Should I go to Spain. Holidays in Spain: dangerous safe Barcelona

Every year it becomes more and more popular among Russians. 1 million tourists from Russia visited this sunny country in 2012. How to see and see all the most interesting that such a country rich in traditions and culture has to offer? "" offers its TOP-10 list, which must be done by a Russian in Spain:

1. Come to Barcelona.

Be sure to see with your own eyes the architectural riot of Gaudi ideas and the excellent flight of Dali's imagination. When Gaudí declared war on straight lines, he gave birth to his unmistakable style. His thinking was ahead of not only his time, but ours as well. In a word, genius. Although, in and without Gaudí, there would be something to see and do ... The port city buried in palm trees breathes optimism and love of life.

2. Get in touch with the history of Spain at the Alhambra

This masterpiece of architectural ensemble in Granada, consisting of a powerful fortress, a royal palace and gardens, is one of the ten most visited attractions in Spain. For a long time, Granada was the capital of the Muslim possessions on the Iberian Peninsula, and the Alhambra was their government seat. The main part of the history of Spain is a saga about the struggle of Christians against the Moors. it is the culmination of this story, the last Moorish bastion. It is best to plan your visit to the Alhambra well in advance, and a visit to Granada in winter is best.

3. Watch the game of Real Madrid or Barcelona live

Two of the richest football clubs in the world play here in the same league. You can go to a Real Madrid match at the Santiago Bernabeo or watch Messi play at the Camp Nou. You will be very lucky if you can get your hands on a ticket for a real El Classico and see Ronaldo play against Messi and Neymar combined.

4.Pay tribute to the Spanish bullfight

You can argue as much as you like about the long-standing Spanish tradition of making a spectacle of killing animals. The authorities have already banned bullfighting, and in Mallorca, the show is on the verge of a ban, so hurry up, because in a few years the bullfight may completely disappear! Before the start of the fight, if you're lucky, you can go up to the matador and pat him on the shoulder. These guys breathe with animal fear, strength and gigantic tension. And this is not just a show, but real strong emotions that these guys somehow learned to overcome.

5. Ride the highest and fastest roller coaster in Europe

At PortAventura, the largest and most exciting amusement park, kids can feel like adults and courageous, and adults can return to childhood.
Think better two or even three times if you can survive a fall at a speed of 134 km per hour on the Shambhala slide. If you are not sure, then choose a train trip around the park - this is for you.

6. Hang out for a whole week in Ibiza

Spend the nights at the most popular discos in Europe - Pacha and Amnesia, and meet the sunset at tables in the legendary Cafe del Mar. Do not forget that the hottest season for discos is July and August.

7. Come to the warm Canary Islands in winter and climb the Teide volcano.

In winter it is a real paradise !!! You can sunbathe all day on the beaches, or you can rent a car and find yourself in a "Martian setting" on the slopes of the Teide volcano.

8. Find yourself in Spain and Africa at the same time !!!

Buy your ferry ticket from Malaga to Melilla or from Algesiras to Ceuta. There are not very many interesting things in these enclave cities, but the very fact that you were in Africa without leaving the territory of Spain is worth such a trip!

9.Ride the slopes of the Sierra Nevada on a snowboard.

Go sunny in winter. Rent a snowboard or ski in the Sierra Nevada ski resorts, and after a couple of hours drive to the warm beaches of the Costa del Sol and swim in the Mediterranean Sea.

10. Complete a kite surfing course at the most popular spot in Europe.

Tarifa is considered a cult place among kitesurfers and windsurfers in Europe. After one day spent on its beaches, surrounded by hundreds of kites, you should definitely plunge into the vibrant nightlife of the town. Most importantly, do not forget that Tarifa lives an active and cheerful life only in the hottest months of summer.

Spain is located in the southwest of Europe. The shores of this country are washed in the north and west by the waters of the Atlantic, and in the south and east by the Mediterranean Sea. In addition to the mainland, the Balearic and Canary Islands are popular holiday destinations in Spain.

Tours to Spain

Choosing tours to Spain, travelers choose large cities - Barcelona, ​​Granada, Seville, Cordoba. Beach lovers choose the resorts of the Costa Brava, Costa Dorada, Costa del Sol and the island of Tenerife.

In winter, you can go skiing and snowboarding in Spain in the resorts of Sierra Nevada and Pradollano.

