How to travel to Spain without a trip. To Spain as savages: step by step instructions

A complete guide on how to organize an independent holiday in Spain: which resort to choose, where to find and book airline tickets and hotels, how to get around the country, various routes around Spain, what to see, where to go, where to eat; general information to help you plan your trip.

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Briefly about Spain

Spain is the southernmost country in Europe; in addition to the mainland, it also includes the Balearic and Canary archipelagos. Tourists and travelers love Spain for its originality, long traditions, and a huge variety of attractions and entertainment. In addition, Spain, with its excellent climate, has more than 2,000 km of coastline, most of which is suitable for beach holidays. The beaches in Spain are long, sandy and have some of the best services. Many beaches on mainland Spain, as well as Mallorca and the Canary Islands, have the Blue Flag distinction as the cleanest beaches in the world.

The traditional centers of attraction for tourists in Spain are the regions of Catalonia and Andalusia, as well as the islands of Mallorca and Ibiza among the Balearic Islands and Tenerife among the Canary Islands. These places ideally combine the possibilities of a beach and excursion holiday. The central part of Spain is famous for its ancient cities, in which the architecture of different eras has been perfectly preserved, and the north of Spain boasts the best surfing spots, colorful cuisine and unusual architecture.

The country is suitable for holidays all year round. In mainland Spain, the beach season lasts from May to September inclusive; the rest of the time the place is ideal for excursions, walks and trips of varying lengths. In Mallorca and Ibiza, the beach season also lasts from May to September. But in Tenerife and other islands of the Canary archipelago you can swim even in winter. In general, a holiday in Spain is a combination of beach and excursion opportunities, varied cuisine, amazing traditions and a lot of entertainment that leaves few people indifferent.

Tom Maisey/Beaches of Costa Brava

Holiday Destinations in Spain

Almost all of Spain is suitable for independent recreation and active travel. There are a total of 17 regions in the country, although the largest share of tourists on the Spanish mainland comes from Catalonia, Valencia and Andalusia, and on the islands - Mallorca, Ibiza and Tenerife.

The following regions are suitable for a beach holiday:

Andalusia- the southernmost region of Spain, which is washed by the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The best beach resorts are concentrated on the coasts of Costa Almeria, Costa del Sol, and Costa de la Luz. The beaches are spacious, sandy, with a gentle entrance to the sea, equipped with everything necessary. The most famous resorts in Andalusia include Almeria, Nerja, Marbella, Torremolinos, Fuengirola, Tarifa, Cadiz. In addition, the region is also ideal for excursion holidays. It is here that such ancient cities as Seville, Granada, Ronda, Malaga, Cordoba and others are located. More about ;

Catalonia- a region located in the east of Spain and bordered by the Mediterranean Sea. In addition to the fact that the most visited city in Spain, Barcelona, ​​is located in Catalonia, the region specializes in beach holidays. Local resorts are traditionally in great demand, incl. and among tourists from Russia. The most famous beach resorts include Lloret de Mar, Salou, Blanes, Calella, Tossa de Mar and others. The Catalan coast is conventionally divided into 3 parts: Costa Brava, Costa del Maresme and Costa Dorada. Along the entire coastline, there are extensive sandy beaches with a gentle entrance to the sea and equipped with everything you need. More about ;

Valencia- a southeastern region of Spain with the administrative center of the same name in the city of Valencia. The region is also famous for its beach resorts, sandy coastline and plenty of activities. The main resorts are located in Valencia, Alicante, Benidorm, Torrevieja and other towns. It is also worth visiting Valencia for excursion purposes; here you can find a wide variety of attractions to suit every taste; More about ;

Northern Spain (Basque country, Cantabria, Galicia)– regions that have gorgeous sandy beaches, but are unsuitable for traditional beach holidays due to the climate. Precipitation in the form of rain falls quite often here, and the waters of the Bay of Biscay can hardly be called calm due to the constantly blowing winds. In general, the northern regions of Spain are more suitable for windsurfing than for swimming and sunbathing.

Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza)– a popular tourist destination for a beach holiday. The islands are located in the Mediterranean Sea, approximately 250 km from the east coast of Spain. Mallorca and Menorca have beautiful sandy beaches located in coves. The main resorts of Mallorca include places such as Alcudia, Magaluf, Palma Nova, Santa Ponsa and others. In terms of excursion holidays, the city of Palma de Mallorca is attractive, as well as some natural attractions. More about . Ibiza is more famous for its unlimited possibilities in terms of entertainment than for its beaches;

Canary Islands (Tenerife, Gran Canaria)- a year-round beach resort, located on islands in the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Africa. The beaches here are spacious, sandy, in some places mixed with volcanic ash. The resort infrastructure is developed at a high level. There are direct flights to Tenerife from Russia. More about . There are no direct flights to Gran Canaria; a transfer will be required in Madrid. More about . The islands of the Canary archipelago are often called the “islands of eternal spring” due to their mild climate and unique natural conditions.

Jorge Franganillo/Beaches of the Costa Dorada

For excursion holidays you can go to:

Spain, like no other country, is rich in historical sights, architectural monuments of different eras, natural landscapes and all kinds of traditional entertainment, such as bullfighting or flamenco. In addition, Spain is famous for its authentic Mediterranean cuisine and the production of various types of wine, so it is not surprising that tourists often go on food tours in Spain.

Often, beach and sightseeing holidays in Spain can be skillfully combined, because... many resorts are located near large historical cities. It is convenient to travel between settlements in Spain by train or car.

In Andalusia:

Seville– this is the “heart” of Andalusia. It was here that flamenco was born and bullfighting became widespread. The city is also famous for its Alcazar Palace, the Cathedral, Plaza de España, the huge Metropol Parasol umbrella, the Maestranza bullring and other architectural attractions in which flaming Gothic and Mudejar style are intertwined. More about ;

Granada is a beautifully preserved historic city in Andalusia, where the concentration of monuments from the era of Moorish rule is literally off scale. Here is also the “city within a city” - the Alhambra. In addition to the Alhambra, the Cathedral, the ancient Albasiín quarter, the Generalife Palace and Gardens, the Sacromonte Abbey and much more deserve attention. More about ;

ronda- an ancient town in Andalusia, which is located on a steep cliff, on the edge of an abyss. It is the unusual location of the city that attracts tourists to this area. Here it is definitely worth visiting the Punta Nuevo Bridge and the El Tajo Gorge with the Guadalevin River. More about ;

Cordoba (Cordova)- an ancient Spanish city where the Muslim Alcazar and Mezquita adjoin the ancient Roman bridge and the Jewish quarter. The historical heritage of the city is extremely rich. More about ;

Cadiz– is considered the most ancient city in Europe. Cadiz is located in the bay of the same name, on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. Cadiz is famous for its cathedral, Roman ruins, Candelaria Bastion, Baroque churches and a magnificent landscaped park. In addition, the best beaches in the area are located here, long, clean, with golden sand. More about ;

Malaga– a port city, from where the “gate” to the resorts of the Costa del Sol (“Coast of Light”) opens. In Malaga, it is worth seeing the Roman Theater, the Cathedral, the Bishop's Palace, the La Malagueta bullfighting rental, the Pablo Picasso Museum and wandering around the ancient fortresses of Gibralfaro and Alcazaba, from where the best views of the bay open. And then be sure to go to the local beaches or neighboring resorts. More about ;

In Castile:

Madrid is the capital of Spain and one of the most elegant cities in Europe. The main attractions in Madrid are Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol, Gran Via, Royal Palace, Almudeina Cathedral, Gate of Europe, Debod Temple and numerous museums, including the world-famous Prado Museum. More about ;

- the “golden” city of the Spanish Baroque. Elegant, lush, seasoned, the city attracts attention and is a great idea where to go from Madrid for a day or two. The main attractions here are the Cathedral, the stone Roman bridge, the Monterrey Palace, the Monastery of San Esteban and much more. More about ;

Toledo – the ancient capital of Spain with its Cathedral, Alcazar Palace, San Martin Bridge and other architectural attractions. Like Salamanca, Toledo is a great alternative for a day trip from Madrid. More about ;

Segovia is an ancient Castilian city, the entire historical center of which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The “pearl” of the city is considered to be an ancient Roman aqueduct of gigantic size. The main tourist trail is considered to be the triad of attractions: aqueduct - cathedral - Alcazar fortress. More about ;

William Warby/Beaches of Puerto de Mogán

In Catalonia:

