Spain’s diverse natural beauty, rich history, and worldly culture make it an amazing place to travel. Experience the country’s many contrasts, from the green rocky cliffs that overlook the Cantabrian Sea to the sandy beaches of the Mediterranean, from the bustling El Rastro market in Madrid to the quiet whitewashed streets of Andalucía. Compare Roman aqueducts and Moorish palaces, Renaissance paintings and Cubist masterpieces, and bullfighting rings and Real Madrid’s stadium.

Castellano, or Castilian Spanish, is the official language of Spain, although other languages and dialects are spoken in different regions, including Catalan in Cataluña, Galician in Galicia, and Euskara in the Basque Country.

Daytime temperatures during Spain’s summer months range from 80–95ºF/27–35ºC, although it is cooler on the northern coast and in the mountains, where temperatures hover around 70ºF/21ºC in the afternoon, and can be even cooler at night.

Each region of Spain is famous for its own regional specialty, a product of each region’s climate, history, and customs. While northern Spanish cuisine is a hearty reflection of the farming industry and proximity to the Atlantic coast, with specialties like queso manchego and tortilla de patata, southern Spanish cuisine showcases Mediterranean influences with dishes like paella.