Budget airlines and affordable fares have turned Spain into a beach resort haven for northern Europeans wishing to escape their own damp climates. With sun-bleached beaches and a favourable rate of exchange for most travellers, it's easy to see why. Some may feel that the Canary and Balearic Islands have been overrun by tourists, and this is true to some extent - Tenerife, Lanzarote and Majorca have become synonymous with cheap package holidays and warm beer, and Ibiza's reputation has, for some, been tarnished by the revellers frequenting its famous dance clubs and beach parties; however even here you will find many magical, unspoilt corners awaiting discovery.

Spain is comprised of numerous autonomous regions, offering such variation within one country. The hundreds of miles of Mediterranean coastline provide ample opportunity to get off the beaten track, and the country's vibrant cities and colourful festivals will amaze and delight even the most seasoned traveller. There is the Spain of Gaudi, Dali, and Picasso, of Goya and Velazquez - proudly displayed in Madrid's museums and galleries. Spain's Pamplona is a unique experience of thundering streets that vibrate to the rythm of man and beast during the annual running of the bulls, and while the whole country celebrates each February with the Carnaval, no place does it better than Sitges.

Barcelona is Spain's showcase of the unique architectural style of Gaudi's bizarre organic turrets and balconies. For a more provincial experience, the Valencian town of Buñol goes wild every year with the La Tomatina festival, a time when the region's surplus tomatoes - following the annual harvest - are dumped on the streets and pelted about in a friendly riot. Spain is also a country rich in heritage and the historic cities of Toledo, Salamanca, Seville and Granada promise a wealth of early Christian and Moorish buildings and monuments, as well as the remains of some incredible medieval sites. Spain has six cities that have been declared Unesco World Heritage sites, more than any other country in the world.

MADRID:
Madrid may be lacking in architectural beauty compared with other major Spanish cities, but it makes up for this with its boundless energy, blue skies, art, culture and some of the most exhilarating and exhausting nightlife in Europe. The city is compact and easy to navigate on foot - most of the sights of interest are found in the downtown area between the Royal Palace and Parque del Retiro.

The capital of Spain since 1562, Madrid sits in the geographic centre of the Iberian Peninsula and has long been an important stop on any art tour through Europe. The famous Museo del Prado on the city's 'Museum Mile' houses important works by Spanish and European masters from the Renaissance onwards, while the Museo Thyssen-Bornemiza houses one of the most extensive private collections in the world. The Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia is devoted to 20th century Spanish art, with works by Miro, Dali and Picasso.

BARCELONA:
The enchanting city of Barcelona is a visual delight, and has an atmosphere that combines elegance and sophistication with provincial charm. In exploring its streets you'll discover medieval romance in its Gothic quarter and the awe-inspiring delights of the fantastic and sometimes outrageous Art Nouveau architecture of Gaudi and his contemporaries.

The funicular up to Tibidabo, or the cable car up Montjuic both offer breathtaking views over this city. Its skyline is perhaps most famous for Antoni Gaudi's masterwork, the still incomplete church of the Sagrada Familia, as well as the city's huge Gothic cathedral. The artistic legacy of Barcelona is one of the city's most appealing offerings, with museums containing extensive collections of the works of Miro and Picasso.

IBIZA:
Ibiza is the third largest of the Balearic Islands, covering just 225 square miles (585 square km), but in recent times it has become the best known of the archipelago and a hugely popular destination for young revellers, middle-class European package tourists, and gay travellers, whose collective character imbue the island with a chic and trendy atmosphere that is at its most colourful in the frenetic nightlife. Ibiza has plenty to offer besides night clubs – its jagged coastline contains dozens of dreamy white sandy beaches, hidden coves and bays, villages of white-washed houses tumbling down cliffsides, and a green, hilly interior landscape decorated with fig and olive trees.

The island's main town is the port of Ciudad de Ibiza – known as Eivissa to the locals and Ibiza Town to the Brits. Located in the south, it is the centre of the island’s nightclub scene and has a lively marina and quaint old quarter with some great restaurants. It lies close to the beautiful beaches of Figueretes, Es Cavallet and Ses Salines. San Antonio is the main resort town of the island and is blighted with high-rise hotels and apartment blocks though it is making efforts to clean up its tarnished image. The main attraction for many British holidaymakers are the two clubs of Es Paradis and Eden but there are also some beautiful coves nearby with glorious beaches. Its best to get there early, before the revellers have awoken, to reserve a spot.

