Exploring Spain: medieval towns, mountain escapes and lazy afternoons
What to see
The Alhambra: witness Spain's history come alive
The Alhambra in Granada is one of Spain’s most extraordinary historical sites. More than just a palace, it’s a fortified city that reflects nearly 800 years of Islamic influence on Spanish culture, architecture and art.
The intricate stone carvings and geometric details feel almost impossible for their time, especially inside the Nasrid Palaces, where every wall seems covered in delicate craftsmanship. Combined with gardens, courtyards, fountains and views over Granada, the complex feels both grand and intimate.
But despite its global reputation, Granada feels calmer and less overwhelming than some of Spain’s busiest tourist centers, which makes visiting the Alhambra even more rewardin
The Alhambra
Visit early in the morning or near sunset, when the warm light makes the palace walls glow.
Picos de Europa: See Spain beyond the beaches
Many people associate Spain with hot weather and coastlines, but the north tells a different story. The Picos de Europa mountain range is filled with limestone peaks, misty valleys, and alpine-style scenery that feels worlds away from the Mediterranean coast.
The region is known for places like the Lagos de Covadonga, where mountain lakes sit surrounded by dramatic peaks and constantly changing weather.
For locals, this is often the perfect summer escape, offering cooler temperatures, quiet villages and landscapes that encourage outdoor adventures.
Picos de Europa
Even in summer, pack layers. The weather in northern Spain changes quickly.
Cabo de Gata: find peace on the coast
While many visitors head toward Ibiza, Marbella or Valencia’s crowded beach clubs, some Spaniards prefer quieter corners of the coast like Cabo de Gata in southern Spain.
This volcanic natural park feels untouched, with desert-like landscapes, hidden coves and beaches such as Playa de los Genoveses that require some effort to reach. But that’s exactly the appeal – fewer crowds, clearer water and a stronger sense of nature.
It’s a place to enjoy long summer afternoons and neglect routine a while.
Cabo de Gata
Bring water, good shoes and stay for sunset – the cliffs and empty beaches are beautiful in the fading light.
Hidden gem: Albarracín
Tucked into the hills of Aragón, Albarracín is often called one of the most beautiful villages in Spain, yet surprisingly few international travelers arrive there.
Built into a rocky hillside, the town is filled with narrow streets, medieval walls and reddish stone houses that glow at sunset. Walking through Albarracín can feel cinematic, especially in the quieter evening hours when the streets empty.
Part of its charm comes from the journey itself. It’s not the easiest place to reach, which helps preserve the feeling that you’ve discovered somewhere genuinely hidden.
A defining local
experience: El Tardeo
To understand modern Spanish social life, you need to experience El Tardeo. The idea is simple: instead of starting the night at midnight, people meet in the late afternoon, usually around 4pm or 5pm, for drinks, tapas and music on terraces or rooftops. By early evening, bars are already lively and full of energy, but without an exhausting late-night schedule.
It’s social, relaxed, and surprisingly practical: you enjoy the atmosphere, eat well and still get home at a reasonable hour. For younger Spaniards especially, El Tardeo has become one of the defining social rituals of recent years.
What to eat and drink
Spanish cuisine is deeply regional, but some dishes are impossible to leave without trying.
While gazpacho is internationally famous, many locals swear by salmorejo, Córdoba’s thicker, creamier version topped with jamón serrano, olive oil and hard-boiled egg.
And no trip to Spain is complete without a proper tortilla de patatas, ideally slightly runny in the middle and, according to many Spaniards, always with onion. (This is very divisive!)
Jamón serrano
Spain’s iconic cured ham.Croquetas
Crispy, creamy bites filled with ham, cheese or seafood.Patatas bravas
Fried potatoes served with spicy sauce.
For a modern dining experience in Madrid, I deeply enjoy Sala de Despiece, which has become one of the city’s standout spots.
Designed almost like a butcher’s shop or industrial kitchen, it serves creative tapas in a loud, energetic atmosphere that feels very contemporary to me.
Staying safe during your travels in Spain
Stay protected while you travel with Kaspersky
A trip should be about the journey ahead, not about worrying whether your phone, your accounts, or your personal data are safe along the way. But travel is exactly when your digital life can be exposed: you're booking things on the go, tapping links from unfamiliar senders, logging in to new apps, and connecting to whatever Wi-Fi you can find. Kaspersky helps you stay protected through all of it, so you can focus on where you're going.
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With Kaspersky eSIM, you can get online as soon as you arrive without searching for a local SIM card or relying on unsecured public Wi-Fi. Whether you need to check directions, contact your accommodation, book a taxi or let your family know you've arrived safely, staying connected from the very beginning of your trip is simple and convenient.
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Together, these tools help protect your personal data across your devices and alert you to potential risks as you go, so the only thing you have to think about is the journey, not your digital safety.
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- Windows®
- macOS®
- Android™
- iOS®
- A bank-grade encrypted vault
- Safer passwords in one click
- Faster sign-in across devices
- Your sensitive data is protected
- A second layer of sign-in security
- Real-time Antivirus
- Online Payments Protection
- Performance Optimization
- Unlimited Superfast VPN
- Data Leak Checker
- Identity Protection
- Expert Virus Check & Removal
- Kaspersky Safe Kids
- Windows®
- macOS®
- Android™
- iOS®
- Real-time Antivirus
- Online Payments Protection
- Performance Optimization
- Unlimited Superfast VPN
- Data Leak Checker
- Identity Protection
- Expert Virus Check & Removal
- Kaspersky Safe Kids
Kaspersky has no commercial relationships with any of the organizations mentioned.