Spain is a prime vacation spot amongst solo vacationers, which isn’t stunning. Its cities are secure and walkable and have a variety of issues to do – from visiting spectacular architectural and historic buildings to tasting the native delicacies, which, by the way in which, varies from area to area.
If that is your first time heading to Spain, this information will assist you to select the vacation spot for you and all of the important issues it’s best to know earlier than beginning your journey on this numerous nation.
The perfect locations to journey solo in Spain
Seville
The capital of Andalusia is full of tradition – from unimaginable Moorish-style buildings and fairly squares to scrumptious native meals and conventional occasions.
Seville is usually secure for solo vacationers, however it’s price keeping track of your belongings when visiting its sights.
Alcazar of Seville is, no doubt, the prettiest palace within the metropolis. Discover its rooms adorned with Nasrid architectural particulars, wander its gardens, residence to peacocks and beautiful flowers, and study the historical past behind the constructing.
Different must-see locations in Seville are the well-known Plaza de España, Seville Cathedral and Giralda Tower, and Casa Pilatos.
In case you are a foodie like me, you don’t need to miss out on attempting native dishes. Garbanzos con espinacas (chickpeas with spinach) is my favourite and an ideal possibility for vegetarians too. Different well-liked dishes are oxtail stew and huevos a la flamenca Gypsy eggs).
And let’s not overlook about flamenco! Seville is the birthplace of flamenco, so there isn’t any higher place to get pleasure from a dwell flamenco efficiency.
The place to remain in Seville: Lodge One Shot Palacio Conde de Torrejón 09
Barcelona
Barcelona is the preferred metropolis break in Spain. What’s to not love about Gaudi’s structure and full of life environment? Whereas it’s a improbable vacation spot to go to by yourself, you have to be cautious about pickpocketing in foremost areas like Las Ramblas.
Throughout your time in Barcelona, head to La Sagrada Familia, which is essentially the most emblematic constructing within the Catalonian metropolis, and Park Güell. Make sure that to guide your tickets upfront as these are very busy sights.
Don’t miss Barcelona’s foremost sights, however you may additionally need to go to lesser-known locations like Casa Vincens (one other improbable creation by Gaudi) and the Horta labyrinth.
The place to remain in Barcelona: H10 Metropolitan
Madrid
Madrid is the proper metropolis break for solo vacationers who love immersing themselves in historical past, artwork, and tradition. Town is residence to among the greatest museums and artwork galleries in Spain, like Museo del Prado and Museo Reina Sofia.
A must-see historic constructing in Madrid is the Royal Palace. Every room is adorned to perfection. You’ll be amazed by the grand chandeliers and different parts, together with the ceilings. You’ll be able to spend fairly just a few hours there.
One other unimaginable place to go to is El Retiro Park. It’s an oasis in the midst of a cosmopolitan metropolis. The park is residence to monuments, fountains, and essential buildings whereas providing a tranquil escape from the town middle.
A go to to Madrid isn’t full with out attempting among the delicacies. For me, churros is the primary factor to attempt in Madrid. Sure, yow will discover them wherever else in Spain, however churros in Madrid are superb. The perfect place to have them is Churrería San Ginés, a couple of minutes from Plaza de España.
When you love savory, then a superb dish to attempt is huevos rotos, usually translated as damaged eggs. It consists of fried potatoes, fried eggs, and Serrano ham. The mixture is pleasant.
Relating to security, Madrid is secure in the course of the day; nonetheless, you would possibly need to skip wandering Madrid alone at evening, particularly in quiet streets.
The place to remain in Madrid: Lodge Soho Boutique Opera
Malaga
Malaga is likely one of the greatest locations for solo feminine vacationers. This lovely metropolis in Southern Spain has loads of issues to do.
What I really like essentially the most about Malaga is the mixture of excellent climate, seashores, and tradition. Many vacationers suppose Malaga and the remainder of the Costa del Sol are all in regards to the coast and solar, however let me inform you that Malaga provides many different issues.
As a solo traveler, you’ll really feel secure strolling across the metropolis middle, and you may go to all of Malaga’s foremost sights on foot.
A few of the unmissable sights in Malaga you shouldn’t miss are the Alcazaba, the Cathedral and, in case you’re into artwork, the Picasso Museum; by the way in which, Picasso was born in Malaga!
When you spend greater than one or two days in Malaga, I extremely advocate visiting the whitewashed cities. Most of them are lower than an hour’s drive, and so they present a distinct expertise from the town.
Frigiliana and Mijas Pueblo are my favorites. Their white painted and cobblestone streets adorned with flowerpots are very picturesque.
Alternatively, you possibly can go to the whitewashed previous city of Marbella or Estepona.
The place to remain in Malaga: Room Mate Valeria
Tenerife
Tenerife has at all times been a preferred hotspot for households. Nevertheless, its repute is altering, and plenty of solo vacationers and digital nomads head to Tenerife.
It’s the largest island within the Canary Islands, and yow will discover all types of actions – from spending your time absorbing the solar at its golden or black sand seashores to seeing El Teide and exploring its pure parks.
Tenerife is a really secure island, and though it’s simpler to discover it by automotive, it has good transportation.
Santa Cruz de Tenerife is the capital, however Puerto de la Cruz and smaller cities like Garachico are full of historic buildings and tradition.
Additionally, in case you love climbing, Tenerife is a paradise. The most effective hikes is the one which leads you to Masca, a village situated within the mountains. It’s the most original place on the island.
The place to remain in Tenerife: Occidental Santa Cruz Contemporáneo
Santander
Santander is likely one of the most underrated locations in Spain. This Northern Spain metropolis is ideal for solo vacationers preferring a quieter environment.
