Best Holiday Destination:SPAIN

 

1. It's cheap

The pound may have taken a hit against the euro of late, but Spain remains one of the best value destinations in Europe for a summer getaway. Indeed, a Post Office report yesterday revealed that Mallorca, Lanzarote, Menorca and the Costa del Sol are among the five cheapest places for a self-catering holidays. And in April it named the Costa del Sol the third cheapest European destination for a summer holiday, with only the Algarve and Sunny Beach, Bulgaria, offering lower prices.

2. The sun, sun and sun

The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain, if indeed at all, as the country is statistically Europe’s sunniest. The coastal resorts of the Mediterranean enjoy, on average, more than 300 days of sunshine each year – well into the autumn and winter months.

3. The cultural giants

While on the topic of Spain’s notable artistic exports, visitors will grace the same shores of surrealist Salvador Dali (the Teatro Museo Dali in his hometown of Figueres is a must), architect Antoni Gaudi (Barcelona is home to the unfinished cathedral, Sagrada Familia, as well as a number of other projects) and painter Pablo Picasso (his birthplace of Malaga has a museum home to some 300 works).

4. The best beaches in Europe

“With more than 5,000 miles of coastline, Spain has thousands of beaches, from tiny rocky coves to long strips of golden sand,” writes Telegraph Travel’s Spain expert Annie Bennett. “Blue Flag status was awarded to more than 577 beaches around the country and the islands last year, guaranteeing not only water quality but also, in most cases, access for people with disabilities. That number means Spain tops the global ranking, handing the country the accolade of best beaches on earth. Galicia has the most Blue Flags, with 131 awarded to its spectacular Atlantic beaches.”

5. To see one of the world’s greatest ancient sites

According to historian Mary Beard, that is. “Go to Segovia for one single stunning Roman view, and a spectacular piece of Roman engineering,” she says. “The huge aqueduct, built at the end of the first century AD, on a series of double-decker arches almost thirty metres tall, still comes right into the middle of the modern town, dominating the central square. There is little else Roman to be seen, but Segovia is a World Heritage Site, not simply for the aqueduct, but also for its medieval architecture, from palace and cathedral to monasteries and taverns.”