Travel blogs, travel photos and features from Spain
Spain Travel Guide
The ultimate guide to the coolest things to do and see when traveling in Spain – only from Travels of Adam.
Europe is one of the most dynamic and interesting places to visit in the world—from the picturesque villages of southern Spain to the arctic villages in Scandinavia. Europe’s charms lie not just in the big metropolis cities but also in the small-town villages, the nature trails, the ski resorts and the Mediterranean beaches. There’s truly something for every type of traveler and in every season, too. Whether it’s Europe’s best gay cities or travel tips for Europe’s secret hotspots, get the juiciest and coolest tips here. Start here with my basic travel tips, or jump down below to read my latest Spain travel blogs.
Here’s the thing about Spain—it’s a year-round destination. Huge tourist crowds flood the country in the summertime when European backpackers flock to Madrid, Barcelona and Andalusia. But the sweltering heat in southern Spain makes summertime travel in Spain challenging (unless you book a hotel with a pool!), so winter in southern Spain is recommended. There are also even ski resorts up in northern Spain, just a few hours drive from Barcelona in the Pyrenees Mountains—so if ski travel is your thing, head that way. Big events in Spain include the gay pride festivals in Madrid, Sitges and Barcelona (Madrid’s is one of the biggest in Europe), La Tomatina Festival outside of Valencia and a series of amazing music festivals in Barcelona such as Sónar Festival, Primavera Sound and Cruilla Summer Festival.
Two Weeks in Spain
You could easily plan a handful of individual city trips to Spain, but why not book a longer holiday to take in more of the sights, enjoy more of the sunshine and take in that Spanish culture to the fullest extent. Here are a handful of my suggested two week itineraries for Spain.
Learn Spanish! Spain is a great place to learn the language. I’ve taken a few different Spanish language courses in Spain, but my favorite was the month I spent learning Spanish in Andalusia. The Andalusian accent is a bit different than other Spanish regional dialects, but Seville is a great place to base yourself for studying. I recommend the Clic Spanish Courses in Seville.
City highlights: Madrid and Barcelona are both incredible, world-class cities. There’s some strong rivalries between the two Spanish cities, but that doesn’t mean you should choose one over the other. To take in some of Spain’s city highlights, plan a trip that includes Madrid with day trips to Segovia and Toledo, and then to Valencia in the east and up to Barcelona in the north.
Islands: Spain’s islands are some of the most tropical places in Europe, making them hugely popular with European tourists.
Southern Spain: Andalusia is one of my favorite parts of Spain. The pace of life, the sunshine and food makes it one of the top spots to visit in Spain. Rent a car and hit up the big cities including Malaga, Granada, Seville — but don’t forget the small villages and other spots like Gibraltar (not technically part of Spain), Tarifa and Cadiz.
Spain Tours & Trips
With its rich history, diverse landscape and the many architectural marvels of its cities, taking a tour in Spain is highly recommended. Being guided by someone who really knows their stuff will give you a new perspective on the country and give you the most immersive experience in the shortest amount of time. Take a look at these recommended Spain tours.
LGBT – Gay Spain Guide
Spain is one of the easier countries to visit as a tourist, thanks to the friendliness of its people. But a lot of people don’t realize just how easy (and enjoyable!) it is to visit Spain. I think that’s what makes it such a popular choice. But be careful: once you visit Spain the first time, you’ll want to return. There’s so much to this country than Madrid or Barcelona, so much more than paella and tapas, so much more than hunky men and flawless flamenco dancers. Spain is as diverse as anywhere else (probably more so), but it’s also quite surprising as a travel destination. That’s what keeps tourists coming back for more, whether it’s on annual holidays to the beach, on cruises, or city breaks to Spain’s sexiest cities. For LGBT travel in Spain, look out for some of Europe’s biggest gay events, parties and festivals in LGBT hotspots such as Madrid, Barcelona, Sitges and Maspalomas on Gran Canaria.
Spain Hotel Deals
During peak tourist season in Spain, it might be a challenge to find quality, affordable accommodation — but there’s usually decent deals to be found on search engines Booking.com or Agoda.com. The trick is to finding a room that’s not directly in the city center, but in one of the less central neighborhoods (often where you’ll find cool hipster places to stay, anyways!).
Madrid—like any major international city—is quite stylish. People dress well and with such majestic architecture throughout, it’s hard to imagine not dressing up for a walk down the street. Especially a street as majestic as Gran Vía.
Europe is one of the most dynamic and interesting places to visit in the world—from the picturesque villages of southern 
