Sunny beaches, beautiful architecture and stunningly delicious Mediterranean cuisine are not all that Spain has to offer travelers. And to make your trip easy and enjoyable, our tips are here to help.
Bad weather can ruin even the most thoughtful vacation, so if you don't want to worry about it all the time, the best time to travel is from March to June and September to December. This is when the weather in Spain is as comfortable as possible, with no sudden changes in temperature or heavy rainfall, and there aren't as many tourists (also a big plus!).
It's a different matter if you want sun, beaches and partying. Then the ideal time is, of course, summer. With maximum sunshine and warm seas, it's the perfect time to appreciate the coast and islands. But we advise you to refrain from traveling to the central and northern parts of Spain, as it is very sweltering at this time.
And it's during the summer months that many regions of Spain host all sorts of local festivals, such as Pamplona's famous San Fermin on July 7 and Bunyol's Tomatina on August 29.
Free Spain
When going to Spain, you don't have to plan an exorbitant entertainment budget. There are plenty of things to do in this sunny country without paying a cent.
- For example, explore Spanish cities on a free tour. For example, in Madrid, daily free tours are run by the Sandemans organization, and anyone can sign up. To do so, you need to fill out a form in advance on the organization's website, or simply walk up to the group's meeting place 10-15 minutes before the start time. Tours are held daily at 10:00, 11:00, 12:00 and 14:00 and last 2.5-3 hours. The meeting place is Plaza Mayor, in front of the Tourist Information Office (near the Sol metro station). They are told in English and Spanish.
- Other free tours in Madrid are led by guides from the Way Hostel Madrid. The group gathers daily at 11:30 at the hostel's door and sets off to explore the city. It takes about three hours to do everything.
For those who like to stretch their legs as well as their brains, there are plenty of museums in Spain that you can visit for free.
- Museo del Prado in Madrid
Free admission Monday through Saturday from 18:00 to 20:00 and on Sundays and holidays from 17:00 to 19:00.
- Queen Sophia Museum
Fans and connoisseurs of contemporary art such as Salvador Dalí, Miró and Picasso[BT1] . Free admission is Mondays from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Sunday from 1:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
April 18, May 18, Oct. 12 and Dec. 6 - admission is free all day.
Find out the museum's exact opening hours and all the latest information on the official website.
- Museum Thyssen-Bornemisza
If you're a fan of Van Gogh, Caravaggio, Rubens or Rembrandt, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum is your choice. The exhibit is free to visit on Mondays from 12:00 to 16:00.
Not far behind the capital is Barcelona:
- Free tours from Sandemans Tours will introduce you to the city and its history, show you all the famous sights - from historic to modern - and leave you with a lot of pleasant impressions. Tours take place daily at 10:00, 11:00 and 14:00. The group meets at the Plaça de l'Àngel Park (Jaume I metro station, opposite the Suizo Hotel).
- The Feel Free company also offers tourists a free introduction to the city. You can, for example, explore the Old Town or learn about the modernist era in Barcelona's history. And from June 1 to September 15, there are guided tours of the famous Gracia neighborhood that end with a walk in Parc Güell. The duration of the tour is 2-3 hours.
- If for some reason you did not have time for the previous city "sightseeing", do not be upset. The company Runner Bean Walking Tours also offers two types of free excursions - in the old city and in the "places of glory" of the great Catalan genius Gaudi. The schedule is as follows: from April 1 to October 14, daily at 11:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.; from October 15 to March 31, daily at 11:00 a.m.
After seeing the city's beauty and walking around, you can continue your cultural program in one of the museums. Many of Barcelona's "temples of art" are free to visit after 3pm and on the first Sunday of the month (such as the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, the Museu de Historia de Barcelona, the Museu Frederic Mares and the Museu de la Música).
Some museums also offer free admission on additional days - February 12, May 18 and September 11 and 24 (Museu d'Histórica de Catalunya, Museu Nacional de Arte de Catalunya, Museu Nacional de Arte de Catalunya, Museu Blau, Museu Picasso, Centro de Cultura Contemporánea).
In Valencia you can also experience and learn for free at the Museum of Ethnology (free entry every Saturday, Sunday and public holidays), the Valencia Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of Natural Sciences (3pm to 7pm) and the Museum of Ceramics (free entry on weekends).
Free admission on Sundays and holidays is also available at the José Benliure House Museum, the Rice Museum, IVAM (Valencia Institute of Modern Art), the Valencia History Museum, the City Museum, the Cervello Palace Museum and the Fallas Museum.
Alicante won't let you get bored either, as there are plenty of museums open to the public for free any day or time.
- The Fogeras Museum, dedicated to the Feast of the Bonfires of San Juan, when colorful papier-mâché figures are traditionally burned on the night of June 25 in Alicante. The museum features models of the various figures, outfits of the townspeople and many other curious exhibits.
