Spain
Barcelona and Madrid's classic city trips, plus a brand-new street circuit bringing Formula 1 to the capital for the first time
Spain's usual draws — Barcelona's Gaudí architecture, Madrid's museums and nightlife, Andalusia's Moorish history — sit alongside a genuinely new addition to the sporting calendar: a brand-new F1 circuit built at Madrid's IFEMA exhibition grounds, bringing Formula 1 to the Spanish capital for the first time. Most first trips pick one city (Barcelona or Madrid) rather than trying to combine both on a short visit, given the distance between them.
Best time to visit
April–June and September–October avoid peak summer heat, which gets genuinely intense across most of inland Spain (including Madrid) in July and August
Getting there
Madrid-Barajas (MAD) and Barcelona-El Prat (BCN) are the two main international gateways, both extensively connected across Europe and beyond
Highlights
- —Barcelona's Gaudí landmarks
- —Madrid's Prado and Reina Sofía museums
- —The new Madrid Grand Prix
- —Andalusia's Alhambra and Moorish architecture
- —Spain's tapas and late-night dining culture
The Spain guide, section by section
Pick a topic below — each page covers real prices, current rules and practical logistics.