Visa to Spain

To visit Spain you need. The tourist's passport must remain valid for at least another 3 months from the end of the trip to Spain. The passport must have 2 blank pages.

Round-trip flights to Spain

These are the ticket prices for 1 person departing from Berlin

September

Climate and weather in Spain

The swimming season on the Mediterranean coast of Spain lasts from June to October. You can swim in the Canary Islands all year round.

To visit the Basque Country, Galicia, Barcelona, ​​Malaga, July and August are best suited. And for walks in Madrid and Toledo, you should choose late spring or early autumn.

	In the afternoon	At night	Sea	Season
January	+13	+4	+13	Beach
February	+14	+5	+13	Beach
March	+15	+6	+15	Beach
April	+17	+8	+17	Beach
May	+20	+12	+18	Beach
June	+24	+15	+22	Beach
July	+27	+18	+24	Beach
August	+28	+19	+26	Beach
September	+25	+16	+25	Beach
October	+21	+12	+22	Beach
November	+17	+8	+20	Beach
December	+14	+5	+16	Beach

Resorts of Spain

While in Barcelona, ​​it is impossible not to look at the most famous long-term construction in the world, the brainchild of the great Gaudí, the fantastic Sagrada Familia - Sagrada Familia. Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi turned Barcelona into a garden of his imaginations. Many people call his style modernism, but all the creations of Gaudi's genius are so original, fabulous and unique that only one definition suggests itself - “Gaudi's style”.

The Sagrada Familia became the main project of the architect - he devoted 43 years of his life to creating drawings and supervising the construction of a grandiose temple. According to Gaudi's plan, the temple was supposed to have three facades: Christmas, Passion of Christ and Resurrection. Each facade should be crowned by 4 towers of enormous height - 120 meters each. These 12 towers symbolize the number of the apostles. The central tower - 170 meters high - was to be erected to the glory of Jesus. The Sagrada Familia is open to tourists and visitors every day. You can see the interior of the temple, stained-glass windows and stucco, mosaics and frescoes. Average tour time is 4 hours.

The huge fountain is located on the Montjuic hill in Barcelona. Water cascades occupy 3 thousand square meters, and the main bowl of the fountain in the form of an ellipse is 65 meters long and 59 meters wide. The fountain is a decoration of the architectural ensemble of the Plaza de España and the National Palace of Catalonia. 3620 water jets soar to a height of 54 meters. The play of light and colors is provided by 120 projectors, in the spectrum of which there are more than 50 colors. Dances Montjuïc to classical music.

Amazing Park Guell is another brainchild of Antoni Gaudi. Mosaics, mysterious paths, fabulous gingerbread houses - all this is Park Guell, a fantastic garden city in Barcelona. On the roof of the pillared hall there is a serpentine bench stretching along the perimeter. It is brightly decorated with mosaics and is very comfortable - according to the memoirs, Gaudi asked the builder to sit in soft clay to get a cast, repeating the contours of the human body.

In Seville, wander the labyrinth of the Old Town and visit Plaza de España. Tiled panels are placed among the columns, each of which depicts one of the Spanish provinces.

In Valencia, you need to gorge yourself on paella - it was invented here. It is also worth looking at the legendary Grail and the fantastic City of Arts and Sciences at the bottom of a drained river. Knightly Toledo beckons with its castles and olive groves. And in the restaurants of San Sebastian, in the Basque Country, you need to register six months in advance - here are the best restaurants with Michelin stars.

In A Coruña, admire the lighthouse that dates back to Roman times. It rises 55 meters above the ground and still works successfully.

What is Spain without mills? You can look at the "monster" that Don Quixote fought on the Peace Hill.

Costa del Sol is beaches, beaches and again beaches, as many as 240 kilometers of uninterrupted beaches with luxurious sand. In Malaga, see the world through the eyes of Pablo Picasso, who was born here.

Costa Dorada, "Gold Coast" - the most beautiful Spanish beach resort. Luxurious hotels, clear water and 200 kilometers of golden sand. Families with children like to come here, as well as to Mallorca: the entrance to the water is gentle, there are no strong waves.

Costa Brava is famous for its wild nature - rocks and pines, warm sea and fresh breeze are intertwined here in a truly Spanish symphony of relaxation.

The legendary island of Tenerife attracts tourists from all over the world with its amazing beaches of dark volcanic sand.

