Travel Guide for No-Frills Excursions to Spain

Experiencing Spain requires heart and pluck, not money and extravagance. If you are embarking on a no-frills voyage to this vibrant and vigorous country, you have a real opportunity to connect with the land and its people if you can give up the checklist of "must-see" cities and stay away from first-class accommodations. Spain's less touristy regions awaken your inspiration, and outdoor activities make for powerful memories without breaking the bank.

Hike El Camino

• Visit Spain as a pilgrim, backpack on your back. El Camino de Santiago is an ancient pilgrimage trail in northern Spain. You are guaranteed unusual encounters and stunning scenery whether you hike all or part of the traditional 465-mile route from Roncesvalles on the French border to the tomb of St. James at Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain. It's equally possible to bike the route or even drive it, but hikers have access to cheap or free lodging in the "refugios" along the way designed to house pilgrims. Switching from tourist to world-walker, you form strong bonds with strangers along the way and experience Spain's beauty with a clear, focused mind.

Bike a Vias Verde

• They were old, abandoned railway lines, fallen into disuse and then forgotten. But environmentally aware Spaniards spearheaded their recovery and reconditioning as safe and beautiful paths for cyclists. The more than 1,000 miles of Vías Verdes, or "green" paths, are fun and inviting for cyclists since all motorized vehicles are forbidden. Look for panels and signposts along the route that give you information about where you are and where you are heading. Stay in small, local guesthouses along your itinerary and mingle with the locals in the evening. You can find a Via Verde in any part of the country by using the Via Verdes itinerary guide. For example, the Olive Oil Greenway takes you on a 34-mile tour of olive orchards in the province of Jaén.

Visit a Desert

• Everyone has heard horror stories about the Spanish coastal towns in the country's sunny south where it's hard to find accommodations, but no harder than finding a spot to spread your beach towel. Buck the crowd and head in the other direction, centering your excursion in the Spanish desert. Bardenas Reales in the Navarre province will daze you with its austere beauty. Located just a few miles from the town of Tudela, the stark, semi-arid, lunar landscape of the region is decorated with wild rosemary and thyme that bloom brilliantly in the springtime. The clay, chalk and sandstone soils of the region have eroded into gullies, peaks and plains that take your breath away. Bardenas Reales is both a national park and an UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, open to hiking and biking from dawn to dusk daily.

Bask in Basque Country

• No need to head to beautiful but expensive cities like Madrid and Barcelona to explore the cultures of Spain; the Basque Country on the northwestern coast of Spain has everything you could seek with a far lower price tag. That most glorious and lively of cities, San Sebastian, is an expensive base camp, but if you lodge in nearby Irun on the French border, you will find low prices and a glimpse of authentic Spain. For a true taste of the region, take the little Euskotren train from Irun to San Sebastian and wander around old town. Each bar is laden with plates of delicious little snacks (called tapas in Spain but pinxtos in Basque Country), and you simply point to what you want to try. If you hope to sunbathe, either visit the wide white curl of La Concha beach in San Sebastian or head south to one of the little beach towns like Getaria, with its wide, empty beaches and wonderful seafood. For the cultural snob, you can't do better than taking the Euskotren to Bilbao to explore the fabulous new Guggenheim with its ever-changing exhibits.

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Famous Sites in Toledo, Spain

The recipe for Spain's magical city of Toledo is a complex one, requiring infusions of Moors, Christians, Jews and Romans that blend together in relative harmony over a thousand years. This fortified city, banked on three sides by the River Tagus and overlooking the long plains of New Castile, served as an important economic and cultural center for the Romans, the Arabs and the Visigoths before becoming an early capital city of Spain. To get the most from a visit to this treasure-trove of a city, explore it on foot. If you have limited time, start with these four monuments that together define Toledo.

Puerta Nueva de Bisagra

• Enter the old city of Toledo for the first time through the huge and majestic stone gate, the Puerta Nueva de Bisagra; nothing exemplifies the city better than this massive, turreted entryway. The astonishing stone gateway actually combines two gates, one built by the Moors during their occupation in the sixth and seventh centuries, and a second, added to the original during the 16th century. The glory of this UNESCO World Heritage City is its graceful mixing and melding of the works of different cultures in different ages of the world. The gate leads you straight into Toledo's old town, with its tiny, twisting streets.