Barcelona- the largest Catalan city and a center of attraction for tourists from all over the world. Barcelona is a self-sufficient city with many attractions and entertainment. In addition, Barcelona is also the “gateway” to the beach resorts of the Costa Brava, Costa del Maresme, and Costa Dorada. In Barcelona itself, the TOP 5 main attractions include La Rambla, the Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, the Gothic Quarter and the hills of Montjuic and Tibidabo. More about ;

Girona is an ancient Catalan town located near the French border. Its top places are often called the embankment of the Onyar River, the Cathedral, fortress walls, churches, the Eiffel Bridge, Arab baths, etc. Often a trip to Girona is combined with a visit to Figueres. More about ;

Figueres– the place where the famous Salvador Dali Theater Museum is located, and it is this attraction that attracts a large number of tourists who relax in Catalan resorts. In addition to the museum, other architectural attractions in Figueres are also interesting. The local toy museum is also of interest. More about ;

In Valencia:

Valencia– on the one hand, the city is ancient, on the other hand, it is extremely modern. Here you can find a lot of entertainment and ideas for excursions. You should definitely visit the Cathedral and Queen's Square, the Silk Exchange, stroll along the Paseo Maritimo embankment, and visit the city of arts and sciences. In the vicinity of Valencia, the Bioparc and Albufeira Natural Park are interesting. More about ;

Alicante- a city that combines historical sights, developed infrastructure, all kinds of entertainment and, of course, gorgeous beaches. Alicante is considered one of the most sought-after resorts on the Costa Blanca. More about ;

In Tenerife:

In Gran Canaria:

In Mallorca:

TimOve/Night Costa Adeje

Visa to Spain and entry rules

To travel to Spain you need a visa. Since Spain has signed the Schengen Agreement, tourists are most often granted a Schengen tourist visa type C. Such visas differ in duration and in the number of entries allowed (single or multiple entries). You can open a visa at the Spanish embassy or consulates in Russia (Moscow and St. Petersburg), as well as at Spanish visa centers, which are located in many large cities of Russia. In addition to the standard set of documents and fingerprinting, to open a visa you will also need to present return tickets, a hotel reservation and a cover amount of at least 30 thousand euros. Read more about how to choose insurance for a trip to Spain—>. On the territory of Spain, the entry rules prescribed in the Schengen Agreement apply, i.e. essentially no different from the rules for entry into any other European country that has signed the Schengen Agreement.

TimOve/Resort Costa Adeje

Weather in Spain

The climate of Spain is, for the most part, hot Mediterranean on the coasts and continental in the central part of the country, where the terrain is quite mountainous. Spain is characterized by a warm spring-summer-autumn period; winters in the country are relatively short. The beach season in Spain lasts from May to September inclusive on the mainland and Mallorca, but in the Canary Islands you can swim all year round.

When planning your trips, it is worth considering that the summer months, especially July and August, are quite hot and are only a stretch for excursion purposes. At this time of year it is better to focus on a beach holiday. Air temperatures in some regions (especially Castile and Andalusia) in the summer months can reach +40 degrees and above. It is not surprising that in Spain there is a so-called unspoken law of “siesta”, when many public institutions close during the daytime for a long lunch break.

Winters in Spain are mild, sometimes rainy, snow falls extremely rarely and only in the mountains. For the Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza) and the Canary Islands (Tenerife, Gran Canaria, etc.) snow is not typical at all. The ideal time of year for excursions in Spain is spring and autumn; winter is also suitable if you are going to the central or southern regions of the country. If you are planning a trip to the north of Spain (Basque country, Galicia, Cantabria), then it is worth considering that it is almost always rainy here due to the cyclones that the Bay of Biscay brings.

More details about the weather:

Andrew Nash/Costa de la Luz

Currency, language, time

In Spain, it is customary to pay with the euro currency. You can change money not only before your trip, but also upon arrival at the airport. Despite the fact that in Spain bank cards are widely used to pay for goods and services, cash may still be needed, for example, to pay for public transport or for a taxi. Other currencies (dollars, for example) are not accepted for payment in Spain. You can use debit and credit cards for payment, but not below the Standard level. Electron and Maestro cards are not accepted for payment.

In Spain they speak Spanish. Other languages ​​are also accepted in some regions. For example, in Catalonia and Mallorca both Spanish and Catalan are spoken. As for English, there should be no problems in tourist places. Many signs and inscriptions are also duplicated in English. But far from the tourist trails, you can also encounter a complete lack of knowledge of foreign languages. For Russian tourists, the advantage is that some hotels in Catalonia and Mallorca have Russian-speaking staff.

The time difference between Moscow and Spain is 1 hour. The same time applies throughout Spain, including the Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza). Please note that the time difference between Moscow and the Canary Islands is 2 hours (including Tenerife, Gran Canaria, etc.).

Carquinyol/Panorama of the Costa del Maresme from above

How to get to Spain

The best option to get from Russia to Spain, both the mainland and the islands, is by air. Several large cities in Spain have their own international arrival airports, and some smaller cities have local airports where you can fly with a transfer. List of cities in Spain that can be reached by plane from Russia:

Barcelona: El Prat airport receives direct flights from Aeroflot, S7, Russia, and Spanish Vueling. Direct flights are possible from Moscow (4.5 hours) and from St. Petersburg (4 hours 20 minutes). Direct flights are also launched from some other Russian cities in the summer. In addition, you can fly to Barcelona with a transfer in one of the European cities; such flights, as a rule, are somewhat cheaper, but longer in time. It is from El Prat Airport in Barcelona that most tourists travel to the resorts of Costa Brava, Costa del Maresme, and Costa Dorada;

Girona: relatively recently, the Russian low-cost carrier Pobeda launched direct flights from Moscow to Girona, a city located in the north of Catalonia, 90 km from Barcelona. From Girona it is also convenient to get to the resorts of the Catalan coast. Flights operate several times a week from Vnukovo Airport. If you buy tickets in advance, you can find really cheap options to get to Spain;

Valencia and Alicante: To get to the resorts of the Valencian coast, you need to fly to the Valencia airport of the same name, direct flights to which are operated by Aeroflot. Travel time is 4 hours 50 minutes. You can also fly non-stop to neighboring Alicante; flights are operated by S7. Travel time is 5 hours 10 minutes;

Madrid: people often fly to the capital of Spain for excursion purposes and for business tourism, because the city is located at a considerable distance from the sea. It is also convenient to travel from Madrid to the cities of the neighboring region - Andalusia. In Madrid, flights from Russia are accepted by Barajas International Airport. Direct flights from Moscow are operated by Aeroflot, the flight time is 5 hours 10 minutes;

Malaga: One of the most convenient ways to get to Andalusia and the resorts of the Costa del Sol is to fly to Malaga airport. Direct flights from Moscow are operated by Aeroflot; travel time is 5.5 hours. From Malaga you can easily get to Andalusian cities such as Granada, Ronda, Seville, Cordoba, as well as the famous resorts of Marbella, Torremolinos, Fuengirola, Benalmadena and others;

To cities like Bilbao, Seville, Almeria, Jerez de la Frontera , you can get there with a transfer in Barcelona or Madrid, because These cities have local airports.

Majorca: to get to the island, you can fly directly from Moscow by S7 (in summer). Flights operate several times a week. In addition, you can get to Mallorca with a transfer in Barcelona. As a rule, the second method is cheaper. The duration of the flight in this case will depend on the duration of the flight connection. The arrival airport in Mallorca is located in its administrative center - the city of Palma de Mallorca;

Tenerife: You can fly to Tenerife on a direct flight from Moscow, operated by Russian air carriers; also, in the summer, several charter flights are launched, which, in particular, are operated by the Spanish airline Iberia. A cheaper way to fly to Tenerife is to fly with a transfer in Madrid. In Tenerife, the international arrival airport is called Tenerife South. In addition, the island also has the Tenerife North airport, from which flights are available to other islands of the Canary archipelago;

Gran Canaria: You can fly to this Canary island from Russia only with a transfer; there are no direct flights. Flight connections usually take place in Barcelona, ​​Madrid or Tenerife. Flight time depends on the duration of the transfer (from Moscow to Madrid or Barcelona - 4.5-5 hours + from Madrid or Barcelona to Gran Canaria - 2 hours 50 minutes). From Tenerife you can get to Gran Canaria not only by air, but also by water; ferries run between the islands, although this is more time-consuming than flying.