The museum's schedule can be found on the website.
- Museum of Modern Art (MACA)
You can see works by masters, painters and sculptors from Spain and other countries, as well as a collection of art from the 20th century. Opening hours: Tuesday-Saturday from 10:00 to 20:00. Sundays and holidays - from 10:00 to 14:00.
- Museum of bullfighting
The bullfighting museum is located near the bullring next to the Plaza de España and is dedicated to the famous Alicante bullfighters.
For a detailed schedule, visit the museum's website.
- Museum of Fine Arts
This museum is housed in a late 18th-early 19th century palace. The collection includes more than 500 works of art from the XVI-XX centuries by local artists and sculptors.
Schedule can be checked on the official website of the museum.
Spain City Pass
Traveling in
Travel in Spain can be made much easier (and financially too) by purchasing a tourist card, also known as a City Pass.
a tourist card, also known as a City Pass. It is available in many Spanish cities, such as,
в
Madrid, Barcelona,
Bilbaoand
Leona, Sevilla, Granada and
Toledo,
as well as
Valencia, Saragoza
and others.
The card can be
The card can be bought at tourist information offices, airports, hotels and travel agencies.
travel agencies. It offers you discounts on attractions, museums, tours and excursions.
museums, tours and concerts, plus discounts on transportation and shopping.
shopping.
City Pass is usually
is valid for one, two or three consecutive days and is activated the first time you use it.
first use. The price depends on the "expiration date"
of the card, but on average it's €10-60.
Note: If you buy your card online, it is either mailed to you or you get a code to pick it up. or you get a code to pick it up at certain points of information (airports, train stations, etc.). airports, train stations or tourist information offices).
Communication
- Mobile communication and internet
One of the key of traveling is connectivity. It's a good idea if your carrier supports roaming service - then you'll automatically be connected to one of the local networks (Vodafone, Movistar, Orange or others).
If you plan to make a lot of calls, you should consider buying a pre-paid SIM card with a suitable tariff. This will allow you to dial a toll-free number and a pin code with your subscriber number. pin code with the subscriber's number to make calls to other countries at a more favorable rate. Well, and, of course, do not forget about such achievements of civilization as Viber or Skype.
If you need to connect to the internet, it's not a problem in Spain. Free Wi-Fi is available not only at airports and train stations, but also in cafes, restaurants, parks, museums, and restaurants (you can always ask the staff for the password). of the institution).
In addition, Spain has a 4G network with a wide coverage area. Spain has a 4G network with a wide coverage area, so be sure to check the terms and tariffs of your mobile phone provider before you travel. so be sure to check with your cell phone provider before you travel.
- How to call from/to Spain
To to call Spain from abroad, you need to dial +34 (Spanish area code) and then a 9-digit phone number. 9-digit phone number.
To call from Spain to any other country you need to dial 00, then the country code, city code and phone number. phone number.
For calls within Spain, the number is dialed without any codes. Telephone numbers consist of 9 digits - regardless of whether it is a cell phone or a landline.
What not to do in Spain. you shouldn't do in Spain
Spain is essentially a calm and safe country for tourists. But as in any unfamiliar place, it's worth following some simple rules in Spanish cities (especially the big ones) at first, so that your vacation isn't marred by some unpleasant mishap.
- Do not carry large amounts of cash
In Spain, unfortunately, it's not uncommon for motorcycle thieves to snatch purses from passers-by at full throttle. So it's wise to take as much money as you plan to spend and keep it in the inside pocket of your clothes, not in your purse. And the rest of the money (as well as bank cards and valuables) should be kept in the hotel safe. And try not to get too close to the edge of the sidewalk.
- Do not leave documents with the hotel/hotel reception
When you check into a hotel, you are entitled to ask for your passport or any other ID to write out the necessary data for registration. However, hotel employees have no right to keep your documents for any reason.
- Do not take photos without permission
Naturally, when you're in a new country you want to capture almost everything you see on camera. But when you're in Spain, remember that there are some prohibitions. For example, it is forbidden to take pictures in the areas of military ports and military bases, to take pictures of military and government officials, as well as police officers. If you want to photograph locals, it's best to ask permission to avoid misunderstandings.
- Pick the right place to eat
It's very clear: you don't want to walk into the first restaurant or bar you come across without first checking to see if there are any customers there at all. In general, locals are better than any litmus test in this situation: if you see locals at the tables, go in. If the place is empty, it's a sign that there's probably something wrong with it (e.g. hygiene problems, poor quality food or fraudulent payments).
- Alcohol screening
In Spain, drink driving is strictly enforced. So if you are stopped by a patrol officer and asked to take a breathalyzer test, don't refuse. At worst you will be fined, but refusal to test is a criminal offense with all the consequences.
Have a good trip!
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