Top Places to Visit in Spain (+ 10 Faux Pas To Avoid There)

Top Places to Visit in Spain (+ 10 Faux Pas To Avoid There) Suzy S. Want to avoid looking like a tourist during your trip to  Spain? In this post, youll first learn about some of the top destinations in Spain then, tutor  Emmanuel M.  explains what  NOT to do while youre there! Spain is known as a beautiful, romantic, and overall wonderful place to visit. Tourists across  the world visit Spain to explore  the  local sights, food, and traditions. Youll find that the people of Spain  tend to be laid-back, good-natured, and cheerful and there are plenty of options for destinations, from hidden gems of Spain  to the more well-known tourist  attractions. The Top Places to Visit in Spain Located on the Iberian Peninsula in Europe, Spain is a popular travel destination. This beautiful nation is home to stunning coastlines, islands, mountains, and more. Here is a look into five of the top places to visit in Spain. Barcelona Barcelona is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world and for good reason! The city has a little bit of everything, including unique architecture, exciting activities, and beautiful beaches. One of the most interesting areas to explore is Las Ramblas. This district in the old part of the city is open to pedestrians. In this lively area, youll find shops, restaurants, live performers, artists, and more. Another must see is La Sagrada Familia. This large cathedral is visited by  more than  2 million people each year. Although construction began in 1882, the building is still in progress and scheduled to be completed in about 20 years. Want to add a quick stop to this beautiful city to your travel itinerary? Check out these tips on how to see the best of Barcelona in two days from American Travel Blogger. Galicia Also known as the land of the 1000 rivers, Galicia is a picturesque area in northwestern Spain with plenty of old-world charm. This coastal region is home to some of the best beaches found in Spain, including 105 blue flag beaches. Highlights include San Francisco Beach and Praia das Rodas, which was at the top of The Guardians Top 10 Beaches in the World list. Delicious seafood caught fresh in the ocean is abundant here. One specialty is the percebes, or barnacles. This prized catch is caught by brave fishermen near the cliffs of Costa de Morte, which translates to mean Coast of Death. Andalucia If youre interested in learning more about Spains bullfighting history, Andalucia is one of the best places to visit in Spain. Since the 15th century, Andalucia has been an important location for bullfighting and rearing. It is home to Spains oldest surviving bullring, Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza. The Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Sea is also located in Andalucia. Built in the 16th century, it is the third-largest church in the world, as well as the burial site of explorer Christopher Columbus. See Also: Important Spanish Travel Phrases (Video) Valencia Valencia is the place to visit in Spain if you are looking for delicious and diverse cuisine. Throughout history, the city of Valencia was invaded and inhabited many times by the Greeks, Romans, and Moors. Each of these cultures influenced the flavors used in cooking, leading to the diverse culinary choices found there today. In particular, Valencia is known as the birthplace of paella. This traditional dish is prepared over a wood fire in a large pan called a paellera. Typically, a paella will include Spanish rice, olive oil, saffron, tomatoes, and chicken. After youve had your fill of paella, visit the Mercado Central de Valencia for cured meats, locally made cheeses, and fresh fruits, including the iconic Valencia oranges. Madrid As the capital of Spain, Madrid is one of the most popular places to visit in Spain. It is home to Palacio Real, one of the most impressive palaces in all of Europe. Each of the nearly 3,000 rooms is luxuriously decorated and furnished with marble, stucco, and mahogany. Along the Gran Via, you will find beautiful, elaborate 20th-century architecture, including the Edificio Metropolis. Also located in Madrid is the Museo del Prado, which is considered one of the worlds greatest art museums. Now that you know the best places to visit in Spain, its time for that trip right? Not so fast! Before you visit, youll want to do a little bit of research so as to not totally look like a tourist. Just like with every country in the world, there are certain cultural faux pas (social “no-no’s”) that you should avoid if you plan on visiting Spain. Lets take a look at the dos and donts as  you assimilate  to some of Spains culture and customs: 1. Fashionably late is the norm â€" NEVER arrive on time! If you get invited somewhere (whether thats someones house, or a place for a party/get-together), keep in mind that everyone is expected to be late! If you show up on time, either youll be the only one there, or the hosts will still be getting ready. Bonus Tip: Carol from  Wandering Carol told us    When heading to Spain, dont make the mistake of trying to keep to the same schedule that you do at home. Dont get upset if the store is closed in the afternoon, or on Sunday. Dont assume dinner is going to be served before 10pm. Dont think you need to rush through lunch (though this is tough when you want to sightsee!) and above all, dont think you wont be dancing until dawn in Madrid. 