Spains regions include 17 autonomous and distinct regions. All have their own attractions, scenery, customs, foods and even different languages. Add to this the hundreds of cities most people have yet to explore and Spains regions hold a lot to discover.
If you´ve only been to Spain as a part of a bigger European holiday, you have probably only been to Barcelona, Madrid and Donostia San Sebastian. These cities are in 3 different regions.
If you loved these three cities you´ve got fourteen more of Spains regions to see.
Brits are very familiar with the Spanish Costas, the Canary Islands and Ibiza which cover five regions at most. You´ve still got twelve regions to check out.
Here is a short summary of each region with links to more information, if we´ve been there.
Located in the south of Spain, Andalusia includes Costa del Sol, Costa de Almería, and Costa Tropical. It includes the cities of Seville, Granada, Malaga and Cordoba. Learn more
Near the French border, Aragon is home to the Aragonese Pyrenees mountains. The plains around the Ebro river are fertile and the region has a rich history. Learn more
Asturias is famous for its many kilometres of green coastline, known as the Costa Verde or green coast. The capital city of the region is Oviedo. Learn more
The Balearic Islands comprise Majorca, Menorca, Ibiza, and Formentera. The islands are well known for their nightlife.
The Basque Country has a culture and language like nowhere else in Spain. The capital is Vitoria-gasteiz. Donostia San Sebastian is a favourite destination for foodies from all over the world. Learn more
Located off the northwest coast of Africa, the Canary Islands offer year-round sunshine. Sunshine and budget packages attract millions of visitors every year. Learn more
Cantabria is a small region in the north and faces the Bay of Biscay. It’s famous for its prehistoric caves, archaeological sites and beautiful coast. Learn more
Castilla-La Mancha is dry and sparsely populated and sits between Madrid and Andalucia. This iconic region was made famous by Don Quixote. Its capital is the ancient city of Toledo. Learn more
Castilla y Leon is the largest of Spain’s autonomous communities by area. Its capital is Valladolid with Segovia and Salamanca being two popular destinations for tourists. Learn more
Catalonia in the northeast of Spain is well known to many people because of its capital Barcelona. The region includes the Costa Brava and Costa Dorado and extends to the French border in the North West. Learn more
Extremadura is famous for its Iberian Ham (Jamon) and its capital is the Roman city of Merida. It borders Portugal in the west and is largely undiscovered by tourists. Learn more
Galicia’s is famous for its seafood, rugged coastline and green landscapes. The capital Santiago de Compostela is the final destination of the famous Camino de Santiago. Learn more
Spains capital city sits within its own small region, also called Madrid. The region, as well as the city, offers much to see and do. Learn more
The southwestern region of Murcia sits on the Costa Calida with Murcia city being the capital. In addition to the beaches, there is plenty to do inland.
Navarre sits in the North between Pais Vasco and Aragon. It borders France in the north where the Navarran Pyrenees offers trekking and wildlife experiences. Its famous capital is Pamplona. Learn more
This small region is famous for its wine and boasts more wineries than you could visit in a lifetime. Its capital, Logroño is an important and enjoyable stop on the Camino de Santiago. Learn more
Valencia region includes the popular Costa Blanca in the south. Its capital Valencia and Alicante are well known to travellers coming to the area from all over the world. Learn more
