural community – as I call it, all the Moorish hinterlands – that area to me is one of the most beautiful, especially during springtime. Photographically it’s just beautiful with the almond blossom and the spring flowers – it’s just astounding down there. And the local produce is magnificent. I don’t think anyone realises the incredible abundance of fantastic, organic food.”
“Everyone always heads to the cities of Andalucia – Cordoba and Granada and Seville – but I think if you can get into the heartland of Spain and base yourself in a rural community – as I call it, all the Moorish hinterlands – that area to me is one of the most beautiful, especially during springtime. Photographically it’s just beautiful with the almond blossom and the spring flowers – it’s just astounding down there. And the local produce is magnificent. I don’t think anyone realises the incredible abundance of fantastic, organic food.”
Our Spain Holidays
Altiplano de Granada activity holiday, Spain
Family Multi-activity cultural holiday in rural Andalucia
From
€370 to €480
8 days
ex flights
Spanish course & walking holiday, Picos de Europa, Spain
Walk and talk on this small group language holiday in Picos de Europa National Park
From
€659 to €699
7 days
ex flights
Yoga Retreats in Valencia, Spain
Yoga and meditation in the magical countryside of Valencia
From
€495 to €1200
6 days
ex flights
Catalonia self guided walking holidays
Self-guided walking holidays in Catalonia
From
€715 to €799
8 days
ex flights
Catalonia family self guided cycling holiday, Spain
Customised road cycling tour in Girona, Catalonia
From
€306 to €425
8 days
ex flights
Picos inn to inn walking holiday in Spain
Hike through beautiful mountains staying in rural inns
From
£1275
8 days
ex flights
Las Alpujarras walking holiday, Spain
Guided walking holiday, Andalucia, with writer Chris Stewart
From
€1295
8 days
ex flights
Luxury fitness holidays in Spain
Luxury weight loss, detox, fitness & wellness retreat Spain
From
£1095
7 days
ex flights
Walking holidays in Grazalema, Andalucia, Spain
Flowers, wildlife,Eagles, guided walks,stunning scenery.
From
£895
8 days
ex flights
Walking holiday in Andalucia with Chris Stewart
Walking and activities in Granada with author Chris Stewart.
From
€875
7 days
ex flights
Photography holiday in Andalucia, Spain
New! Capture beautiful Andalucia with camera & smart phones.
From
£795
8 days
ex flights
Learn Spanish & family activity holiday in Spain
Learn Spanish + Outdoor Activities canoe/cave/via ferrata...
From
€679 to €721
7 days
ex flights
Catalonia holiday, cycling and relaxation
Cycle holiday based from self catering accommodation Palamos
From
€425 to €845
8 days
ex flights
Catalonia walking & food tour, Spain
Enjoy varied landscapes & sample local food & wine.
From
€899 to €959
7 days
ex flights
Cooking and walking holiday, Spanish Pyrenees
A gastronomical experience in the Spanish Pyrenees
From
€1295
8 days
ex flights
Canary Islands walking holiday
Visit Teide volcano and walk through the Garajonay Forest
From
£1155 to £1439
8 days
inc UK flights
Mallorca walking holiday in the Balearic Islands, Spain
Tranquil and timeless landscape dotted with mediaeval villages
From
£1099 to £1299
8 days
inc UK flights
Photography holiday in Picos de Europa, Spain
Photo in N Spain's stunning mountain villages & wild coast
From
£2400 to £2600
9 days
ex flights
Painting holiday in Andalucia
Explore your painting creativity in delightful Andalucia.
