Thinking of heading to Spain this year and seeking out some city break inspiration? Look no further! We’ve put together a list of great cities to visit, and whether for a week or just a weekend, you’re sure to soak up some culture (and most importantly, some sunshine).
From atmospheric evenings and breathtaking architecture in Granada, to bikes, bio parks and beautiful beaches in Valencia... and lots of different city break types inbetween, there’s something for every type of traveller on this list!
For Basque cheesecake, beautiful beaches and museums galore, try Bilbao
The jewel in the crown of northern Spain, Bilbao has a little something to keep everyone happy. Whether you’re a beach lover, art gallery connoisseur, or outdoor sports fan, this beautiful city in the country’s Basque region has something to suit every taste.
If you enjoy immersing yourself in arts and culture, head to one of the city’s great museums and galleries, which include the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao and the Museum of Fine Arts. Partial to strolling through a city at your own pace and taking in some stunning architecture? That’s exactly what the colourful, cobbled streets of Bilbao’s Old Town, featuring the neoclassical square of Plaza Nueva and the Santiago Cathedral, also has to offer visitors.
Reach new heights and take a quick trip on the Artxanda Funicular, which offers stunning panoramic views of the city, taking you to the top of Mount Artxanda. Or, head to the nearby hillside Etxebarria Park, for a different perspective of this beautiful city. There are also a number of great rooftop bars and restaurants dotted around Bilbao, so that you can see the sights from heady heights, without having to hike!
For those that do enjoy a little cycling or walking whilst on a city break though, the banks of the Nervión River which flows through the city, are the perfect spot to do just that! As if all that wasn’t enough, to top it off, Bilbao is renowned the world over for its great tapas, pintxos and Basque cheesecake.
A UNESCO-listed hilltop palace, traditional cave houses and the Sierra Nevada mountains... Granada has it all
Southern Spain is home to a number of popular tourist destinations famed for great beach breaks, but a certain city in the Andalusia region shines bright as one-of-a-kind city break spot. Granada, a picturesque city on the edge of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, boasts stunning Moorish architecture, traditional cave houses, and a UNESCO World Heritage listed hilltop palace, to explore. Add to this that it is still within driving distance of the coast, if you’re after some beach time during your break, and you have a city break destination like no other.
The crowing jewel in Granada’s crown is of course the Alhambra, an ornate palace, fortress and self-contained city, built between the 13th and 14th century. To best explore this fortified city, its palaces and gardens and take in the panoramic views of the rest of the city in the valley below, expect to spend the best part of half a day there. The stunning architecture doesn’t stop there though! Nestled within the parts of the city in the valley below is Granada’s historic centre, which features beautiful plazas, art museums such as the Museo Casa de los Tiros and the Huerta de San Vicente, the summer home of famous Spanish poet Federico García Lorca.
For those wanting to get out of the city heat, the nearby Sierra Nevada mountains offer respite and hiking opportunities galore. One of the more famous routes is the Los Cahorros route, which offers adventurers a journey through gorges, canyon passages and past waterfalls.
For Gothic architecture, great seafood, bustling markets and the Mediterranean Sea, check out Valencia
Located on Spain’s east coast, this vibrant city on the Mediterranean Sea is a great place to go to enjoy white sand beaches like La Malvarrosa beach and Patacona beach, stroll around a beautiful Old Town or do a spot of shopping.
If you’re after water sports, there’s great paddleboarding, surfing, kayaking and windsurfing spots along the coast. Still want to be close to nature but fancy keeping your feet on dry land? Not to worry! Why not walk through some of the gorgeous Turia Gardens, that run for 9km, winding through the city, on a former riverbed! Or, head to BIOPARC Valencia, a large zoo park at the top end of the Turia Gardens, to see buffalos, hippos and more.
Museum-lovers rejoice, Valencia has some great galleries and museums to quench your thirst for culture, including the Museum of Fine Arts, the Valencian Institute of Modern Art and the UNESCO World Heritage listed Silk Exchange buildings, dating from the 15th and 16th centuries. The City of Arts and Sciences is also a popular attraction in the city, a museum complex featuring a science museum and the Oceanogràfic aquarium, housed within a fantastically futuristic building.
Love seafood? Great news, Valencia is famous for its fideuà (noodle-based seafood dish), and local catch including prawns, eels and squid. If that’s not to your taste, then there’s plenty of paella, traditional tapas and sweet treats like buñuelos (fried dough fritters) to try!
Got big city break plans... but not packed your travel insurance yet?
Packed your bags already for your city break in Spain but forgotten to protect your adventures with travel insurance? Travel insurance may be the last thing on your mind whilst you’re booking tickets and planning your itinerary, but it’s very useful to have. Should you encounter flight delays, cancellations, or even require medical assistance abroad, travel insurance helps protect you against the costs of these.
Whether you're after cover for a single trip or have big plans to pack the rest of the year with more holidays, and need annual cover, Multitrip.com has different cover types to protect different travels. Going with the family on this Spanish adventure? Check out our family travel insurance.
