Though Spain is quite the captivating and beautiful country, even the most dedicated lovers of this country must venture away from time to time. The wonderful thing is that living in Spain opens endless doors to traveling, not only within the country itself, but around the whole of Europe and North Africa, too. With fantastic train routes and buses connecting country to country as well as several major airports and discount airlines flying to and from Spain every day, traveling has never been easier.
With such a plethora of options, it may be difficult to decide where you should visit, so to get you moving in the right direction, here are gently throughout thoughts on which countries are the best to visit from Spain and why.
France
I don’t have to try to convince you to visit France, more than likely it’s already on your list as it continuously sits as one of the top holiday destinations in the world. From the food, wine, art, and architecture, it’s no wonder why it’s such a sought-after country to visit. Of course, there’s nothing quite like the experience of watching the sun set as you cruise The River Seine and watch the Eiffel Tower light up and twinkle in the distance. Breathtaking.
Plus, France touches Spain to the north, allowing it to be short flight, train, or bus ride away (depending on your location within Spain, of course.)
If you’re at the advantage of being placed in a northern region of Spain, getting to France just got easier. Most likely you wouldn’t want to take a bus or train to France if you’re living in a region such as Andalusia, unless you’re prepared for at least a 12-hour journey. So lucky you if you’re in the north!
Take a city like Bilbao, for example. From Bilbao you can reach the best of Southern France such as Bordeaux and Toulouse in around 4 hours by bus or car (try BlaBlaCar for carpooling your way around!)
From Barcelona, you can reach Montpellier in under four hours by car or around four and half by train. Toulouse is also easily accessible in around four hours. These destinations would make ideal weekend getaways with their short journey times, plus no hassle of waiting around at the airport.
Now if you’re hoping to visit the City of Love, then from both Madrid and Barcelona it’s a simple two-hour direct flight to Paris and two and a half from Seville, also making it a doable weekend getaway, though I could argue that you’d need more than a weekend to explore Paris to the fullest.
Portugal
Friends to the West of Spain will have the advantage now, as Portugal is the bordering country here. Portugal boasts picturesque towns, outstandingly beautiful and cultural cities such as Lisbon, delicious foods, and award-wining wines. Still not convinced? The beaches are breathtaking, especially in the south; The Algarve should be on the top of the list for all beach lovers and naturists alike, with its turquoise beaches as well as caves and grottoes just waiting for you to explore by kayak, paddle board, or otherwise. Still to this day one of my favorite travel memories is kayaking through all the natural and beautiful grottoes of Lagos, a town in The Algarve. Plus, if you visit Lagos, prepare yourself for a fantastic night out! I made some of my closest travel pals from staying in a hostel here. We went on adventures together, out to dinners, and of course enjoyed nights out as a little hostel family.
To arrive to The Algarve region of Portugal from a city such as Seville, it’s simple. To Faro, the capital of the region, it’s around two to three-hour bus ride. But for the best beaches, you’ll prefer to venture a bit further to a town such as Lagos. Then, from Seville you’re in for just under three-hour car journey or a four to five-hour bus ride for some of the best beaches Portugal has to offer. Similar journey times exist for locations in and around Cadiz as well. However, if you’re not around these cities in Andalusia, it can be bit more difficult to comfortably arrive to The Algarve. Note: I arrived to Lagos from Seville when I visited and it was a smooth and easy bus ride.
Traveling to Portugal’s capital Lisbon from Seville will take around four and a half hours by car or double that number for the bus route. Direct flights run from both Seville and Madrid to Lisbon and it’s an easy one-hour flight. It’s a two-hour journey from Barcelona.
Morocco
My personal favorite destination from Spain – Morocco. It’s a captivating North African country full of old world charm, delicious cuisines, vibrant patterns and colors, religious culture, the desert, plus the mountains and beaches. You’ll fall in love with the many mosques and palaces of this country and you’ll long to stay for the food and welcoming hospitality.