Searching and purchasing air tickets to Spain:

The general recommendation for searching and purchasing tickets to Spain is to purchase tickets as far in advance as possible before your travel date, at least several months in advance. This way you have a better chance of finding budget flight options. It is more expedient to search for air tickets through special search engines that compare all available flight options for specific dates from different airlines:

Carquinyol/Costa del Maresme beach

How to get from the airport to the city

The main ways to get from arrival airports are to use public transport or taxi/transfer services. Transfers in Spain can be both group and individual.

Taxis at arrival airports can be found at the exit of the arrivals terminal. You can order a transfer in advance of your arrival time using specialized international services:

From airport Alicante You can travel independently to the city or to resorts in the surrounding area by city and suburban buses. Travel time to the city center will be about half an hour, travel time to Torrevieja or Benidorm will be about an hour. Also from Alicante airport you can get to the city’s central railway station, from where you can go to the resorts by commuter train;

Getting from Barajas Airport to Madrid can be done in several ways: by metro (city line No. 8), express bus (runs to the railway station or the Cibeles Square stop), train (line C1);

Get to the city center, as well as to other resorts on the Costa del Sol from the airport Malaga You can take a commuter train or a regular bus. The railway station is located right at Malaga airport in the arrivals section of terminal No. 3, from where trains run to various destinations. The bus station is also located in close proximity to the airport - at the exit from the terminal. Buses also have an extensive route network. Public transport does not operate at night;

Between the airport and resorts Mallorca There is a bus service. Transportation to different parts of the island along 4 main routes is carried out by the company Tib. The schedule can be checked on the carrier's website. There are no buses at night;

From Yuzhny airport on the island Tenerife You can get to the main beach resorts by the company's shuttle bus Titsa. It runs to all main destinations on the island, but only during daylight hours. At night you will have to take a taxi or an individual transfer;

On Gran Canaria You can get from the airport to the desired resort by regular buses of the company Global, or by taxi.

VivirElTren/Metro in Madrid

Public transport in Spain

The main types of public transport you can use in mainland Spain are trains and buses. Compared to other European countries, travel in Spain is quite cheap, while high-speed trains and comfortable buses run between settlements. The train schedule for the route you need can be checked at the railway service , bus schedule - from the main carrier - company Alsa. Local bus companies also operate in some regions of Spain, but usually their routes are limited to travel within that particular region.

You can travel around the islands of Spain only by buses, because... There are no railway connections between the cities (with the exception of 2 train lines in Mallorca). In Mallorca, the main bus carriers are companies Aerotib, Emtpalma and Aena; in Tenerife - company Titsa; in Gran Canaria - Global. It is worth noting that it is often much more convenient to move around the islands with a rented car, because... Public transport routes are limited and it is not possible, for example, to get to some of the natural attractions on the islands.

rafa_luque/Buses in Madrid

Car rental in Spain

In Spain, in addition to public transport, it is quite convenient to travel by car, while car rental is relevant for both mainland Spain and the islands. This option is very popular among tourists and travelers due to the ease of movement and the ability to not depend on public transport schedules.

It must be said that the rental itself is often so cheap that in some cases it turns out to be a cheaper way to travel than traveling by train, for example. To monitor prices for all rental offices in a particular city, you can use specialized search engines:

Carles Tomás Martí/Almudena

Routes in Spain

Spain, by European standards, is a fairly large country, so most often tourists prefer to travel not throughout the entire country, but in its individual regions. Getting around Spain is equally convenient both by public transport (by trains in mainland Spain and by buses around the islands) and by rented car.

There are quite a lot of interesting routes around Spain, most often not tied to certain iconic cities. There are interesting routes through National Parks, but here you definitely can’t do without a car. Below are some of the most popular routes for traveling around the regions of Spain:

• Barcelona and radial trips to Girona, Figueres, Reus, Mount Montserrat, resorts on the Catalan coast and the Port Aventura amusement park (the same radial trips can be made from any resort in Catalonia);

• The route in Northern Spain most often runs through places such as San Sebastian-Bilbao-Santander-Peaks of Europe National Park-Gijon-Oviedo-Santiago de Compostela-Pontevedra-Vigo-Ponferrada-Lyon-Bilbao;

• Madrid and radial trips to Toledo, Segovia, Salamanca, Avila, El Escorial Palace;

• Valencia-Alicante and intermediate resorts on the coast;

• Madrid-Cordoba-Seville-Cadiz;

• Seville-Huelva-Doñana National Park-Jerez de la Frontera-Cadiz-Tarifa;

• Malaga-Granada-Ronda;

• Malaga resorts on the Costa del Sol;

• If desired, you can make longer journeys, for example, from Madrid to Barcelona or from Madrid to Valencia. Combined routes in Spain and Portugal are also somewhat popular;

• In Mallorca and Tenerife, circular routes around the island are in demand, as are trips to the center of the islands, where the mountain ranges are located. As for interesting architecture, in Mallorca it is concentrated in Palma de Mallorca, and in Tenerife - in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and La Laguna.

Tommie Hansen/Swimming season in Mallorca

How to book accommodation in Spain

Spain is a country with a developed tourism infrastructure, so you can find holiday accommodation here to suit every taste. These can be classic hotels, apartments, guest houses, holiday homes, hostels, bed and breakfasts, villas, campsites, resort hotels. Some regions of Spain, for example Catalonia, Mallorca and Tenerife, are characterized by the predominance of resort hotels. They differ from ordinary ones in that almost all the necessary infrastructure is located on the hotel premises (including entertainment, evening programs, children's animation, food, etc.).

If you are traveling around Spain for excursion purposes, then you need to know that in large cities you can find almost any accommodation options, while in small towns the choice is small and they know about five-star hotels only by hearsay. However, the overall level of service in Spain is European quality of service.

In Spain, this type of housing such as apartments or apart-hotels is also gaining popularity. The first option is a detached house or apartment in a residential complex. The second option (apart-hotels) is a whole complex of apartments, often they are also equipped with a common recreation area and a swimming pool. Mainly, living in apartments differs from staying in hotels - food, i.e. Apartments have built-in kitchen options, while hotels offer cooked breakfasts (half board or full board).

You can find and book suitable accommodation in Spain using specialized services; just enter the locality and desired travel dates:

Costa del Maresme: here are the most affordable resorts in terms of holiday prices. Families with children often choose this coastline because... The Costa del Maresme is famous for its gently sloping sandy beaches. The main resorts in the region include , , . The Costa Blanca is located in the south-eastern part of the country, so the water here warms up faster than on other coasts of Eastern Spain. And the Costa Blanca got its name thanks to the snow-white sand that is common on the local beaches;

Costa de Almeria: on this coast there is a resort of the same name , the hottest in southern Spain. The climate here is almost semi-desert, due to the fact that nearby is the Almeria Desert, the only one in Europe. The Almeria resort is more reminiscent of some Egyptian or Moroccan resort than a European one (in terms of climate and landscape), but the service here meets all European standards. The beaches here are spacious, sandy, more reminiscent of sand dunes; , , and others;

Tenerife: on the island, most of the beaches are sandy, but their peculiarity is that the sand here is mixed with volcanic ash, so its shade is grayish. This is due to the fact that the island is of volcanic origin. However, the beaches of Tenerife are clean, well-groomed, equipped with everything necessary, with a gentle entrance to the water. The main resorts include , , ; on the opposite shore there is a beautiful beach with golden sand – ;

Gran Canaria: The main beach resorts of Gran Canaria are concentrated in the southern part of the island. This is due to a more favorable climate. The beaches here are vast open spaces because... The island has a fairly flat topography. The coating is fine sand. The most popular resort areas on the island are , Playa del Inglés, Campo International, Meloneras, Bahia Feliz, San Augustin, Puerto Rico, Puerto de Mogán and others.

kevin pacheco/Almeria Beaches

Prices for holidays in Spain

It is believed that the resorts of Spain are more affordable in terms of the cost of holidays than other southern European countries, and this is another plus in the treasury of advantages of Spain. Some resorts in Spain offer package tours for holidays, which include a basic set of options, but we will tell you what the approximate cost of a holiday in Spain will be if you travel there on your own.