From
£950
8 days
ex flights
Catalonia centre based walking holiday, Spain
Self guided walking holiday in Catalonia
From
€925 to €1070
8 days
ex flights
Picos mountains walking holiday in Spain
Spectacular range of limestone peaks, ridges and valleys
From
£999 to £1299
8 days
inc UK flights
Learn Spanish and walk the Camino de Santiago, Spain
Spanish Course + walking in the Camino del Norte
From
€699
7 days
ex flights
Lanzarote beach house, Canary Islands
Beautiful Villa 100mt to beach, private plunge pool & Wifi
From
€945 to €1365
per accommodation per week
Alicante self guided walking holiday
Trekking through beautiful mountainous countryside
From
€740
8 days
ex flights
Las Alpujarras guided walking holiday, Spain
Fabulous guided walking holiday, Sierra Nevada, Andalucia
From
€685
8 days
ex flights
Cycling tour in Catalonia for food lovers, Spain
A taste of Catalonia on a cycle tour
From
€1080 to €1290
7 days
ex flights
Self guided cycling holiday Catalonia, Spain
Discover the many aspects of northern Catalonia by bike
From
€1080 to €1290
7 days
ex flights
Catalonia family mountain biking & activity holiday, Spain
Family MTB & activities in the Catalan countryside
From
€495 to €720
8 days
ex flights
Lanzarote 8 bedroom villa and yurt
"Wow" Factor Villa, 2 x private pools, Sea Views, Nr Beach
From
€700 to €1100
per accommodation per night
Outdoor travel tips
Paul Fellows is the owner of our supplier Walk Andalucia, based in Torrox, eastern Malaga. He shares his Spain travel advice: “Andalucia is almost cut into two halves – one of which is very commercialised with Fuengirola and Torremolinos and Marbella, while our end – the eastern end – is far more Spanish. It’s excellent for all kind of outdoor pursuits. Walking, cycling… and at certain times of year you can be skiing by 9:30 for three hours, and be on the beach in the afternoon. It’s a fantastic place to be outdoors and we have 300 days of sunshine a year to be doing it all in.”Food shopping advice
John Vincent is the owner of our supplier Fuente Arriba, based in Lubrin, a little village in Almeria. He shares his Spain travel advice for people staying in self-catering accommodations: "It’s good to look into which days the local market is held! Lubrin is such a small place – only about 500 people, but there are three bakers, two butchers...and then the fish comes up most days from the nearest port on the coast so there is fresh fish just about every day. Market day is on a Wednesday, the supermarkets don’t carry perishables. You would think that being rural they would, but this is only available from the travelling market which sell fruit and veg from the back of their vans.”Tips on getting off the beaten track
Tom Powers, from our supplier Pura Aventura, has spent 20 years working in Spain – and says it still surprises him. He shares his Spain travel advice: “Just go. You think you know Spain, you think you’ve been there – but you don’t. You could spend your life in the country, but you’ll never know it. There’s almost not a town in Spain that you couldn’t go and spend a few nights in. Every village has a story, its own wine, its cuisine... the hotels are amazing quality, even in the middle of nowhere, beautiful hotels that belong in the pages of an interior design magazine. But it’ll be £100 a night – in the UK it would be closer to £300 and the food would be disappointing!”Catalonia travel tips
Fiona, from our supplier Mas Pelegri: “People tell us they prefer Catalonia to Tuscany as there are less people. It’s like Tuscany with mountains and much more going on. Tuscany is also too cold in the winter, whereas Catalonia isn’t. We’ve had families over for new year they went mountain biking and did walks every day, and had a lovely time."
Vivian, from our supplier Cycle Catalan: “Catalonia is lumped in with Spain as a whole, and parts of Spain have a bad reputation for overdevelopment and being too busy and very commercial. But Catalonia is still very unspoiled and very traditional. You don’t get fish and chips here! It’s definitely an authentic experience. It’s still quite an unknown part of Spain, and very underrated.”
Health & safety in Spain
FCO advice and Spain
Most visits are trouble free, however terrorism is sadly a reality of travelling in these times. Spain has suffered at the hands of terrorists’ activities, such as the dual, fatal attacks at in Las Ramblas area of Barcelona and Cambrils, both in Catalonia, in August 2017. The organisation Daesh (formerly referred to as ISIL), claimed responsibility for the attacks. Before this incident, there were terrorist bombings in Burgos in 2009 and Getxo in 2008, believed to been led by Basque separatist group Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA).There were no fatalities following these ETA attacks. The Madrid train bombings in March 2004 have been the deadliest terrorist attack ever carried out in the history of Spain. The official investigation concluded these to have been carried out by a terrorist group linked to al-Qaeda. Always get up to date information at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) travel advisory department before travelling to Spain.HEALTH
SAFETY
Our top Spain Holiday
Altiplano de Granada activity holiday, Spain
Family Multi-activity cultural holiday in rural Andalucia
From
€370 to €480
8 days
ex flights
Tailor made:
This trip can be tailor made throughout the year to suit your requirements
This trip can be tailor made throughout the year to suit your requirements
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Spain or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.
Spain tips from our travellers
At Responsible Travel, we think the best people to advise our travellers are often... other travellers. They always return from our tours with packing tips, weather reports, ideas about what to do - and opinions about what not to.
We have selected some of the most useful Spain travel tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your holiday - and the space inside your suitcase.
We have selected some of the most useful Spain travel tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your holiday - and the space inside your suitcase.
If you are going to seriously botanise - then April or early May would seem to be the best time. Much of the plant life was already burned off in early June.