MALLORCA:
The island of Mallorca (Majorca) off the east coast of Spain is the largest in the Balaeric Island group, which collectively form one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world, and certainly in the Mediterranean. Mallorca took off as a tourist Mecca in the 1960s, when a development boom spawned the building of hundreds of high-rise hotels, apartment blocks and shopping centres which now line most of the island’s coast. The capital, Palma, however still retains some of its historical flavour sporting grand mansions and a magnificent Gothic cathedral in its bustling centre. The northwest coast, too, still offers some secluded coves below the peaks of the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range, and several quaint old towns and villages.

If you visit Mallorca for the sun and fun, it is worth taking a break from the beach resorts and heading off for a tour of the island by car, or even bicycle, to discover the romantic fishing villages, historic monasteries, monuments, museums and spectacular landscapes tucked away from the madding crowds. The interior is largely the preserve of a thriving agricultural community, dotted with windmills, olive and almond trees.

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Time:
Local time is GMT +1 (GMT +2 between the last Sunday in March and the Saturday before the last Sunday in October); The Canary Islands: GMT (GMT +1 in summer).


Electricity:
Electrical current is 220 or 225 volts, 50Hz. European-style two-pin plugs are standard.

Language:
Spanish is the official language, but English is widely understood in areas frequented by tourists. Catalan, Galician and Basque are spoken in the relevant areas.

Health:
There are no health risks associated with travel to Spain, and no vaccination certificates are required for entry. Spain has a reciprocal health agreement with most EU countries, including the UK, providing free emergency health care at State run hospitals. UK travellers should take a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Note that private clinics are not covered, and the scheme gives no entitlement to medical repatriation costs, nor does it cover ongoing illnesses of a non-urgent nature, so comprehensive travel insurance is advised.


Tipping:
Hotel and restaurant bills usually include service charges, but additional tips are welcomed for services rendered. In restaurants tips of about 15% are expected. In Mallorca value-added-tax is usually included in restaurant bills, designated 'I.V.A', and may be mistaken for service charge. Drivers of metered taxis expect tips of 10 to 15%. It is customary to tip small amounts, usually 5-10% for most services, including guides.

Safety:
Visitors should be aware of the activities of the Basque terrorist group, ETA, who have renewed their threat to extend their terrorist campaign to Spanish tourist areas. Numerous small bomb explosions have occurred in a number of hotels and cities across Spain, but due to prior warnings severe damage and serious injury have been avoided. Although specific warnings have usually been given ahead of each attack, there is a chance that visitors could be caught up in future incidents. There is also a potential risk of international terrorism, as in other countries, although the risk to tourists is considered to be low. On 11 March 2004, trains at three different Madrid railway stations exploded during rush hour, killing almost 200 and injuring over 1,400 people. A group purporting to represent Al Qaida claimed responsibility for the explosions. However most visits to Spain are trouble-free, except for street crime, which is common in the big cities, and travellers are advised to take precautions to avoid theft of passports, credit cards, travel documents and money. Be wary of strangers offering or asking for help of any kind as it is often a distraction for accomplices. There are scams involving letters sent, either stating that the visitor has outstanding traffic fines from their stay, which must be paid into the given bank account before a certain date, or notifying the visitor that they have won the Spanish lottery and are required to deposit an amount of money into a bank account to secure their winnings.


Communications:
The international access code for Spain is +34. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). Pay phones are either blue or green and accept either coins or phone cards, which are sold at post offices, tobacco shops, and newsagents. Three mobile phone operators provide thorough GSM 900/1800 coverage throughout the country and the Balaeric and Canary Islands. Email and internet access is available at internet cafes in most towns and resorts.

