Spain

Set on the northwest coast of Spain, A Coruña greets visitors with the monumental Tower of Hercules overlooking the sea. The world’s only functioning Roman lighthouse, this UNESCO World Heritage site offers breathtaking views of the picturesque coastline. The city boasts over a mile of beaches ideal for sunbathing and watersports, and in the Old Town, narrow lanes and charming squares are built around the lively Plaza de María Pita. Stop into a café here to sample Galicia’s famous seafood dishes, most notably the octopus.

Nestled along the famously scenic shores of Spain’s Costa del Sol, the fashionable town of Marbella is a seaside resort with the stunning Sierra Blanca mountain range for a backdrop.

Surrounded by endless beaches on the Costa de la Luz, Cádiz is an elegant seaport and also one of the oldest inhabited cities in Europe, having been founded by the Phoenicians circa 1100 BC. Playa de la Caleta and Playa de la Victoria are among the best beaches in Spain, and the city’s wealth of history and culture is equally appealing. The gates of Las Puertas de Tierra guard the ancient center of Cádiz, an enchanting array of distinct barrios like La Viña, the historic fisherman’s neighborhood, and Santa María, where the origins of the flamenco song developed.

Blessed with sunshine, sand and an astonishing selection of historical sites, Tarragona is a rare combination of natural beauty and rich culture. Vestiges of classical Roman structures dot the length and breadth of the city, a UNESCO World Heritage site known in ancient times as Tarraco. The Paseo Arqueológico takes you on a stroll along the Roman walls that encircle the Old Town.

Endorsed by Condé Nast as one of the “10 best places in Europe to visit” in 2021, El Hierro nonetheless remains one of the least visited – and most pristine – of the Canary Islands, with no buildings higher than two stories, no elevators and only one set of traffic lights. A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, El Hierro’s remarkably transparent waters and vibrant undersea life make it a scuba diver’s paradise.

Less than 60 miles from the northwest coast of Africa, Fuerteventura is the oldest and second largest of Spain’s Canary Islands. The Spanish name – derived from the words for “strong” and “fortune” – is an apt description of this island paradise featured on UNESCO’s list of Biosphere Reserves. The surrounding sea is renowned for a diversity of marine life, including dolphins, sperm whales and sea turtles, so keep an eye on the water while relaxing on Fuerteventura’s immaculate beaches.

Known as the Isla Bonita, La Palma is the northwesterly most of the seven Canary Islands. Its capital Santa Cruz de La Palma is home to some of the most unspoiled seascapes in the archipelago. Formed by oceanic volcanoes off the northwestern coast of Africa, these Spanish islands are playgrounds for sun worshippers with their stunning black and white sand beaches and vertiginous volcanic peaks rising from the sea.

A surprising Spanish port on the North African coast, Melilla’s origins date back to the era of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. The historic center, Melilla la Vieja, is set inside a walled fortress on the Alboran Sea where museums and churches, like the Capilla de Santiago, the only authentic gothic structure on the continent, are ripe for exploration. Hidden beyond the fortress walls, Ensenada de los Galápagos is an enchanting crescent beach sheltered by a dramatic limestone cove.

One of the smallest of Spain’s seven Canary Islands, La Gomera is known as the island lost in time thanks to its emerald cloud forests and volcanic peaks rising precipitously from the sea for an almost prehistoric, untouched appeal. Situated off the northwestern coast of Africa, La Gomera was the embarkation point for Christopher Columbus on his transatlantic voyage to the New World in 1492. In San Sebastián, trace the explorer’s footsteps along Calle Real.

Sitting on Spain’s glorious Costa Blanca, Alicante is the epitome of Mediterranean elegance. Wander along its palm-fringed waterfront promenade; lose yourself in the narrow streets of the old Barrio de la Santa Cruz district; enjoy some well-deserved beach time at San Juan or Almadraba; or climb up to the medieval Castillo de Santa Bárbara, where you’ll be rewarded with sweeping views of the Mediterranean. Peruse the works of Dalí and Picasso in the Museuo de Arte Contemporáneo de Alicante, or learn all about round-the-world yacht-racing at the Museo Volvo Ocean Race.