The hot sun and warm gentle sea, endless sandy beaches and mountains, historical and architectural monuments of world importance, bullfighting and flamenco dancing. But the number of Spanish wines just know where to look. Numerous water parks and attractions, museums and upscale tourist infrastructure, all this has allowed Spain to become the leader of European tourism. Here, every tourist can find something to suit your taste and most people return to this sunny country again and again.
Geography
  
Spain occupies most of the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean. In addition, Spain belong to two cities in North Africa in Morocco - Ceuta and Melilla. The southernmost point of mainland Spain from Africa separates only a narrow strip of the Strait of Gibraltar (width 14 km).

Spain is the second (after Switzerland) mountainous country in Europe: the Cantabrian Mountains (up to 2648 m above sea level) along the northern coast of the Atlantic Iberian mountain (2313 m) and the Cordillera Central (2592 m) in the east and center of the country, as well as Betsky or Andalusian mountain (3478 m) in the south of the peninsula.
Climate

In most parts of Spain, especially on its east coast, the climate is typically Mediterranean, with hot dry summers and mild wet winters, early spring and a long warm autumn. Rains are usually in the form of short winter rains. The average temperature of the hottest month (July) reach 18-20 ° C in the coastal areas of the north and north-west and 26 ° C on the Mediterranean coast. In southern Spain, and 200 days a year, the average temperature does not fall below 25 ° C. Average January temperatures range from 8-10 ° C in the northern and middle part, to 10-12 ° C in the south.
Capital

Madrid
Population

Spain's population of about 40 million people belonging to different ethnic groups: the Catalans (15.6%), andalusiytsy (15.6%), the Castilians (11.1%), valensiytsy (9.7%), Galicians (7.4 %) and Basques (5.6%).
Language

In Spain, speak four languages: Spanish, Basque, Catalan and Galician. The state and the most widely spoken language in the country is Spanish. In the tourist areas of common French, German and English.
Currency

The currency of Spain - Euro (EUR).

Money can be exchanged at banks (working hours from 9 to 13 hours), or exchange offices, as well as in the hotel at reception, although the rate in hotels less profitable.

ATMs can use credit cards Visa, Master Card, American Express.
Time zone

Behind from Kiev at 1:00. In the Canary Islands - for 2 hours.
Religion
 
About 95% of Spaniards - Catholics. There are a small number of Protestants, 450,000 Muslims and about 15,000 Jews.
Political Structure

Form of government in Spain - a parliamentary constitutional monarchy. Head of state - King Juan Carlos. The highest executive body - the government. Spanish Parliament (Cortes Generales) consists of two chambers - the Senate and the Congress of Deputies. Administrative-territorial division - is divided into 50 provinces included in the 17 autonomous regions with their own parliaments and governments, with wide powers.
Customs regulations

Spain is among the group of countries in which the Schengen Agreement.

Import of foreign currency is not limited to Spain (the declaration is required if the amount exceeds EUR 500). The export of imported foreign currency declaration in an amount not exceeding the equivalent 500,000 pesetas.

Tax on departure by air included in the ticket price.

Duty-free import of cigarettes - 200 pcs., Wine - up to 2 liters., Spirits - up to 1 liter., Food items and household items - within the limits of personal needs. Radio, video and photographic equipment must be declared. Cinetechnics permission to import must be in the Consular Section of the Embassy of Spain. The import of drugs, some drugs, weapons, ammunition and explosives. The export of historical treasures, antiques, jewelry, weapons and ammunition without permission.
Transport. Car

Spain has a well developed network of roads and railways. Regular air services are operated between all major cities. Link the mainland with the African continent, the Balearic and the Canary Islands also provide regular passenger ships and ferries.

Developed network of bus service in the cities and along the coast. Tickets can be purchased from the driver, you can buy a discount ticket for 10 days. Taxi meter fitted. In some cities, there are service areas, when going to the tariff increases (information on the service area and pay for mileage in every taxi). At night (from 22 to 6), weekends (Saturday, Sunday) and holidays the elevated rate. When you travel out of town and have to pay for the return journey. Additional payments: order, each piece of baggage in the trunk and a number of other services.

A car can take a passport, driver's license and only to persons older than 21 years. Approximate cost of hiring - from $ 30 per day. At some point, you may be asked to leave a deposit, which will be fully refunded after the rental period. It is important that the machine had full insurance. Do not leave your car on the road, roadside is shown by solid yellow below, otherwise you have to pay a substantial fine. Band is blue indicates that parking - paid.
Shops

In all tourist areas of Spain has shops, working around the clock, while the majority of shops open from 10 am to 20 pm with a lunch break from 13:30 to 16:30. Large department stores, such as "El Corte Ingles" - from 10.00 to 21.00 without a break, just work and large supermarkets.

