Barcelona is one of the greatest cities in the world, but Madrid, in the centre of Spain, Valencia, on the eastern coast, and the tiny island of Ibiza are also well worth a visit.
Madrid
Where to Sleep
The ME Madrid (Plaza de Santa Ana 14, from €149/night) offers luxurious rooms, two restaurants and a gorgeous roof-top terrace.
What to Do
Peruse the stores in Salamanca, one of Madrid’s most bourgeois barrios. Find Spanish outposts Manolo Blahnik and Loewe on Calle Serrano, then head one block over for independent boutiques such as Delitto e Castigo (Calle Claudio Coello 26), with everything from bejeweled cardigans by Alberta Ferretti to gowns by Blumarine.
Valencia
Where to Sleep
The Marina is Room Mate Hotels’ (Plaza Tribunal de Aguas 5, from €68/night) boutique property in Spain’s third largest city.
What to Do
Rent bicycles from Solution Bike (€10/day plus deposit) to explore the quaint alleys of this bustling city.
Where to Eat
The oceanfront Restaurante L’Estimat (Avda. De Neptuno 16) has the best Paella Marinera (€17) in town, while La Bodegueta Cavallers (C/ Caballeros 10) has authentic tapas made by the lovely Delores.
Ibiza
Where to Sleep & What to Do
All-night parties may not be for everyone, but who doesn’t love a live, open-air concert? Every Tuesday until September, the Ibiza Rocks Hotel (Calle Cervantes 27, San Antonio) welcomes headliners like Dizzee Rascal, MGMT and Vampire Weekend.
Where to Eat
Walk through the drawbridge of the Dalt Vila (Old Town) to find La Oliva (Calle Santa Cruz 2), which offers Provençal dishes mixed with Ibizican flair.