Compare Spain holidays

Of course, holidays to Spain aren’t solely about beaches and cities. You can also venture inland for cheap holidays in Spain, to hike the jagged pinnacles of the Pyrenees, scurry away from bulls in Pamplona, fling blood-red tomatoes at strangers in Buñol or trek along the Camino de Santiago. Wherever you go, you’ll probably stumble across a party. Even the humblest hamlets host fiestas fit for a king.

It’s easy to assume that all of Spain enjoys a hot, Mediterranean climate, but this is a massive oversimplification. Spain is a very large country that encompasses a variety of climates.

Generally speaking, summer is hot no matter where you are in Spain. The real differences come into play in winter. The northern regions are colder, while the interior can be snowy. The Atlantic coast, meanwhile, is more temperate and wet weather is much more common here during the winter months.

In most parts, high season falls between June and August, and this is when hotel and package holiday prices peak. If you are looking for a holiday deal, try early summer (May) or early autumn (September) instead.

The major exception to this rule is Madrid, which actually gets quieter in July and August as Madrileños go off on their holidays. If you can withstand the baking temperatures, this can be an affordable time to visit the capital.

• Currency: Euro (€)
  
  
• Capital city: Madrid
  
  
• Language: Mainly Spanish (Castilian), but also Basque, Catalan, Galician and Occitan (also known as Aranese)
  
  
• Key phrase to learn: ¿Que me recomienda? (What do you recommend?)
  
  
• Time difference: Mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands are one hour ahead of the UK; there is no time difference between the UK and the Canary Islands
  
  
• Average flight time: 2 hours to mainland Spain, 4 hours to the Canary Islands
  
  
• International phone code: +34
  
  
• Emergency services number: 112
  
  
• Public holidays: New Year’s Day (January 1), Epiphany (January 6), Maundy Thursday (not Catalonia and Valencia; Thursday before Easter Sunday), Good Friday (Friday before Easter Sunday), Labour Day (May 1), Assumption Day (August 15), National Day (October 12), All Saints’ Day (November 1), Constitution Day (December 6), Immaculate Conception Day (December 8), Christmas Day (December 25).
  
  
• Link to FCO travel advice: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/spain