Overstock (Rebajas) in Spain there are two times a year: in the winter - from 7 January until the end of February and the summer - from 1 July to late August.
 
In the shops of Spain decided to pay in cash and credit cards. Checks are accepted rare. Aliens are entitled to compensation for 16% of the VAT on purchase of any goods other than food, drink, cars and drugs. The purchase price must be at least 15,000 pesetas (about $ 107). The seller must fill out an invoice which includes the price of each type of product, the amount of VAT on each item, as well as data of seller and buyer. At departure from Spain, the consignment must be made an officer of the customs service in Spain. He churns out the first copy, which must be presented to the bank at the airport to process refund Tax - free.
Link

Anywhere in Spain are telephone booths, from which you can call anywhere in the world. Telephones accept coins for 5, 10, 25, 100 and 500 pesetas. The preferred call to Ukraine from any phone box installed on the street or in a bar or restaurant - it's much cheaper than the call from the hotel. You can use your card, it is better to buy cards by phone companies, talk to them cheaper than Spanish.
Tip

Tipping in Spain are a sign of good manners, if the client is happy with the service, tipping waiters in bars and restaurants, maids in hotels, taxi drivers and tour guides. Size of the tip of 5-10% of the order to the waiters or about 5 euros a week in the hotel maids.

In Spain tipping: guides and drivers after the tour, porters and 1 euro for each piece, 5-10% of the bill in bars and restaurants, at will - Maid 1 euro per day.

If you are satisfied with the service, the tip can not be denied.
Weekends and holidays

January 1 - New Year

May 1 - Labor Day

October 12 - Day of Unity of Spain

December 8 - Day of the Immaculate Conception

January 6 - The Day of the Magi

July 25 - Santiago's Day

November 1 - All Saints Day

December 25 - Christmas Day

March 19 - Day of San Jose, Easter, Corpus Christi

August 15 - Assumption of Mary

December 6 - Constitution Day

Each province and almost all cities in Spain have their own traditional festivals.
Main Attractions

The wealth of architecture, combining Romanesque and Moorish styles, the unique charm of old palaces and mosques have brought worldwide fame Andalusian cities - Seville, Granada, Cordoba. Great works of Antonio Gaudi - Sagrada Familia and Park Guell in Barcelona, theater-museum of Salvador Dali House-Museum of El Greco, the world-famous Prado Museum in Madrid - all amazing and unique in Spain.
 
The country has five major ski areas: the Pyrenees, Kantaberiyskaya, Iberian and Central mountain ranges, as well as Andalusian mountain range. These regions have different characteristics, but all of them are attractive for both mountaineering and winter sports.

Located on the border with France, Pyrenees region known for its high mountain valleys and steep slopes, the Ukrainian fans are familiar with the ski resorts are located in Andorra. In the Catalan Pyrenees are the famous resorts of La Raspberry, Maselli, Baqueira Beret. In this region it makes sense to go not only to drive: hence close to Barcelona - a beautiful city in southern Europe.

Andalusian mountain system is divided into two - north and south. The southern part is the Sierra Nevada, which is the southernmost ski region in Europe. Here is the largest and fastest growing ski resort in Spain - Sierra Nevada.

Unique traditions of Spain - bullfighting, the famous bullfight. This is a traditional spectacle, rooted in the depths of history in the Mediterranean. She was known in Crete during the heyday of the Minoan culture (2000-1450 BC), as evidenced by murals depicting dancers and bulls. Bullfighting in Spain carried out almost everywhere, but the largest of its center - Seville. Protagonist of bullfighting - matador kills the bull. The most famous matadors such as Juan Antonio Ruiz, became national heroes in Spain.
Travel features

All beaches are public in Spain, the entrance to which is free. Within the resort towns on the beaches usually have an extensive infrastructure: hire sunbeds and umbrellas, water sports, diving clubs, a variety of entertainment, bars. Spain is famous for its resorts surprising purity. In 1999, 369 beaches in the country were awarded the Blue Flag.

Use of swimming pool and sun loungers around them in the hotels are usually free. The hotel is not responsible for the documents, money and valuables, if they are not stored in the safe. On the day of departure no need to release before 10 am, after paying the bill for additional services in the hotel mini-bar and telephone. Waiting for the bus, things can be left in the luggage away.

Visitors are not recommended that you go to church in shorts. Women often become the object of unwanted attention from the Spaniards, especially if they are traveling alone or visiting Andalucia and southern Mediterranean coast. The best way to avoid trouble - it does not yield to provocations and not to talk to offending people. In Spain, quite serious about drugs, so the penalties for their use is very high, and for the distribution of threatened jail time.

Dear customers! Remember that a well-prepared documents - are also key to a successful trip! In connection with this offer you to review the requirements to the documents provided to the tourist visa to Spain.