Holidays in Spain & holiday apartments & villas to rent in Spain

• Andalusia inland (Seville & Cordoba)

The wonderful city of Sevilla is the capital of southern Spain; it is also the heart of Andalusian culture and the centre of bullfighting and Flamenco music. There is a relaxed and fun-loving atmosphere here that you cannot ignore. Seville has been throwing Spain’s biggest annual party the Feria de Abril for over a century. The feria lasts for two weeks in April and you will have the opportunity to see all the women – never mind their age – wearing colourful flamenco dresses. Inside the grand cathedral stands the tomb of Christopher Columbus, it is said that the great sailor’s remains were brought here from Cuba in 1899. Nightlife around the clock is guaranteed in this city either in the tangle of quaint winding streets in Santa Cruz, or the densely packed, narrow and crooked streets in the centre, and finally along the River Guadalquivir in Triana.

Holiday in Spain - Cordoba; The big draw to Cordoba is the magnificent of all Islamic buildings the Mezquita (mosque). This superb mosque has some truly beautiful features, among them the famous rows of two-tier arches in stripes of red brick and white stone. There are craft shops around the Mezquita that sell silver jewellery, attractive pottery and leather goods for which Cordoba is also renowned. Cordoba is also a very lively town and rich in the best of Andalusian traditions such as Flamenco and bullfighting as well as being one of the most attractive destinations of southern Spain. The most popular time to visit the area is from mid-April to mid-June when the skies are a beautiful blue and yet the heat is still tolerable.

• Aragon / Navarre / La Rioja

Holidays in Spain - Aragon has fascinating mountain scenery to explore and an interesting capital Zaragoza.  Set in the north-eastern part of Spain it is one of the most history-rich regions. Aragon is best known for two of its former residents. Catherine of Aragon who foolishly married Henry VIII and Ferdinand of Aragon who married Queen Isabella of Castille and Leon in the 15th century.

Holidays in Spain - Navarre is a fantastic wine region although not as famous as its neighbour La Rioja where the source of some of the world’s finest wines come from. Navarre is an ancient land that shares a 130km frontier with France. The capital of the region is Pamplona which is of course the home of the wild ‘fiestas de San Fermin’ aka ‘running with bulls’. The bull-running starts on July 6th and goes on until July 14th and attracts thousands of visitors. The bulls run every day at 8am.

Holidays in Spain - La Rioja is a small region located in the north eastern part of the peninsula is the most outstanding wine-growing area in Spain. Its production, Rioja wine, figures among the finest wines in the world.

• Villas in Spain – Basque Country (Bilbao)

The Basque Country is in the north of Spain. It is home to two of the best art galleries in Spain, six themed museums and countless of contemporary art exhibitions, shows and performances such as opera. The Museo Guggenheim is Bilbao’s showpiece and a tourist magnet ever since it opened in September 1997. The fantastic swirling structure designed by US architect Frank Gehry and inspired by the anatomy of a fish and the hull of a boat (both are important to Bilbao’s economy). Then there is the Museo de Bella Artes only 300 metres up the road from the Guggenheim that has an impressive collection from Gothic sculptures to 20th-century Pop art. Set in the Bay of Biscay surrounded by lush green mountains, this part of Spain has picturesque towns with excellent gold sandy beaches, fine restaurants and bars.

• Villas in Spain – Cantabria

With a surface of over 5000 sq km Cantabria offers an extremely varied landscape and climate. In its mountain ranges and the natural reserve you can still find bears, wolves and eagles, and the rivers are full of salmon and trout. In total contrast is the coast with beautiful bays and romantic fishing villages dotted between green valleys and hills.

