The Iberian Peninsula is a land apart. Cordoned from Europe and Africa by mountain and sea, Spain and Portugal are themselves cultural mosaics. Despite being fiercely proud of their individuality, Spain’s regions share a common rhythm. Late-night parties segue into afternoon siestas, fast-paced cities shut down as citizens linger over lunch, and everything happens mañana. The dizzying Pyrenees and Picos de Europa exhilarate adventurers, while Spain’s sands entice sun-lovers young and old. Pilgrims tread the path across northern Spain to the soaring cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, while other visitors make their pilgrimage to Madrid’s famed art museums. Northeastern and central Spain are aesthetic wonders. Trendy, quirky Barcelona hugs a rugged coastline characterized by famed architecture like Antoni Gaudí’s fantastical conjurings and Bilbao’s shining Guggenheim Museum. The south, meanwhile, is the passionate Spain of popular imagination, home to bullfights, flamenco, tapas, and Moorish intricacies. The nocturnal energy of Madrid, Barcelona, and Ibiza could exhaust the most hardcore clubbers, but the Spanish tradition of churros con chocolate at dawn goes a long way to starting the next day off right. Spain is a paradise for partiers, a mecca for art lovers, a kick-start for thrill-seekers, and a rest stop for the restless.
Today, travelers will discover one of Europe’s fastest-growing hotspots in Portugal. Lisboa, the capital and largest city, has the country’s most impressive imperial monuments, while the southern Algarve, boasting spectacular beaches and wild nightlife, draws backpackers in droves. Northern Coimbra crackles with the energy of a university town, and Porto surpasses even Lisboa in elegance. Portugal’s inland towns have a timeless feel, with medieval castles overlooking rushing rivers and peaceful town squares. The wild northern region, including the land in Trás-Os-Montes, is among the most pristine in all of Europe—some villages have remained unchanged for nearly a millennium.
While Morocco lies only 13 km from the southern tip of Spain, visitors will feel like they’ve stumbled into another world. Whether fascinated by the roots of Iberia’s Muslim past, eager to experience the sounds and scents of bustling markets, or just longing to sit in a cafe with a steaming glass of mint tea, travelers consistently find that the bursting color and cultural hybridity of modern Morocco make a visit south from Iberia an unforgettable experience.
For 50 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.
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