Alcázar

• Raise your eyes to the highest point in the Toledo skyline where the Alcázar dominates the outlines of the city. Both fortress and castle, residence of monarchs and museum, the Alcázar has been destroyed and risen from its own ashes more than once over its long history. Built by Abd-ar-Rahman III in the 10th century, the castle stands as a monument to the resilience of Spain's people. It was destroyed during the War of Succession in the 17th century, rebuilt and destroyed by fire some years later, to be rebuilt again. It was once again damaged and almost destroyed during the Spanish Civil War after a 70-day siege -- during which the Nationalist commander famously refused to exchange the city for his son's life -- and rebuilt the the war's end. Today it stands as a gargantuan military museum that includes an excellent and exhaustive historical overview.

Cathedral of Toledo

• It is not every town, even in Spain, that contains a cathedral founded in the first century, but the Cathedral of Toledo's history began during the early days of the occupation by the Visigoths. Over the course of the city's dramatic history, the monument changed from cathedral to mosque, then back into a cathedral again. The current Gothic version of the cathedral was built in the 13th century on the old mosque's foundations and includes elements of Mudéjar and Renaissance style. The interior feels heavy with its hefty columns separating it into five huge naves with myriad side chapels adorned with precious art. Don't miss the glittering Custodia de Arfe, an 16th-century monstrance with its 260 statues of pure gold and silver; it is carried in procession through Toledo's streets during the Feast of Corpus Christi. Perhaps the best of the best is the cathedral's sacristy, rich with artwork by such masters as Titian, Rafael, El Greco, Caravaggio and Velázquez.

Museums

• No visit to Toledo is complete without a happy, headlong dive into the Museum of El Greco, the Spanish master whose canvases made the skyline of Toledo famous. It is open to debate whether El Greco once occupied the house that serves as the museum, but even if the story is untrue, it is worth seeing his paintings exhibited here. Other museums of note in this artistic town include the Museum of Contemporary Art, housed in a 16th-century building, the Casa de las Cadenas, with its exhibitions of 20th century artists. and the Museum Parroquía de Santo Tomé, where you can ogle El Greco's masterwork, "The Burial of the Count of Orgaz."

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Bullfighting Landmarks in Spain

Although recently the subject of public criticism for animal cruelty -- including laws banning the sport in the Canary Islands and in Catalonia in 1991 and 2012 respectively -- bullfighting is an important cultural tradition in Spain. Most major Spanish cities have a prominent bullfighting ring, and bullfights -- or "corridas" -- are celebrated during many festivals and holidays. A few of these bullrings are especially grandiose and sometimes even include adjoining museums with information about the sport -- all unmissable attractions for bullfighting enthusiasts while in Spain.

Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas, Madrid

• One of the most iconic buildings in the Spanish capital is its bullfighting ring. The huge red brick and tile Las Ventas ring was completed in 1931 in the Neo-Mudéjar architectural style. The ring can seat nearly 24,000 spectators and hosts bullfights from March to December. The San Isidro fair -- celebrating the feast day of Madrid's patron saint on May 15th -- brings some of the country's best matadors to the ring for 20 days of bullfights from May to June. You can purchase tickets at the entrance to the ring, but be sure to get there early for the packed events during the San Isidro fair.

Real Maestranza, Seville

• Andalucia in southern Spain is one of the most important national centers of bullfighting culture. Seville's Real Maestranza ring dates back to 1761 and the elegant baroque building is known for its ornate entrances and blood-red doors. The Real Maestranza society also operates a museum on the ring grounds, including traditional bullfighting costumes, photos and portraits of some of the arena's best-known matadors and even a series of prints by the Spanish master Francisco de Goya on the subject of bullfighting.