Morocco is also a budget-friendly destination with a bed in a centrally-located hostel ranging from roughly €3 – €10 a night. If you’re not already sold, most of these hostels are old riads (traditional and atmospheric Moroccan homes that usually have an inner courtyard and terrace) and they’ll likely include full delicious Moroccan breakfasts: several different breads, boiled eggs, yogurt, cheese, jams, mint tea, and orange juice. For free! Eating out at restaurants and from the food venders is also cheap and tasty, so you shouldn’t feel inclined to save money by cooking your own food in the hostel.
Morocco’s most popular destination is the city of Marrakesh, situated at the foot of the Atlas Mountains and nearby to the Sahara Desert. It’s a chaotic, whimsical city full of history and character. I spent hours just wandering through the street markets in Marrakesh, sharing tea with the locals (mostly because they want you to buy carpet from them), and simply just getting lost in the charming maddness of it all. Plus, seeing the desert has always been on my bucket list and I’m already planning another trip.
Getting there, you’ll most likely be flying. From Barcelona you can arrive to Marrakesh in two and half hours and under two from Madrid. Direct flights from Seville to Marrakesh run only a few times a week and are only an hour and a half. Flights are cheap when traveling with a discount airline such as RyanAir. RyanAir flies to and from Marrakesh from the following Spanish cities: Barcelona, Madrid, Santander, Seville, and Valencia. They also fly to and from Fes to the same locations except Santander.
Another major Moroccan destination is Fes, a medieval city with an old town (medina) ranked as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Fly direct from Seville in just over an hour with flights a few times a week. From Barcelona flights run frequently and you’ll arrive in just under two hours. Similarly, flights run regularly from Madrid and take about an hour and a half. Budget airline RyanAir also flies to and from Fes to the following: Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, and Valencia.
From both Fes and Marrakesh, a number of magnificent trips around Morocco await you, and guided tours throughout the country are very popular and quite affordable for any budget traveler! You can take day trips for around €15 – €30. Multiple day trips start at about €40 and increase as you add days to your itinerary. These trips include anything from camel riding, desert tours, mountain trekking, visiting waterfalls, and so much more. You’ll be spending the night in hotels/riads as well potential nights under the stars in the desert, plus these trips usually include several meals.
When I visited, I took an amazing day trip for about €20 from Marrakesh. We visited the Atlas Mountains, which are incredible. We also visited the traditional pre-Saharan habitat of Ait-Benhaddou as well as Ouarzazate, another desert town with a rugged landscape that has consequently landed itself in several films. It was one of my favorite days from my trip to Morocco as the terrain and lifestyle was completely different to anything I’d ever experienced before – making me long to return for a longer, deeper tour of the enchanting Sahara Desert.
United Kingdom
It might not come to mind straight away as an ideal trip from Spain, but just because it’s not a neighboring country doesn’t mean it’s not close! But one other major reason why it’s on this list is the affordability. Discount airlines offer ridiculously cheap flights between London or Edinburgh to cities like Barcelona or Madrid.
And why should you visit this country? For obvious reasons, of course. London is a cultural hub full of rich history, endless things to do, plus some of the world’s best sites. To the north in Scotland you’ve got a medieval city like Edinburgh full of Scottish charm and culture – not to mention its own castle.
Plus, in Scotland, the Highlands are at your fingertips with access to dreamy landscapes in no time at all. You can even book day trips through parts of the Highlands if you’re really short on time. I used to live in Scotland, so I was able to see a ton, but I did several tours throughout my time there. I did day trips to all parts of Scotland with no problems at all and they are an absolute blast! Venturing through the tiny and scenic roads, witnessing adorable highland cows, and just being immersed in nature from all directions made for the perfect day trips away from the city. Plus, Scottish people are hilarious, so prepare for tons of laughs by your tour guide (and locals!)
So how are you getting there? You’re flying – I really hope. From Barcelona you can arrive to London in around two to three hours, similar flight times exist for Madrid, too. Add an extra hour for flights to Edinburgh.
And that’s it! When you’re ready for a getaway from spectacular Spain head off on new adventures in France, Portugal, Morocco, and the United Kingdom to get you started. Feel free to share your own ideas as well. What would you recommend for someone to do in these destinations? What countries would you add to this list.
