Barcelona
While the capital of Madrid is a thriving cultural hub, Barcelona has a lovable offbeat vibe that can only be understood by experiencing it firsthand. Much of it comes from the whimsical artwork of Barcelona’s best-known architect in buildings like Casa Milà and the eternal work-in-progress La Sagrada Familia as well as the colorful mosaics at Park Güell. Add to that the charming old streets of Barri Gòtic, the vibrant main street of Las Ramblas, the lively beachfront, numerous museums, and Catalonian markets and squares galore, and it’s the kind of place to carve out your own kind of urban adventure.
València
València lays on Spain’s eastern coast at the mouth of the Turia River. Best known for its wildly eclectic Fallas festival in March, as well as its most famous dish, paella (which was invented here), and the long stretches of white sand beaches, it also boasts a delightful Old Town and ultramodern City of Arts and Sciences complex.
Andalusia
The southernmost region of the country is also perhaps its most colorful. The whitewashed architecture adorned with bright colors pops along the Mediterranean coast in the stretch of beach towns and villages known as the Costa del Sol. Inland, Seville is magnetic with the scent of jasmine through its squares, while Granada is packed with Renaissance architecture, Moorish influences, and Al-Andalus heritage.