Plaza de Toros, Ronda

• Ronda's bullring was completed in 1785, designed by the same architect that designed the famous New Bridge over the gorges leading to this hilltop city in southern Spain. The huge building holds a bullfighting museum and was once home to the legendary Pedro Romero, the 19th century matador who retired after reportedly killing more than 5,000 bulls without sustaining any kind of injury. Among the historical luminaries that visited the building, Orson Wells was an avid bullfighting enthusiast while in Ronda.

Plaza de Toros, Pamplona

• In Pamplona, a city in northern Spain famous for its yearly "running of the bulls," bullfighting is an important part of the city's culture. Every June 6th, the city's old quarter hosts a death-defying race between revelers and several enraged bulls during the festival of San Fermin. Pamplonans run from the town hall to the bullfighting ring, hoping to outrun the bulls -- who then enter the ring to participate in a long afternoon of bullfights. While the large ring is open year-round, the bullfights on the San Fermin feast day are especially exciting, with community groups organizing their own spectacles of dancing, singing and joke-telling in the stands of the ring. Fittingly, the ring is located on Paseo Hemingway, a street named after the American writer who spent several years in Spain and was fascinated by the country's national sport.

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List of Things to Do in Galera, Spain

Surrounded by the Sagra, Castril, Baza and Cazorla mountains, Galera is an unspoiled village in the Altiplano of the Granada province. These high-altitude plains boast surreal natural beauty as dry landscape contrasts with lush forest and rivers. Though the history of the area dates back 4,000 years, fewer than 1,500 people currently live in Galera, and it is a bit off the beaten path for many tourists. Nevertheless, the village, which sits at 2,700 feet above sea level, offers travelers interesting things to do.

Be a Cave-Dweller

• While they may not rival Bruce Wayne's Batcave, fully furnished caves are available for rent in and around the village. Built into the rock face, cave homes were once the domain of villagers of humble means, but artists from the around the world now come to design their own cave dwellings. Andalusia.com estimates that 5,000 such dwellings now exist in the Antiplano and neighboring Guadix; these include several for rent around Galera.

Be a Church-Goer

• Declared a national monument in 1983, the 16th-century Church of the Annunciation was built in the Mudejar style, which mixes Christian and Muslim design, with a Baroque chapel added more than a century later. While the church is arguably the most impressive structure in Galera, other monuments include a massive iron bridge and three military watchtowers. Built during the Moorish occupation, the Fuente Amarga and square-shaped Ozmin Tower remain largely intact, while the Teon Tower is in ruins.

Make Like Indy

• With more than four millenniums of history, Galera is the perfect place to make like Indiana Jones. The area has several archaeological sites, including the Bronze Age Castellon Alto and the Tutugi Necropolis tombs, which notably produced the Phoenician "Goddess of Galera" figurine from the seventh century B.C. An easier way to explore the Altiplano past is at the two-story Archaeological Museum, housed at an old convent. The collection includes many local artifacts covering several cultures, while an underground bodega highlights hemp, esparto grass and traditional Galera wine-making.

Party, Spanish-Style!

• The locals apparently like to throw a lot of fiestas. Most are religious in nature, but events like the Fiesta de la Virgen del Rosario, Misa de los Gozos and Rosario de San Aquilino involve much singing and music, while Dia de la Tortilla and Fiesta de Las Migas are food-centered communal picnics. Other major celebrations include Fiestas del Cristo de la Expiracion, Santa Lucia and Baile de los Inocentes, which offer more interaction and a deeper window into the local culture.

Spend Time With Mother (Nature)

• The Altiplano landscape is a series of contrasts, with tree-lined riverbanks and lush valleys coexisting near arid patches of land and a dried-out rocky lake. An abundance of trails makes it easy for hikers and mountain bikers to explore the natural surroundings, spot several varieties of fauna and soak up the atmosphere of the high-altitude plains. Other ways to explore the area include horseback and even donkey riding.

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Black Sand Beaches in Europe

Black sand is a result of either placer deposits, an accumulation of valuable minerals formed during sedimentary processes, or more commonly from particles of lava from a nearby volcano. Since there are not many active volcanoes in Europe, there are few black sand beaches there. However, there are a few spots in Europe whose beaches were formed by ancient volcanoes and their beaches and coastline still bare their black remnants. Black sand beaches are rare and unique, but beware that black sand absorbs more heat and these beaches may be very hot to walk on.

