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For family holidays

Tenerife ticks all the boxes for a family holiday. Head to the south of the island where you’ll find lots of sandy beaches suitable for little ones and resorts with great pool complexes and kids clubs. Siam Park is a wet and wild waterpark for kids of all ages, while Mount Teide makes a brilliant day trip.

If you prefer to stay on the mainland, head to Costa Calida where you’ll find many family-friendly beach resorts and miles of Mediterranean coastline. The beach town of La Manga del Mar Menor is another good pick. Resort hotels and restaurants spread out along its 19km (11.8 miles) stretch of beach, while the saltwater lagoon here is packed with watersports.

For cheap holidays

If you’re looking for cheap beach accommodation, then consider Costa Blanca’s Alicante with its lovely beaches and a charming promenade brimming with cafes. Also in this region, the long sandy beaches of Benidorm have hotel bargains and lively music bars, cafes and markets within easy reach.

For an island break, plan a wallet-friendly holiday to lovely Gran Canaria, where you’ll find sand dunes, forests, mountains and beaches for days. Resorts Playa del Ingles and Puerto Rico both have a variety of affordable accommodation options and lots of beach fun.

For beach holidays

The boundless beaches of the Costa Brava are some of Spain’s best, making it ideal for a beach holiday. Swim, snorkel or hire a kayak to experience the clear waters on Platja del Canadell. For a pretty curved beach with barely a building in sight, head to Platja de Castell.

Just off to the side of Ibiza lies Formentera, a laidback island full of wild and well-kept beaches fit for a postcard. Enjoy a slower-paced beach holiday here, where cycling is the preferred way to get from beach to beach. Illetes, Migjorn and Llevant are all white sand beaches with gorgeous blue waters.

For all-inclusive holidays

Majorca has a variety of all-inclusive adults-only and family-friendly resorts, featuring a range of spas and infinity pools, authentic Spanish food, action-packed kids’ clubs and every watersport going. Best of all, an all-inclusive holiday means nearly everything is covered once you’re there.

For a hassle-free holiday on the mainland, check out Costa del Sol’s range of all-inclusive resorts. Benalmadena and Torremolinos are both good resorts to base yourself in. You’re also a short day trip away from Malaga.

For weekend city breaks

Plan a city break to Barcelona, taking in architecture by day and alfresco dinners and drinks by night. Visit the Picasso Museum for art and Park Guell to get swept up in the beauty of this city.

Meanwhile, capital Madrid combines prestigious art museums with lots of boutique shops, tempting tapas bars and gastropubs. This is a great city to wander in, where you can discover your own favourite corner on foot.

For food and drink

San Sebastian is home to Spain's unofficial foodie capital. Whether you fancy a Michelin-starred treat, traditional pintxos (think Basque tapas), or grilled steaks and cider at a rustic restaurant, eating out is a joy in this city.

Love tapas? Go bar hopping in Seville, a gastronomic paradise with tapas bars and restaurants on nearly every street. Be sure to try ensalada de pulpo (octopus salad) and bomba de patatas (potatoes filled with meat). This is also the perfect place to try gazpacho soup after a day of sightseeing in the sun.

From world-class museums to iconic cultural sites, a holiday to Spain is packed full of brilliant things to do. Here are some of its best bits.

The Alhambra

The spectacular Alhambra palace in the Andalusian city of Granada is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Spain’s most popular monuments. The well-preserved Nasrid Palace rooms feature ornately decorated mosaics on the walls and intricate ceiling crowns. Take time to explore the ramparts, museum and gardens, too. Visitor numbers are limited, so book in advance.

Sagrada Família

Antoni Gaudí’s unfinished architectural treasure (only a quarter of the church was completed before he died) is a beloved part of Barcelona. Today, it stands proud above the city’s skyline with a new 12-point star at its highest point. See the stained glass windows and complex geometric shapes inside the basilica and explore the school, museum and towers on a guided tour.

