beat the brochure

Who else loves lists? I for one do, and in this vein I have decided to rundown the top 7 Spanish cities that you must visit at some point in your life. Whether it is a stag do to Barcelona or a romantic trip to Seville, Spain has more than its fair share of cosmopolitan hubs that usually feature high on ‘best places to visit’ lists. But in such a competitive environment, which city comes out on top?

1. Salamanca

Erm, not what you were thinking? Well get with the programme girlfriend, as Salamanca is considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Located on the west coast of Spain near to the border with Portugal, Salamanca is a university town that has a laid back attitude. Fly into Valladolid – which is now open to EasyJet flights – and drive the one hour journey to Salamanca to experience a city which has managed to keep it’s village like feel.

2. Madrid

The capital city, which sits in the middle of the country, often loses out in these sort of lists to the more popular Barcelona. For this reason amongst others it comes in at number two in our list, above its rival. Madrid is a big, bustling, vibrant city that has everything you could want and is perfect for budget and luxury visits. What more could you want?

3. Barcelona

A city with a beach, trendy bars and a world famous street right in the centre of town. All of these come together to create a fantastic city which, in all honesty, should be more than enough for it to take the top spot. Why doesn’t it? Well because it is time for another city to get some limelight. Barcelona will always be there and will always be a popular destination for cheap Spain holidays!

4. Ibiza Town

OK, so it may not have the culture or historical significance of other city heavyweights, but for partying there is nowhere better in the whole of Spain. The capital of Ibiza enjoys a worldwide reputation as a party haven that has to be respected even if it is not exactly your scene.

5. Granada

No – not the television company, the city – located in the south of the country near to Malaga, home to 265,000 people. The River Darro flows through the centre of the city, with the surrounding terrain as contrasting as anywhere in Spain. The Sierra Nevada mountain range has a snow covered top all year round and highlights the natural beauty of the area.

6. Seville

Seville is home to narrow streets full of passion and history. Not only this, but Seville is generally considered to be a fun loving city, where the locals are nice, welcoming and generally very pleasant! The city can be a bit on the expensive side, but you shouldn’t let this put you off – just make sure you stick to your budget!

7. Palma

Some of you may turn your noses up at Palma, but wait. This small city on the island of Majorca packs a punch well above its weight. The Cathedral of Santa Maria of Palma, Bellver Castle and the Diocesan Museum are just three of the many attractions and Palma has Roman, Byzantine and Moorish roots which are just waiting to be explored.

Disagree with this list? Feel free to leave your comments below and suggest a few places that are perfect for cheap holidays which should have made the final cut!