Discover everything you need to know about visiting Spain in these 24 travel guides…

A cruise to Spain is an adventure of a lifetime, packed full of rich cultural attractions and glorious sunshine. But if you want to get the most from your trip, then you’ll probably want to do some research beforehand. This blog contains 24 of the best and most captivating guides to visiting Spain – including the popular cruise destination of Barcelona.* So, if you’re planning on a Spanish cruise this summer, or feeling extra organised for 2016, these guides will keep you occupied in the meantime. *Don’t worry. We wouldn’t expect you to read them all!

Lonely Planet

One of the most popular travel publications in the world, Lonely Planet have an unrivalled understanding of what makes a great trip to Spain. Whether you visit the Lonely Planet website, or purchase the book, you will discover a wealth of valuable information – including:

  • Top attractions to visit
  • Best places to stay
  • Spain’s architectural wonders
  • Currency exchange & money guide

But what we really like about the Lonely Planet guide- and we’re sure you will to – is that every city has its own dedicated bio.

DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Spain

Another popular publication of great travel guides, DK Eyewitness know everything there is to know about cruising to this country. Divided according to region, this excellent book will tell you exactly where to eat, shop, and visit to get the most from Spain. There is also an informative section all about the unique history and culture – including a handy phrase book.

DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Northern Spain

If you are cruising specifically to Northern Spain, then you might prefer a travel guide that is more catered to your trip. Lucky for you, DK Eyewitness have created exactly that. Expect a useful selection of maps, seasonal activities, and expert guidance on this vibrant part of the world. There’s also plenty of information regarding local Basque culture and traditions, making this particular publication one of the best on the market.

The Rough Guide to Spain

With an abundance of expert ‘author picks’ and wonderful guides to individual cities, this is another must-read for anyone cruising to Western Europe. This guide provides readers will all the info they would expect – such as food, accommodation, and public transport. But what’s better, the Rough Guide also includes a detailed summary of the country’s unique history and wildlife. There is also a great Rough Guide website that provides a wealth of up-to-date travel information about travelling to Spain.

The Rough Guide to Andalucia

Andalucia is second largest autonomous region in Spain, home to over 8 million inhabitants and its own unique cultural heritage. Given how vast this community is, it’s no surprise that Andalucia has its very own travel guide. This excellent resource will give you an unrivalled snapshot into the region, including:

  • Festivals
  • Bullfights
  • Food and drink
  • Football
  • Travelling with children
  • Local history

So, if you’re cruising to this wonderful part of Spain, then look no further that this superb guide.

Condé Nast Traveller – Guide to Spain

With a focus on luxury, the Condé Nast Traveller Guide to Spain contains a fabulous range of information to keep even the most discerning cruiser happy. You will find lots of insight tips and tricks to make your Spanish holiday the trip of a lifetime, such as:

  • Scaling the Spanish Peaks
  • Where to find the best spas
  • Boutique shopping in Madrid

There is also a great selection of blogs about holidaying in the country, so definitely don’t miss out on this excellent digital resource.

Tour Spain Travel Guide

From maps of Spain, to an exhaustive selection of Spanish recipes, this guide is a great starting point for anyone considering a cruise to Spain. It features some handy hints and tips to get the most from your trip, such as how to rent a car in Spain and the best local products you can buy.

Fodor’s Spain Travel Guide

Fodor’s Travel Guide is an absolute treat for anyone thinking of travelling to this part of the Western Mediterranean. What really sets this guide apart is its Itinerary pages, which provide a detailed account of the best activities in each Spanish region. This fantastic website has painstakingly created a number of guides to Spain, for example:

Overall, this resource is perfect for cruisers looking for some in-depth advice about what to do on a visit to this part of the world.

Rick Steve’s Europe

One of the most extensive guides on this blog, Rick Steve’s Europe contains an abundance of information about travelling around Spain. You will get inside-tips about how to use public transport in this country, including a snapshot into their unique coffee culture and rich cuisine. Definitely don’t miss this one.

World Travel Guide – Spain

Short and sweet, this quick guide to Spain has everything you need to plan a cruise of a lifetime. Expect lots of information on:

  • Shopping and nightlife
  • Food and drink
  • Weather and geography
  • History, language, and culture

Think of this as your one-stop-shop for organising fun activities for cruise to Spain.

The Telegraph – Spain Summer Holidays Guide

The Telegraph has built a solid reputation for creating informative and useful travel guides – and its Spain Summer Holiday resource is no different. Created by Annie Bennett, who has also written for National Geographic, this wonderful online guide provides an in-depth guide to Spanish:

  • Coasts
  • Cities
  • Beaches
  • Art and culture
  • Food and Wine
  • Activities

But unlike other guides in this blog, The Telegraph also includes a section on cruising to Spain. Perfect.

Barcelona Tourist Guide

Barcelona is one of Spain’s most popular cities – filled with stunning architecture, exquisite cuisine, and vibrant culture. So, it only makes sense – if you’re visiting this city – to find your very own travel guide. Luckily, Barcelona’s Tourist Board has created a digital guide for tourists and cruisers alike. This excellent website examines accommodation, tours, and how to use transport in Barcelona. You will struggle to find a better resource than this.