• Villas in Spain – Castilla la Mancha

Castilla-La Mancha is located at the very centre of the Iberian Peninsula, and of major interest to the visitor here are the monumental cities and towns of great historical importance, such as Toledo, and the enchanting Cuenca and Albacete. There are also several interesting routes to explore and among them are Ruta de los Pueblos Negros ("Route of the Black Villages"), having their name from the use of slate in their traditional architecture, the "Route of the Saffron Fields", "Route of the Castles", and the "Route of Don Quixote", named after Cervante's legendary "Man from La Mancha".

• Villas in Spain – Castilla / Leon

The huge area of Castilla and Leon is Spain’s heartland with Spanish castles, strong stone bridges and a hilly landscape that has some of the country’s most historic and pretty towns. These regions offer natural parks and kilometres of practically virginal nature, with woods of oaks and cork-oaks.

• Villas in Spain – Costa Blanca / Alicante

If you want to spend your holidays on the beach with an amazing choice of all kinds of sports (golf, cycling, tennis, diving and other water sports) along with a thriving nightlife and cultural life then Costa Blanca is a perfect choice. The beaches are right at the heart of life and activities here, located on the Mediterranean sea you will find during the summer months it is very popular with tourists. Alicante and the Costa Blanca (or the White Coast) are among Europe’s most popular visited regions and perfect if you are looking for a lively social life, good beaches and suntans. Although resorts have engulfed some of the original villages, a few of the old towns have survived and remain attractive.

• Villas in Spain - Holidays in Costa Blanca - Calpe has a wonderful mixture of old culture and modern tourist attractions, perfectly harmonious and provides an ideal base from which to explore the local area or enjoy on the many beaches.
• Villas in Spain - Holidays in Costa Blanca – Denia is a delightful town full of life and colour. There are twenty km of seafront for all tastes. Just relax and enjoy the sun. When it gets too hot, all you have to do is slip into the cool clear waters of the Mediterranean.
• Villas in Spain - Holidays in Costa Blanca - Javea is a small, historical town free of high rise buildings that offers a relaxing location for holidays.
• Villas in Spain - Holidays in Costa Blanca - Moraira is one of the most beautiful towns in the Costa Blanca. Nestling between the mountains and the sea, the wonderful climate of this specific area boasts warn temperatures.
• Villas in Spain - Holidays in Costa Blanca - Oliva has long been a popular resort with the Spanish but it is becoming increasingly popular with foreign tourists, attracted by 10 kilometres of uncrowded coastline and the excellent sports facilities.

• Villas in Spain – Costa Brava / Catalonia (Barcelona)

Holidays in Spain - Barcelona; Some say Barcelona is Spain’s most cosmopolitan and stylish city, it is certainly one of the richest and is the capital of the region Catalonia (Catalunya). It has its own language, distinct character, great nightlife, fine restaurants and top-class museums. It is known for ground breaking art, architecture and style led by Antoni Gaudi whose famous ‘La Sagrada Familia’ church dominates the city’s views. If you do not have much time for sight-seeing (or are too distracted by the many stores and markets) it would be a great shame to miss out on ‘La Sagrada Familia’ even though after 100 years it is still not quite half-built, it is a project to which Gaudi dedicated his life and no one could be at all disappointed by the experience. There are other great Gaudi buildings not to miss Casa Batllo, Casa Mila and Parc Guell. There are 3 city beaches that are all very good. La Rambla is a boulevard over 1 km long that runs up from near Port Vell to Plaza de Catalunya. There are stores and flea markets as well as street entertainers to amuse you as you amble along and soak in the beautiful cities atmosphere and architecture. At Port Vell there is an excellent modern aquarium and two marinas where you can find the city beaches, long promenades that stretch north-east to the Port Olimpic, a harbour that was built for the 1992 Olympics and is now surrounded by lively bars, restaurants and a Casino. It is very easy to get around Barcelona, the city is built by the grid system and maps are easy to come by. The city is perfectly designed to explore by walking but there are also other methods such as the Metro and a few Bus Tour companies where you can jump on and off as you please seeing all the sights for a one-day fare.