Guggenheim Bilbao

Sitting on the banks of the Nervion River, Frank Gehry’s titanium showstopper was an instant global hit when it opened in 1997. It remains a major draw today as people try to photograph the light bouncing off its metallic curves. Inside is a world-class modern art museum well worth the price of admission.

La Rambla

This handsome tree-lined boulevard (also referred to as Las Ramblas), cuts through Barcelona’s old town ending at the Monument to Columbus near the port. The music, performance artists and chatter from the pavement cafes create a carnival atmosphere as you take a leisurely wander. Shop at La Boqueria food market, stop off at the Liceu Theatre and check out Miro’s iconic floor mosaic.

Prado Museum

Home to one of the most respected European art collections in the world, Madrid’s Prado Museum is a must-see on your visit to the city. Discover Spanish masters such as Velázquez and Goya, alongside works by Rubens and Raphael. With more than 8,000 paintings and 700 sculptures to enjoy, it’s easy to spend a few hours meandering through the museum’s halls. Top tip: pre-book to avoid the queues.

Royal Alcazar of Seville

Seville’s royal palace blends Islamic, gothic, renaissance and baroque styles to wondrous effect. Take in the beautiful ceramic tiles and gilded ceilings in the palace, then relax in the garden pavilions by the palm trees and pools as peacocks wander by. Attend one of the outdoor evening concerts in the summer and see the palace look spectacular in the moonlight.

Flamenco Dancing

Sultry, dramatic and rhythmic, flamenco is an enduring part of Spanish culture. Seek out authentic shows in traditional tablaos to see great artists, musicians and dancers display their skills. Seville’s Los Gallos and Madrid’s famous Corral de la Moreria put on nightly performances, while the palace courtyard of La Casa del Flamenco in Seville is a charming setting to watch this passionate dance.

Think Spain, think beach holiday. Whatever vibe you’re after, this European hotspot has something for every type of traveller. Here are four of the best.

La Concha Beach, San Sebastian

In the heart of San Sebastian, this curved golden beach has been popular ever since Queen Isabella II bathed here in 1845. The sheltered beach is perfect for little ones to paddle in, and you can take a kayak out to Santa Clara Island. Stay in a hotel in the old town area for easy beach access.

Playa del Cristo, Costa del Sol

This attractive beach near Estepona faces west, so it’s a prime sunbathing spot. Pull up a stool at one of the beach bars and sip on a cocktail at sunset. The surrounding coastline is sprinkled with lovely beaches and hotels for every budget.

Cala Galdana, Menorca

Cala Galdana’s glistening turquoise water and soft sweeping sands are the stuff of dreams. Sun-loungers and shaded picnic spots keep the sun’s rays at bay and there’s an impressive choice of watersports. The beach has a handful of resorts to stay in and there are many more nearby.

Cala Comte, Ibiza

The sunsets from Cala Comte in Ibiza are special, so find your spot either on the sand or at a beach bar to watch night fall. You can hire jet skis here, and the water is crystal-clear and lovely to swim in. A range of hotels, villas and resorts are nearby if you’re keen to stay in the area.

Spain’s Mediterranean climate means peak season is in the summer, with long, sunny days drawing tourists to the beach resorts. You can expect temperatures in the high 20s.

For fewer crowds, visit from March to May (expect average highs of around 20C) or September to October, when temperatures can still get above 25C. During these shoulder seasons, you can enjoy warm temperatures without the peak prices.

Looking for winter sun? Head to the Canary Islands or Costa del Sol in the south.

When is the cheapest time to visit?

You’re likely to find cheap package deals to Spain in the low season, from December to March. Although temperatures are less reliable, there are often good deals on popular resorts and hotels.

You can still grab a bargain in April, May, October and November too, so compare different dates to find the cheapest option.

When should I go for the best weather?

Late spring and early autumn bring warm sunshine without the sweltering heat, making this a great time for city breaks and a holiday by the beach.

In the summer months, city temperatures can be sweltering, but cooler inland mountain regions and breezy coastal areas to the west are refreshing.