2. Impatience is a sin (unless it’s during traffic). The people of Spain go about their day  with little  pressure and no rush. Its very common to see the locals  chatting with  clerks at a supermarket or with barbers at a hair salon. Things go at a very slow pace, so  if you show people youre annoyed or impatient, be prepared to face looks of disgust unless it’s during traffic, in which case people  prefer to move faster so that they can  enjoy the rest of their day! 3. Don’t modify ANY food â€" restaurant or homemade! For Spaniards, food means the world. Food is undoubtedly part of their culture, passion, and art. So to go anywhere and modify food thats given to you is like a huge slap in their face. To add a little something (like salt or pepper) to a dish thats served to you is like saying “You did this wrong let me show you how to make it better. 4. Don’t show your disgust or dislike of a food! Since food is so important to the locals of Spain,  if someone gives you a dish that you find appalling, youd better hide that disgust well; the locals might look at you as an uncultured individual who doesn’t appreciate good food. A good excuse is to pretend youre full or you couldn’t eat another bite despite it looking really good. Bonus Tip:  Ken Baldwin, founder of TotallySpain.com,  shared this extra tip with us We recommend reading up on the mealtimes in Spain,  which vary significantly with elsewhere in Europe and North America. When seated at a restaurant and ready to order, look around at the tables next to you for guidance. Keep an eye out for platters of food in the center of the tables that are called  â€˜raciones’. The Spanish love to share  and many menus are designed with this in mind. 5. Always put up a fight, but let them win when they offer to pay for dinner. The people of Spain are very generous and kindhearted, so don’t be surprised if they take you out and volunteer to pay for everything. However, they expect you to put up a fight to show youre being mindful, thoughtful, and respectful of their customs. Always remember to thank them and be appreciative. If you end up spending your own money on other things or on someone else, make sure you know how to be efficient and  save your travel money. 6. Be extremely complimentary of homemade food! Food, yet again, is an important aspect of Spains culture. When youre going over to a Spaniards  house and they offer to feed you, always remember to: a) accept the food and eat it (even if you’re full, always accept to eat at least a little bit), and  b) compliment whoever cooked the food profusely. Its also common  to spend the first few minutes of the meal  talking about  the deliciousness of the food. 7. Do not talk TOO good of other places. Everyone has pride for their hometown and where they come from that’s completely normal. However, when visiting Spain, do NOT spend more than a couple of minutes talking about how amazing your home  is, because they  may get  offended. To them, nothing is like Spain not to mention, they have love-hate relationships with several countries in the world. Be sure to  look at  a few Spanish travel blogs to see how fellow  tourists converse and interact with the locals. 8. Never bring up racist matters in Spain. Unfortunately, racism is alive and well in every  country. Theres no country out there where even a semblance racism isn’t felt. But when visiting Spain, NEVER bring up racist issues â€" remember, youre a guest, so you may not  know the history, current events, public opinions, or customs that all influence racism. Theyre well aware of the matters, but theyll  act very defensively because nobody likes speaking about their country’s problems with foreigners. 9. Don’t have a limp handshake or be awkward when hugging or double-cheek kissing. In Spain its customary to give a sturdy handshake to men and a double-cheek kiss to women (and sometimes men). If you give a weak handshake, its rude and considered an insult. Also, feeling awkward or uncomfortable when doing the double-cheek kiss makes you seem stuck-up and can  also be taken as an offense. 10. Don’t be too polite or well-mannered â€" Spain is casual and you should be too. People in Spain love the easy, calm life. Theyre very casual and would prefer it if you  are too  while visiting. If you portray yourself too seriously and well-behaved, locals might think you’re stuck-up, or perhaps they might  misinterpret your demeanor  as saying you’re better than them. Its smart  to learn a few Spanish phrases for traveling so you can use them in your casual encounters. As Ive said many times before, and will continue to say many times more: Spain is an amazing and beautiful place to visit!  As long as you remember not to commit  these faux pas, youll definitely enjoy yourself. Additional Resources to Check Out Before Your Trip Montserrat Mountain, Spain: a Downhill Trip via Wandering Carol 10 Best Places to Visit in Spain via Touropia 6 Hidden Gems of Spain to Add to Your Bucket List via TakeLessons 5 Travel Bloggers to Inspire Your Next Trip to Spain via TakeLessons My 10 Favorite Underrated Cities in Spain via Young Adventuress Post Author: Emmanuel M. Emmanuel M. teaches Spanish online. A California State University, Fullerton graduate and native Spanish speaker, he also teaches essay writing, study skills, and singing.  Learn more about Emmanuel here! Photos by Nathan Rupert, Jorge Rodriguez, Harshil Shah, Paco Rubio Ordás, vil.sandi Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher