Destinations

Destinations

Specialized in Spain and Portugal

At Spain YourWay we are specialized in offering quality travels in Spain & Portugal. Combine these two destinations in one trip, or discover only one, having a good reason to come back. What is certain, is that both destinations will meet your expectations, and here you will find the best they can offer, so you should come to visit us.

THE EUROPEAN CARIBBEAN

Favourtie destination among europeans

SPAIN

Known as the warmest country in Europe, its strong point is that Spain is different. We have our own schedules of meals, work, rest, a unique variety and quality of its gastronomy, an extensive wine tradition, a very personal way of having fun and, above all, a very vast and diverse heritage and cultural legacy. Spain will not leave you indifferent in any way.

Some general information

Located in the Southwest of Europe. In Spain, 4 official languages ​​are spoken (Spanish, Catalan, Basque and Galician) and it is made up of 17 autonomous communities. It is a peninsula surrounded by water (Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic Ocean and Cantabrian Sea) and borders two countries (Portugal and France). Its capital is Madrid and its currency is the Euro.

What about the gastronomy

It's amazing how such a small country can have so much variety in its cuisine. Depending on which autonomous community you visit, some dishes or others will be typical. In general, the Spanish omelet and the Serrano Ham you will find everywhere, as well as rice, fish, meats, all of a superior quality. Our main product is the one known as our liquid gold, the Olive Oil. By regions we highlight: In Valencia the paella, in Andalusia the gazpacho or the salmorejo, in Madrid the cocido and callos, in Catalonia the bread with tomato, in Galicia the pulpo a la gallega and the empanada. As desserts, the famous churros with chocolate, the torrijas of Easter, the ears of carnival, the Catalan cream, the fried milk, and this is just a small brushstroke. If you really are a food lover and would like to live a local experience with high tastes, we recommend you take a look at the FOOD EXPERIENCES we offer during your stay in Spain. Surely one opens your appetite.

Wine tradition

Wine is the traditional drink of Spain, and usually accompanies meals in all rural houses, and snacks and dinners in the cities. A good Spanish is always ready for a glass of wine. Spain is among the 3 main producers in the world, along with France and Italy, and it is produced in the 17 autonomous communities, so if you like wine, you cannot be in a better place. Just like the food, depending on which part of Spain you are in, you will be able to taste different drinks. In Valencia the Horchata is typical, in the North of Spain the Orujo Cream, in Galicia the Coffee Liquor and the Queimada, in Asturias the Cider, in Catalonia the Cava, in Andalusia the Rebujito and the Tinto de Verano and the most popular, the Sangría all over the country. You will not be able to try it all ... or maybe yes, but always accompanied by a good tapa, remember! Find out our WINE EXPERIENCES to choose the one that fits your itinerary.

Culture: Art & Scenes

Spanish art is one of the greatest cultural heritages in the world. Before, we were a country of sun and beaches, of terraces and sangrías, of bulls and sevillanas. But if you really dig a little deeper into the cultural and artistic history of this country, you may be surprised. It is hard to summarize, because there is so much to tell, but the highlights would be: From painters like Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, Velázquez, Goya, Miró, Murillo, ... to writers such as Lorca, Cervantes, Unamuno, ... Being part of the World Heritage, we have the Aqueduct of Segovia, the Alhambra of Granada, El Escorial de Madrid, the historic center of Cordoba, the cathedral of Burgos, the work of Gaudí in Barcelona, ​​the old city of Santiago de Compostela, the caves of Altamira, the historic city of Toledo, the cathedral of Seville, the Pilgrim route to Santiago, among many others... About the most important museums to visit, you will find the Guggenheim in Bilbao, the Dalí Theater-Museum in Figueres, Pablo Picasso in Malaga, the Science Museum in Valencia, the Prado Museum in Madrid, etc.. And we cannot forget about the performing arts: in the cinema, directors like Pedro Almodóvar, J.A. Bayona, Alejandro Amenábar... actors of the sizes of Penelope Cruz, Antonio Banderas, Javier Bardem... But what we are most proud of, and that we are known worldwide, is our flamenco music and dance. If you really want to know what it is to TENER DUENDE (something that cannot be explained which gives you a magical charm), we encourage you to let yourself be carried away by one of our CULTURAL EXPERIENCES that we propose to include in your trip to Spain

How to enjoy the green Spain

Spain is a country of a great natural beauty, ready for adventure. Remember its extensive coastline is surrounded by water, the vast surface of mountain ranges, and its varied climate makes it one of the richest natural enclaves in Europe that invites all kinds of activities. The unusual beauty of the landscapes of Spain does not go unnoticed by outdoor sports enthusiasts. Hiking, skiing, windsurfing, sailing, climbing, or bicycle riding, are examples of the most common activities that you can enjoy when visiting us. In places as impressive as: the Natural Park of the Cies Islands, recommended for diving; the coasts of Cantabria and the Basque Country for windsurfing and paragliding; and the rivers Miño and Sella for canoe trips. In the interior, in the Picos de Europa National Park, you can practice all kinds of mountain sports: the main routes for climbing, sport climbing, cross-country skiing, hiking, mountain biking and even horse riding on several routes in the Camino to Santiago. In our section of OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES you can enjoy the nature of the country and its landscapes and cities. Or if your ultimate goal is to relax and disconnect, you can try our WELLNESS experiences. Is it too much to choose?

Why Spain is different

The real purpose of a trip is not to be an expert in culinary culture and not everybody likes to see monuments or visit museums. Normally, what you want to discover, is the essence of the country and in Spain, essence is something that we exceed. We are so particular that we do not leave anyone indifferent. In our way of socializing the key is: the culture of tapas, which has spread internationally throughout the world and continues to connect people, both local and visitors. Food in Spain is a way of life, it is a good excuse to share a talk, good laughs, tell about our day, exchange anecdotes, spread illusions, and it does not matter if it is with a group of friends or with strangers. Something very common to promote these moments, is to give free food with a drink, which many visitors are surprised with. We put family and friends before work, where lunches and family reunions go on without an end. It is a country where we work to live, not the other way around. Another of our particularities is the schedule, more relaxed, where meals and dinners start later than in the rest of Europe. This gives us the chance to take a nap after lunch, the famous SIESTA. We are also very affectionate, we greet with two kisses and we like to hug each other, this is a part of the latin character, feeling no fear of emotions. And also for having such an impulsive character, our tone of voice may be high for the foreigners, but it is our way to communicate. And because of all these reasons, Spain is a country known for its festivals and popular traditions. Among them, we highlight the most important, like: the San Fermín in Pamplona, the Fallas in Valencia, the April Fair in Seville, the Carnival of Tenerife and Cádiz, the Tomatina in Buñol, the Rocío in Andalusia, the Viking pilgrimage in Catoira, Hogueras de San Juan, San Isidro in Madrid, Descent of the Sella river... So many that you do not miss any in our section of AGENDA.

LGBT top destination

Spain has been the European country best valued by long distance LGBT tourists. In Spain not only are they respected, but they can also express themselves and act freely, and they will find a space of tolerance and full respect. A gay friendly country that wants to continue improving, so that all tourists here feel at home. And that is demonstrated in the large number of LGBT parties and activities that are held in our country.

It is one of the biggest LGBT parties in Europe and attracts more than two million attendees from all over the world. It consists of six days of concerts, activities and parties that include high-heeled races, water battles, a Mister Gay Spain contest and visits to the Chueca neighborhood http://www.madridorgullo.com/en/

In addition to the celebration and good weather, you will find thousands of cultural proposals that you cannot miss. The legacy of Gaudí and modernism, the hidden stories of the Gothic quarter, museums of classical and modern art, charming markets, gastronomy … https://www.pridebarcelona.org/en/

A festival of pride on the beach? That is exactly what it is. We can expect the presence of international DJs and other guest artists. In addition, its 26 floats and thousands of participants make this parade one of the best parties in the Mediterranean https://www.gaysitgespride.com/

It will take place in the European gay paradise of Gran Canaria. Nearly 10,000 attendees fill the streets of Maspalomas during the ten days of shows, parades, pool parties and boat trips. https://maspalomaspride.es/maspalomas-gay-pride-official-website/

It is a vibrant event, dedicated exclusively to women and held in a private tourist resort in Ibiza. There are four days and nights of parties in swimming pools, night clubs, music, sun, beach and sports. This event, focused on lesbians, promotes fun, friendship, new love and life. All energized by sun and sangria! https://www.velvetibiza.es/en/

This festival was created with the aim of reflecting on the world of culture, business and LGTBQI collective rights. During these five days, Arona will unleash culture with all kinds of concerts, exhibitions, literary conferences, film series on sexual diversity… until the ceremony of Alan Turing LGTBIQ Awards, which recognize the most outstanding personalities within the world of computing. https://arnculturepride.org/english

The XXIV edition of the LesGaiCineMad festival, the most relevant LGTB film event in our language, will come with the autumn. This festival was born with the aim of making visible the lesbian, gay and transsexual films, so that in each edition films, shorts, documentaries, and video art related to sexual diversity compete. Year after year, the festival has increased its recognition, becoming today an international benchmark in LGBT productions. http://www.lesgaicinemad.com/

You will find all the events and more in our agenda

PORTUGAL

There are many reasons for the award for Portugal: for its history and culture, its cuisine and wines, the beaches so ready for surfing, its music festivals, the passion for golf, the beauty of its landscape and most importantly, the kindness of its people. Portugal suggests a certain melancholy, but the good one, the one that makes you smile.