• Villas in Spain - Holidays on the Costa Brava – The Costa Brava still has the wild beauty that drew visitors there in the first place. Inland the Pyrenees rise to a mighty height of 3000m from a series of green valleys dotted with villages and these mountains provide some magnificent walking and some good skiing. The Costa Brava ranks along with the Costa del Sol and the Costa Blanca as one of Spain’s top 3 great holiday destinations.  The coast stretches from Blanes, 60km northeast of Barcelona right to the French boarder.
• Villas in Spain - Holiday on the Costa Brava - Begur has a castle dating from the 10th century perched on a rock above the village and dotted around the village itself are half a dozen towers built in defence of pirates in the 16th and 17th centuries. Near Begur there is a stretch of enticing beaches with incredibly blue waters.
• Villas in Spain - Holidays on the Costa Brava - Calonge is a town offering the best of both worlds. A relaxed inland mountain town just a few kilometres from the magnificent Costa Brava
• Villas in Spain - Holidays on the Costa Brava - Stiges beach is long and sandy and attracts everyone from young travellers, honeymooners, jet setters and families. There are plenty of boutiques and museums to explore.
• Villas in Spain - Holidays on the Costa Brava - Tamairu is a quaint fishing village in a secluded and more quiet location.

• Villas in Spain – Costa Calida / Murcia

Murcia is one of Spain’s more conservative provinces and its capital, also called Murcia, has a traditional Spanish appeal with plazas and some gorgeous architecture. The Costa Calida is along 250km long and this stretch of Murcian coastline is blessed with 315 days of sunshine a year and an average temperature of 17 degrees. The area offers a diverse selection of activities for the visitor including all manner of water sports, hiking, hill-climbing and much more.

• Villas in Spain – Costa de Almeria

The coast of Almeria is one of the few places in Spain’s Mediterranean where you can have the beach all to yourself. Cabo de Gata is the main draw for this region where the wonderful coastline meets the semi-desert scenery dotted with villages and cliffs. It is a protected area and a sun worshipper’s haven abnd, as it has areas that are deserted, you will find that a few of the beaches are for nudists. Almeria is a very likeable port city rich in character with a tangle of street and plazas around its Cathedral, and the main highlight is the 10th – century Muslim fortress The Alcazaba.

Parque Natural de Cabo de Gata has become a jewel in the crown of Almeria and was created in 1987. It is a terrestrial / marine park covering 38,000 hectares of dry land and 12,000 hectares of land underwater. The salt-extraction lagoons attracted many migrating birds including Flamingos and in August there can be over 1000 of them.

In the north of Almeria the landscape resembles something out of America’s Wild West and because of this in the 1960’s and 1970’s, dozens of films were made here including parts of The Magnificent Seven, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly and A Fist Full of Dollars. Left behind are three mini Wild West town sets that you can visit such as Mini Hollywood.

• Villas in Spain – Costa del Azahar / Valencia

Valencia host’s the country’s wildest party in mid-March, the festival of Las Fallas, an exuberant swirl of fireworks, festive bonfires, music and all night partying. The Fallas are huge papier-mâché sculptures built by local artists sponsored by local neighbourhoods. It is also a vibrant, friendly city that boasts an outstanding fine arts museum and one of Spain’s most exciting nightlife scenes.

Stretching north from Valencia is the Costa del Azahar or the orange blossom coast. Backed by mountains the coastal plain is a sea of orange groves with heavily scented flowers giving the region its name. There are some beautiful scenic drives along the rocky coastline with small resorts offering a tranquil alternative to the high seasons popular and often crowded resorts. It is endowed with miles of golden sandy beaches and secret coves, all bathed by the clear warm Mediterranean sea.

