Walls adorned with vibrant street art. Plazas bustling with people diving in and out of tapas bars. The aroma of spicy chorizo and patatas bravas wafting through the air. This is Embajadores, in central Madrid - a barrio that is fast gaining a reputation as one of Europe's trendiest cultural hotbeds.
Valencia is the kind of city that almost feels as if it were built for the enjoyment of long-weekend visitors. With a compact city center, a glorious beach, an old town full of vintage tapas bars, and paella perfected through the decades are all within a leisurely stroll of each other.
The landscape of Spain is dotted with castles and palaces that have loomed over cities and villages for centuries. Kings, queens, princes and princesses don’t reside in these magnificent medieval structures anymore – but you can. In the 20th century, many of the finest Spanish Paradors were converted into hotels that will make you feel as though you’ve been transported back in time. Here are just a handful of your best options for getting the royal treatment.