Some general information

Located in the Iberian Peninsula, it abuts only one country, Spain. It is formed by 7 regions and its official language is Portuguese, although also English and Spanish are spoken by its majority. Portugal is only bathed by an ocean, the Atlantic, and its capital is Lisbon. Being its currency the Euro, Portugal is famous for being one of the most economic countries in the European Union. Because of warm climate, like Spain, and being very similar in culture and gastronomy, their governments are considering promoting them as a single destination under the slogan: "one destination, two countries.

What about the gastronomy

They say that in Portugal there are 365 ways to prepare bacalhau (Cod), one for each day of the year. Its gastronomy can be defined as Mediterranean cuisine, and due to its proximity to the sea, fish and seafood are very present. Among the most important ingredients are bread, wine and oil that are influenced by their neighboring country Spain, the Arabs and the Brazilian cuisine. As featured dishes, in addition to the cod, you will find the green broth, the francesinhas, feijoada, crumbs alentejada, rice dishes with sea food, and sardines, but do not forget that they are experts in cheese and desserts, such as the famous pasteis de nata. The different tasting experiences will depend on the region you are in, so we encourage you to take a look at the FOOD EXPERIENCES in case you decide to visit Portugal.

Wine and liqueur tradition

Portugal is a wine country and among the favorites wines as the Vinho Verde, the Alentejo wines and the Moscatel, we emphasize the Port Wine in the Douro Region. Another great quality they have, is the production of liqueurs; the best known is the Ginja, which consists of a cherry brandy, or the Amarguinha, which is an almond liqueur similar to the Italian Amaretto, and the Beirao liqueur of herbs and aromatic seeds. And from the beautiful Madeira we get La Poncha that can be found in any Portuguese supermarket. You can find out in our WINE EXPERIENCES the visit to the Douro Valley, where it is worth to go not only for the wine, although for its impressive vineyards along the Douro River, one of the most genuine landscapes of Portugal. Remember to say when you toast: A nossa! or Saúde!

A country full of world heritage sites

Keep in mind that Portugal it is one of the oldest nations in Europe (it has more than 800 years of history). Among all its historical centers, archaeological sites, cultural landscapes, natural parks and intangible heritage, the UNESCO has granted 22 distinctions of World Heritage. If you want to go back in time and feel the past, you only have to walk through the cobbled streets of Guimaräes, Porto or Evora to feel like an authentic Roman. Or if you would like to know where the first manifestations of human creation were found, you only have to visit the Archaeological Park of Vale do Côa, within the archaeological sites. The cultural landscapes offered by Portugal are spectacular, as previously mentioned Alto Douro region, the oldest demarcated wine region in the world or the cultural landscape of Sintra. And finally, the Intangible Cultural Heritage is not left behind, emphasizing the Fado, sung in an intense way and with a lot of soul. And of course, Portugal is famous for its deeply rooted Christian faith and its demonstration in its buildings, emphasizing Fatima, the capital of peace and place of Marian Pilgrimage. Within its intangible assets we find the Portuguese coast, which forms practically a single beach of more than 850km. We are saying about the Algarve, the Portugal's best-known sun and sea destination (it received the award for the best beach destination in Europe at the World Travel Awards 2013 and 2015). Its coasts present excellent conditions for the practice of SURF. For all these experiences you can visit our CULTURAL AND OUTDOORS EXPERIENCES to get an idea.

The local way

The Portuguese are hardworking, modest, kind, and very discreet people. They appreciate when you try to speak in their language, and the most important thing for them is the family. One thing that characterizes them, is the respect and appearances for being a nation that is still very conservative and reserved. Greetings, quite the opposite of Spain, are formal and respectful, and everyone is treated as a sir or a lady unless they tell you otherwise. It is customary to shake hands to greet for the first time when you are introduced to someone. Being late is rude, and when you are invited to eat at someone's house, it is customary to bring flowers or chocolates. In a few words, it is a romantic country, full of charming regions, with magical spaces and exotic nature. It is a very affordable destination awarded worldwide, with very unique hotels and rich gastronomic and wine culture. Do you need more reasons to come and visit?

To know when it is best to visit Portugal, check our agenda