Cost of placement in hotels in Spain starts from 25-50 euros per night (usually these are bed and breakfast hotels and apartments). Hotels in the 4* category cost from 50 to 80 euros per night for accommodation. If your trip occurs during the “high season” (from June to September), then housing prices during this period may rise by 15-20%. To avoid overpayments, it is recommended to book hotels, apartments in advance;

Travel by public transport will cost between 1.5-2 euros per trip. If you are staying in any city in Spain for a day or more, then, as a rule, it is more profitable to purchase a pass for the whole day (from 4.5 euros);

Eating in a restaurant will cost 15-25 euros (without alcohol), in cafe– up to 15 euros, in establishments fast food- about 10-12 euros, ice cream in a gelateria - from 4.5-5 euros (in tourist places prices can be 10-30% higher). Please note that so-called tapas bars are common in Spain, where when you buy a drink you also get small snacks for free.

Cheapest to buy groceries in stores. Approximate prices for some popular food products: pork fillet - 8 euros; jamon – from 12 euros; smoked sausage – from 9 euros (prices are per kg); local wines – from 3 euros per bottle; pasta – from 1 euro per package; yoghurts – from 2 euros per pack of 4 pcs.; processed and curd cheeses – from 1.30 euros per jar; mineral water – 0.5 euros per bottle; carbonated drinks - from 1.50 euros per bottle; semi-finished products (lasagna, pizza) – from 2.5 euros.

Entrance to some Spanish attractions also paid. If it is a historical or architectural monument, or a museum, then the cost usually varies from 5 to 10-12 euros per adult. If these are water parks and amusement parks, then the entrance fee starts from 17-20 euros. And, for example, a trip to the famous Port Aventura amusement park will cost a record 47 euros for adults and 40 euros for children.

Price excursions varies depending on its type. Group bus tours for short distances usually cost 25-30 euros, individual - from 50 euros.

rey perezoso/Caleta Beach

Food in Spain

You can eat in Spain in restaurants, cafesortapas bars, you can also buy ready-made products at stores or at markets and cook your own food. The basis of Spanish cuisine is seafood, beef (including smoked meat - jamon), rice, cheeses, local wines (including sangria and sherry). Here they like to cook roasts, stews, marinated meat, omelettes, cold gazpacho soups, paellas, risottos, and various pastries that look like donuts are served for desserts.

The cost of food in restaurants or cafes, as a rule, costs 15-20 euros, excluding alcohol. Tapas bars have the following system: when you order a drink, you get a small plate with various canapes to accompany it. If you are staying in apartments or apart-hotels equipped with a kitchen area, you can save significantly on food, because... products in stores or markets are cheaper. Famous fresh food markets in Spain include Boqueria (Barcelona), San Miguel (Madrid), Central Market (Valencia), Mercado de San Martin (San Sebastian), Mercado Central (Alicante), Triana and Encarnacion ( Seville), Atarasanas (Malaga).

Jorge Franganillo/Night Barcelona

We will be happy to answer your questions in the comments!

Photo at the beginning of the article: Edmund Gall

Spain is an amazing country. Because only here there exists at the same time the magical heritage of the Moors, and Roman aqueducts, and the no less fabulous Art Nouveau of Antonio Gaudi, and stunningly beautiful nature, and museums full of masterpieces from classical painting to cubism (of course, this is the birthplace of Velazquez, Goya and Picasso ), and - if desired - a beach holiday. And all this in one country!

Spain trip plan #1: Catalonia and Castile

We went to Spain twice for 15 days. For the first time we started from Barcelona and ended in Madrid, that is, in half a month we managed to see Catalonia And Castile and Leon. No wonder we didn’t even see half the country in a month: Plaza de España 505 thousand sq. kilometers.

Trip plan:

1. Barcelona
2. Barcelona.
3. Barcelona -Montserrat
4. Barcelona - Girona - Figueres
5. Barcelona.
6. Barcelona.
7. Barcelona. Departure to Burgos 23.00
8. Burgos in 6.30 arrival. At 17.52departure to Salamanca, arrival at 20.06
9. Salamanca
10. Salamanca - Avila - Madrid.
11. Madrid — Cuenca
12. Madrid - Segovia
13. Madrid — Toledo
14. Madrid
15. Madrid — Moscow

Blue lines on the map indicate radial trips from base cities, that is, trips with a return trip, green lines indicate movement only forward.

To search for a flight ticket, we used the “difficult route” function, since we decided that making a circle when returning to Barcelona was not optimal. We flew Moscow-Barcelona, ​​and then Madrid-Moscow. I talked about this in detail in the material. Therefore, we simply go to the search engine and enter the required cities.

Or look at the low price calendar:

Spain trip plan #2: Andalusia

The second trip, also for half a month, was to Andalusia. During this time, we studied the region in some detail to understand that we definitely want to come back here again: to visit our favorite towns and see new ones.

Here is our route around Andalusia on the map, on it the orange line indicates forward movement from Madrid V Granada, Malaga, Ronda, Cadiz, Sanlucar de Barrameda, Jerez, Seville, Cordoba(we stayed in all these cities for 1, 2 or 3 nights) and again we planned to head to Madrid.

Blue lines represent radial trips (i.e. round trips) from base cities. So we visited Jaen, Baezu, El Chorro (Royal Path), Setenil de las Bodegas And Medina Asaaru.

Green - move only forward.

Trip plan:

1. Madrid — Granada
2. Granada - Baeza - Jaen
3. Granada-Malaga
4. Malaga -
5. Malaga-Ronda
6. Ronda Setenil de las Bodegas. Ronda Cadiz
7. Cadiz
8. Cadiz-Sanlúcar de Barrameda
9. Sanlúcar de Barrameda – Jerez
10. Jerez - Seville
11. Seville
12. Seville
13. Seville – Cordoba
14. Cordoba – Medina
15. Cordoba – Madrid (all day) – Moscow

We neglected the flight to Malaga because we wanted to take a walk around Madrid again, and our youngest daughter really wanted to go there (since she didn’t take part in the first trip). Therefore, logistics may seem suboptimal to some. If you are not going to visit Madrid, then you need to look for flights to Malaga. And the trip plan will be a circular route: Malaga - Ronda - Cadiz - Sanlucar de Barrameda - Jerez - Seville - Cordoba -Granada - Malaga.

The site is constantly updated, I post tips and routes, including detailed walks through the cities from these trips. Subscribe to the newsletter to know when new materials become available. Maps and markers for maps.me will be available very soon.

Spain is one of the oldest and most magnificent countries in Europe, famous throughout the world for its natural and man-made attractions. This is a state of amazing social contrasts, where wealth and aristocratic arrogance closely coexist with poverty and spiritual simplicity... This is a country with magnificent, luxurious nature, whose landscapes and landscapes still amaze with some kind of untouched beauty, serene and at the same time exuberant, like the poetry of Frederico Garcia Lorca... This is a land where they still believe in miracles with childish naivety... This is Spain, which everyone should see in order to fall in love with it with the ardor of a tourist who has gone abroad for the first time and the sophistication of an experienced traveler.

But let’s return to earth and remember that ready-made tours to Spain, for example, to Madrid or Barcelona, ​​are quite expensive, and not everyone can afford such a pleasure. But this does not mean that you need to give up your dream - remember that there are at least two ways out of any situation. And in our case, independent travel will be a backup option! And you can be sure that a trip organized by yourself will not only be more meaningful and informative (you will include in it those excursions that interest you), but also as economical as possible.

The only "minus" is the need to prepare in advance for such a trip to Spain - to draw up a detailed plan for a future trip with a "binding" to the air travel schedule, and if you want to walk around Barcelona or Toledo, staying in Madrid, you will need to familiarize yourself with the flight schedule within the country , schedules of bus routes or fast trains. You will also have to choose a hotel or hostel on your own, focusing on your financial capabilities, think over the issue of food, and, of course, draw up a plan for an excursion program. This, of course, is a rather time-consuming process, but the reward for the work will be the savings that can be set aside for the next weekend in Spain.

A little advice from seasoned travelers: if you want to feel the real, and not the tourist atmosphere of Spain, try to get to one city or another when any national or religious holiday takes place here (for example, in honor of the Holy Virgin, who is worshiped by devout Spaniards).

Development of a tourist route

The first step is to develop a plan for your route. To do this, you need to make a list of the sights of the country that you would like to see and the cities that you plan to visit. If we are talking about such a large city in Spain as Barcelona or Toledo, Granada or Cordoba, we advise you to visit them separately - the cities are so interesting that even a month will not be enough to explore their beauties.

