11 Carnivals Around the World for 2025
Whether you call it the carnival, Mardi Gras or simply a fête, the approach of Lent brings with it a wonderful explosion of colour and exuberance. Travel Begins at 40…
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Whether you call it the carnival, Mardi Gras or simply a fête, the approach of Lent brings with it a wonderful explosion of colour and exuberance. Travel Begins at 40…
On Saturday, 21 September 2024, Palma de Mallorca will be transformed into an open-air art museum for the annual Nit de l’Art, hosted by Art Palma Contemporani (APC). Celebrating its…
Holidaying with friends and family is fantastic in theory but can be challenging to meet everyone’s wants and needs. On a recent trip to Majorca, Maria Boyle, her daughters Daisy…
Calling all yogis, wellness enthusiasts, and sun-seekers! Pack your yoga mat and swimsuit because Alma Festival in northern Ibiza is the perfect escape for mind, body, and soul. Your host…
Travel Begins at 40 rounds up the best global festivals in June 2024 from Peru to Colorado, so wherever you are you can join in the celebrations. Cultural Festivals in…
June is a great month for travelling. Northern Europe sees endless hours of sunshine while southern Europe seems to be exploding with music. There is even plenty to keep you…
Looking for the best solo travel destinations for 2021? Check out this list of 10 amazing places to explore this year, from vibrant cities to stunning natural landscapes. Whether you’re…
The Day of the Balearic Islands is a public holiday celebrated across Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera. It commemorates the Statute of Autonomy, signed on 1 March 1983, which declared…
With travel restrictions lifted around the globe, Travel Begins at 40 has asked our correspondents and regular contributors what their travel resolutions for 2023 will be. Here are their 2023…
While most people plan out where they will go, what they will eat, and what memories they will create when they go to a place as exotic as Spain, most…
Mark Bibby Jackson discovers the varied eco things to do in Tenerife so long as you are prepared to venture away from the beaches and bars. Our Tenerife birdwatching guide…
Mark Bibby Jackson visits the Balearic island to savour the culinary side of the European Region of Gastronomy you can discover on your Menorca holidays. The road from Mahon Menorca…
Music lovers should head for the Formentera Jazz Festival this summer. The beautiful Balearic island will host emerging and established artists for four days in June. The programme features…
March will see Las Fallas de València return to the third Spanish city in a traditional ceremony that marks the beginning of spring. The origins of Las Fallas stem from the tradition of carpenters…
April 22 is Earth Day; a global event celebrated each year to demonstrate support for the protection of our environment. This year the theme is Restore Our Earth. Say yes…
Emiliano García, Councillor of Tourism for the Valencia City Council, shares his thoughts on why sustainability is so important for the Tourism of Tomorrow, and the actions the Spanish city…
For many of us the current year has been one of lockdown. With our collective travel wings clipped, many of us are looking for new places and new ways to…
Before the coronavirus pandemic struck, Hazel Holloway headed to the hills of southern Spain to go hiking in Nerja. It was Day 5 for me in Nerja and I was…
The following trip was taken before the Covid-19 situation took hold. But be rest assured that the beauty of Andalusia is still waiting for you to explore. As we now…
We may still be experiencing the dark days of February, but in the Balearic capital Palma, spring has arrived, the sun is out and the city’s vibrant rooftop bars have…
All you wanderlusters out there, what is it that makes your heart pump out loud? Watching that beautiful sunset over the Tanah Lot in Bali, the sunrise at Giza’s Great…
Mark Bibby Jackson takes the ferry from Ibiza to Formentera to discover an otherworldliness to the small Balearic island on his Formentera Holidays. My trip to Formentera almost became cancelled…
Wishing to avoid Ibiza’s famed nightlife, James Clark heads to Santa Eulària des Riu to discover a rich culture, fantastic food and chilled vibe. Ibiza is known by us Brits…
The Sitges Carnival (Carnaval Sitges) sees the Spanish coastal town brought to life with carnival fever as parties and parades take over the streets in the run-up to Lent. While…
Spain is a country of varying cultures and terrain and is divided up into fifty provinces, some with their own language, such as the Basque country and Catalonia. Southern Spain is close to the African coast. Popular holiday locations of the Balearic and Canary Islands are also part of Spain.
The country’s capital with its wide avenues and renowned galleries, shops and restaurants, Madrid is a must to visit. Visit the Almudana Cathedral, Royal Palace and Prado Museum. Try a paella in cobbled downtown Victoria Street, have a cocktail in one of the many bars that Hemingway allegedly frequented, or sip a glass of cava in the magnificent Plaza Major. From Atocha Railway Station, with its art nouveau façade and sub-tropical plants, take a day return ticket to Segovia for its stunning views from the ramparts.
Barcelona, Catalonia, is a buzzing city with many shops, bars and restaurants. It is famed for the 1.2-kilometre-long la Rambla that is always full of life. It leads down to the port and the beach. Visit Gaudi’s sagrada familia and Park Güell that displays many of his statues.
All travellers to Spain want to experience tapa, an enticing menu of small bites with a variety of fish, meat and vegetables. It is fun to go from bar to bar and, of course, wash it down with a glass of Spanish wine.
Carnival
Hardly surprising in a Catholic country but the Carnival is celeprated throughout Spain. Some of the biggest and most vibrant festivals are the Sitges Carnival and the Santa Cruz Carnival.