Our guide to the top regions of Spain

Vivacious and varied, Spain attracts visitors in droves, and most regular travellers will have set foot somewhere on its sun-blessed shores. But there’s no need to stick to your tried-and-tested when visiting Spain. To help you turn the page on a new Spanish chapter, we take a whistle-stop tour of the 17 regions of Spain (also known as its Autonomous Communities), before delving deeper into some of our favourites.

The northern regions of Spain

On the northern coast, above Portugal, green and serene Galicia is famous for the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage route that culminates there. Heading east and hugging the Atlantic coast are Asturias, Cantabria and País Vasco (Basque Country), the latter much lauded for its world-renowned culinary scene. Just below it is La Rioja, which, for anyone even remotely interested in wine, will need no introduction. Continuing east along the Pyrenees mountain border with France are Navarra and Aragon. Then comes Cataluña, blessed with mountains, a glorious coastline, and the ever-popular city of Barcelona.

The central regions of Spain

The centre of the country, landlocked and baked under the sun, is home to some of the largest and most sparsely populated territories in Spain. In Castile and León to the west, vast plains are punctuated by mountain peaks, medieval villages, and some spectacular historic architecture. Below, and also bordering Portugal to the west, Extremadura continues the theme with wide landscapes, timeless hamlets and age-old architecture. To the east, Castile–La Mancha stretches out with fertile plains cloaked in olive groves and vineyards. In the middle of all this is no other than the cultural powerhouse of Madrid.

Spain’s southern regions and islands

Heading south, we come to Andalusia. With its white-washed mountain villages and the long sandy shores of the Costa del Sol, this is one of the most visited parts of Spain. To the east is compact Murcia, often overlooked, but with its own slice of Mediterranean coast, an exciting capital city (of the same name) and a sleepy interior of orchards, olive groves and Medieval villages. Reaching up the coast to meet Catalunya is Valencia, fragrant with orange groves, edged by a gorgeous Mediterranean coast and topped off with an engaging capital city. Completing the picture are the two island regions of Spain – the Balearics, off the east coast, and the Canaries, way down south off northwest Africa.

Food and drink in the Basque Country

Named one of the best places to eat in the world, Basque Country offers cuisine that blends tradition with modern flair inspired by quality produce from the mountains and sea – think succulent cuts of lamb, salty sheep’s cheese, and grilled seafood. The people here are passionate about dining out, and its towns and cities are packed with pintxo bars (Basque tapas bars), cider houses, and Michelin-star restaurants.

The charismatic coastal city of San Sebastian is at the heart of the region’s love affair with the culinary arts, and it’s the ideal place to get stuck into pintxo bar-hopping and no-holds-barred fine dining. Just along the coast, Bilbao beckons with its striking Guggenheim Museum and abundant local produce markets.

From culture to coast: Catalonia, Barcelona and the Costa Brava

Refined and cultured, Catalonia’s first city, Barcelona, is remarkably scenic and engaging, albeit somewhat oversubscribed. If you’ve never experienced it before then aim for a low-season visit, otherwise leave it to the first-timers and explore further afield. The sparkling sea coves and golden sands of the Costa Brava make up some of Spain’s prettiest coastal scenery. Dotted with attractive coastal towns, arty enclaves, gorgeous beaches, outstanding restaurants and rugged walking routes, the wider coastal region has so many charms.

Historic and mountain pursuits in Aragon and the Pyrenees

Aragon is a land of grand landscapes, age-old architecture and engaging cities. It is also one of the less-visited regions of Spain, perhaps because, being landlocked, it doesn’t fulfil the beach break criteria of many travellers visiting Spain. What it lacks in sandy shores, it more than makes up for in the sheer majesty of its mountains and wild landscapes. Aragon is home to the tallest peaks of the Pyrenees, with rugged canyons, forested valleys, and tumbling waterfalls creating fertile ground for hiking and adventure.

There’s some dramatic architecture here, too, including the 11th-century Loarre Castle with its strategic Pyrenean vantage point, the monastery of San Juan de la Peña incorporated into a rocky outcrop, and Mudejar religious architecture in the handsome towns of Teruel and Zaragoza.

