Spain is located on the Mediterranean Sea at its western end and shares the Iberian Peninsula with Portugal. It is a rich country with varied regions and people who are proud and welcoming. Several factors make Spain an exotic country including its relaxed lifestyle (complete with siestas), warmer weather than most other European countries, its interesting cuisine, excitingly entertaining nightlife and many world-renowned activities and traditions. Spain once had territories all over the globe, spread out in South America, Africa, and Asia. It shed fascism in the 20th century and is currently a modern country ready for this century and beyond. The official language is still Spanish but while traveling in the regions, you will come across many dialects and pronunciations.

You can see the snow on the mountains, lush, green grass on the meadows that are perfect for your siesta, marshes at the coastal reaches, and even have a desert experience in the southeastern part of the country. With its large geography and diversity of cultures, Spain can easily surprise you.

Barcelona

There are plenty of sites and attractions for you to enjoy in this Spanish city. Barcelona Aquarium is a popular attraction which is a must-visit for kids and adults alike. Poble Espanyol de Montjuic is a small Spanish village which replicates the style of houses from different parts of Spain. You can also find some of traditional Spanish goods here. Las Ramblas is the most famous street in Barcelona which has some of the main attractions and famous hotels. The major places of attraction include the Miro Museum, Picasso Museum, Barcelona Zoo, and the Magic Fountain of Montjuic. Barcelona offers plenty of golf and tennis courses. The outdoor activities includes hiking, mountain biking, ice skating, mountaineering, and sailing. The first Olympic Games without a boycott in three decades were hosted by this Spanish city of Barcelona.

An excellent option to get around the city is the railway system. There are trains running throughout the country and you can make the best use it. You have busses and taxis too, which are affordable and will take you to almost all the major sites.

Madrid

Madrid is located northeast of the center of the Iberian Peninsula. It is home to many appealing historic buildings, museums, and interesting places of sightseeing. The Royal Palace of Madrid and the Teatro Real (the Royal theatre) in Madrid are some of the grandest operatic venues in the world. The Buen Retiro Park is one of Madrid's premier attractions. It is a magnificent park filled with beautiful sculptures and monuments, a peaceful lake, and a host to a variety of events.

Madrid houses some excellent art museums like the Prado Museum, which features one of the finest art collections in the world, the Museo National Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, a museum of modern art, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, located in the renovated Villahermosa Palace, which is an archaeological museum of international repute.

Madrid provides rental cars and buses which makes it easy to move in and around the city. You even have the Metro network with trains running every three to five minutes.