Spain

With its sun-drenched Mediterranean beaches, World Heritage cities, incredible cuisine, and multi-faceted culture, few countries in the world can tick all the traveler boxes with such a diverse range of attractions as Given Spain’s long and storied past of Catholic monarchies, Muslim caliphates and New World conquistadores, one region can have a completely distinct character from the next. Here’s a rundown of the best places to visit in this standout Iberian destination. Squeeze every moment out of your next vacation with tips and tricks from Lonely Planet in our 1. Madrid Best city for visiting world-class art museums The Art aficionados could spend days exploring Madrid’s "Golden Triangle of Art" composed of three Planning tip: Madrid has a vibrant street culture that loves its wine-soaked tapas crawls. Cava Baja in the historic See how the work of Gaudí has shaped the look of Barcelona © Alexander Spatari / Getty Images 2. Barcelona Best for modernist architecture Straddling the Mediterranean and the Pyrenees mountains, No visit to Barcelona is complete without spending time at the obra maestra of the illustrious Catalan architect and proponent of Modernism, Antoní Gaudí. His influence on the city is everywhere, and it’s worth taking time to visit his other architectural jewels, the Another place where Gaudí has left his legacy is at the Planning tip: Have a lunchtime visit to Mercat de la Boqueria, when the unassuming places to eat, run by charismatic owners, start to ...

Get the inside scoop on the latest cultural happenings all over the world delivered weekly to your inbox with our 1. Hike or ride to a secluded beach Hitting the beach is a national hobby here, and you’ll inevitably fall in love with your own pocket of Spain’s 5470km-long (3400-mile) coastline. Leave the crowds behind by escaping to tranquil, hidden coves that can only be reached on foot, on a bike or on horseback. Head out hiking along 2. Taste Spain's best wines From headlining grape-growing regions such as Denominaciones de Origen (Denominations of Origin) roll out a tantalizing line-up of wines. Many wineries here are now experimenting with unusual combinations, pushing forward sustainable production methods and working to recover rare ancestral grapes. For the most exciting tours, seek out small, independent bodegas (some still run by their founding families) and track down lesser-known wine-making areas such as Galicia’s up-and-coming Ribeira Sacra, Catalonia’s cool Costers del Segre or the innovative El Hierro and Lanzarote DOs in the Canary Islands. Salud! Planning tip: If you'd prefer to be the designated drinker rather than the driver, here are some Spend the days exploring world-class art collections and the nights partying in Madrid © trabantos / Shutterstock 3. Dive into art (and nightlife) in Madrid Guernica ( Les Vessenots in Auvers ( Las meninas and Goya’s Saturno devorando a su hijo ( Planning tip: Save some energy, though – later on, madrileños at buzzy t...