Dark and Rainy in Iceland

• In southern Iceland lies a black sand beach known as Vik Beach. This strip of black basalt sand is located in the wettest part of Iceland. There are cliffs on the western side of this beach and black basalt stacks right off the coast, remnants of what used to be a much more extensive cliff-line. The volcano near Vik Beach which created the black basalt sand there is still active. Most recently it erupted in 2010, spreading ash and lava over the coastline.

Italy's Smelly Sands

• In the Tyrrhenian Sea, north of Sicily, lie the seven Aeolian Islands. These islands are part of a huge 125-mile long volcanic ridge. Two of these seven islands have black sand beaches, Volcano and Stromboli. Volcano is aptly named for its sulfur smell and massive crater, remnants of once-active volcanoes that formed the black sand beaches. On Stromboli, the volcano is still active and its smoldering ashes have charred and blackened one side of the island, creating a sparkling black sand beach. The nearby islet of Strombolicchio can be seen from Stromboli's beach and also offers a black sand spectacle.
• A Greek Treat

• There are various black sand beaches on the east coast of Santorini, Greece. There are popular resorts in the towns of both Kamari and Perissa. Kamari is more developed, with beach-side restaurants, bars, hotels and water activities. Next to Kamari, in southeast Santorini, separated by a massive rock known as Mesa Vouno, is the picturesque village of Perissa. The black sands in Perissa stand out in sharp contrast to the white town buildings. Santorini beaches are a blend of red and black sand and small pebbles.

Spanish and Portuguese Islands

• The Canary Islands offer a variety of colored beaches, but the island of Tenerife is known for its black sand beaches due to the island's volcanic rock. There is Puerto de la Cruz beach in the north and Candelaria in the east that both have black sands. However, high tourist demand on this island has caused some resorts to import golden sands for visitors to lie on. On Lanzarote, El Golfo beach in the southeast offers the striking combination of black beaches and blue waters. There are a few black sand and pebble beaches of the island of La Gomera as well.

  The Azores are nine islands belonging to Portugal sculpted by ancient volcanoes. They lie west of Portugal in the northern Atlantic Ocean. The beaches are all various shades of black, formed by basalt sand and pebbles. Hardened black lava form tide pools across the islands and mold the islands' coastlines.

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Five Attractions in Cordoba, Spain

Southern central Spain is home to Cordoba, an ancient city that seamlessly combines its European worldliness with Islamic influence. From April to June, the streets of the Jewish Quarter and the city center host citywide fiestas, while the Mezquita mosque brings countless visitors throughout the year. When you're traveling to Cordoba, you'll find plenty of attractions to occupy your time.

Climb the Rock

• Named a UNESCO site in 1979, the abbey of Mont Saint-Michel is often referred to as "The wonder of the Western world." Indeed, the Romanesque church is perched atop a rocky island more than a half mile out to sea. Although the sea doesn't reach the island during low tide, the high tides come galloping in at such a pace as to overcome unwary visitors walking on the beach. Once on the rock, you'll enter through King's Gate and find yourself in the middle of a medieval village filled with shops selling everything from sculpted gargoyles to handmade lace. After marveling at the extraordinary beauty of the ornate abbey, treat yourself to a crepe or a glass of wine in one of the many brasseries in the village.

Try the Cheese

• Normande cows are responsible for the rich milk, robust butter and creamy cheese that are staples in Norman cuisine. A visit to the village of Camembert in the Orne region will allow you to experience the soft, runny cheese in its purest form. Visit the President Farm to learn how Camembert is made, and then make a stop at Maison Camembert, a cheese display house which resembles nothing so much as a round, white wheel of Camembert. President Farm also serves a mean cup of Calvados, an apple brandy that is generally about 55 percent alcohol. There is, of course, a Calvados museum where you can learn all about this famous drink. While in the Calvados district, take time to visit the medieval village of Bayeaux and its magnificent 230-foot-long embroidered tapestry celebrating the conquest of England by the Duke of Normandy in 1066.