• Villas in Spain – Costa del La Luz / Cadiz

Cadiz although a city it has beautiful and well kept long stretches of beach good for sunbathing or relaxing after exploring the wonderful old town and its cathedral, museum etc. The historical port of Cadiz is beautiful with an aged atmosphere, winding streets and wonderful 18th-century buildings to explore. Cadiz may be the oldest city in Europe and began to boom when Christopher Columbus sailed from this port to discover America. Nearby is where the Battle of Trafalgar took place.

A short ferry ride or commuter train journey from the city of Cadiz is El Puerto. It is one of the points of the sherry triangle. The other two points are Sanlucar de Barrameda and Jerez de la Frontera. Visitors are able to sample all varieties of sherry at any number of bodegas in El Puerto.

• Villas in Spain - Costa de la Luz holidays – Cadiz province (Cadiz – Gibraltar). The 90km stretch of beaches between Cadiz and Tarifa can be windy at times and the Atlantic waters are a little cooler than those of the Mediterranean but, it is a small price to pay to experience the unspoiled, often wild clean white sand beaches with some back by pine forests and Nature Parks. The Spanish are well aware of the beauty that this part of the coast beholds and flock here during July and August bringing with them a vibrant fiesta atmosphere to the usually quiet villages.
• Villas in Spain - Costa de la Luz holidays - La Barrosa is a beautiful long and wide beach known as pista .1, 2 and 3. Pista one is the more popular and therefore the busiest with bars and restaurants along the promenade and calm sea.
• Villas in Spain - Costa de la Luz holidays - Novo Santi Petri runs on from La Barrosa and follows onto Roche. It is again a beautiful rugged beach with good amenities. There is also a shopping centre here with Internet cafés/shops/restaurants etc.
• Villas in Spain - Costa de la Luz holidays - Conil is a quaint whitewashed village with a wide white sand beach and the waters are clean and usually calm. The village has a lively atmosphere in the evening especially during the summer months.
• Villas in Spain - Costa de la Luz holidays - Tarifa even during the high season Tarifa is a very laid-back place. The 10km of white sandy paradise with Morocco easily visible on the horizon is what Tarifa is famous for. The beach and its pines behind are officially protected as a natural area and was the location of 2001 World Kite Surfing championship. There are wind surfing and kite surfing schools a plenty but even if you are not feeling that energetic it is always a beautiful sight and best place to chill out and take it all in.
• Villas in Spain - Costa de la Luz holidays – Huelva province (Huelva – Cadiz). The beaches along this stretch of coast tend to be long and wide with beautiful fine golden sand. The seaside villages are quite small and very friendly and a great opportunity to discover the real Spain. Isla Cristina is one of the more popular resorts in this area and can get quite busy during the summer months although there are many great beaches to choose from with excellent facilities and chiringuitos. Sand dunes and pinewoods back most of the beaches. La Antilla has an attractive palm tree-lined promenade adjacent to the wide and fine sandy unspoilt beach. It can get busy during the summer but not as crowded as some of the neighbouring beaches. Punta Umbria is the largest seaside town along this part of the coast with a vibrant nightlife with lots of restaurants and bars to choose from. The beaches here offer very good facilities on the long stretch of beach.

• Villas in Spain – Costa del Sol / Malaga

The Costa del Sol is the definitive Spanish resort area that lies on the south of Spain's Mediterranean coastline in the province of Andalucia. Notable for its sandy beaches, jet set clubs and easy access to the Moorish inland towns of Granada, Cordoba and Seville. The Costa del Sol stretches just over 150 kilometres of Malaga's province. The areas climate is the main attraction that makes it impossible to resist the beaches and wide variety of outdoor activities all year round. As well as access to the full range of water sports there are also many world-class golf courses to choose from as well as other sports such as tennis and horse riding.

The newly opened Museo Picasso is in the 16th-century Palacio de los Condes de Buenavista, Malaga, has plenty of painting donated by the Picasso family. Casa Natal de Picasso also in Malaga is the house where Picasso was born in 1881 and is a centre of exhibitions and research on Picasso and contemporary art. Some good shows are held here and the Picasso memorabilia, including photographs is compelling. The Palacio de la Aduana has an excellent collection of works by Zurbaran, Murillo, Ribera and Pedro de Mena, also a tantalising selection of local artists works including, yes Picasso.