Airports: Madrid Barajas Airport (MAD)
Location: Madrid airport is located eight miles (13km) from the city centre. Time: GMT +1 (GMT +2 between the last Sunday in March and the Saturday before the last Sunday in October). Contacts: Tel: +34 (0)90 2353570. Transfer between terminals: Moving walkways connect the airport's three terminals and there's a transfer bus for passengers changing flights and terminals. Transfer to the city: The airport is served by regular buses, the metro system and taxis. The airport bus connects to the Plaza de Colon, departing from the Arrivals level of each terminal every 15 minutes day and night. The Madrid Metro station is in Terminal 2. Trains run daily between 6am and 1.15am, linking to the city and stations connected to the main rail network. There are official taxi stands outside each terminal, and visitors are advised to use these rather than unofficial taxis. Journey time to the city centre is around half an hour.

Facilities: Passenger services at the airport include banks, currency exchange, ATMs and a range of shops, restaurants and bars. The main bank in Terminal 1 is Caja Madrid on the upper level, open from 7:00 am until 10:30 pm. Various ATMs are located throughout all terminals and there is an American Express currency exchange in Terminal 2. There are a number of public and private lounges in all terminals, which offer fax and photocopying services. Disabled facilities are good; those with special needs should contact their airline or travel agent in advance. Parking: Madrid Barajas Airport has two major parking facilities, which provide both long and short-term parking, as well as an "express" short-stay area for periods of up to 30 minutes. Long term parking may be booked in advance on the airport website. Website: www.madrid-mad.com

El Prat Barcelona Airport (BCN)
Location: The airport is located seven miles (12km) southwest of central Barcelona. Time: GMT +1 (GMT +2 between the last Sunday in March and the Saturday before the last Sunday in October). Contacts: Tel: +34 (0) 932 983838. Transfer between terminals: A pedestrian avenue with moving walkways links the three terminals. Transfer to the city: The Aerobus service goes to and from Placa de Catalunya every 15 minutes, dropping off at locations along the way, and costs €3.45. It is a good option for those with little luggage. Trains run from the airport to various stations in the city centre every 30 minutes, costing around €2.20; the airport station is located near Terminal A and is connected to the terminal by a moving walkway. There are taxi ranks outside the airport terminals; taxis are metered and cost between €15 and €25 to the city centre. The journey time by road or rail is between 20 and 30 minutes.

Facilities: There are ATMs, currency exchange facilities, shops (including duty free), bars and restaurants throughout the airport. There are few business facilities. Disabled facilities are good; those with special needs should contact their airline in advance. Parking: The parking lots and multi-storeys work on a "pay on foot" system. Parking tickets are issued on entry and must be paid before returning to your car in automatic machines freely available outside the terminals. Parking fees range from 1.30 Euros for an hour to 9.45 Euros maximum per day. Website: www.barcelona-airport.com

Ibiza Airport (IBZ)
Location: The airport is situated about five miles (8km) south of Ibiza Town. Time: GMT +1 (GMT +2 from the last Sunday in March to the Saturday before the last Sunday in October). Contacts: Tel: +34 (0)9 7180 9000. Transfer to the city: A bus runs every half an hour from the airport to Ibiza Town (and return), between 7am and midnight, at a fare of € 1,20. It is more convenient to take taxis, which are available for transport to Ibiza and other towns on the island. There are ferry crossings from nearby Puerto Formentera to the island of Formentara throughout the day, taking about 45 minutes.

Facilities: Facilities at Ibiza Airport include duty-free shops, restaurants, bars, fast food outlets, a bank, bureau de change and ATMs. Disabled facilities are good; those with special needs should contact their airline in advance. Parking: The parking lot accommodates 500 cars. The first half hour is free, but subsequent hours or part thereof are charged at 0.65 €, up to maximum of 6.70 € per day. Website: www.aena.es

Gran Canaria Las Palmas Airport (LPA)
Location: The airport is situated on the east coast of the island, 10 miles (16 km) south of Las Palmas. Time: GMT (GMT +1 from last Sunday in March to the Saturday before the last Sunday in October). Contacts: Tel: + 34 (0)928 57 90 00 or 928 57 91 30. Transfer to the city: Most tour operators arrange transport for their clients. For those that don't, there is a taxi rank at the airport and frequent bus services between to Las Palmas and other towns on the island. Car rental: Alamo, Avis, Dollar, Europcar, Hertz and National are all represented in or near the airport.

