Spain is one of our dream destinations. It’s a country rich in culture, flavors, and many beautiful sights to see. The people are also warm, friendly, and easy-going. My mother used to work in Spain as a nurse and she has nothing but praise for this country as well as its citizens.

I’m sure a lot of travelers also have Spain on their bucket list. With the many places to visit and the seemingly endless activities to choose from, travel planning in Spain can be overwhelming.

To help you out, here are the five top activities that you may want to do when you visit Spain. Of course, feel free to make adjustments depending on your length of stay and budget.

One of the most anticipated events in Spain is the Xacobeo. Travelers can expect a host of activities such as concerts, art exhibitions, conferences, talks, films, and educational activities, just to name a few.

For those who are going to Xacobeo, it’s highly recommended that travelers participate in the St James Way (Camino de Santiago). This is often described as the best way to fully experience Xacobeo.

St. James Way is a centuries-old pilgrimage route that ends at Santiago de Compostela Cathedral. It’s a complete experience that is considered spiritual by some, cultural by others, and for a few individuals it’s a way of finding themselves.

St. James Way is a route that everyone should do at least once in their lifetime and which passes through areas of incredible natural beauty in the north of Spain.

Sanlucar de Barrameda is a town located in Cadiz, Andalusia. It’s been dubbed as the Gastronomy Capital of Spain, as such, one can expect fairs, tasting sessions, and workshops in the various events that are lined up.

While in Sanlucar Barrameda, travelers must never fail to sample the prawn and manzanilla sherry. Moreover, they can also choose to visit around 150 bars and 20 wineries.

Lastly, foodies should experience the “tapas crawl” in Sanlúcar before leaving. Participants can do a route where they can try local delicacies such as pescado frito, acedías, puntillitas, pijotas, cazón en adobo, camarones al ajillo, papas aliñás, raya a la naranja, coquinas al ajillo, and arroz con pato.

Valencia has been recognized as the World Design Capital, the first time that a Spanish city has been given this honor. What’s more, Valencia has also been named the European Capital of Smart Tourism 2022.

For those who love design, there are around 100 activities being organized related to design like exhibitions, conferences, and publications. The primary aim of these events is to promote design related to values like diversity, innovation, inclusion, and sustainability.

Some of the most notable events to look forward to include the “Graphic route. Designing the sound of Valencia” at the Institut Valencià d’Art Modern (IVAM), the “NUDE exhibition. 20 years. 20 designers” at the Feria Hábitat Vàlencia and the DoCoMoMo International Conference.

Beautiful Menorca is rich in seafood and one should not miss tasting a caldereta or lobster stew. In addition to that, travelers can also taste the best fish and seafood from the waters of Menorca through gastronomic fairs, cooking contests, a wine fair, a tapas fair with food trucks, food and wine tasting events, and the “Cooking films” festival.

Sports enthusiasts will be happy to note that Madrid has been declared the World Capital of Sport, the first city in Europe to achieve this feat.

Madrid has some exciting sporting events in store for travelers such as the Tennis Masters, the World Athletics Indoor Championships, the World Athletics Outdoor Championships, and the EDP Rock `n´ Roll Running Series Madrid or the football matches at the capital’s great football clubs like Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid.

Moreover, the “Legends Experience” museum in Madrid is also opening. It’s a museum devoted to the world of football.

Aside from sports, Madrid is a great destination to learn about Spanish culture. Forbes has ranked the Prado Museum among the top 10 of the World's Most Admired Art Museums.

If you have never previously visited Prado Museum, take advantage of the opportunity to do so because the Paseo del Prado (where the museum is located) is right next to the Retiro Park and the Los Jerónimos neighborhood, which have been collectively awarded World Heritage status by UNESCO.

Families who are traveling to Spain can now enjoy more relaxed health entry requirements for non-EU travelers aged between 12 to 17 years old beginning February 14, 2022.

Minors traveling from countries where there is difficulty in accessing COVID-19 vaccines or if vaccination is not yet possible are only required to submit the following:

• A negative COVID-19 NAAT molecular nucleic acid amplification test (RT-PCR or similar) made 72 hours before their arrival to Spain.
• A duly-accomplished Health Control Form. This can be accessed via www.spth.gob.es (if traveling by air), the Spain Travel Health-SpTH app (available for Android and iOS), and spthm.puertos.es (if traveling by sea).

There is no more need to present a vaccination certificate.

Furthermore, children under 12 years of age, who travel with an adult, are still not subject to any type of health requirement the same as before.

This is Spain's response to the difficult situation presented to families with parents vaccinated against COVID-19 but cannot travel with their children yet due to difficult access to the vaccine by the latter.

For individuals traveling to Spain, these are the requirements that they need to comply with:

• Fill up the health form online to generate a QR Code that must be presented when boarding and upon arrival in Spain. To get the QR Code, travelers need to accomplish a Health Control From through www.spth.gob.es (if traveling by air), the Spain Travel Health-SpTH app (available for Android and iOS), and spthm.puertos.es (if traveling by sea).
• Present a valid vaccination certificate - your 2nd dose must not be taken more than 9 months ago. Otherwise, you need to have the booster shot.

Presently, it is not mandatory to submit any form if the trip to Spain is by land.

Whether it be for reunions with relatives or a much-deserved family holiday, Spain aims to give everyone memorable moments with its multitude of options of destinations to visit and experiences to enjoy.

For the most updated information about Travel Safe to Spain, you may visit: https://travelsafe.spain.info/en/.

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