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Moorish palaces, world-class museums, art, architecture, vineyards, and sun-kissed beaches lure visitors to brilliantly diverse Spain. You could get an insight into local culture on a tapas and flamenco evening in Seville, eat your way around San Sebastián on a guided pintxos tour, or learn to cook a traditional paella.

If art and culture are more of interest, you could explore Dalí’s legacy in his home town, cycle through Barcelona to discover Gaudí's flamboyant designs, or take a guided tour of Madrid’s Prado and hear the story behind the finest art in this vast collection.

Alternatively, you could visit pilgrimage sites and historic wineries, relax in the gardens of a sophisticated medieval citadel, or simply laze on the beach.

Spain’s rich architectural heritage lends itself to a wonderfully characterful range of places to stay from restored palaces and convents to avant-garde hotels in the countryside. You could opt for a boutique hotel in downtown Madrid, a medieval palace in the heart of Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter, or sleek designer style and edgy architecture in contemporary wine hotels.

Elsewhere, you can stay in a restored Franciscan monastery inside the Alhambra, an aristocratic Basque mansion, or a chic contemporary hotel with minimalist Nordic styling. There are coastal resorts with world-class golf courses, architectural landmarks turned into five-star hotels, and a rural farmhouse with a Michelin-starred restaurant.

For more inspiration, take a look at our collection of places to stay in Spain.

Spain’s size and diversity can make it difficult to choose where to go but some of the most popular destinations include Madrid, Barcelona, Granada, and Seville. Madrid is a sophisticated city with world-class museums as well as Belle Époque palaces, in Barcelona you can see Gaudí’s Modernist masterpieces such as the Sagrada Familia and Casa Batlló, while Granada offers the Moorish architecture, tranquil gardens, and royal history of the Alhambra palace.

Seville’s Real Alcazár has a similar style and in its cobbled lanes tiny theaters host impassioned flamenco shows, while Córdoba’s Mezquita, a mosque-cathedral, is the highlight of the UNESCO-protected town. If you have the time, it’s also worth exploring some of Spain’s less-obvious attractions such as the wineries of the Rioja, San Sebastián’s thriving food scene, the medieval churches of Girona, and the tangle of lanes topped by an imposing fortress in hilltop Toledo.

In major Spanish cities, the siesta has been almost phased out, and you won鈥檛 notice any change in afternoon working patterns even in the height of summer. Most museums, galleries and churches will remain open so you can still go sight seeing, and larger shops don鈥檛 close in mid afternoon.

In smaller towns, however, you might find that stores, banks, and visitor sights close between about 1pm and 4pm but it鈥檚 a good time to catch up on a nap, especially if you鈥檝e joined the Spanish custom of eating late at night. Most evenings, particularly in summer, you鈥檒l notice that the streets get busy after work between about 5pm and 8pm, when local people come out of their homes for an evening stroll known as paseo.

It takes around eight hours to fly from Toronto in Canada to Spain, and around 13 hours from Vancouver.

The time zone in Spain is UTC+1 hour. Daylight Savings Time is observed from the last Sunday in March until the last Sunday in October.

The best way to get around in Spain is by car or train. The Spanish road network is well maintained and renting a car gives you the option to travel wherever and whenever you wish. Trains are comfortable, efficient, and reliable and can take the stress away if you鈥檇 rather not drive. Alternatively, we can arrange for a private car and driver to take you between destinations.

Use our travel tool to find up-to-date visa and passport requirements for Spain. Enter where you’re traveling to and from (including any stopover destinations en route or flight layovers), along with your intended travel dates and passport details, for a full list of requirements.

• Entry requirements travel tool

Although it’s unlikely you’ll need additional immunizations for Spain, it’s a good idea to speak to your doctor for up-to-date advice. You should also ensure you’re up to date with the routine vaccinations at home. You’ll find a list of suggested vaccinations for Spain on the鈥�鈥�.