It is quite easy to get around the Costa del Sol as the N340 (National 340 motorway) takes you the full length of the coast. This makes travelling by car especially easy. The bus is also an excellent way to get around. Every city and town has its municipal network of buses providing transportation to the public and taxis are also readily available.

Magnificent beaches and bright sunshine are Costa del Sols most valuable assets with the average water temperature being 18C rising to 24C in August. Most beaches feature small open-air bars or typical Spanish beach restaurants called 'chiringuitos' serving a selection of fresh fish, pil pil prawns, tapas etc. As a rule the beaches with the best services including sun loungers, toilets, life guards and security are close to the urban residential areas and can get busy during the summer months. All kinds of water sports equipment can be hired on the beaches or in one of the many leisure ports along the coast. There are also the more off the beaten track and rugged beaches to enjoy.

• Villas in Spain - Costa del Sol holidays - Benalmadena - Benalmadena boasts 13 beaches from which to explore but the two to mention here are Malapesquera and Santa Ana. They are both easily accessible by foot or car and offer all the facilities to enjoy your beach holiday.
• Villas in Spain - Costa del Sol holidays - Calahonda & Cabopino - From Puerto Cabopino the fine sandy beaches stretch to Calahonda, and to the west past you can walk along the beach all the way to Marbella, passing the Artola dunes, a protected national park, with it’s restored Moorish lookout tower. Puerto Cabopino is surrounded by wide, fine sandy beaches, in the main season lifeguards watch the activities. On the beach are chiringitos, bars and restaurants for your pleasure.
• Villas in Spain - Costa del Sol holidasy - Estepona - Located in front of the urban centre, Estepona marina offers an extensive range of restaurants and services. It has a very large beach and can also be quite crowded. All kinds of sports can be enjoyed here, including volleyball, football, windsurfing and kayaking.
• Villas in Spain - Costa del Sol holidays - Marbella - If you feel like treating yourself spend the day relaxing at the Marbella Beach Club. You can find it on the golden mile, a long stretch of beach with various restaurants.
• Villas in Spain - Costa del Sol holidays - Nerja - The largest large and most famous beach in the area with plenty of restaurants and water sport activities is Playa Burriana. Playa Torrecilla, is more of a quieter beach located at the bottom of the town centre ideal for families with small children.
• Villas in Spain - Costa del Sol holidays - Nueva Andalucia - Nueva Andalucia boasts a number of trendy beach clubs including the Mistral beach. Beautiful settings and the palm trees look like they have come from the South Pacific.
• Villas in Spain - Costa del Sol holidays - San Pedro - San Pedro has a long promenade that makes it easy to find a space even in the peak season with numerous beach bars.
• Villas in Spain - Costa del Sol holidays - Puerto Banus - Puerto Banus is without a doubt the place to be seen. It has a good beach just east of the port protected by a jetty. The port offers and array of exclusive shops and a wide range of bars, nightclubs and restaurants.
• Villas in Spain - Costa del Sol holidays - Sotogrande – There is a long and volcanic beach here where fishermen can be often seen working and you can enjoy fabulous views of the Sotogrande marina.

• Villas in Spain – Costa del Sol – inland

If you are tired of beach holidays or the beaches get too crowded for you in the summer and you prefer an active holiday where you can explore beautiful surroundings, a holiday to the Costa de Sol’s inland may be for you. In the rolling hills there are plenty of typical 'white villages' or 'pueblos blancos', with winding streets and low, whitewashed houses decorated with window pots. The area is easy to find your way around by car and once you find a scenic park or spot, you can park up and explore further on foot.

