The UK's most popular holiday destination, Spain offers something for everyone the whole year round. The country is rich in history and culture, so much of which can be seen when walking around its cities today. A trip to Granada and in particular the Alhambra Palace reveals the impact on the country of the Arab occupation which lasted nearly seven centuries. Similarly a visit to Barcelona reveals how a single architect, in this case Gaudi, can impact an entire city. For a country that bred artists such as Velazquez, Picasso and Dali, the country has a number of world-famous galleries including the Prado Museum in Madrid.

Of course, a country boasting places like the Costa del Sol and the Balearic Islands is rightly known for the quality of its beaches and tourists will find themselves spoilt for choice when visiting. From wide sweeps of sand on hotel-lined bays to hidden-away coves, the only problem you'll have is choosing which one to visit. Of course sports fanatics flock to these beaches, from surfers riding Atlantic rollers in Mundaka and Bilbao to windsurfers in the Canary Islands where the elements conspire to offer almost constant wind.

One of the world's most famous restaurants elBulli may have closed for the time being, but there are enough Spanish restaurants elsewhere to ensure you are never far from a good meal. From the tapas and pinchos joints in San Sebastian to the coastal restaurants of Alicante, food remains core to Spanish life. Seafood is much celebrated in the country while you would have to work very hard to find another country with quite as many different ways of making pork delicious as Spain does. Bars are welcoming affairs too and with so many in each town and city, barhopping can be a great way of taking in the country and seeing the night life.

Shopping is also very much a national pass time in the country and visitors should not only keep an eye out for familiar brands including Mango and Zara but also make a point of visiting the country's many open markets. The country boasts many skilled craftsmen and those prepared to hunt around may be surprised by what they find.