If we could use one word to describe Spain, it would be diverse. This is a country where the landscape ranges from desert to subtropical forest, where rugged mountains give way to gold-sand beaches, and where quaint, whitewashed villages sit just a few miles from cosmopolitan cities.
Down in the Canaries, the islands showcase dramatic volcanic vistas, desert scenery and year-round sunshine. As for the beaches, you'll find everything from toffee-coloured dunes and huge sweeps of white sand, to bays edged with dark, volcanic grains.
The Balearic Islands, meanwhile, offer up sandy beaches, pine forests and fashionable towns.
Majorca is an old favourite, with plenty of family-friendly activities and some postcard-pretty villages in the Tramuntana Mountains.
Ibiza has a split personality - on the one hand, you've got stylish bars and nightclubs, while on the other there are virgin beaches, rolling countryside and quiet seaside resorts. As for
Menorca, its calling cards are its white-sand coves and peaceful, under-the-radar feel.
In the south of mainland Spain lies the
Costa del Sol. Down by the coast you'll find lively towns and sandy beaches, while further inland are hillside pueblos blancos (whitewashed towns) and sight-packed cities like Granada, Cordoba and Seville.