Good to know about Spain

Tours to Spain

The prices are for tours for 2 people for 7 nights with a departure from Moscow

It's no secret that an independent trip to European countries can be much cheaper than a ready-made tour. One has only to approach business wisely and know a few life hacks that allow you to save money. This concise travel guide will help you travel to Spain on a budget and relax in comfort.

Flight

To save on your flight to Spain, consider connecting in one of the European capitals as an alternative to a direct flight. If you choose a flight with a longer connection time (and cheaper in cost), then you will have the opportunity to also explore one of the cities of Europe - Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris or Munich. Yes, such flights take more time. But after all, not every day you get the opportunity to walk for several hours along the streets of Paris.

If you are flying not to mainland Spain, but to the islands, then it will be cheaper to get to Mallorca with a transfer in Barcelona, ​​and to the Canary Islands - with a transfer in Madrid. This way you can save up to 4–5 thousand rubles, depending on the season.

Country trips

Railway transport

Aleix Cortés / Flickr.com

Despite the general high cost of rail transport in Europe, train travel in Spain is one of the cheapest. You can book tickets for the desired directions on the official website of the Spanish railways Renfe.

If you plan to travel a lot around the country, the Interrail One Country Pass, which must be ordered in advance, will help. When used, they give the right to travel unlimitedly in Spain by train during the selected period of time. You can find out about the types of travel tickets on the Interrail website.

Automobile

We must not forget about car rental. This service is in demand among tourists, so you can find rental points in Spain in any large (and not so) city in the country. As a rule, the cost of renting from local distributors is lower, but you should carefully read the terms of the agreement for hidden fees.

Gasoline prices in Spain are among the lowest in Europe and range from 1.2-1.3 euros per liter. You can always track the current gasoline prices by country on the GlobalPetrolPrices website.

It is also worth remembering that some of the highways in Spain are toll roads. Additional costs can be avoided by choosing a duplicate road. The speed of movement on such roads is slightly lower, but you can enjoy the beauties of Spanish nature and easily call in any settlements along the way.

Accommodation

Albert Torelló / Flickr.com

Prices for hotel accommodation in Spain are lower than in Western Europe. Still, you shouldn't neglect such a simple rule as early booking. The sooner you think about the choice, the more chances you will find truly budget options.

The most economical type of accommodation in Spain are considered to be Hostal hotels. They are like hostels where you pay not for a room, but for a place. If you want to have your own space, then it is better to rent studio apartments, which are especially common in towns by the sea. The disadvantage of such placement is that the issue of nutrition will have to be taken care of.

Another way to save money on accommodation is to come to Spain during the low season, when demand and housing prices are falling.

Low season

Madrid in December / Carmelo Peciña / Flickr.com

Most tourists regard Spain as a country with endless opportunities for a beach holiday. And you can't argue with that. But if you are going to Spain for sightseeing purposes, then a trip during the high season can seriously disappoint you.

In July and August, in some regions of Spain, the air temperature reaches + 40 ° C, and most tourist places close at noon for a siesta. Also, the crowds of tourists can confuse you. As a result, you will not get the desired pleasure from the beauty of Spain.

In the low season, the situation is completely different. From November to March, Spain has rather warm, clear and sunny weather without precipitation. Walking and visiting excursions in such weather can be infinitely long. The only exception is the very north of Spain, where it is damp, humid and fresh even in summer.

There are much fewer tourists during this period, which means there will be no crowds and queues to the main attractions. Low season is the ideal time to visit regions such as Castile (Madrid - Toledo - Salamanca - Segovia route) or Andalusia (Malaga - Granada - Cordoba - Sevilla - Cadiz route) for sightseeing.

Food

Tapas / Javi Vte Rejas / Flickr.com

In Spain, the tapas bar system is widespread. The principle of their work is as follows: when ordering a drink, you also get a plate of small tapas for free. Tapas are something like small sandwiches or canapes with various toppings that are considered a traditional Spanish snack. Therefore, in order to have a pleasant evening, you do not have to overpay.

