Spanish holidays have activities and attractions for everyone. Outdoor fun includes walking, lazing on the beaches, and sports such as beach volleyball, water skiing, jet skiing and parasailing. Beach clubs, complete with amusements, pools and bars, are a great attraction. Ancient monuments, historic art galleries and museums provide cultural interest along with festivals, and displays of Flamenco music and dance. Water parks and theme parks offer family entertainment. The Spanish countryside is ideal for cycling and pony trekking.

Best Beaches
The Spanish coastline is famous for its beautiful, clean sandy beaches. Barcelona has an impressive choice from the quiet Nova Icària to the boisterous Barceloneta. The Canary Islands have extensive golden sands, but there are also beaches with incredible, soft black sand, a result of ancient volcanic activity. See them for yourself throughout the islands including Santa Catalina on La Gomera, El Bollullo in Tenerife and El Golfo in Lanzarote.

Food & Drink
One of the most sought after delicacies is Jamón, a delicious cured ham. There are two types for you to try. Jamón Serrano is produced from light-skinned pigs in the mountainous regions. Jamón Iberico is considered the finest of all and comes from native Cerdo black pigs.

Tapas features dozens of different dishes filled with tasty, bite-sized morsels. Look out for Patatas Bravas, pieces of fried potato served with a dipping sauce of tomatoes or mayonnaise seasoned with pimientos. Tortilla Española is the traditional Spanish omelette made with potatoes, eggs and onions. Gambas al Ajillo features shrimps cooked with garlic.

Paella originates from Valencia, but it's now considered a national dish. It consists of rice, vegetables and seafood, rabbit or chicken.

Popular drinks include sangria made from red and white wine. Sherry is often considered a national drink, and for those special occasions, try Cava, the Spanish version of Champagne.

Adventure Sports
You can look forward to setting your nerves on edge with adventurous activities during your Spanish holiday. You can cycle up and down the Sierra de Guadarrama mountains near Madrid, or try canyoning in the Montserrat mountain range just to the north-west of Barcelona. The Canary Islands are perfect for all types of water sports including diving, snorkelling, paddle boarding and even surfing.

Sightseeing
You'll love the variety of monuments and landmarks you can visit during your Spanish holiday. Barcelona's most popular attraction is the nineteenth-century cathedral, La Sagrada Familia by the Spanish architect, Antoni Gaudi (1852-1926). Poble Espanyol is an open air museum and the Magic Fountain puts on imaginative water and light displays.

When in Madrid, visit the UNESCO world Heritage Site of the Glass Palace in El Retiro Parc. Constructed in 1887, it's one of the world's finest conservatories.

The attractions of the Canary Islands include the Volcan El Teide, a live volcano on Tenerife. In the Timanfaya National Park on Lanzarote, you can explore the volcanic landscape while sitting on top of a camel.

Art & Culture
The Museo del Prado in Madrid exhibits famous paintings by artists such as Rembrandt and Monet. Spanish artists include Goya (1746-1828) and Velázquez (1599-1660). You can also admire the modern art, anti-war masterpiece entitled Guernica, painted in 1937 by Pablo Picasso (1881-1973).

La Rambla, a popular tourist street in Barcelona, features the Pla de l'Os, a modern art pavement mosaic by the local artist Joan Miró (1893-1983). The National Art Museum of Catalonia has a vast collection of famous works including a fifteenth-century altarpiece by Bernat Martorell (1390-1452).

Gran Canaria has its own local artist, Néstor Martín-Fernández de la Torre (1887-1938). His paintings are in a style of Spanish Symbolism and can be seen at the Museo Néstor.

The country as a whole enjoys warm summers with August generally being the hottest month at around 24°C (74°F). The winters are relatively mild. November is generally the wettest month with rainfall averaging between 31 millimetres and 89 millimetres. Slight variations depend on your holiday destination, but the Spanish climate is noted for being settled with around 8.5 hours of daily sunshine on more than 300 days of the year. With so much sun about, remember to take care of your skin by using plenty of protective sunblock and wearing a wide-brimmed hat.