Pass The Passport

Places / Europe

Spain

Visited

At a glance

Region
Southern Europe
Capital
Madrid
Population
49.4 million (2025)
Area
505,992 km²
Languages
Spanish
Currency
Euro (EUR)
Drives on the
right
Calling code
+34
Visited: Spain

Country visited City visited Still to go Click a pin or country to read more. Zoom with + and −, a double-click or a pinch.

Before you go

Overview

The Kingdom of Spain is a country located in Southwestern Europe. Its mainland territory is located on the Iberian Peninsula; it has 2 island territories named the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands. It also has African enclaves such as Ceuta, Melilla and Penon de Velez de la Gomera.

The country recorded a population of 46.94 million in 2019 and covers an area of 505,990 km2.

Its capital city is Madrid.

Sagrada Familia in the Catalonian Capital, Barcelona.

History

It was founded in 1978 after the formation of a new constitution.

It joined the European Economic Community in 1986.

Food & culture

The country’s culture is grounded on its historical influences; it also has influences from the Roman, Celtic and Iberian cultures.

The crops grown in the country include pears, bananas, apples, apricots, plums, cherries, peaches and vegetables.

The popular dishes are paella valenciana, gazpacho, patatas bravas, jamon, fideua, churros and tortilla.

Wildlife

The main wildlife animals here are brown bear, wild boar, Iberian wolf, wild boar, wild cat, red squirrel and roe deer.

Festivals & events

The main celebrated events include The National Day celebrated on 12th October, Drum Festival, Festival of Fire, Holy Week, Cordoba Patios Festival and April Fair of Seville.

Things to see

People like to visit the Park Guell, which is a public park with gardens and architectural elements situated on the Carmel Hill.

There is also the Alhambra, which is a fort and palace facility in Granada.

Other must visit places are Ibiza Island, Casa Mila, Casa Batllo, La Sagrada Familia and Prado Museum.

Interesting facts

Spain is the only European country that has an African border; Morocco.

The oldest restaurant in the world is Sobrino de Botin in Madrid founded in 1725.

Spain is the fourth largest country in Europe.

Spanish is the second world’s most widely spoken language.

Spain has one of the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world.

City guides

Cities & towns I’ve visited

Famous hikes in Spain

Camino de Santiago

Distance
About 780 km on the Camino Francés
Time
4 to 5 weeks
Best time
May to June, or September to October

How to do it: Walk from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France to Santiago de Compostela, staying in pilgrim hostels. Get a pilgrim passport and stamp it along the way. Walk at least the last 100 km, from Sarria, to earn your Compostela certificate.

See it on my bucket list

Caminito del Rey

Distance
7.7 km
Time
3 to 4 hours
Best time
Spring and autumn

How to do it: A walkway pinned to the walls of a gorge near Málaga. You have to book a timed ticket in advance.

Run a marathon in Spain

Valencia Marathon

Valencia · usually December

One of the fastest courses in the world, flat and cool in early December, ending on a floating blue carpet at the City of Arts and Sciences.

Dates move from year to year, so check the race website before you book.

Races I've run in Spain

  • Oct 2025 Spartan Beast · Santa Susanna, Spain 4:27:14
  • Oct 2025 Spartan Super · Santa Susanna, Spain 1:54:44
  • Oct 2025 Spartan Sprint · Santa Susanna, Spain 1:22:28

All my races

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Spain

6 of 47 visited. See every site I've been to.

My videos from Spain

  • Skydiving freefall over Seville
    Seville, Spain

  • Learning to skydive in Seville
    Seville, Spain

  • Six skydives at once
    Seville, Spain

My photos from Spain

From 8 trips, newest first, so you can see which places each set of photos came from.

October 2025 Spartan Trifecta Weekend - Santa Susanna

Santa Susanna, Malgrat de Mar

Whole trip gallery
  • Two shirtless men in race headbands and sunglasses posing by the sea.
  • Spain
  • Spain
  • Waves washing onto a sandy beach at Santa Susanna.
  • Spain
  • A long sandy beach and sparkling sea at Santa Susanna.

February 2024 Valencia

Valencia

Whole trip gallery
  • Valencia's ornate white City Hall with a clock tower under a bright blue sky, palm trees to the side.
  • Neoclassical triumphal arch Puerta del Mar in Valencia under a blue sky with white clouds.
  • Plaza de la Virgen in Valencia with the cathedral behind.
  • The arched red brick walls of the Plaza de Toros in Valencia.

July 2022 Madrid

Madrid

Whole trip gallery
  • Crates of lemons, limes, apples and other fruit stacked at a colourful market stall.

April 2022 Menorca

Menorca

Whole trip gallery
  • Turquoise water below the rocky coast of Menorca.
  • An ancient stone talaiot on Menorca.

December 2021 Lanzarote Winter Sun

Yaiza, Vohilava, Arrecife, Lanzarote, Playa Blanca

Whole trip gallery
  • A red volcanic cone rising from the black lava plains of Lanzarote
  • Deep blue sea breaking on a dark volcanic stone shore with a town in the distance.
  • Sunlight sparkling on a wide, choppy sea with a distant island under a blue sky.
  • A sandy beach with turquoise water, sunbathers and dark rocks under a clear sky.
  • A wide sandy beach with rippled sand and calm sea under a deep blue sky.
  • White buildings and small boats reflected in perfectly still blue water under a clear sky.
  • A sandy beach and calm sea in Arrecife, Lanzarote.
  • A golden beach curving along the coast at Playa Blanca.
  • Blue parasols on a beach with a plane flying overhead in Lanzarote.

June 2019 Skydiving Seville

Bollullos De La Mitación, Seville

Whole trip gallery
  • A skydiver in freefall below a plane wing with patchwork fields far below.
  • Ornate Gothic spires of Seville Cathedral beside a street lamp under a blue sky.
  • A white and yellow skydiving plane parked on an airfield under a blue sky.
  • A smiling man in a skydiving jumpsuit and harness holding a helmet in front of a small plane.
  • Spain
  • An orange tree heavy with fruit against a white wall in Andalusia.
  • A whitewashed street leading to a church tower in an Andalusian town.

May 2014 Barcelona

Barcelona

Whole trip gallery
  • The towering spires of Gaudí's Sagrada Família against a deep blue sky

April 2011 Barcelona

Barcelona

Whole trip gallery
  • The towering spires of the Sagrada Família with cranes around them.

Plan your trip to Spain

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Neighbours

Bucket List goals in Spain