Entertainment in Spain
Essential Guide to What's on when and where in Spain 2008
 Spanish Fiestas, Concerts, Festivals, Events,
Spain's Tourist, travel and holiday guide
The Spanish travel guide
The national and local guide for all that's on in Spain
 
Ten Best Things to do in Spain

 

 

 
The Ten Best Things to do in Spain
 
Run with the bulls in Pamplona
Channel you inner Hemingway during the Fiestas de San Fermin. In this, the most storied of Spain tourist attractions, six bulls are released into the narrow cobble-stone streets of Pamplona each morning during the week of July 6-14; in front of the bulls hundreds of locals and tourists from around the world test their daring by running in front of, next to (and sometimes under) the careening bulls. The whole event provides some of the best Spain sightseeing, and the entire week of festivities is the highlight of adventure tourism in Spain.
 
 Relax at Parc Guell
Laid out on hill with breathtaking views of Barcelona, the Parc Guell (Guell Park) was Antoni Gaudi’s most ambitious project after the Sagrada Familia church. Though commissioned as a private housing complex, only two houses were every built on the site. What remains, can only be described as the most psychedelic of Spain attractions. Twisting ceramic benches, a vast hall of pillars, giant lizards and sloping pathways all provide an amusement park feel.
 
Donana National Park
Tours to Spain are incomplete without a trip through this untracked National Park. One of the last areas of true wilderness in Europe, the Donana National Park in western Andalusia is filled with wetlands, 150 species of birds, wildlife in abundance and the endangered imperial eagle and lynx.
 
The Guggenheim in Bilbao
Described as the “the greatest building of our time”, this Frank Gehry-designed postmodernist museum attracted 1.4 million viewers in it first year alone. Once inside, art lovers are treated to a host of 20th century masterworks from Picasso to Rothko.
 

Guadalest
Perched high on a crag in a sea of mountain peaks, the little whitewashed village of Guadalest is huddled under the ruins of an ancient castle. Once it was a strategic military outpost, but it lost its importance after earthquakes devastated the region and irreparably damaged the castle. Thanks to its stunningly beautiful  location and the picturesque charm of its old-fashioned lanes and squares, Guadalest is now the most visited and beautiful villages in Spain. Quirky museums, cafés and souvenir shops have sprung up, but although tour buses disgorge an endless stream of visitors in summer, Guadalest has hung onto its medieval tranquility and charm.

Villena
The large, prosperous town of Villena is crowned by a story-book castle, complete with hefty, crenellated walls and watch-towers. At its feet lies a chaotic sprawl of tile-roofed houses, the heart of the medieval village. The central Plaza de Santiago is surrounded by beautiful 16th-century palaces and the graceful Renaissance church of Santa María, which bears a flamboyant Baroque façade. The finest palace on this square is now the town hall, home to an archaeology museum which contains the sumptuous Tesoro de Villena, a spectacular hoard of Bronze Age gold discovered by chance in the 1960s (see Museo Arqueológico, Villena).
Visit the Prado
Madrid’s premier tourist attraction, and one of many  must-see Spain tourist attractions, the Museo del Prado houses one of the oldest and most prolific collections of art in the world.
 
Las Fallas in Valencia
Tours to Spain wouldn’t be complete without a trip to Valencia during the Fiesta de Las Fallas. From March 12 to 19 the city of Valencia is a pyro’s dream come true. From the minute you step off the train, firecrackers are popping at your feet, as giant Papier Mache effigies or fallas are paraded through the streets, judged, and awarded prizes. At night free firework shows light up the sky, while the days are filled with bullfights and paella eating on every street corner.

 The Alhambra
Any trip to the south of Spain must include a stop in Granada and a tour of the Alhambra. Composed of three distinct groups of buildings on the Alhambra Hill, the complex is essentially a palace with extensive gardens surrounded by a fortress. This national monument is one the most mythical and romantic Spain attractions.
 

Ramble along Las Ramblas
Tourism in Spain is not all festivals and bullfights. Travelers looking for a low-key Spain sightseeing option can stroll along Barcelona’s main street: The Ramblas. This leafy avenue is lined with cafes and newspaper stalls and is a favorite stroll for locals and tourists alike.
 

Annual festivals in Spain
Do you want to see one of Spain’s many festivals while on holiday in Spain? Do you want to know when & where the best festivals in Spain are? Our guide to festivals in Spain gives you the facts and information you’ll want to know.
Festivals in Spain

Spain has literally dozens of festivals that are celebrated annually. Some festivals are celebrated by the whole of Spain while the majority of festivals in Spain are celebrated locally. Nearly all festivals in Spain are religious in their origins although this doesn’t stop the festivals in Spain from being fun for all who participate.

Summer festivals in Spain

Festival of San Juan: this festival is celebrated all over the South of Spain commencing on the 24th June and includes the lighting of bonfires and fireworks.

Festival of San Fermin: This festival is celebrated in the North of Spain and is best known for the running of the bulls in Pamplona. This festival in Spain lasts for one week and commences on the 14th July.

Festival of Santiago: This festival commemorates St. James who is the national patron saint of Spain. Santiago in Spain is believed to be the place where the holy relics of St. James were found and Christian pilgrims have been making the pilgrimage of Camino de Santiago for centuries. Although this festival is commemorated all over Spain, it is best experienced in Santiago in the company of thousands of Christian pilgrims from all over the world.

The Tomato Festival: This is one of Spain’s most famous festivals and involves huge tomato throwing fights in the Spanish town of Bunol near Valencia

Autumn festivals in Spain

Festival of la Merca: This festival is celebrated in Barcelona in Spain in the last week of September and is supposed to mark the end of summer. The festival involves parades and carnivals with singing, dancing and music.

Winter festivals in Spain

There are relatively few festivals in Spain throughout the winter months, with the notable exception of La Carnaval which is celebrated across Spain in February. The Festival is best known for the fancy dress costumes that participants in Spain wear.

Spring festivals in Spain

Festival of Las Fallas: This festival is celebrated in several cities and towns across Spain; however, the best place to experience this festival in Spain is the city of Valencia. The festival involves several nights of music, with drinking, dancing, feasting and fireworks lasting well into the early morning.

Festival of San Isidro: This festival is the primary annual festival of the capital city of Spain, Madrid. This festival occurs annually on the 15th of May and festivities of sorts continue for up to a month. This festival in Spain includes the usual parties with concerts and bullfighting as well.