Travel blog - Tips to explore the world on a budget
What to See in Estepona: Itinerary, Highlights & Tours
Liam O'Connell
25
December,
2025
Estepona, nestled on Spain's Costa del Sol between Marbella and Gibraltar, enchants visitors as "The Garden of the Coast" with its immaculately whitewashed Old Town bursting with geranium-draped balconies, over 60 vibrant street murals transforming building facades into open-air galleries, and Europe's largest Orchidarium housing 1,500 orchid species beneath three glass domes—all just steps from 21 kilometers of golden-sand Mediterranean beaches. Home to 70,000 residents yet retaining authentic Andalusian charm often lost in neighboring resorts, this former Moorish fishing village balances history—15th-century Castillo de San Luis ruins, Roman mausoleum foundations, Torre del Reloj clock tower—with contemporary coastal living, its 5-kilometer Paseo Marítimo promenade linking Old Town plazas to marina yachts and Blue Flag beaches where locals still practice espeto de sardinas (sardine skewers) beachside grilling traditions. Free walking tours through the Centro Histórico unlock hidden courtyards, ceramic poetry plaques lining cobblestone alleys (Ruta de Poesía), and Plaza de las Flores' flower-framed cafés serving pescaíto frito (fried fish), while the coastal path reveals sculptor-dotted gardens and turquoise waters ideal for sunset strolls far from Costa del Sol's tourist crowds.
read more
What to See in Mallorca: Itinerary, Highlights & Tours
Jürgen Müller
25
December,
2025
Mallorca is Spain's largest Balearic Island, with 3,640 square kilometers of Mediterranean coastline and mountains. The island has much more to offer than just its capital, Palma de Mallorca. There are over 300 beaches, from quiet turquoise coves to wide, family-friendly bays. The Serra de Tramuntana mountain range, a UNESCO World Heritage site, runs for 90 kilometers and is filled with limestone peaks and stone villages. You can also explore prehistoric caves, Roman ruins, and pine-covered cliffs reached by winding coastal roads. About 900,000 people live on Mallorca, but the island welcomes 16 million visitors each year, many of whom only see Palma. The real charm lies beyond the capital, such as the clifftop village of Valldemossa where Chopin composed, Cala Varques cove after a forest hike, the GR221 trail connecting mountain refuges, or the Portal Vells sea caves shaped by medieval sailors. Free tours from Palma can take you to hidden beaches, mountain viewpoints, and traditional farmhouses. Adventurers can paddleboard through limestone arches or snorkel under cliffs once used by hermits. Mallorca’s magic is found all over the island, not just in the city.
read more
What to See in Albarracín: Itinerary, Highlights & Tours
Sofia Ricci
23
December,
2025
Albarracín sits on a bend of the Guadalaviar River in Aragon's Sierra de Albarracín. It's one of Spain's prettiest villages, with rose-colored stone houses that seem to tumble down cliffs surrounded by pine forests and ancient rock art. With only about 1,000 residents, this well-preserved medieval town was named a Historic-Artistic Monument in 1961. Its narrow cobbled streets wind past wooden balconies that jut out over the lanes, ochre walls that glow at sunset, and Mudéjar plasterwork that mixes Islamic and Gothic styles. Albarracín began as a Moorish taifa kingdom in the 10th century under the Berber Banu Razín dynasty. It remained semi-independent through the Reconquista, with its pink cliffs helping to defend against sieges until Pedro III took control in 1284. Today, visitors can explore unique houses like Casa de Julianeta, see lizard carvings on doorways, visit the Torre del Andador, and spot noble coats of arms at Monterde-Antillón. Free walking tours from Plaza Mayor reveal everything from Islamic ceramics to medieval law codes in the Museo de Albarracín.
read more
What to See in Santa Cruz de Tenerife: Itinerary, Highlights & Tours
Liam O'Connell
23
December,
2025
Santa Cruz de Tenerife sits on the northeast coast and is the biggest city in the Canary Islands. It blends modern sights with colonial history and the excitement of Carnival. The city has about 210,000 people. Its waterfront features the striking Auditorio de Tenerife by Santiago Calatrava, while palm-filled plazas like Plaza de España are busy with markets, street performers, and the smell of papas arrugadas in mojo sauce. Founded in 1494 after the Spanish defeated the Guanche, Santa Cruz became a key port for ships heading to the Americas. It defended itself from pirates, British fleets, and rival ports like Garachico, which a volcano destroyed in 1706. Today, the city hosts Europe’s second-largest Carnival, attracting 400,000 visitors, and offers modern culture at the TEA museum and Palmetum gardens. Free walking tours are a fun way to explore the city’s history, from Guanche roots to today’s Canarian pride.
read more
What to See in Reus: Itinerary, Highlights & Tours
Jürgen Müller
22
December,
2025
Reus is a vibrant Catalan city located about 10 kilometers from the Mediterranean and close to Tarragona’s Roman ruins. It’s famous as Antoni Gaudí’s birthplace and has one of Spain’s largest collections of Modernist buildings. With a population of around 100,000, Reus features a walkable historic center with elegant squares like Plaça del Mercadal, lively cafés, market stalls selling local olives and cheeses, and ornate mansions that show its 19th-century trading success. Starting in the 18th century, Reus grew through wine, brandy, and especially vermouth, earning it the nickname “vermouth capital” of Catalonia. This prosperity brought architects like Lluís Domènech i Montaner, who designed over 70 Modernist buildings here, many as impressive as those in Barcelona but without the crowds. Gaudí was born here in 1852 during this golden era. Although his family moved nearby when he was five, Reus still honors him with museums, statues, and an annual festival. Today, you can walk past wrought-iron balconies with floral designs, enjoy vermouth in arcaded cafés, and admire the Gothic spires of Prioral de Sant Pere. Free walking tours let you discover how Reus blends medieval history, industrial energy, and artistic flair for a truly local experience.
read more
Show more articles