Facilities: The airport has a bureaux de change, several ATMs and a wide variety of shops, bars and restaurants. Disabled facilities are good; those with special needs are advised to contact their airline in advance. Website: www.aena.es

Sur Reina Sofia Airport, Tenerife (TFS)
Location: The airport is sited in the south of Tenerife, within easy distance of the west coast resorts. Time: GMT (GMT +1 between the last Sunday in March and the Saturday before the last Sunday in October). Contacts: Tel: +34 (0)922 75 92 00. Transfer to the city: Most tour operators arrange transport from the airport. For those that don't, there are regular buses to Santa Cruz, Los Cristianos and other towns and resorts on the island. Taxis are also available. Car rental: Car rental companies Alamo, Avis, Dollar, Europcar, Hertz and National are all represented at the airport, along with a number of local operators.

Facilities: The airport is equipped with restaurants, bars, shops, ATMs and currency exchange facilities. Disabled facilities are adequate; those with special needs are advised to contact their airline or travel agent in advance.

Palma de Mallorca (Majorca) Airport (PMI)
Location: Mallorca’s airport is situated five miles (8km) east of Palma. Time: GMT +1 (GMT +2 from the last Sunday in March to the Saturday before the last Sunday in October). Contacts: Tel: +34 (0)971 78 90 00 or 971 78 90 99. Transfer to the city: Most tour operators organise transport to hotels. For those that don't, there are several buses which connect the airport to Palma and other major towns and resorts on the island. Buses leave from outside Arrivals. There are also several taxi companies operating from the airport.

Facilities: The airport has numerous restaurants, bars and shops, including duty-free. Currency exchange facilities and ATMs are also available. Disabled facilities are good; those with special needs should contact their airline in advance.

Alicante Airport (ALC)
Location: The airport is located seven miles (11km) south of Alicante. Time: GMT +1 (GMT +2 between the last Sunday in March and the Saturday before the last Sunday in October). Contacts: Tel: +34 (0)96 691 90 00 or 90 10. Transfer to the city: Regular buses leave every 30 minutes for the main bus station in Alicante, and taxis are available outside Arrivals. Note that most package tour operators arrange transport.

Facilities: The airport has bars, restaurants and fast food outlets, and several shops, including duty-free. ATMs and currency exchange facilities are also available. There is a VIP lounge which offers fax, photocopying and internet capabilities for first- and business-class passengers. Disabled facilities are good; those with special needs are advised to inform their airline or travel agent in advance.

Currency:
Money: Spain's official currency is the Euro (€). One Euro is divided into 100 cents. Money can be exchanged at bureaux de change and major hotels, but banks give the best rates. All major credit cards and travellers cheques are widely accepted at most hotels, restaurants, and shops. ATMs are widespread and are generally the cheapest and most convenient method of obtaining money.

Visa & Passport Requirements:
Entry requirements for Americans: United States citizens require a passport valid for period of intended stay and a return ticket or proof of onward travel. No visa is required for a stay of up to three months.

Entry requirements for UK nationals: British citizens must hold a passport (can be expired for up to one year), but no visa is required for a maximum stay of 90 days for those holding a passport endorsed British Citizen, European Community, British Dependent Territories Citizen or British Subject. Other UK passport holders require a visa and a passport valid at least three months beyond visa expiry date.

Entry requirements for Canadians: Canadians require a passport valid for period of intended stay and a return ticket or proof of onward travel. No visa is required for a stay of up to three months.

Entry requirements for Australians: Australian citizens require a passport valid for at least period of intended stay. No visa is required for stays of up to 90 days.

Entry requirements for South Africans: South Africans should apply in advance for a Schengen visa to enter Spain. Passports should be valid for at least three months beyond expiry date of visa.

Entry requirements for New Zealanders: New Zealand nationals require a passport valid for the period of intended stay, but no visa is necessary for a stay of up to three months.

Entry requirements for Irish nationals: Irish nationals require a valid passport, but a visa is not necessary for a stay of up to three months.

Passport/Visa Note: The borderless region known as the Schengen area includes the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden. All these countries issue a standard Schengen visa that allows the holder to travel freely within the borders of all. Non-EU nationals must hold a return or onward ticket. All visitors may be asked for proof of financial means for their stay in Spain.

Note: Passport and visa requirements are liable to change at short notice. Travellers are advised to check their entry requirements with their embassy or consulate.

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