• Villas in Spain – Costa Dorada / Tarragona

The Costa Dorada or Daurada, the Golden Coast is a 216km long coastline located south of Barcelona. Named after the colour of its beaches it is a good place to take a break. Tarragona city is situated on a hill next to the sea, something which as well as being important strategically, gives it excellent views over the Mediterranean. It is principally a port city which has evolved and adapted over time.

• Villas in Spain – Costa Tropical / Granada

Granada is one of the pearls of Spain and the city is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada, Spain’s highest mountain-massif offering superb opportunities for winter sports. The ski resort Estacion de Esqui Sierra Nevada has 45 downhill runs (5 black, 18 red, 18 blue and 4 green) the season normally lasts from December to April. The famous Alhambra dominates the skyline from its hilltop perch and its magnificent structure is the stuff that fairy tales are made from. From the outside, the red fortress towers and walls may seem surprisingly plain but inside you’re in for a real treat. There is the marvellously decorated Palacia Nazaries and the Generalife (Alhambra gardens) to explore and you will need a whole day to see all of the palace’s offerings. It may be wise to book a ticket in advance.The charming narrow streets of the city are filled with flowers and typical taverns where you can try the famous ‘Trevelez’ ham and local wine. There are also quaint squares where you can find street performers and gypsies that sing Flamenco to entertain you. Granada is a wealthy city with an international feel and thanks to its university is has a vibrant cultural life and nightlife.

In Andalusia, the Costa Tropical draws thousands of visitors each year. With its fine-looking landmarks and picturesque villages, the Tropical Coast is a peaceful paradise in Europe. The climate is superb - the mild winds from the north of Africa and the warm waters of the Mediterranean Sea, along with the freshness provided by the nearby mountains in Sierra Nevada, create a unique microclimate, with more than 320 sunny days a year.

• Villas in Spain – Extremadura

A sparsely populated land of vast skies and open plains Extremadura is a distance from the usual tourist trails and therefore offer a genuine sense of exploration. The remarkable old towns such as Trujillo and Caceres are so perfectly preserved that they are often used as film sets. Extremadura is an immensely rich natural paradise; a special region of unspoilt natural heritage, even today in the 21st century when such places are hard to find in Europe and the people are noted for their good nature and hospitality. Extremadura is a land of great contrast and variety. The climate is basically Mediterranean with influence from the Atlantic, with very hot summers and mild winters. The result is a rich variety of natural landscapes, with an abundance of lakes and rivers. (In fact, Extremadura has more inland “coast” than any other region in Western Europe). There are two outstanding natural parks where the most typical examples of the plant and animal life of the Mediterranean forest still survive, ideal for bird watching, with close up views of some of the biggest populations of vultures, black storks, imperial eagles and great bustards in the world.

• Villas in Spain – Galicia

The Galicia region has little in common with the dry, sun-baked regions of the rest of the country; you’ll think you are in Scotland. The lush green hills and wet Atlantic climate offer a fascinating contrast to the rest of Spain. Situated on the North West coast of Green Spain, just above Portugal, making it a geographically, scenically and culturally different, it has a warm but temperate climate and a lush landscape with mountain ranges, rivers and a non stop supply of stunning and often near deserted beaches.

• Villas in Spain – Madrid

Madrid may be the capital of Spain but it does not take itself too seriously. There are plenty of choices to live-it-up in the anything-goes nightlife scene but be sure to save plenty of energy to visit the city’s amazing art museums and busy historic centre.

This nocturnal city is famous for its nightlife, scrumptious food and festivals. A music festival, which is held yearly, is one of the events that draw young people around the world. Although Madrid cannot match the architecture in Rome, Paris or London, its sought-after churches (basilicas) display unique and charming personalities. The architecture found in the city ranges from medieval to  modern style. You can experience the feeling of stepping into interiors with gothic, baroque, or neoclassic styles.

• See our quotes on TRAVEL INSURANCE here
• See our quotes for AIRPORT PARKING here