When it comes to booking a holiday overseas, Spain has long been a popular destination with British tourists who want to make the most of a week or two away from home in the sun.
For many, the appeal of Spain is largely down to the fact that the flights are only a few hours in length, whilst you can also expect largely favourable weather conditions and should be able to find accommodation that will cater for all tastes and budgets.
Whether you simply want a bed for the night in a hostel as you travel from place to place, or are looking for five star luxury with everything included, then it’s a country that delivers in spades.
Spain is also a country that has plenty for travellers to see and do, most notably when it comes to the many festivals that take place each year.
With that in mind, we thought we’d pull together a selection of the best that you might be able to catch during your time on Spanish soil..
WorldPride Madrid:
Gay Pride festivals are nothing new and can be found in cities across the globe, but there are few – if any – that can match Madrid for sheer scale.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the first LGBTIQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Questioning) pride parades to be held on Spanish soil, which should go some way towards ensuring that the celebrations this year are amongst the best ever.
Running from 23 June to 2 July, the event features a full week of celebrations across the city, with the opening of a special WorldPride Park and the huge parade – where some 3 million people are expected to meet – being amongst the highlights.
Running of the Bulls:
The Running of the Bulls is one of the most famous Spanish festivals of the all and one you wouldn’t want to miss if you find yourself in the area in July when it takes place in Pamplona.
The first run takes place on 7 July, with another happening every morning through to the conclusion of the festival on the 14th.
Each run sees six bulls released onto the four streets that comprise the route, with runners ahead trying to ensure they reach the bullring at the end before the animals catch up…
La Mercè:
The La Mercè Festival is one of the largest in Barcelona and takes place on an annual basis in late September.
Dating back over 100 years, the festival runs for a week and features a varied selection of different cultural and artistic events spread across the city.
One of the most spectacular of those events is the Correfoc, or fire run, where participants race through the streets as fireworks are set off around them.
La Tomatina:
Taking place in Buñol in late August, La Tomatina is annual festival that sees people take to the streets for a huge tomato fight.
The exact origins of the festival are unknown with various suggestions as to how to how it first began in the 1940s.
If you plan to visit the event then be aware that it’s now a ticketed event having grown so big there were concerns about safety.
It’s not the only food fight either…
La Raima:
Pay a visit to the town of Pobla del Duc near to Valencia in late August and you might want to avoid the town square.
That’s because the locals celebrate the end of the grape growing season with a mass fight in which tonnes and tonnes of grapes are unloaded ready for people to do battle.
Expect to see the streets turned a funny shade of purple over the course of the festival…
San Isidro:
Taking place in May, the San Isidro Festival provides an opportunity see Madrid at its best.
Named after the patron saint of the city, you can expect to see plenty of dancing and partying whilst the best matadors from around the world will arrive to take part in a series of bullfights in the famous Las Ventas Bullring.
Street vendors will also be selling a range of local dishes, particularly sweet snacks known to barquillos.