Booking tickets and hotels

When the plan is developed, and the dates of the stay abroad are approximately determined, it is necessary to start booking tickets and a hotel. And here you can save a lot of money, and, as they say, out of the blue!

So, when buying a tour to Spain at a travel agency, you automatically pay for the flight, since the cost of the ticket is always included in the total price of the tour to Spain. If you buy tickets on your own, it is possible to purchase "last-minute tickets", the price of which is 20-30% lower (especially often such discounts are set for tickets to Ibiza and Tenerife, where the holiday season is relatively short) or buy economy class tickets, which will allow save up to 10% more than what you would have paid to a travel agency.

The second point concerns people who actively fly. During the implementation of various flights, they probably accumulated bonus miles. Use them to pay for your trip, which will bring you another 10% savings.

Do not use direct flights, but routes with transfers. For what? Then, to spend a time slot of 8-10 hours walking around Munich or Geneva! Just think about it: you get a free opportunity to visit one of the largest European cities absolutely free of charge!

The next step is to book a hotel, where you can also save money. Firstly, if you spend most of your time on excursions, then it is not at all necessary to live in a 5 or 4 star hotel; you can get by with a room in a 2* hotel, the living conditions in which will be better than in a 5* hotel. hotel in Crimea or Sochi.

Be sure to use platforms for online booking of hotel rooms, choosing those resources that monitor offers for your application (for example, a single room in Barcelona costing from $30 per day), ultimately providing all options that match the request. All you have to do is choose the hotel you like best (the address and route to it from the airport or train station will be indicated automatically) and book this room.

A little advice from seasoned travelers: book your hotel and flights in advance and be sure to ask for written confirmation of your order.

Another “budget” option is to use a hostel. Of course, the living conditions will resemble those in a student dormitory, but a night will cost only $30 (Barcelona, ​​Madrid, Toledo), and in smaller cities it will be even cheaper (from $15-20 per night).

A little advice from experienced travelers: please note: by booking a room in Barcelona through the website, you create a small “safety net” for yourself in case of force majeure. The fact is that the risk of falling for unscrupulous hotel owners always exists, and it is not a fact that when looking for a room in Spain, you will not fall for scammers. And the site where rooms are booked is bound by contractual obligations with the hotel, so you can always find an “extreme” person to make financial claims. By the way, by booking a room, you can save up to 30% of the amount that you would have to pay if you booked the room on the spot.

You definitely need to look at the reviews of other tourists - they will tell you which hotel is worth staying in and which one to bypass, we also advise you to choose excursions - because sometimes the most “hyped” and expensive excursion can turn out to be absolutely uninteresting.

Applying for a visa to Spain and a bank card

If you do not have an open Schengen visa in your international passport, you will need to include in your plan a clause on obtaining one, and this must be done as early as possible, otherwise the whole trip may be disrupted. But in order for the staff of the Spanish Embassy to give you the coveted stamp, you must present air tickets to Spain and back to Russia, confirmation of a hotel reservation and a bank statement indicating the presence of a certain amount in euros in your account (at least 500 €). A visa costs 35 €, but there are categories of citizens for whom it is issued free of charge (which, however, the travel agencies are silent about).

In order for you to be absolutely mobile and not “tied” to a currency exchange office, arrange in advance a card that can be used to pay in Spain and “link” it to the account, an extract from which you will present at the embassy. In addition to the euro, dollars are also popular in Spain, so it would be more advisable to open a multi-currency account.

A little advice from experienced travelers: a bank card is accepted almost everywhere abroad, so you can use it to pay for excursions, car reservations, and food. But you will need to have a small amount of cash on hand (about $100) - you will need it on excursions in remote corners of Spain, to pay for public transport and tips.

Nutrition issue

Spain is a country of magnificent gastronomic traditions, so here you can taste seafood, wine, jamon, and sun-filled vegetables and fruits. To prevent the cost of food from being too high, do not visit expensive “name” restaurants, give preference to small “home” cafes. Thus, food will cost much less (up to $10-15 per dinner), and you will be able to taste real Spanish dishes, without the touch of French and Italian culinary “civilization.”

Be sure to try Spanish coffee, which is brewed according to ancient Arabic recipes, young local wines and, of course, bull meat in all variations.

Sights of the country

Let us repeat once again - Spain is a museum country, where every corner literally “breathes” history, so everyone can independently create their own trip, including those objects that will be of interest to them.

But in Spain there are also places that are considered world heritage, being objects included in the international UNESCO register, so visiting them is considered “good form” all over the world. These “pearls” of international importance include:

• residence of the Spanish monarchs - Palacio Real, located in Madrid. Almost all excursions include this object, and the trips of many travelers are planned precisely so that, while in transit in Spain, they can visit this place, in the corridors of which ghosts of bygone eras roam;

• The Prado Museum is the Spanish Louvre and the Hermitage, the Dresden Gallery and the Chicago Museum rolled into one. The best creations of world painting and sculpture are collected here, but the highlight of the collection are the works of Spanish masters - Velazquez, Salvador Dali, Picasso, Antonio Gaudi, Goya;

• bullfighting in Pamplona - this cruel but exciting action is the national symbol of the country. This is why going to Spain and not seeing bullfighting is the same as being in the UK and not seeing Big Ben. The festival in Pamplona takes place in July, so if you want to take a closer look at this “game” on the verge of a foul, where two lives converge at the same distance, plan your vacation in July. True, you will need to book tickets and a hotel room 3-4 months earlier - during this period thousands of tourists come here;

• The Cathedral of the Holy Family (Sagrada Familia) is an unfinished museum in Barcelona, ​​which was designed by one of the world's most famous architects, Antonio Gaudi. The huge structure, built in the original style of Gaudi, who so loved playing with non-standard projections and shapes, resembles a building made of lace, rushing straight into the sky. Barcelona is doing everything possible to ensure that La Sagrada Familia Cathedral is completed, so work on the construction of the temple is slowly but surely being carried out to this day;

• Segovia Aqueduct - this monument, which has simply miraculously survived to this day, dates back to the era of the Roman Empire. Be sure to include a visit to this place in your plan for your stay in the country, believe me, you will remember this trip for a long time;

• The city of Cuenca is a wonderful example of medieval urban planning, located between Valencia and Madrid. Excursions to Cuenca are especially popular among tourists, because they take guests to a time when Spain ruled the world, and Spain itself was ruled by the Great Inquisition;

• El Escorial is another attraction of the country, excursions to which are very popular. This city was at one time the center of the Holy Roman Empire of King Philip II and a symbol of Christianity in Spain. But today the city has lost its significance, so you should go here simply to see how an ordinary Catholic monastery lives today.

• Alhambra - excursions to this palace can be organized from any city in the country - Barcelona and Madrid, Cordoba and Malaga, Granada and Valencia. This is a unique example of the culture and architecture of the period when Spain was under Arab rule, so it is easy to “read” traditional Arabic “notes”. But after the expulsion of the Arabs, the Alhambra was slightly modified, complemented by unique objects of landscape design. Today, the Alhambra is no less famous and interesting than the French Versailles, so be sure to try to go here to get to know this “wonder of the world.”

And now about the journey in numbers

If you plan your trip yourself, your travel budget will be significantly less than the cost of a tour to Spain. Plan it so that it consists of two parts - mandatory and optional.

The obligatory part will be about $1,500, and will include:

• visa;
• flight;
• medical insurance (you can’t save on it, especially if you are traveling on your own);
• 10 days and 11 nights accommodation in a 3-star hotel in Barcelona or Madrid;
• a bank account in which money will be stored for transportation costs within the country, inexpensive excursions, food and car rental).

You should leave at least $800 for additional expenses - expensive excursions, restaurants, souvenirs, domestic flights. If you want to save money, then put no more than $300 in this column - it will be enough for you if you listen to the above tips.

Routes from experienced tourists

And to finish the topic, we offer you two routes that include excursions, beach holidays, and visits to local attractions. They have already been tested and are popular when organizing independent travel in Spain.

First trip:

• flight to Madrid, where you spend 2-3 days visiting the most famous monuments of the city;
• then rent a car and drive to Barcelona (2-3 days stop);
• from Barcelona you can go along the Mediterranean coast and down to the south of the country, where a wonderful beach holiday awaits you (by the way, you can visit Barcelona on the way back).

