Cheap flights to Spain

Spain Travel Guide

More people book flights to Spain than almost anywhere else in the world. In fact, only France gets more visitors. It’s such a fantastic destination that the biggest problem for travelers is how to prioritize one’s time and interests over the entirety of the trip: Fly to the Green North or the sunny South? Museum-laden Madrid or buzzy Barcelona? Stunning Seville or gorgeous Granada?

The Spanish way of life might surpass its architectural gems and natural wonders. In fact, for some travelers, it’s one of the top reasons for booking a trip to Spain. Spaniards have a spirited approach to life—nobody else parties like them. A siesta in the middle of the day sets Spaniards up for a late dinner (about 10pm) and then dancing and bar hopping until dawn. Tapas, the little dishes served in bars, washed down by robust wines provide staying power for all-night revels.

A favorite destination is Menorca. The most rural of the Balearic Islands, Menorca is a lush, hilly island. Like the other islands in this chain (Majorca, Ibiza and Formentera) sun and beautiful beaches are guaranteed. Plenty of safe paddling and rock-pooling locales make this the perfect destination for families.

Another island favorite is Menorca. Despite its small size, Menorca has had two capital cities. When the British took control of the island in the 1700s, they moved the capital from Ciutadella, an old Moorish city in the west of the island, to Mahon (Mao to the locals). Mahon has one of the largest natural harbors in the world. Now, it is a bustling town with stately public buildings, such as the Palace Torre Saura, an attractive Old Town and a lively waterfront. Ciutadella is a beautiful city that has acted as the island’s religious center since the fourth century.

Wherever and whenever you decide to visit Spain, keep in mind that there are plenty of opportunities to party: religious events such as Christmas, the Ephiphany (January 6), Semana Santa (Holy Week), and numerous Saints’ festivals fill up the calendar along with the likes of San Fermin, the running of the bulls, and La Tomatina—the world’s biggest tomato fight.

Getting to and around Spain

Barcelona Airport:

One of the most common ways is the catch a RENFE train from the airport to Estacio De Sants. If you purchased a T10 ticket at the airport you can change here and ride the Metro at no extra cost to get to your final destination. If you arrive at Terminal 1 then you can get a free shuttle bus to the station to catch the RENFE train. There is also the TMB airport bus (number 46). This normally takes a little longer as it makes a few stops but you can use your T10 ticket to get on and off easily.

Madrid Airport:

There are quite a few ways to get to the center of Madrid, a cheap and reliable one being the Expres Aeropuerto. It’s a bus which runs very regularly from the arrival Terminals at the airport for a low cost. However, it only makes 2 or 3 stops during its journey so you’ll have to then board the Metro to get to your final destination. A slightly easier option is to get the Metro directly from the airport to the center of the city. Again you might need to transfer once or twice depending where you want to end up but it’s a much faster and convenient way to travel. Finally, you can get a taxi from outside the airport, although this will cost a lot more money than the bus or metro. If you have a few friends traveling with you though then you can split the fare and make this more reasonable.

Valencia Airport

The quickest and easiest way to get to the center of Valencia is to ride the Metro from the airport. It’s reliable and frequent and a lot faster than the alternatives. You can opt to get the aero bus which also goes to the city for a couple of euros, however the journey takes close to an hour and it can sometimes be confusing as to where to board the bus. If you’re not concerned much with price, then you can hail a taxi from the airport. Doing so will be considerately more than public transportation, but it will save you having to navigate your way around, just be sure to agree a price beforehand and ask for a receipt.

Menorca Airport:

Menorca Airport (Mahón Airport) is in the southeastern area of the island, about 3 miles from Mahón.

There are several buses that run from Menorca’s Airport to Mahón. They usually run every 30 minutes. A taxi is also an option if you want to reach other parts of the island, but you can also jump on public transportation to Mahón’s downtown and then use local buses to access other towns.

You can easily rely on the cheap and effective public transportation in Menorca to get around, or rent a car, but it’s important to book a car in advance and make sure you have the right documentation.

Generally, in the cities—Barcelona, Madrid and Valencia—there are metros, bus and tram services. For travelling around Spain by train, RENFE runs most of the railroads. There are good bus services around the country too. Most of the major routes are point-to-point and operate very frequently. Car rental is the best option for independent travel.