The traditional way is to buy groceries from supermarkets or markets. Indoor food markets in Spain offer a wide variety of fresh produce such as freshly caught fish or seafood. No wonder the locals prefer to shop there.

sights

Almudena Cathedral in Madrid

When visiting attractions, entertainment complexes, amusement parks, it is worth buying tickets online in advance on official websites. The most obvious advantage is the ability to avoid queues at the checkout. In addition, some tourist sites offer a € 2–3 discount for online bookings. So the Spaniards are fighting to reduce the number of queues to the most popular and visited sites.

Every major city in Spain sells comprehensive tourist cards such as the Madrid City Card or Barcelona City Pass, which offer discounts on attractions, museums, cultural events and public transport. The disadvantage of such maps is that they are limited in time - it is unlikely that you can visit dozens of museums and monuments in one or two days. Nevertheless, the tourist card is in demand and allows you to save money when visiting iconic places of a particular city.

Excursions

If you are in the city for the first time and want to take a sightseeing tour, you can do it for free thanks to free walking tours. They are organized in every capital of Europe, you just need to know the place and time of meeting with the guide.

The disadvantage of such excursions is that they are most often conducted in English or. If a foreign language is not an obstacle for you, then such a walk with a professional guide will be able to reveal the city from a new side.

Entertainment

Behind the scenes, the two main attractions in Spain are bullfighting and flamenco. Cheap bullfight tickets can be bought for daytime performances.

You can only see the authentic flamenco dance in local bars and cafes, where the Spaniards themselves come to visit. It is enough to buy a drink, and you can enjoy the performance of the artists all evening. Show programs organized for tourists are usually expensive and far from real art.

Beaches

Albert Torelló / Flickr.com

One of the main advantages of a holiday in Spain is the free beaches. Unlike other European countries that are famous for their beach holidays, in Spain there is no such thing as a private beach area belonging to a particular hotel. At the same time, the local authorities closely monitor the cleanliness, so the beach in Spain is a clean and equipped place to relax.

Most of the beaches are covered with sand. There are extensive open spaces, there are small secluded bays. Stones and pebbles are extremely rare. The beach season lasts from May to October.

It is possible to have a budget vacation in Spain if you remember a few simple tips and adhere to them while traveling. But the main thing is competent trip planning, which will save you from headaches on the spot and will allow you to save a lot.

Going to Spain for the first time, it is useful to know the generally accepted rules and norms of behavior in order not to make stupid mistakes and look worthy in this European country. We will try to present all the necessary information for the discoverers of this magical land.

Language

For starters, you should be aware that Spanish is not spoken throughout Spain. For example, in Catalonia and the Basque Country, Catalan and Basque are spoken, respectively.

Money

When crossing the border, you cannot carry more than 6,000 euros, and in many Spanish shops and restaurants, banknotes with a face value of more than 100 euros are not accepted. Those. you will have to put money on a bank card or acquire a sufficient number of small bills.

By the way, coins will come in handy for paying for lockers, automatic public toilets, when buying water, snacks from vending machines or visiting cafes or restaurants with. Given that the Spaniards can also refuse cashless payments if the purchase amount is less than 3 euros, the availability of coins becomes even more necessary. Also do not forget to carry your documents with you- they may also be asked to present them for cashless payments.

Transport

If you want to see other cities, you have to choose between bus and rail- the main types of public transport in Spain. Buses are cheaper transport. Also, unlike railway stations, they have lockers.

For long distances (for example, Madrid-Seville), it is advantageous to use an airplane during sales seasons, since the cost of a flight can be 20-30 euros.

For getting around the city, you can. Depending on the company and the car, this service can cost from 30 to 80 euros per day. But the requirements for such a service are quite strict.

So, you must have an international license issued no earlier than a year ago at the time of the lease and be at least 23 years old. You may also be asked to leave your passport or credit card as a deposit, as well as pay for the entire service in advance.

Tips

In hotels, you can leave a tip of 1 euro per day to the maid, but this is at your discretion. Mandatory tip should be given to the porter(1 euro for each seat). You can tip the guides and drivers of tourist buses of your choice, and in restaurants and cafes they usually leave 5-10% of the check amount.

What not to do

If you enjoy visiting traditional tourist spots, be sure to dress so that your knees and elbows are covered, otherwise you may not be allowed into the cathedral.

Many beaches are prohibited from having sex, and for breaking this rule, you can be charged a sizable fine.

Today on the agenda is the issue of safety for those who are going to Spain.