Second route

On the Mediterranean coast there are many large and small, famous and not so famous, luxurious and modest resort towns. Among all this diversity, Barcelona stands out. Bright, controversial, proud and, of course, unusually atmospheric. This is a city of geniuses, unrecognized and recognized talents, and, of course, art fans. A city that can rightfully be called the resort capital of the Mediterranean. However, even with all this diversity and splendor, sometimes you want to travel around Spain by car, starting the route from Barcelona and discovering more and more new corners of Catalonia and beyond every day.

A nice bonus only for our readers - a discount coupon when paying for tours on the site until October 31:

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• AFTA2000Guru - promo code for 2,000 rubles. for tours to Thailand from 100,000 rubles.
• AF2000TGuruturizma - promo code for 2,000 rubles. for tours to Tunisia from 100,000 rubles.

Barcelona - Lloret de Mar - Girona - Vila Sacra

Having decided to go on an independent auto tour from Barcelona, ​​many tourists first of all go towards Lloret de Mar. Moreover, in one day you can visit several interesting cities at once. Having covered literally 70 kilometers, travelers find themselves in a completely different reality. Despite the popularity of the resort, a calm, peaceful atmosphere reigns here. In addition, there are quite a lot of attractions in Lloret de Mar - the San Juan Castle, located on the coast and which has become the hallmark of the entire Costa Brava, the romantic chapel of St. Cristina, the patroness of the city, the gardens of St. Clotilde and others. For those who decide to spend the night in Lloret de Mar, the town opens up from a completely different side. When the sun sets, it seems to come to life and the streets, which seemed quiet and calm during the day, turn into one big party. You can roam between bars until dawn. The main thing is not to overdo it with cocktails, especially if you plan to travel further in the morning.

The next destination for many travelers is Girona, the distance to which is only 35 kilometers. It is often called the immortal city (the city fortress over the years of its existence managed to withstand 25 sieges, and this is really a lot!), Spanish Florence and even the city of Salvador Dali (although the museum dedicated to him is not here, but in Firegas). Girona is not as famous and popular as its neighbor Barcelona, ​​but no less beautiful. The best way to start exploring Girona is with a walk through the Old Town. Small colorful houses of the 17th century with multi-colored facades, located on the embankment of the Onyar River, invariably fascinate and remind of the affairs of bygone days (someone compares them with Florence - and indeed there is some similarity), and Plaza Catalunya, which looks like a wide bridge and connecting the two banks, looks very unusual and even mysterious. And, of course, you can’t pass by the medieval Cathedral, the construction of which began back in the 14th century.

Vila Sacra is located literally 20 kilometers from Girona. Why is it worth visiting this small cozy village? At least to breathe the air of the Spanish province, find out what the national cuisine is (not aimed at tourists, but truly local!) and spend the night in a cozy hotel, so that in the morning you can go on to discover beautiful Spain with renewed vigor.

Vila Sacra - Empuriabrava - Besalu - Castelfiolite de la Roca

Inquisitive tourists are unlikely to want to stay in Vila Sacra for a long time - a couple of hour evening walk is enough to get around the entire village. Therefore, in the morning, after having a snack at the hotel, you can get ready to hit the road to the shores of bohemian Empuriabrava. This resort city is often called the Spanish Venice. It is all “cut up” with canals, their total length exceeds 35 kilometers - this is a world record. As in Venice, luxury villas have access to the water - local residents often travel on yachts and boats. However, you can also travel by land to any point in Empuriabrava. In general, this is a very atmospheric town, a walk through which will certainly give you a lot of positive emotions and vivid impressions.

Among the attractions of the resort, the beaches are the first to be noted. Wide, sandy, almost endless... Essentially there are two of them - one well-maintained and the other wild. Despite the popularity of Empuriabrava, there is enough space for everyone even at the height of the tourist season. But lovers of architectural masterpieces will most likely be disappointed by this town. It is not old, and there are no attractions as such here. But in medieval Besalu, the first mention of which dates back to the 10th century, there are plenty of them. It would be more correct to say that the whole city is one continuous attraction. It is small in area, only 5 square kilometers, and you can get around all the nooks and crannies in 2-3 hours. City landmarks are the El Castel castle and the bridge over the El Fluvia river. However, not only they, but also every house, every alley remind of its former greatness.

Having thoroughly enjoyed the color of bygone days, you can move on. Just 15 kilometers from Besalu is the village of Castellfollit de la Roca, very famous far beyond the borders of Spain. It is surprising primarily because it is located right in the rock. And it was built no less than in the distant Middle Ages. Hence there is very unusual architecture and many buildings worthy of attention. Among them, the Church of San Salvador and the museum located next to it stand out. From the observation deck you can enjoy stunning panoramic views of the surrounding area. Overall, Castellfollit de la Roca is not just colorful – it seems lost in time. Walking along its narrow streets, you begin to believe that a brave knight in armor or a lady in a chic fluffy dress will appear around the corner. Fortunately, there are very few tourists here and the stories of the guides do not disturb this mysterious atmosphere. But, no matter how beautiful the village in the mountains is, it is unlikely to interest inquisitive travelers for more than 2-3 hours. Therefore, in the evening you can return to Vila Sacra in order to continue your journey in the morning and see a completely different Spain - in the Pyrenees Mountains.

Vila Sacra - Seira, Pyrenees

From Vila Sacra to Seira is not that close - about 350 kilometers. However, the roads in Spain are good and the journey can easily be covered in 4-4.5 hours. Why, having decided to visit the Pyrenees, is it worth staying here? First of all, because Seira is a very cozy, colorful village where you can get acquainted with national traditions and feel the special spirit of the Spanish province. Secondly, housing here is not expensive - for the price of a room in a three-star hotel in Barcelona you can rent a two-story apartment with mountain views. From the point of view of attractions, Seira is of no interest. They simply aren't here. But the immediate surroundings deserve attention. The first place to go is the dam near the lake Estany De Cavallers. It is considered the most equipped and convenient for inspection. The building is really striking in its scale. In addition, dizzying views open up from the dam itself.

You can admire nature almost alone - getting to Estany De Cavallers is not so easy; this can only be done with your own transport. That is why there are not too many tourists here. In the area of ​​the dam there are simple places for relaxation (wooden tables and benches), but if you want to relax and have a picnic, you should stock up on food in advance - there are no shops or other retail outlets here. Aiguestortes National Park is located near the lake. It is notable primarily for the fact that there are several routes for short trekking throughout the territory - the simplest one, designed for unprepared tourists, can be covered in 2-3 hours. Along the road there are fast mountain rivers, slopes rushing towards the clouds, and almost abandoned bridges. Occasionally, somewhere in the distance you can see lonely houses. The landscapes are complemented by lonely walking cows with bells - almost alpine romance. Although the Pyrenean landscapes are not at all similar to the Alps. They are beautiful in their own way, bewitching and breathtaking.

While enjoying the beauty, do not forget about returning home - from Aiguestortes to Seira is not so far, only 80 kilometers, but the road is quite difficult - a narrow serpentine. Therefore, it is better to overcome it before sunset.

Seira - Benasque

Just 22 kilometers from Seira there is a place that is known to every lover of active winter recreation - the Benasque ski resort. In winter, at the height of the season, there is literally “nowhere for the apple to fall.” But in the summer, in a small town with a population of 2000 people, as if lost among the Pyrenees peaks, it is calm and quiet. In the surrounding area there are several trekking routes of varying difficulty - designed for both amateurs and professionals who know a lot about hiking. The beauty of the surrounding landscapes amazes even seasoned travelers - glaciers, lakes, waterfalls... not a single photograph conveys all this grandeur and splendor. Benasque is not only a modern ski resort. The city has quite an interesting history, so it is not surprising that there are many architectural attractions on its streets. Among them are the palace of the counts of Ribagorza, the houses of Casa Juste, Casa Faure and Casa Martial del Rio. As you can see, this place has always attracted representatives of the Spanish nobility. In addition, the 13th century Romanesque church of Santa Maria Maggiore deserves attention.

The Seira-Benasque road is not very long, only 22 kilometers, but if you deviate just a few meters from the main route, you can find yourself in truly fabulous places. One of them is the dam near the Presa de Benasque lake. It itself is closed to the public, but there is an observation deck nearby that offers a beautiful panoramic view of the dam itself, a tunnel through the rock (they are quite common in the Pyrenees) and the lake. Another place that would be a crime to drive past is Lake Escarpinosa and the Posets-Maladeta Park located in its vicinity. Many call it the most beautiful thing in the Pyrenees. In any case, lovers of nature and beautiful landscapes will not remain indifferent.

