Where in Spain do you think you will go in 2024? At this time of year you might fancy a quick trip to Barcelona, Malaga or Valencia for a blast of Mediterranean light and exuberance. Perhaps you are planning a gastronomic route through the Basque Country or a cycling tour in Mallorca.
Traveling by train is easy and the high-speed network is constantly expanding, making it possible to travel comfortably between major cities in just a few hours. The last stretch to be covered, from Madrid to Asturias, is a beautiful journey north through the different landscapes of Castilla y León. I suggest you visit Jaén in Andalusia this year, which you could combine with Granada. If you go to Seville, spend a night or two in Jerez.
While we all have our favorite places that we return to time and time again, there are always new areas to discover in Spain, places that may not attract as many tourists but may surprise you and prove more worthwhile.
Reus, Catalonia
EasyJet (easyjet.com) will launch a new route to Reus in southern Catalonia from Manchester in April and restart flights from Luton. While the airport serves the resorts along the Costa Daurada such as Salou and Cambrils, as well as the PortAventura World theme parks, it is just a 15-minute drive from Tarragona, a great city for a weekend getaway, with its Roman amphitheater and excellent restaurants.
Reus itself should not be overlooked, especially if you are a fan of the Catalan Art Nouveau architecture that makes Barcelona so distinctive. The great Antoni Gaudí was born in Reus and although none of his extraordinary creations can be found in the city, there are plenty of buildings by other leading artists. modernist masters. When you're not looking at the ornate facades, stop in a bar to sample the vermouth that Reus is famous for. Rent a car and head inland to the Priorat, a mountainous area of honey-colored villages, vineyards and olive groves, where you can do some wine tasting and hiking.
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Where to stay
The H10 Imperial Tarraco (h10hotels.com) overlooks the Mediterranean Sea in Tarragona and has an outdoor pool. Double rooms from £97, room only. For a more rural atmosphere, the Priorat Aparthotel (priorataparthotel.com) in Falset is a great base for walks and visiting wineries and olive mills. Studio apartments from £74, room only.
When to go
Go in April and May to avoid the summer crowds - unless you want a full beach holiday, of course. In the fall the grape harvest is underway.
Jaén, Andalusia
The Michelin Guide Spain 2024 includes four one-star restaurants within a 100-metre radius in Jaén - Baga (bagagastronomico.com), Radis (restauranteradis.es), Malak (restaurantemalak.com) and Dama Juana (damajuanajaen.com) - making it Spain's newest gastronomic hotspot. Slightly remote in northeastern Andalusia, the city and province of Jaén could finally get the attention they deserve.
Michael Portillo's excellent recent series on Andalusia covered six of the region's eight provinces. The two missing were Jaén and Almería. A few months earlier, chef James Martin's highly enjoyable tour of Spain spanned more than twenty episodes, five of which were devoted to Andalusia. No Jaén or Almería there either. Of course you can't fit everything in and the beauty of Seville, Córdoba and Granada is undeniable. But that doesn't mean the forgotten provinces don't have anything interesting. I'm sure Portillo would be impressed by the Renaissance architecture in the city of Jaén, Baeza and Úbeda, while Martin would enjoy driving through the rolling countryside with olive groves.
Where to stay
The Jaén Parador (paradores.es) has a dramatic hilltop location overlooking the city. Doubles from £120, including full breakfast.
When to go
It can get quite cold in winter and very hot in summer, so spring and autumn are the best times of year to visit. The nearest airports are Granada and Malaga.
Oviedo, Asturias
High-speed trains are finally running between Madrid and Asturias on Spain's northern coast, after two decades of digging tunnels through the mountains. The journey to Oviedo, the regional capital, has been reduced to around three and a half hours and will be reduced to less than three hours once new trains come into service.
You can go to Asturias for the spectacular unspoilt beaches, the hikes, the Romanesque churches, the brown bears roaming the mountains, the cider or simply the cheese. This is one of the best regions in Spain for food and the elegant city of Oviedo has been named Spain's Gastronomic Capital for 2024, so you can expect all kinds of foodie activities all year round.
Where to stay
The stylish Soho Boutique Oviedo (sohohoteles.com) has doubles from £51, rooms only.
When to go
You're likely to see more rain in this part of Spain - that's why the countryside is so lush and green. Many Spaniards choose to spend their holidays there, because it is pleasantly warm in the summer instead of sweltering. Vueling (vueling.com) flies from Gatwick to Oviedo.
La Gomera, Canary Islands
Although the Canary Islands are known as a winter sun destination, the islands are actually a good choice all year round, not only for beach holidays, but also for walking, cycling and stargazing. Pura Aventura (pura-aventura.com) has just added self-guided walking holidays to the lesser-known island of La Gomera, where the lush forests, dramatic gorges, banana plantations and hills covered in mango, papaya and orange trees make you feel like you've stepped into the traveled to the other side of the world. Staying in characterful hotels and guesthouses, eating Canarian food and chatting with local experts will truly immerse you in island life.
Where to stay
Accommodation options at Pura Aventura include the La Gomera Parador, which has a swimming pool with ocean views and views over Tenerife. Prices start from £1,500 per person, including six nights' accommodation, breakfast and most meals, luggage transfers and return ferry tickets between Tenerife and La Gomera. Book flights to Tenerife separately.
When to go
June, July and August can be a bit too hot for walking. The winter months are the most comfortable, especially from November to April.
Jerez, Andalusia
Jerez is perhaps the best place in Spain to experience flamenco. You don't even have to go to a sit-down show in this elegant city between Seville and the beaches of the Costa de la Luz, as there is often singing, dancing and guitar playing - both spontaneous and planned - in the string section. of sherry bars known as tabancos in the city.
The Flamenco Museum of Andalusia, expected to open in the first half of 2024, will introduce you to the culture of flamenco and chart the history of this art form, which can be baffling to the uninitiated. Spend a few hours there and you'll be ready to join the locals for a glass of fino, some tapas and maybe even a little twirling yourself. The Jerez Festival (festivaldejerez.es), which runs from February 23 to March 9, features performances by leading artists including Sara Baras.
Where to stay
Hotel Bodega Tio Pepe (tiopepe.com) has nice rooms and a rooftop pool. Doubles from £113, including breakfast.
When to go
Avoid the summer months, when Jerez is uncomfortably hot and there isn't much to do. Ryanair (ryanair.com) flies from London Stansted to Jerez from April to October. Trains from Seville take one hour.