Town has fewer historic buildings than different Spanish locations but in addition has lovely golden seashores and is subsequent to scenic inexperienced landscapes.
One in every of my favourite locations in Santander is Palacio de la Magdalena, a former Palace and royal summer season residence. It’s within the Magdalena Peninsula, overlooking the crystal-clear sea.
Town additionally provides improbable day journeys to different Northern Spain locations.
For instance, you possibly can go to Bilbao, discover quaint cities like Santillana Del Mar, or go on a hike to Saya-Besaya Pure Park.
The place to remain in Santander: Lodge NH Ciudad de Santander
Associated learn: Street-tripping Northern Spain in a classic motorhome
Granada
One other Andalusian metropolis that should make it to the listing is Granada. Strolling round Granada is stepping again in time as its Moorish structure is current throughout the town.
The Alhambra Palace is essentially the most symbolic historic complicated in Granada and a UNESCO World Heritage Website. You’ll be able to spend just a few good hours exploring its palaces and gardens.
Nevertheless, there are different sights you don’t need to miss both—for instance, Granada Cathedral and San Jerónimo Monastery.
However that isn’t all; Granada is likely one of the greatest locations to eat tapas. They’re reasonably priced and scrumptious, too.
The place to remain in Granada: Palacete 1620, Premium Suites
Easy methods to get round Spain
Transportation on Spain’s mainland is usually good. In contrast to nations just like the USA, cities and cities are comparatively shut to one another, so that you don’t must spend many hours driving to get to locations. Plus, you don’t even must hire a automotive.
In fact, renting a automotive in Spain will provide you with extra freedom. You don’t want to fret about timetables, and regardless of being good, some locations aren’t well-connected by bus or practice.
Nevertheless, touring by practice in Spain is straightforward and comfy. When you head to Madrid or Barcelona, you possibly can just about get the practice to different improbable locations.
Buses are additionally secure, and most of them embrace the fundamentals you would possibly want: WIFI and comfy seats and bathrooms. The one draw back is that touring from one vacation spot to a different will take you extra time.
When you resolve to hire a automotive, motorways are in good situation, and Spaniards drive on the right-hand aspect of the street like in lots of different nations, besides the UK and Malta.
The perfect factor about driving on this nation is the liberty and alternative to go to extra Spanish distant locations. Who doesn’t love visiting hidden gems?
If you wish to go to the Spanish islands (whether or not it’s the Balearic islands or the Canary islands), you will have a automotive as a result of it isn’t at all times simple to maneuver round with public transport.
The perfect time to go to Spain
There may be by no means a improper time to go to Spain; nonetheless, you would possibly need to select completely different months or seasons relying in your journey preferences.
For instance, in case you don’t like crowds and are at all times searching for methods to economize, go to Spain in the course of the low season. Early spring and late autumn are improbable instances to sightsee and journey on a finances.
If you need a vibrant environment, don’t thoughts the warmth, and love the seashores, visiting coastal cities in the summertime is for you.
Additionally, Spain isn’t the preferred vacation spot for the Christmas vacation. Nonetheless, it’s good for immersing your self within the Spanish tradition, from celebrating Christmas Eve (Nochebuena) to consuming 12 grapes for luck on New 12 months’s Eve and seeing the Three Kings Parade.
Associated learn: What’s Spain well-known for?
What to pack on your vacation to Spain
There may be this false impression that Spain is a heat vacation spot. The reality is Spain has completely different climates, so you actually need to verify the temperatures earlier than you begin packing.
Southern Spain, the Canary Islands, and the Balearic Islands are typically heat. Nevertheless, the temperature distinction between day and evening is critical within the winter, so you’ll nonetheless must pack a jacket.
Northern Spain is wetter and cooler, so don’t make the error of leaving your umbrella at residence.
Ideas for visiting Spain alone
Spain is usually a really secure nation for vacationers, however that doesn’t imply nothing occurs. Equally, there are some things you need to know earlier than your journey to Spain. These are a few of my prime ideas for visiting my nation:
- Carry money with you. Most eating places, retailers, and sights settle for card funds, however it’s nonetheless doable to search out small companies and even buses that don’t have a card machine. Due to this fact, carry some money with you to keep away from searching for an ATM.
- Faucet water is secure to drink. I need to admit I’m not an enormous fan of faucet water, however you possibly can truly lower your expenses and keep away from pointless plastic waste by filling a reusable bottle from the potable fountains discovered in lots of parks.
- Use an anti-theft bag. Pickpocketing is the principle petty crime you can find throughout Spain and the one which vacationers should pay attention to. Make sure that to control your belongings in busy areas.
- Keep away from vacationer traps. It’s improbable to grasp every thing on a restaurant menu, however the eating places that usually have their dishes translated into a number of languages are vacationer traps. You will discover your self paying more cash for a not-so-authentic meal. Consuming paella overlooking Sagrada Familia would possibly sound like an ideal thought, however most likely not on your pocket.
- Tipping isn’t obligatory. In reality, many Spaniards don’t tip or tip little or no (a few cents or euros). You tip based mostly on the service you obtained and the way you are feeling on the day.
Easy methods to meet others in Spain
We Spaniards are outgoing, pleasant, and direct, which is a cultural shock for different cultures. We don’t have a tendency to grasp a lot of “private area”; we kiss strangers moderately than shake arms and invite anybody over.
If you wish to join with the locals, you have to go the place the locals go.
Alternatively, if you’re extra excited about assembly different vacationers, some good concepts are staying in hostels (sure, hostels have modified lots and for the higher), searching for occasions on web sites like Meet Up, and reserving a tour or lesson.
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Cristina Reina is the founding father of My Little World of Travelling, a weblog that helps vacationers uncover Spain and its hidden gems. She is keen about sharing native recommendations on her hometown, Malaga, and past.