- Margaret Underwood
Book an entrance ticket to the Alhambra on-line well in advance if possible. – Terrie Robinson
Use local services, markets and restaurants. They are cheap, friendly and good quality. - Simon Nicholson
Be ready to experience the real Spain - and practice some Spanish - away from the hordes of UK package tourists. - Kerrie Jopling
Everyone was very friendly and helpful and the old man in the local supermarket even used Google Translate to help us work out what we were trying to ask for! - Jackie Day
Use local services, markets and restaurants. They are cheap, friendly and good quality. - Simon Nicholson
Be ready to experience the real Spain - and practice some Spanish - away from the hordes of UK package tourists. - Kerrie Jopling
Everyone was very friendly and helpful and the old man in the local supermarket even used Google Translate to help us work out what we were trying to ask for! - Jackie Day
Take your walking boots - you can walk all day without seeing anyone.
- Hilary Wight
Be prepared for a simple and relaxed pace of life with little compromise to modern tourism. - Anthony Bullin
The weather was dreadful… However it didn't matter. Being forced to sit in village bars, drink beer and eat tapas chatting with whoever might be around was an absolute delight! We even slept snuggly in the sitting room next to the fire one night as the rain hammered on the roof tiles... excellent. - Anna Fox
Be prepared for the lack of 'los servicios' on the walks (girl thing!). Pack a few cereal bars/oat cakes as back-up's to what’s basically a meat and carbs diet! If you don’t eat red meat, be prepared for Ham being treated as Not Red Meat! - Ros Perryman
Take day trips early morning or late afternoon as it can get quite hot. - Caroline O
Meals are served at local restaurants or Tapas bars late so young people may be tired after a long and busy cycling day - Susan Levy
The weather was dreadful… However it didn't matter. Being forced to sit in village bars, drink beer and eat tapas chatting with whoever might be around was an absolute delight! We even slept snuggly in the sitting room next to the fire one night as the rain hammered on the roof tiles... excellent. - Anna Fox
Be prepared for the lack of 'los servicios' on the walks (girl thing!). Pack a few cereal bars/oat cakes as back-up's to what’s basically a meat and carbs diet! If you don’t eat red meat, be prepared for Ham being treated as Not Red Meat! - Ros Perryman
Take day trips early morning or late afternoon as it can get quite hot. - Caroline O
Meals are served at local restaurants or Tapas bars late so young people may be tired after a long and busy cycling day - Susan Levy
More about Spain
Spain holds a rich variety of landscapes which will no doubt have an effect on the best time to visit Spain where personal interests are concerned.
Our Spain travel guide includes everything from a brief history of Spain to food, shopping & people to help you travel like a local on your Spain holiday.
Check out our interactive highlights map detailing our favourite places to visit in Spain as well as information on travel times between larger cities such as Barcelona and Madrid.
Our top activities in Spain take you off, or on, the beaten track and range from cycling and languages to a trek on the Camino de Santiago.
Areas like the Altiplano de Granada and Sierra de Castril mountains will make you forget days by the pool, offering everything from hiking and biking to canyoning.
Unlock the secrets of Spain as you walk the country’s mountainous interior and wonderfully wild coastlines, discovering an authentic slice of Spanish life, with not a parasol in sight.
Catalonia packs a world of landscapes into one region, from 3,000m snow-capped Pyrenean peaks, to the warm turquoise waters of the Mediterranean.
Rich with influences from Moorish, Roman, Greek, Phoenician and Byzantine civilisations, Andalucía is one of the most diverse and fascinating regions of Spain.
You’ll have a wild and wonderful walking holiday in the Picos de Europa, where small group and tailor made trips get your adrenalin pumping against the most bucolic of backdrops.
Yoga holidays in Spain rejuvenate the senses with a combination of Pilates, language lessons and guided meditation adding to the joys of year round warmth and sensational Spanish cuisine.
Leave the tourist trails on two wheels and see a side of the country far removed from the costas and the big smoke.
From the sites of spaghetti westerns to whitewater rafting, we know what to do with little ones so all you have to do is pack and go.
Travel right in Spain and you’ll quickly discover why the brain drain, dolphinaria, bull fighting and corruption in the construction industry are all worth researching.
Find all of our Spain guides in one place, from guides to Andalucia, Valencia or the Canary Islands to advice on activity holidays including walking and cycling.
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Photo credits: [Page banner: Mathew MacQuarrie] [Andalucia advice: Keith Roper]
[Catalonia tips: Gemma Coll Male]
[Health and safety: Kitty Terwolbeck]
[Review 1: Steve Slater]
[Review 2: Fresco Tours]
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