Traveling in Spain

Do you remember Don Quixote, Spain’s first novel by author Miguel de Cervantes? In this novel, Don Quixote attacks the windmills which he imagines as giants. While traveling in Spain, you will be reminded of these windmills when you find many wind farms in some parts of the country, that now serve as a new version of the windmills in the novel. Certainly, of course, this will only be part of your rich and vibrant experience traveling the country, which is populated by about 46 million people.

Whatever mode of transport you will choose for your travel—train, bus or car—you will always find several magical, fascinating or historically and cultural important places. Some of these must-see locations include Madrid, Spain’s capital known for its art museums, the Royal Palce, Plaza del Oriente, and a Museum of Ham; Barcelona, a major international port; Seville, which boasts of the country’s largest cathedral; Valencia, which has the largest aquarium in Europe; Zaragoza, which serves an overnight stopover rather than a destination city; Cordoba, the capital of Islamic Spain; Segovia and Merida, known for its cathedral and Alcazar fortification and the Roman theater, respectively; and Andalusia, known for its Moorish architecture.

If you choose the train for your travel, you should know the types of vehicle for your guidance. The Talgos are the fastest trains that stop only at major cities, while the Rapidos are the regular, daytime, long-distance inter-regional trains, and the Estrellas the night time version of the Rapidos. The Cercanias are short-distance local commuter trains, and the AVE is a high-speed train for the Barcelona to Seville route. The Euromed high-speed train serves the route Barcelona to Valencia; the Arcos between Barcelona and Valencia with stop points along the Mediterranean coast; and the Alarisa high-speed train serving the line between Madrid and Valencia. When you travel by train, it is important that you also try the train stations in Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Cordoba, Toledo and Valencia cities.

If you would like traveling in a bus, you should assure yourself that bus travel is better than the train. If you prefer the rented car to get you going about the many places of your interest, or driving your own car, be sure that you know the legal matters about driving, especially in relation to your driver’s license, and be ready with the map of the place you are visiting. The country has many places for your kids if they are traveling with you like the Costas to the south and east that have many beaches, theme parks, and other activities for children. They can also be guided to the sword-making area in Toledo, scary Picasso paintings in Madrid, or the craftsmen at actual work in Andalusia. Some of the must-bring items for young children or babies include a car seat, a set of reins, a carry cot and baby foods, while for older children, a booster seat, sun cream and sun hat, and specialist items like children’s sunglasses, and sun protective clothing.

It is also a must for travelers in Spain to know the weather condition that usually vary from one region to the other, and that April to June are the best seasons to travel in the country.