If you want to experience the real Spain, don’t go to bed too early. In these parts, people stroll the city squares and dine out late into the night.

In the north and northwest, the Meseta is bordered by the Cantabrian Mountains and the Iberian Mountains, and in the South by the Sierra Morena, beyond which lies the Guadalquivir Valley. Galicia’s mountainous landscape runs along the jagged Atlantic coast. The extreme south is also mountainous; the Sierra Nevada southeast of Granada belongs to the Betic Cordilleras, which run parallel to the Mediterranean and include the highest mountain on the Spanish mainland, the Mulhacén (3481 meters above sea level). The highest elevation on Spanish territory is the Pico del Teide (3718 meters above sea level) on Tenerife.

Spain has just under 5000 kilometers of coastline. The Mediterranean coast extends from the French border to the Rock of Gibraltar. The Strait of Gibraltar connects the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean and divides Spain from North Africa.

Electricity

220 V, 50 Hz (sometimes 110/125 V in older buildings in smaller places)

Currency

1 euro = 100 cents
Currency sign/abbreviation: €, EUR (ISO code). Banknotes are available in the values 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euros, coins, in the nominal values 1 and 2 euros, as well as 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents.

2018

Año Nuevo (New Year’s): January 1, 2018
Epifanía (Epiphany): January 6, 2018
Día de San José (St. Joseph’s Day): March 19, 2018*
Jueves Santo (Maundy Thursday): March 29, 2018*
Viernes Santo (Good Friday): March 30, 2018
Domingo de Resurrección (Easter Sunday): April 1, 2018
Día del Trabajo (Labor Day): May 1, 2018
Asunción de la Virgen (Assumption Day): August 15, 2018
Fiesta Nacional de España (Spanish National Day): October 12, 2017
Fiesta de Todos los Santos (All Saints’ Day): November 1, 2018
Día de la Constitución (Constitution Day): December 6, 2018
La Inmaculada (Feast of the Immaculate Conception): December 8, 2018
Navidad (Christmas): December 25, 2018

Information subject to error.

On 5 January every year, the evening before Twelfth Night (Epiphany, 6 January) the Three Kings (or Three Wise Men of the New Testament) arrive by boat at the waterfront of Barcelona (Moll de la Fusta) to be greeted by the Mayor of the city and conducted to the nearby park of Ciutadella. From there the Three Kings depart in their carriages, the principal part of a grand parade that proceeds slowly through the streets and avenues of the centre towards the Olympic Stadium. The Kings and other participants in the parade throw barley sugar sweets and other sweets to the children lining the route. There are many stalls along the way, especially along Gran Via. The days leading up to the parade allow the opportunity for children to inspect the Three Kings’ boat and carriages, and to leave messages requesting gifts, which they (and adults, too) receive, traditionally, on 6 January.

Thousands of runners from around the world take to the streets of Barcelona for this big sporting event. The route, which changes every year, leads them past many of the main historical landmarks of the city. Locals turn up in even greater numbers to show their support to those taking part. The aim is to finish the 42km (26 miles) race in less than six hours.

The thrilling tennis tournament is held annually at the Trofeo Conde de Godo de Tennis on the ATP circuit between some of the world’s best and up-and-coming players. Spain’s oldest tennis club provides a brilliant atmosphere for this hotly contested tournament.

One of the most celebrated events in Barcelona, Dia de Sant Jordi commemorates the death of the city’s patron saint, Sant Jordi (St George). Celebrations are reminiscent of Valentine’s Day but with a twist: Men give women roses while women give men a book in tribute to Cervantes, Shakespeare and Joseph Pia, three writers who died on this day. The best place to celebrate this event in Barcelona is along La Rambla, which transforms into a massive flower market and book stall.

Otherwise known as the ‘Gran Premio de Espana de Formula One’, the world’s best 20 drivers compete here in one of the most important races of the year. All the action can be seen from the stands and on the 17 giant screens – not a skid nor a pit-stop need be missed. The Circuit de Catalunya of Montmelo has improved its facilities for spectators, now offering 14 grandstands, three of them under cover. This is considered to be a particularly well-designed circuit. The capacity for spectators is 104,000 and there are facilities for camping and car parking, as well as food and drink within the circuit complex. There are two days of practice and qualifying sessions before the big race on 15 May.

For three days, the Parc del Forum becomes centre stage for a host of international DJs and musicians. Sponsored by Estrella Damn, the music festival sees some of the most current international acts take to the stage alongside veteran festival players and Spanish acts.

Religious processions and parades take over the streets of Barcelona throughout the month of June. Major boulevards in Barcelona are decorated with flower carpets, adding colours to the vibrant city streets. On many of the city’s water fountains, you will spot l’ou com balla, a hollowed-out egg ‘dancing’ on the fountain spouts. If the egg does not break, it is said to mean good luck for the year ahead.

The annual Sonar International Festival of Advanced Music and New Media Art is an event that attracts over 80,000 people to the city with a mix of new musical talent and international artists. The event is divided between ‘Sonar by Day’ which is a mix of concerts and exhibitions of new talent and ‘Sonar by Night’ which is mainly concerts and shows with well known international acts headlining.

Known as the ‘Verbena de Sant Joan’, this festival of fire takes place over the shortest night of the year, welcoming the arrival of the longest day. Subject to strict regulations, people light bonfires in streets outside their homes and in public places. As the evening warms up, parties get underway with drinking, dancing and consumption of ‘coca’ – a speciality cake. Fireworks add sparkle to the flaming night sky as people get together to celebrate this pagan tradition, tied in with the notion of witches and enchantments. Similar summer solstice festivities take place in towns and villages throughout Catalonia.

Barcelona’s Summer Festival is one of the reasons why summer is the best time to visit the city. Popularly known as the ‘The Grec’, the festival offers a great mix of entertainment with musical highlights from previous years including Joss Stone, Brian Wilson, Craig David and Marianne Faithful. Each year the organisers aim to bring something new and different to the international audiences who attend the festival. Most of the 45 events of the Barcelona Summer Festival of theatre, music and dance are performed at Teatre Grec, a Greek-style amphitheatre on the hill of Montjuic.

The Fiesta de la Mercé promises to be the biggest party of the year, involving plenty of live music, spectacular fireworks and Catalonia’s national drink, cava (champagne). Numerous events take place during these three days of celebrations including parades featuring giant wooden figures and human pyramid competitions where groups of castellers stack up and compete to form the highest human tower. For the full programme of events, enquire at the main tourist office at Plaça de Catalunya.

Playing host to one of the most important jazz festivals in the world, Barcelona sets you in the mood for jazz every winter. The festival features heavyweight artists as well as up-and-coming names in the jazz industry. It takes place in venues all over Barcelona, ranging from the grand Palau de la Musica to bars like Jamboree. Each event requires individual tickets. Previous performers include Wayne Shorter, Jimmy Cobb, Marcus Miller, Jamie Cullum and Charles Lloyd.

The festivities to the “queen of light” begin with a noisy procession through the old town in which the narrow streets ring with the sound of thundercrackers before the evening ends with a modest firework display. The following day sees the pilgimage to the ermita of Santa Llúcia on top of the small hill above the old town for a special mass and a short procession with the images of Santa Llúcia and Santa Barbara.