Hit the Beach

• Normandy boasts more than 360 miles of coastline, including the World War II D-Day landing beaches. History buffs flock to Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery that honors those who gave their lives during the largest military landing in history. A different kind of drama is evoked by the stunning Alabaster Cliffs, the mirror image of England's white cliffs of Dover. Dotted along the top of the steep limestone cliffs are historic towns, including the picturesque village of Etretat, famously painted by Claude Monet and immortalized in print by Guy de Maupassant. The offshore rock formations are breathtaking, and golfers can enjoy playing a round on a 100-year-old course at 150 feet above the ocean.

Horse Around

• Normandy is known to have a passion for horses, and nowhere is it more apparent than in Haras du Pin, the national stud horse association created in 1715 by Louis XIV. Ensconced in the inland district of Orne, the estate is known as the "Equestrian Versailles," and a tour of the vast grounds verifies the status of the prestigious horse-breeding operation. Begin with a tour of the chateau and its collection of horse paintings, trophies and 17th-century tapestries. Autumn is the time to attend both flat and steeplechase races, and, from June through September, guests are treated to an equestrian parade featuring horse-drawn vehicles of the past and spectacular displays of horsemanship.

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Top 5 Activities in Barcelona

Barcelona is a city known for so much -- food, history, art, architecture, sports. If you have a limited time in the city, it's useful to know the five attractions or activities that should not be missed. Public transportation is top-notch in Barcelona, but if you have the time to walk, you're guaranteed to happen upon many other treasures this city has to offer.

Pablo Picasso's Pieces

• The Museu Picasso (Picasso Museum), in Barrio Chino, is housed in five medieval mansions with beautiful courtyards and architecture as impressive as the works of art inside. The museum holds several thousand paintings by Picasso and artists that inspired him. Lonely Planet recommends it as a top choice sight in Barcelona because it offers a collection that provides insight into the artist's formative years and explores the relationship between Picasso's work and his relationship with Barcelona.

To Market, to Market ...

• The Mercat de la Boqueria is Barcelona's biggest and oldest market, built over a long period, from 1840 to 1914. The open-air market, now housed in Modernista-influenced architecture, dates back to the Middle Ages. It's at Placa de la Boqueria on La Rambla, a broad pedestrian boulevard. Hundreds of stalls sell thousands of products that include fish, produce, spices, flowers and insects.

Gaudi Architecture

• The landscape of Barcelona is speckled with unique Gaudi architectural sites that include Casa Vicens, Casa Calvet, Casa Mila and Casa Batllo. However, if you only have time to see one of his masterpieces, visit La Sagrada Familia, a famous landmark and tourist destination. This temple was Gaudi's masterpiece and all-consuming obsession. Though unfinished, it attracts around 2.8 million visitors a year, making it the most visited monument in Spain. Its architectural style emulates medieval cathedrals, and the towers are covered in intricate motifs of plants and animals carved in stone.

Barca Barca!

• Soccer fans should check out Camp Nou, Futbol Club de Barcelona’s 98,772-seat soccer stadium. Nearby Museu del Futbol Club Barcelona (Barcelona Club Soccer Museum) attracts more than a million visitors a year, making it one of the most visited museums in Barcelona. It was built in 1957 and enlarged for the 1982 World Cup to hold nearly 99,000, making it one of the world's largest stadiums. Catch a game during the season, which runs September through June.

Taste Sensations

• One of the best activities in Barcelona is dining out. Pintxos are bite-sized snacks, typically eaten in bars. Traditionally, each item comes with a toothpick in it, and at the end of the night you are charged based on how many toothpicks you have. For another traditionally Spanish culinary experience, try washing down tapas with some cold beer at the city's many tapas restaurants. Barcelona is also known for its vermouth and seafood. From traditional Catalan food to pizza to cheap beer in the public plazas, Barcelona's culinary scene offers a wide variety of spectacular taste sensations.

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