You can end this day by staying at one of the hotels in Benasque (in summer, prices for accommodation in the city are very attractive, since the resort is empty) or by returning to Seira - it will be more convenient to continue your journey from there.

Seira - Montserrat - Castelldefels

Of course, these are not all the interesting places in the Pyrenees Mountains, but if you are limited in time, this “must see” route can be considered completed. On the way to Barcelona there is an object that you simply cannot pass by. This is the spiritual center of Catalonia, the holy of holies for local residents and Catholics around the world - the Monastery of Montserrat. It is famous primarily for the fact that it is here that the statue of the Black Virgin of Montserrat is located. The history of the monastery began more than 1000 years ago. Since then and to this day it has been considered active, although now there are not too many monks, no more than 20 people. There is a small museum at the monastery where you can learn about the affairs of bygone days. In terms of architecture, the Montserrat monastery is interesting primarily because it was almost completely rebuilt in the 19th century with the participation of the famous and controversial architect Antonio Gaudi. He embodied his ideas related to human unity and endless harmony here really very successfully.

Montserrat Monastery is located in a very picturesque location. There are several trekking routes in its vicinity; for the convenience of tourists, there are signs everywhere, so you won’t be able to get lost at all. In addition, they take place in the most picturesque places and are designed for tourists with different levels of physical fitness - even those who are experienced in sports can cope with conquering the simplest ones.
How much time should you plan to visit Montserrat Monastery? For some, a few hours are enough, while others are ready to stay here forever. For those who decide to stay and spend the night, there is a hotel next to the monastery. True, the prices here are not low, tourist prices.

Having completed your acquaintance with the monastery and having breathed enough of the air of the monastery, you can return to the coast. Back to Barcelona? Of course, this is possible, but there are still many wonderful places in Catalonia where you can end up for the last time. For example, the miniature and very cozy town of Castelldefels. It is known, first of all, for its endlessly long beach - an excellent place to put the finishing touches and say goodbye to beautiful Spain. In addition, there are a huge number of restaurants with a wide variety of cuisines - from national Catalan to Japanese. Seafood dishes are considered a local highlight. If you are lucky enough to get to Kastfeldefels in July or October, then you can become a participant in a pirate feast or a chestnut festival; the fame of these events “spreads” throughout Catalonia.

Of course, this is not the only “Spanish” route that you can take by car from Barcelona. Catalonia and its neighboring regions are rich in attractions, natural parks and all kinds of interesting places. Spain is diverse, colorful and always hospitable. It opens up differently for every traveler, but every tourist certainly leaves a piece of his soul here.

Yuri Fedorov, head of the free travelers club

Two years ago, I made a wish on New Year’s Eve that I wanted to travel with my family at least 4 times a year! At the same time, at that time we barely traveled once a year through a travel agency. At that time I couldn’t even imagine that this was possible, and not even through travel companies, but on my own.

Three and a half months ago, I was sure that traveling on your own is very difficult, because there is so much you need to know, be able to do, and take into account all the nuances. I knew that there were people who travel independently several times a year and secretly I really hoped that someday I would probably be able to, but before that I need to know a lot, learn a lot, go on several not entirely successful trips, to gain experience and only after that someday I will succeed.

But I SO WANTED to travel with my family this summer, and I began to search on the Internet how this was possible. And I found the course of Yuri and Ekaterina Fedorov - I immediately signed up and started doing assignments and immediately looking for everything about my future journey.
This is such a fun activity!!! I experienced a thrill from the process of organizing, from searching for tickets, apartments, planning a route and everything that is needed for travel.

Of course, at first there were a lot of fears, apprehensions, and worries. Until the last moment I wasn’t sure that I could organize everything myself, but I did and did! I am delighted with the course, as it is truly magical, together with its creators, Yuri and Ekaterina. It is really enough to organize your trip the first time, the result is immediate, and so super!!!

Well, now specifically on the route.

We went to Spain, to Barcelona by SWISS plane with a transfer in Zurich. I was satisfied with this company. The only thing is that the transfer time of 40 minutes is not that much, but it is enough, even with children. We paid for all tickets Moscow - Barcelona - Moscow for 3 adults and 2 children: 5 years and six months - 48 thousand rubles.

I would like to note right away that we were getting ready for a beach holiday with small excursions to cultural and entertainment places, including, of course, Barcelona, ​​where I booked a hotel for 3 days for 9-odd thousand rubles. Why? Because they wanted to relax at sea + with children + for the first time on their own. That is, they did not intend to conquer all of Spain at once.

As a result, La Pineda, a resort town translated into Russian as “Sosnovka”, was chosen as the main place of residence. I want to say right away that there are very few pine trees there, practically none (there is video 1 in this video of pine trees), and what they call “Pine Forest” are metal structures that look like pine trees. Just having read in the newspaper one day that there would be an entertainment program in the pine forest, we could not find where this forest was located. Near La Pineda there is a resort town, more popular among Russian tourists, Salou. Accordingly, there is more noise there, all sorts of tourist establishments, entertainment, Russians and other tourists - in general, we decided that it would be better for us to come there at another time.

In La Pineda, I booked an apartment for a month for 1,500 euros with a huge swimming pool for adults and children (photo 1), which in the end I was very pleased with, since you could swim there at any time of the day, right under the window. This is convenient when it’s too hot at sea or you’re just too lazy to get to the beach.

By the way, when I was still looking for suitable housing, my husband asked at a travel agency what vacation options they had in Spain, on the Costa Dorada for a month. At that time, they offered one option for 400,000 rubles, and in only one place. And finally, they generally recommended going to Turkey with such small children, with big surprised eyes that we were going to Spain.

My God!!! I am so glad that I can now organize my own trips without contacting travel companies!!! Hurray-hurray-hurray!

So, we are at Barcelona airport. How to get to La Pineda? Of course, I booked a transfer in advance, the price was 140 euros, with a Russian-speaking translator. You could also get there by Plana bus for 15 euros, which runs on schedule throughout the Catalan Coast. The schedule can be viewed here http://www.busplana.com/new2013/ru/ (and buy a ticket directly on the bus). But I didn’t take any risks, since we had an almost overnight flight, and I wasn’t sure that we would catch the last bus.

In general, on this bus you can get to all the tourist cities and places of the Costa Dorada, including Barcelona itself.
Of course, it’s better to look around on the first day and understand where we are, what is nearby, where we can walk and travel. We did just that, but on the second day after we swam in the sea and walked around the surrounding area.

We arrived on June 15th. We were greeted by the owners, despite the late hour, and treated to a self-made pie, it was fabulously delicious.

In the morning we went, of course, to the sea. Here it is, the long-awaited one, we took a swim, it was a thrill. It’s a little cool at this time, probably 20-23 degrees. On the coast of La Pineda there is golden sand, it glistens in the sun and beckons and beckons... It seems that there was no gold rush here, and all the gold lies mixed with sand. It still remains a mystery to us, what was it?

When you enter La Pineda, you immediately feel an open, beautiful, welcoming and relaxing atmosphere. Drivers stop as soon as the thought of crossing the road appears in your head. Along the embankment, but across the road from the sea, there is an abundance of cafes, shops with beach goods, including sun umbrellas, about 10 euros, and clean beaches with friendly people from different countries. Overall a blast!

What’s good in such places for those who do not speak languages ​​other than Russian well is that you will not pass by your compatriots, they will offer you excursions, give you a bus schedule and tell you where and why... but there are other options. For example, in La Pineda, near the Aquapolis water park, there is an information center (visible by the towering letter i) photo 2.5.. There is all the information you need: on excursions, events, even the Barcelona metro map. The Plana bus, which I wrote about above, goes to almost all cities and tourist places.

If you do not plan to rent a car, then this is a very good transportation option. For example, the first three weeks, we were with the children and my mother, and I was not yet a confident driver, and we took the car only when my husband arrived, that is, after 3 weeks. In La Pineda itself, cars are not rented out, unless to some local private individuals and for a cheap price. Therefore, it is better to take a tablet or order it in advance from home.

As soon as we arrived, I found a SIM card with Internet for 15 euros for a month from the Orange company, it was enough for us, there is also a shop in La Pineda with computers and Internet access, as well as wifi in many cafes, but, to be honest, I’m not very I’m happy with the speed of the Internet in La Pineda, the photos hardly loaded at all, but Skype worked well, and this was perhaps the most important thing for communication. Well, the most necessary information could be downloaded and viewed.