Nomadic Matt – Spain Travel Tips

It doesn’t matter what your cruise budget is – no-one wants to spend more money than they need to. That’s why Nomadic Matt has created an excellent website for travelling to Spain, without breaking the bank. You’ll get plenty of information on how to:

  • Budget for transportation and food
  • Save money at Spain’s top attractions
  • Attend the best Spanish festivals (without the costs)

We love this website.

VirtualTourist

Divided up into a number of key interests, visitors to the VirtualTourist website will learn about:

  • Things to do in Spain
  • Hotels
  • Restaurants
  • Travel insurance
  • Nightlife
  • Transportation
  • Shopping

And what’s more, you will also be able to access informative user reviews of Spain’s top hotels and accommodation options.

The New York Times – Spain Travel Coverage

Never one to stick with the mundane, the New York Times has a fantastic digital travel resource for anyone who loves cruising. Created by many of the world’s top travel writers, this website provides unique inside knowledge on achieving the authentic Spanish experience. You will find information about everything from Barcelona’s food markets, to boutique shopping in Madrid.

Insight Guide – Spain

Another excellent guide to visiting Spain, Insight Guides will give you an abundance of information about cruising to this part of the world. You’ll find guides on the top places to visit in Spain, and lots of historical and cultural highlights that will keep you occupied throughout your trip.

Arrival Guides – Welcome to Spain

From Alicante, to Girona, and Madrid, this extremely thorough guide offers a city-by-city of where to visit in Spain. Each of these city guides are packed full of information, and will cover hidden gems that you might not even have heard of before.

Southern Spain Travel Guide

Focussing on the southern tip of Spain, this fantastic travel guide has everything you need to plan a memorable trip this wonderful region. Site visitors can access informed and well-written web pages on all the following topics:

  • Spanish culture
  • Traditional and local cuisine
  • Climate
  • Currency
  • Maps
  • Beaches and islands

Furthermore, every city has its own dedicated biography – so you’ll learn everything you need to know about travelling to southern Spain.

The Guardian – Spain Travel

This wonderful compendium of articles is a perfect resource for anyone who wants the latest travel information for visiting Spain. Some of the latest gems include:

  • Top 10 food markets in Madrid
  • City of museums: Malaga
  • City of cycling: Seville
  • Las Luminarias festival

This travel guide page is updated on a weekly basis and provides unique holiday insights that can’t be found anywhere else.

Sitges Tourist Guide

Proudly offering the easy way to plan your trip, Sitges Tourist Guide is a wonderful resource for planning a visit to this charming city. Home to the world-famous Carnival and Film Festival, there are hundreds of wonderful activities in Sitges – making it another popular cruise stop-off in Spain. This particular guide covers a wide range information, including:

  • Accommodation
  • Attractions
  • Bars
  • Beaches
  • Clubs
  • Music
  • Restaurants
  • Shopping

So, if you’re travelling to Sitges, then look no further.

Spain: A Gourmet’s Travel Guide

There are thousands of reasons to visit Spain, and delicious cuisine is definitely one of them. This guide is divided up into 4 different locations – including Barcelona and Madrid – and is a culinary adventure into Spain’s most famous dishes. A Gourmet’s Travel Guide will not just tell you which region is famous for which dish. There is also an informed selection about the best restaurants to visit whilst on your cruise stop off. What more could you want?

Word Travels: Spain Travel Guide

Extensive and exceptionally well-informed, the Word Travels guide to Spain has everything you could possibly need to plan your trip. There is even a detailed summary of:

  • Spain’s main airports
  • Public holidays
  • Visa and passport information
  • Important contacts

Word Travels also features a fun ‘did you know?’ section on its website. Apparently Spain has 43 UNESCO world heritage sites – the second highest volume in the world (behind Italy). If you want to learn more, then definitely check out this website.

National Geographic – Spain

One of the most well-respected travel authorities in the world, National Geographic are experts when it comes to visiting Spain. There are hundreds of articles on this website, including lots of first-hand holiday photos from tourists. Charming, informative, and supremely useful, no trip to Spain would be complete without reading the National Geographic guide.

The Culture Trip

And finally, anyone planning on a cruise to Spain must see The Culture Trip website. You won’t find any typical tourist advice here. Some of the latest gems are:

  • The 10 Best Cider Houses in Spain
  • Fairytale Buildings From Gaudi
  • A Londoner’s Guide to 72 Hours in Barcelona

So, if you fancy heading off the beaten track, then look no further than The Culture Trip. You certainly won’t be disappointed.

What to read before visiting Spain

Okay, so we’ve covered a lot of guides in this blog. But Spain is a wonderfully diverse and vibrant country – so we couldn’t possibly recommend just one.

If you would like to learn more about cruises to Spain, please contact one of our friendly travel experts today on 0800 408 0757 or if you have any recommendations yourself, join the conversation on Twitter!