Spain

The virtues of a luxury holiday in Spain have long been extolled. It has the Mediterranean climate and lifestyle, the culture and cuisine, the luxury villas and the beaches, and the beauty to rival anywhere in the world.

Spain is a land of many cultures offering a myriad of experiences, from Europe’s premier golf courses and pintxos bar-hopping in Bilbao, to gourmet dining in Barcelona and slow-paced beach retreats. What binds it all together is the zesty attitude of the Spanish of living life to the fullest.

It’s also a beautiful and diverse country incorporating the snow-capped peaks of the Pyrenees and Sierra Nevada to the sizzling desert landscapes of Andalucía, peppered with whitewashed villages and medieval cities. There are the lush estuaries of Galicia, and vast swathes of vineyards and olive groves, and over 2,000km of Mediterranean coast.

The beaches of Spain extend far beyond the overcrowded Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol. Catalonia’s Costa Brava is a coastline of pure drama with craggy cliffs, crashing waves and sweeping, empty beaches. An influx of sleek designer hotels has seen it become one of the hottest luxury holiday destinations in Spain. On the Atlantic coast, Galicia is home to hidden sandy gems that rank alongside the world’s most spectacular.

There is an impressive line up of luxury villas in Spain. Lightfoot Travel’s specialists will offer impartial advice on the best accommodation for your needs, whether you’re looking for a chic urban boutique, a designer villa overlooking the sea, or a rustic countryside retreat. For a unique holiday experience, you could stay in a parador – a sumptuously converted castle or monastery.

Spain has an extraordinary variety of cities. In the sundrenched south, the Andalucían cities of Seville and Granada are the classic Spain of tapas, bullfighting and flamenco. They’re renowned for their stunning Moorish architecture, especially Granada’s Unesco-listed La Alhambra fort. At the other end of the spectrum, Valencia – farther north on the coast – is famed for its cutting-edge buildings and cultural attractions.

The star of the show in Catalonia is undoubtedly Barcelona. Among the world’s most vibrant cities, it lists golden beaches, fantastical Gaudi architecture and the Gothic quarter among its many highpoints. Just southwest is beautiful Tarragona, renowned for its Unesco Roman ruins. Catalan cuisine is revered throughout the world, and the famous 3-Michelin-starred restaurants of El Bulli and El Celler de Can Roca top the dining bill here.

In the Basque lands, the addition of the Guggenheim Museum has sparked a cultural renaissance in industrial Bilbao. In the heartlands, Madrid is a darling of the art world with its Golden Triangle of Museums; although it’s equally famous for its vibrant dining and nightlife scenes. The neighbouring “Imperial City” of Toledo is another tick on Spain’s impressive UNESCO list.