Spain

Still under construction to Gaudí’s designs; inside, the columns branch like a forest and the stained glass shifts colour with the hour. Entry is by timed slot, so buying at the door is essentially impossible.

The point of it is the geometric work covering every surface and the handling of water. The Nasrid Palaces admit you at a precise minute and sell out months ahead, so book this first.

A forest of red-and-white double arches with a Renaissance cathedral inserted into the middle of it. Two religions under one roof is a rare thing to be able to stand inside.

Velázquez’s Las Meninas and Goya’s black paintings are here. There is a free entry window late in the afternoon, but the queue is long, so allow time.

Eight hundred kilometres from the French border to Santiago de Compostela, though walking the last hundred is enough for the certificate. Beds are heavily contested in summer.

One or two plates per bar and then on to the next is how it is done. In some cities, Granada among them, a tapa arrives free with the drink.

The palace, the summer villa and the old Muslim quarter on the opposite hill, inscribed together. The Albayzín lanes are walked without a ticket.

The Sagrada Família, Park Güell and Casa Milà among others, inscribed as a group. They are scattered, so splitting them over two days works better.

The Jewish quarter and its narrow lanes radiate out from the Mezquita. In May there is a festival of flower-filled courtyards.

Cathedral, synagogues and traces of mosques together on a hill inside a river bend. Thirty minutes from Madrid by high-speed train.

Architecture, beach and food in one city, which is why it is the most common first stop. Pickpocketing is common, so wear your bag in front.

The Prado, Thyssen and Reina Sofía are within a walk of each other, and the nightlife is serious. High-speed lines fan out from here in every direction.

Cathedral, Alcázar and Plaza de España all within walking distance. Summer afternoons pass forty degrees, so spring or autumn is better.

The hill quarter of Albayzín and the cave district of Sacromonte adjoin it. In winter people ski in the Sierra Nevada nearby.

Known for a beach inside a small bay and an old town packed with pintxo bars. Usually combined with the Guggenheim in Bilbao.

The Mediterranean islands are summer resorts; the Canaries, off Africa, stay warm all winter and work year-round. All are reached by air from the mainland.

The best time to move around. Seville’s Easter processions and fair fall here, which pushes accommodation prices up.

The southern interior passes forty degrees and cities stop at midday. Beaches and islands are at peak season and peak price.

The heat breaks while the sea is still warm — the best balance of the year. Harvest festivals run in several regions.

The south and the Canaries stay mild enough to be winter destinations. The centre and north are cold and often wet.

Up to ninety days in any one hundred and eighty across the Schengen area. The European travel authorisation scheme is being phased in, so check the official guidance before you leave.

You will struggle to find a restaurant open at seven; most start around nine. Some shops close in the middle of the day, so plan around it.

High-speed lines radiate from Madrid, putting Barcelona and Seville two to three hours away. Booking early cuts the fare sharply.

Catalan, Basque and Galician are co-official in their regions, so signs appear in two languages. Outside tourist areas English does not go far.

Violent crime is rare but pickpocketing is organised. Wear your bag in front and never hang it on the back of a restaurant chair.

The pan-European number reaching police, ambulance and fire, with interpreters available. For insurance you need the police report, so file it at a station.