Tips for your stay in Spain

• Most travelers taking cheap flights to Spain will arrive in Madrid. The capital city is packed with world-class museums. The Prado, Thyssen-Bornemisza and Reina Sofia galleries are minutes from each other. Visit for the sumptuous royal portraits and religious paintings. Sorolla Museum is worth a visit, too—it’s the gallery/home of Joaquin Sorolla, the impressionist painter. On side trips from Madrid, one can take in the ancient cities of Segovia, Toledo and the walled city of Avila.
• In Andalusia, the province in the south, there are three cities that should not be missed: Seville, Cordoba and Granada. If there is time for just one, pick Granada. There is the Alhambra and Generalife, the Moorish citadel and palace that stands against the Sierra Nevada Mountains; but the city has even more to offer! It’s a lively student town with beautiful old neighborhoods to explore and dine in. Bib-Rambla has several good restaurants and the Arab bazaar is worth a look. The Sacromonte neighbourhood—a Roma district—is noted for cave houses dug into the hillside, and its flamenco.
• Visitors to Spain should try to stay in a parador. The state-run paradors(luxury hotels) are in restored palaces and monasteries and there are modern hotels too, built in traditional Spanish style. The Parador of Granada, which is part of the Alhambra Palace, is one of the most popular.
• In the Basque Country, that region in the Pyrenees that spans the border between France and Spain, tapas are not called tapas. Basques call them pintxos. The txikiteois the Basque word for bar hopping, soaking up the alcohol with small plates of delicious food. The alcohol of choice in this region is txakoli, akin to cava or cider. Pintxos served in this region include txangurro (cooked spider-crab flesh tart) and anchovies and papaya strips on toast.
• In Zaragozain the North East, the faithful flock to the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar to kiss the back of a column topped with a statue dressed in a woman’s robe. According to the story, the Virgin Mary appeared here to encourage St. James (or Santiago in Spanish) in his missionary endeavors. The week-long Festival of the Pillar takes place in October each year.
• Barcelonais a top tourist draw. To slip away from the crowds, head to Gracia, where there are a number of quiet squares. Pick up a snack at the Boqueria Market first. This market off La Rambla has 200 or so food stands that sell cheese and bread, fruits and vegetables, olives, wine, fresh seafood, and, naturally, charcuterie.
• In the south of the island the beaches of Sant Tomas and Son Bou feature white sand and clear, blue waters. One of the most popular resorts on the island is Binibeca Vell. One of Menorca’s earliest resorts, it was built to resemble a traditional fishing village. The sandy cove at Binibeca Nou is one of the island’s best beaches.
• Cala Macarella Beach, at the south of the island, is featured on many local postcards. It’s one of the island’s most beautiful spots. A free car park is only a 20-minute walk away, and the beach features a restaurant, plus a lifeguard on duty.
• Menorcan festivals are just as lively as the celebrations on mainland Spain: Sant Joan, held in Ciutadella, marks King Juan Carlos’s name day; Sant Agustin,held in Felantix, includes horse-riding shows and dancing; Diada de Catalunya is a national holiday throughout the Balearic Islands.
• Balearic cuisine features hearty fare like suckling pig, tumbet (a local version of ratatouille), sopas mallorquinas (a meat and vegetable broth with slices of brown bread) and snails. Pa amb oli is the local snack — bread rubbed with olive oil and tomato and topped with ham or cheese.
• The three main islands of Majorca, Menorca and Ibiza are well-linked by ferry. Trasmediterranea and Baleària operate fast ferries from Palma to Eivissa, a journey of two hours. Baleària also sails from Port d’Alcúdia in Majorca to Ciutadella in Menorca. For a day trip, Cape Balear sails between Cala Rajada in Majorca and Ciutadella in Menorca.
• Gin has been made on Menorca for hundreds of years. To make pomado, the island’s national drink, mix gin with lemonade. Visit Xoriguer gin distillery in Mahon for a gin-making demonstration and a free sample.

Finding Flights from Spain

If you have more destinations in mind after you’re done seeing Spain, Cheapflights can lend a hand. You can catch a flight back to the United States on the same U.S. carriers that fly to Spain, or continue your trip internationally.

Madrid’s airport is known for its efficiency, so travelers usually get through security quickly. Malaga’s airport, on the other hand, has frequent delays. It’s best to play it safe and arrive early at any airport. Most of the airports in Spain have charming cafes that are great when you need to kill time.

Spain airport overview

Tenerife South Airport (TFS), which is also called Tenerife South-Reina Sofia Airport, is well known by many vacationers from Britain and other parts of Europe. It is the gateway to Tenerife, one of Spain’s top vacation resorts in the Canary Islands. The airport is just 40 miles (60km) from Santa Cruz, but relatively close to resorts on the west coast of the island.

Although the airport is small, there is a fair selection of restaurants and shops. Passengers wanting reading material, gifts, souvenirs, a snack or quick meal will find that the airport caters well to their needs.

Tenerife South Airport is served by a number of low-cost carriers, including easyJet and Ryanair, which connect the airport to many cities across Europe. The airport handles more than 7 million passengers each year.