map of Madrid.ogf2		map of Barselona.ogf2		map of Spain-Portugal.ogf2		map of Costa Brava.ogf2

    Spain is considered one of western Europe's most affordable countries to travellers. A budget of ˆ40.00 a day, will allow you a basic hotel room, regular meals, public transport and entry to museums. With ˆ100.00 a day, you can stay in extremely comfortable accommodation, rent a car and eat some of the best food Spain has to offer. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted at hotels and restaurants, especially from the middle range up, and also for long-distance train tickets. The law requires menu prices in restaurants to include a service charge, and tipping is a matter of personal choice. Most people leave some small change if they're satisfied and 5% is usually plenty. It's common to leave small change at bar and cafe tables.

Geographically, Spain's diversity is immense. There are endless tracts of wild and crinkled sierra to explore, as well as some spectacularly rugged stretches of coast between the beaches. It shares the Iberian peninsula with Portugal and is bordered to the north by the Pyrenees, which separate Spain from France. The Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera), 193km (120 miles) southeast of Barcelona, and the Canary Islands off the west coast of Africa are part of Spain, as are the tiny enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla on the north African mainland. With the exception of Switzerland, mainland Spain is the highest and most mountainous country in Europe, with an average height of 610m (2000ft). The Pyrenees stretch roughly 400km (249 miles) from the Basque Country in the west to the Mediterranean Sea; at times the peaks rise to over 1524m (5000ft).

The main physical feature of Spain is the vast central plateau, or Meseta, divided by several chains of sierras. Southeast of Granada is the Sierra Nevada, part of the Betic Cordillera, which runs parallel to the Mediterranean, and the highest point on the Spanish peninsula, rising to 3481m (11,420ft). The Mediterranean coastal area reaches from the French frontier in the northeast down to the Straits of Gibraltar, the narrow strip of water linking the Mediterranean with the Atlantic and separating Spain from North Africa.

The largest cities and their populations include Madrid, 5,130,000 (metro. area), 3,170,000 (city proper), Barcelona, 1,530,000; Valencia, 740,000; Seville, 680,000

Two thirds of France is mountains and hills, with the Alps, Pyrenees and Vosges ranges. Mont Blanc in the Alps is the highest mountain in Europe. The Mediterranean coast includes the popular tourist area, the French Riviera. Its hot, dry summers and mild winters make it a popular beach area.

Capital is Madrid city.

Currency: The Spainish currency unit is the euro.

Climate: Spain’s climate varies from temperate in the north to dry and hot in the south. The best months are from April to October, although mid-summer (July to August) can be excessively hot throughout the country except the coastal regions. Madrid is best in late spring or autumn. The central plateau can be bitterly cold in winter.