Art and culture in the Valencian Community

Valencia is one of Spain’s most liveable cities, with a Mediterranean climate and a people-centric approach to town planning. The wider region of fertile farmland and wetlands provides flavourful fresh produce and the revered rice grains that form the base of Valencia’s most famous dish, paella.

Within the city, a diverted river has been transformed into a park, creating a beautiful green space that meanders through the urban neighbourhoods. Modernist architecture glints in the sunlight and there’s a whole city within a city dedicated to science and the arts, designed by local architect Santiago Calatrava. With a calendar of frequent fiestas, gentle hiking in the Sierra Calderona Natural Park, and some of the most delectable dining in the country, Valencia city and region are ripe for discovery.

Andalusia: a world of fiestas, wine and food

Andalusia has many layers: on the one hand, it feels like the quintessential image of traditional Spain with olive groves and orange blossom, flamenco and tapas. Then there’s the Costa del Sol, with its more recent tradition of catering to sun-seekers in varying degrees of glitzy and tacky resort towns. Harking back to a whole other era of Spanish history is the distinctive Moorish architectural influence in cities like Sevilla, Granada and Cordoba. Atmospheric and enigmatic, exploring these age-old places is an essential pleasure.

Beyond the coast, the Sierra Nevada mountains rise over 3,000 m, meaning that if you time it right, you can ski in the morning and take a not-too-chilly sea swim in the afternoon. The verdant slopes of Las Alpujarras offer varied hiking and biking routes between olive and almond groves, while precipitous white-washed villages dot the mountains.

The regal and cultural draws of Madrid

Amidst Spain’s sparsely-populated central plains, the capital city of Madrid picks up the pace with stacks of culture to consume and an effervescent nightlife. It’s home to some of Europe’s most celebrated museums and galleries, so anyone with an appetite for art will find themselves feasting their eyes and minds for days. The most famous museum is the sprawling Prado complex that showcases works by Goya, El Greco, Dalí, Picasso, Monet and more.

Full-power Madrid doesn’t do things by halves and it’s also home to the largest royal palace in Europe, an ornate wedding cake of a palace with some 3000 rooms and extensive gardens. Inside the public areas, visitors can stroll marbled halls and peruse exhibitions of Medieval weaponry and art.

The underrated landscapes of Extremadura

Even the name Extremadura conjures images of a remote and mysterious outpost with arid plains and few people. In some ways, this is true; Extremadura is landlocked in the far west of Spain and has a tiny population for its size. Yes, it’s a sleepy, sun-baked place, but with mountains, rivers and lakes, the landscapes are far from dry and flat. Exploring this less-visited region of Spain is rewarding for its remote and lovely landscapes, but also for its well-preserved medieval cities and hamlets – history can be vividly glimpsed in age-old settlements like Trujillo, Mérida, Zafra and Cáceres.

Best for beaches and winter sun: the island regions of Spain

Balearic Islands

The achingly beautiful Balearic isles get busy in the summer months, with raucous party bars in Ibiza and packed beaches and seafronts across all four islands (the other three are Menorca, Mallorca, and Formentera). Visiting in the off-season (especially in spring and early autumn) reveals a sleepier side, as the gentle rhythm of island life comes to the fore. Hike dramatic coastal trails, amble through shady olive and almond groves, bask on silken-sand beaches, then take your pick of al fresco tables for a long, lazy lunch.

Canary Islands

The eight islands of the Canaries bask in year-round sunshine just across the ocean from the Sahara. Each has a unique character, so you’ll enjoy a great deal of choice, a solid tourism infrastructure, fabulous beaches, vineyards and great cuisine, plus easy travel from across Europe. All of this does make it one of the most popular regions of Spain, and many of the island towns are troubled by overtourism. Our local experts will help you choose a sustainable way to visit, exploring more off-the-beaten-path places and staying in locally-owned, environmentally-conscious accommodation.

Make it happen

If this guide to the top regions of Spain has inspired you to explore somewhere new, chat with a local expert and start planning a Spanish trip beyond the usual.