So, about the car, we took it from the AVIS company at Reus airport, we got there by taxi, although it was also possible by bus. This is perhaps the most convenient and affordable option for renting a car in La Pineda. Of course, it was possible to rent a car at Barcelona airport immediately upon arrival, but it was my husband’s first time driving a car in Europe and at night, so we decided not to risk it. But we had an adventure with the car, which I’ll tell you about below, when we get to Barcelona. We paid 300 euros and kopecks for a week including a child seat.

What did we visit in La Pineda and the surrounding area?

Firstly, this is the famous Port Aventura amusement park, which is compared to Disneyland, but I can’t compare because we haven’t gotten to Disneyland yet. But Aventura, of course, is impressive, and despite the fact that our children were small, the entertainment there was thought out for all ages of children and adults.

The park is specially divided into zones by age. I went on one ride, where I went at high speed and upside down. I was afraid for a long time before boarding, so I immediately closed my eyes and screamed all the way, I still regret that I never opened my eyes...
The children also received a lot of impressions. In addition to carousels, swings, skits, dancing, controlling boats, where there are rivers and towns in miniature. We went to the evening session, since it was not so hot and it was beautiful in the evening; at the end we were pleased with the show with fountains. In general, if you are in those places, visit Aventura, you will not regret it.

La Pineda itself has a water park. It was right across the street from our apartment. That’s what I wanted when I was looking for housing, so dreams come true, and surprisingly quickly and accurately, if you really want and act. The water park has a lot of water activities for both children and adults, we went there for the whole day right from the opening, we ordered tickets online, were they cheaper at a promotion? Well, we are independent travelers and know how to find attractive options. True, payment by cards did not go through, I had to ask the local owner of the Internet club to pay with his own, for which he kindly took 10% for the service and was pleased.

In general, Spaniards are very willing to provide services and earn some extra euros. It was also not possible to print the tickets right away, since the email message arrived with a delay, but upon entering at the ticket office, all issues were resolved, and we safely got to the water park.

In addition to water activities (photo.4, video 2.1.-2.2.), which are enough for the whole day and even a day is not enough, there are demonstration performances with dolphins, quite decent, but it seemed to me that their dolphins are more creative and lazier, than ours (video 3).

In La Pineda itself, in Michelangelo's shop and information center you can find information about events in La Pineda and in neighboring towns.

For example, on Fridays in La Pineda on the embankment there are musical performances: songs, dances, including Spanish, which is even very interesting, especially if you don’t have time to get to Flamenco in Barcelona, ​​as we didn’t have time, since it turned out to be 2.5 days There's not enough time in Barcelona to get everywhere. They also light the lights and have as much fun as they can. Spaniards love to have fun and communicate.

La Pineda has its own fountain, which glows in different colors, performs different dances and is pleasing to the eye.

In general, during all this time we saw many different fountains and fountain shows - singing, glowing.
In neighboring Salou, where we went by car, 10-15 minutes from La Pineda, there was an amazing fountain show, accompanied by music and a video cartoon against the background of water. I never thought that fountains could be so amazingly different. This spectacle is mesmerizing!!!

I’m writing and I’m still so happy because our journey was so interesting. We would be sitting somewhere in a hotel where everything is inclusive, as we were offered by the travel agency, crowded with all the other tourists and waiting for the vacation to end, and not going anywhere ourselves. Of course, we could have traveled more this time, but, to my regret, I am not yet an experienced driver, but now I have mega-motivation to master free driving and next time go wherever I want, whenever I want, not depend on the bus schedule.

By the way, let’s talk about motivation. I really wanted to learn English and all other languages ​​better. It's so nice when you are understood and you understand other people and can speak their native language. Only this time I realized how great it was that I studied English, and that it actually pops up from my memory at the right moment. I can talk to people, ask, communicate, negotiate. And my 5-year-old daughter, who had already started learning the language in Moscow, in Spain realized in person why she was studying it, because in the pool she met an amazing Spaniard to whom she could say a couple of phrases in English.

We also went to see fireworks in the city of Tarragona, which is also located not far from La Pineda, and which has interesting ancient Roman ruins.

And finally, Barcelona. I fell in love with her at first sight. It's nice to walk or drive through the streets there because the architecture is stunningly beautiful. Many of the houses are in a related style, but they are different and there are magnificent balconies, forged carvings, this is a museum city, everything is beautiful there. By the way, these balconies are not crowded with anything, like here in Russia, they are open, probably there is a law prohibiting spoiling the view of the city, because passing tourists, like it or not, will look into each of the balconies, because it is impossible not to notice them attention.

Be sure to start your acquaintance with Barcelona from Plaza Catalunya, in the center of Barcelona. There is an information center on the square, where they will answer all your questions and give you comprehensive information, even in Russian. In general, now in many places in Spain where we have been, they can speak Russian to you. Apparently, this is due to the fact that there are more and more Russian tourists. So if you don’t know other languages ​​yet, you won’t be lost.

Here in Plaça Catalunya there is a stop for the tourist bus “Bus Touristic”, where you can immediately buy tickets for one or two days and travel along three routes in Barcelona, ​​visiting all the significant places. The top of the bus is open, and it is pleasant to ride on it even in the heat, since the wind blows, but you can ride on the ground floor. At any of the stops you can get off and get acquainted in more detail with the place that attracted your attention, and then return and continue your journey on the next similar bus. On the bus you will immediately be given headphones, and you can listen to the tour in any language, including Russian. (video 7)

It’s worth setting aside at least 2 days to visit Barcelona, ​​otherwise you won’t have time to enjoy all its splendor and visit what’s worthy of attention. Of course, 4-5 days will be just right. We had 2.5 days, but it wasn’t enough for us because of the children, because it was hot, and because we still had to spend time freeing our car. Briefly about this.

As soon as we arrived at the hotel by car, not having found a decent parking place, because in the center of Barcelona there are practically no such places, except for paid parking lots, we left the car at random, that is, as we usually do at home, in Moscow. While the suitcases were unloaded, while we were still having a snack, my husband said, let’s take another break... but my feminine intuition had long been telling me that this was bad for the car, which was parked in an unknown location... and we went to rearrange it.

We leave the hotel, we look, but there is no car... I thought this only happens in films, but it turns out that it happens in Barcelona too... we are at the reception, so and so... and he speaks English so clearly and immediately, like paper lies on the floor (floor in English), I asked for a very long time, using the English words I knew, that I did not understand what he was talking about, since I could not imagine how the paper could be on the roadway on the road... finally , the husband somehow decided to go and look, and what do you think, the paper was really glued to the road, there was an address where to come and pick up the car. As the owner of the cafe opposite told us later, within 10 minutes a tow truck arrived and took our car, she saw this and said that this is a common occurrence in Barcelona.

In general, we went to the prescribed address and found there a small, but apparently, queue of the same tourists who had come to pay the fine and pick up the car, the fine was 200 euros. After which we immediately parked the car in a paid parking lot and moved around Barcelona by bus or taxi; we never went down to the metro, which is a pity, I wanted to see and take a ride. Well next time. In general, there are still many unexplored places in Barcelona that we would like to visit.

I won’t talk for a long time about all the places in Barcelona that we visited, but there weren’t many of them, we just didn’t have time. But briefly: be sure to walk through the Gothic quarter, it’s amazingly beautiful there, just walk along Rambla, the central street similar to Arbat (in fact, not at all similar, but I don’t know what to compare it with), look at the creations of Antonio Gaudi - Sagrada Familia and Park Güell is probably the first thing worth seeing in Barcelona.

We rode the cable car and saw the whole of Barcelona from above, walked around the evening port, rode a steamboat, went to the aquarium (because the children are interested), but many attractive places in Barcelona are still waiting for our visit and on the last evening before our flight we took a long walk in the center of Barcelona, ​​threw coins into the fountain and I felt that I really fell in love with Barcelona.

Now I’m writing this story at home, after a month-long trip, and I rejoice with all my heart that now I can create any trip for myself and my family, it’s amazing, it’s so cool!!! Travel is a small life, and it is as I and we want it, isn’t this happiness?!

Now, by the way, we are planning to go to Bulgaria again in 3 weeks with the children, and now there are no such doubts and fears and there is more and more pleasure from travel that you organize yourself: you go where you want, with whom you want, when you want, how you want, as much as you want and for as long as you want, no restrictions, no boundaries, the world is open and waiting for us!!!

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