Spain has long become very popular with families with children: it is good to go here in the spring so as not to suffer from seasonal allergies, they swim here most of the year, and are inexpensive here compared to the rest of Europe. And there are also a bunch of water parks in almost any bay of the Mediterranean Sea, fresh seafood, smiling Spaniards. And not far from Andorra: you can arrange New Year's holidays in the warmth, without radically changing the climate to Asian, and at the same time stop by to go skiing in the Pyrenees.

Spain is a comfortable country for families with children at any time of the year. And yet there is one "but" that I would like to mention.

And this "BUT" is named after Barcelona.

Barcelona is beautiful and interesting. But this is one of the most popular cities for tourists. And also from Arabs and blacks seeking to cash in on tourists. Madrid is also “good”, but it is in no way comparable to Barcelona.

The topic of keeping your own property with you concerns any traveler, but families with children are doubly so. After all, it is one thing to rush between the hotel and the police alone, and it is completely another to lose your passport, car or money, having in the kit a pair of toddlers standing on your head.

Plus the presence of children makes us much more absent-minded. Where the perpetrator would normally need a companion to distract the victim from his luggage, even an assistant is not needed if there are children. You always look at the child anyway, not the suitcase.

To seed a couple of stories from personal experience

I first met Barcelona about 8 years ago, during my student years. I went down one flight of stairs to the park. And then she lost her bag and camera. As it turned out, the locals were shouting to me that I didn't need to go (I was wearing headphones), but no one followed me to stop.

A couple of days later I walk down the street. In front of me is a confused American woman. Just arrived. She put the suitcase by the pay phone and the bag on it, tossed a coin, turned around - but there were no bags. That is, there was nothing left with her. Not a penny.

My second visit to Barcelona. By car. We left to eat pizza in the evening. We returned to the car - the tire was cut. Automatically threw the bag into the car, under the front seat. On the floor. While they were thinking what to do, someone opened the car door, grabbed a bag from there, slammed the door and disappeared. Two meters from me. None of us, three adults, even noticed this man. My aunt, who was standing on the other side of the street, drew my attention to the absence of the bag. She I saw everything, but did not run up and shout- there was a big black man.

Friends once went to a bar for a drink. The bag is on the back of the chair. There is no bag in five minutes.

Why not go to Barcelona? Why, go. But skillfully use someone else's rake and circle the word "Barcelona" with a red felt-tip pen on the personal map.

What to do and what not to do in Barcelona?

So that you are not robbed, and if they did, it would not affect your budget and mood in any way, you should be careful.

Passports, computers, documents, wires for equipment, spare keys to the house and car, spare memory cards and batteries - all should be left at the hotel. First thing.

Arriving at auto with foreign numbers, it is better to leave it at the hotel and use public transport. There are no problems with parking, no problems with punctured tires (it's a shame, even if in the end nothing will resist).

Bag better to keep on yourself. Backpack or shoulder bag. Not even on the floor in a cafe, literally. One glance to the side at the running child - and the bag is gone.

To secluded places like parks go with a soap dish, company, no bag.

Choose lodging in a quiet area. I was still thinking about this when booking a hotel. But from hunger, she forgot about everything in search of a pizzeria.

But what if you were robbed in Barcelona?

Passport

Go to the consulate and issue a return certificate. Go home with her, no big deal. The main thing is not to be stolen on the eve of departure on Sunday 🙂

Car documents, rights

This is bad, all this cannot be restored in Europe. Apparently, it makes sense to store it in the car at all. The bag will be stolen sooner than the car. And if the car is stolen, the license and registration certificate will not help much, alas.

Cards

Run to block. The nearest internet cafe, for example. I'm sure they'll even give you a free Skype call (they gave me), if you explain the situation. I flew by taxi to the hotel in 15 minutes. I called one bank - the card was already blocked on suspicion of fraud, that is, they had already tried to withdraw money from it. I called another bank - the same story. So it is urgent to block everything and do not set the pin code "1234".

All the money at all

Go to your hotel by taxi, upon arrival ask the reception to pay for a taxi on credit, call your homeland from Skype and ask to send money by the Western Union.

In general, in the end there are no hopeless situations, of course... Most importantly, remember: Barcelona is beautiful and interesting... And, most importantly, safe when acting reasonably(increased reasonably). There is no need to be afraid for your own life. Here you can simply be left without money and documents, without even noticing in which direction and with whose help they disappeared.