Trip IdeasFodor's Spain 2010
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About This Book
Fodor’s. For Choice Travel Experiences.
Fodor’s helps you unleash the possibilities of travel by providing the insightful tools you need to experience the trips you want. Although you’re at the helm, Fodor’s offers the assurance of our expertise, the guarantee of selectivity, and the choice details that truly define a destination. It’s like having a friend in Spain!
•Updated annually, Fodor’s Spain provides the most accurate and up-to-date information available in a guidebook.
•Fodor’s Spain features options for a variety of budgets, interests, and tastes, so you make the choices to plan your trip of a lifetime.
•If it’s not worth your time, it’s not in this book. Fodor’s discriminating ratings, including our top tier Fodor’s Choice designations, ensure that you’ll know about the most interesting and enjoyable places in Spain.
•Experience Spain like a local! Fodor’s Spain includes unique photo-features that impart the country’s culture, covering flamenco, tapas, Gaudi, the wines of Spain, the Prado museum, and much more!
•Indispensable, customized trip planning tools include “Top Reasons to Go,” “Word of Mouth” advice from other travelers, and tips to help save money, bypass lines, and avoid common travel pitfalls.
•8-pg. color insert; full-color pullout map
Visit Fodors.com for more ideas and information, travel deals, vacation planning tips, reviews and to exchange travel advice with other travelers.
Fodor’s helps you unleash the possibilities of travel by providing the insightful tools you need to experience the trips you want. Although you’re at the helm, Fodor’s offers the assurance of our expertise, the guarantee of selectivity, and the choice details that truly define a destination. It’s like having a friend in Spain!
•Updated annually, Fodor’s Spain provides the most accurate and up-to-date information available in a guidebook.
•Fodor’s Spain features options for a variety of budgets, interests, and tastes, so you make the choices to plan your trip of a lifetime.
•If it’s not worth your time, it’s not in this book. Fodor’s discriminating ratings, including our top tier Fodor’s Choice designations, ensure that you’ll know about the most interesting and enjoyable places in Spain.
•Experience Spain like a local! Fodor’s Spain includes unique photo-features that impart the country’s culture, covering flamenco, tapas, Gaudi, the wines of Spain, the Prado museum, and much more!
•Indispensable, customized trip planning tools include “Top Reasons to Go,” “Word of Mouth” advice from other travelers, and tips to help save money, bypass lines, and avoid common travel pitfalls.
•8-pg. color insert; full-color pullout map
Visit Fodors.com for more ideas and information, travel deals, vacation planning tips, reviews and to exchange travel advice with other travelers.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Experience Spain............9
What’s Where............10
Spain Planner............14
Spain Today............16
What’s New in Spain............18
Making the Most of Your Euros............19
Top Spain Attractions............20
Spain’s Top Experiences............22
Quintessential Spain............24
If You Like............26
Great Itineraries............28
FAQ............33
History You Can See............34
Languages of Spain............38
Chapter 2: Madrid............45
Welcome to Madrid............46
Madrid Planner............48
Getting Here and Around............50
Exploring Madrid............52
Tapas Bars and Cafés............81
Where to Eat............86
Best Bets for Madrid Dining............87
Where to Stay............101
Best Bets for Madrid Lodging............102
Nightlife and the Arts............115
Sports and the Outdoors............126
Shopping............128
Side Trips from Madrid............134
Chapter 3: Castile–León and Castile–La Mancha............141
Welcome to Castile–León and Castile–La Mancha............142
Castile–León and Castile–La Mancha Planner............144
Getting Here and Around............145
Castile–La Mancha............147
Castile–León............164
Chapter 4: Galicia and Asturias............209
Welcome to Galicia and Asturias............210
Galicia and Asturias Planner............212
Getting Here and Around............214
Santiago de Compostela and Eastern Galicia............216
The Costa da Morte and Rías Baixas............225
A Coruña and Rías Altas............240
Western Asturias............247
The Picos de Europa............253
Cantabria............258
Chapter 5: Bilbao and the Basque Country............267
Welcome to Bilbao and the Basque Country............268
Bilbao and the Basque Country Planner............270
Getting Here and Around............272
Bilbao and the Basque Coast to Getaria (Guetaria) ............275
San Sebastián to Hondarribia............302
Navarra and Pamplona............311
La Rioja............322
Chapter 6: The Pyrenees............329
Welcome to The Pyrenees............330
The Pyrenees Planner............332
Getting Here and Around............334
Eastern Catalan Pyrenees............336
La Cerdanya............342
Western Catalan Pyrenees............348
Aragón and Central Pyrenees............357
The Western and Basque Pyrenees............372
Chapter 7: Barcelona............379
Welcome to Barcelona............380
Barcelona Planner............382
Getting Here and Around............384
Exploring Barcelona............387
Beaches............427
Bars and Cafés............427
Where to Eat............432
Best Bets for Barcelona Dining............433
Where to Stay............449
Best Bets for Barcelona Lodging............451
Nightlife and the Arts............462
Sports and the Outdoors............466
Shopping............466
Side Trips from Barcelona............473
Chapter 8: Catalonia and Valencia............477
Welcome to Catalonia and Valencia............478
Catalonia and Valencia Planner............480
Getting Here and Around............482
Northern Catalonia............485
The Costa Brava............492
Southern Catalonia............501
The Costa del Azahar............512
Valencia and Environs............516
Chapter 9: The Balearic Islands............527
Welcome to The Balearic Islands............528
The Balearic Islands Planner............530
Getting Here and Around............532
Majorca............537
Minorca............556
Ibiza............566
Formentera............574
Chapter 10: The Southeast............577
Welcome to The Southeast............578
The Southeast Planner............580
Getting Here and Around............582
South of Valencia to the Costa Blanca............584
The Costa Blanca............587
Inland from the Costa Blanca............600
The Murcia Coast............603
Inland from the Murcia Coast............608
Chapter 11: Andalusia............611
Welcome to Andalusia............612
Andalusia Planner............614
Getting Here and Around............616
Seville............619
Side Trips from Seville............648
Western Andalusia’s Great Outdoors: Province of Huelva............651
The Land of Sherry: Cádiz Province and Jerez de La Fronter............656
Córdoba............668
Side Trips from Córdoba............683
Land of Olives: Jaén Province............688
Granada............698
Side Trips from Granada............722
Chapter 12: Costa del Sol and Costa de Almería............727
Welcome to The Costa del Sol............728
The Costa del Sol Planner............730
Getting Here and Around............732
The Costa de Almería............735
The Costa Tropical............741
Málaga Province............746
Gibraltar............780
Chapter 13: Extremadura............787
Welcome to Extremadura............788
Extremadura Planner............790
Getting Here and Around............792
Upper Extremadura............794
Lower Extremadura............808
Vocabulary............815
Travel Smart Spain............823
Getting Here and Around............824
Essentials............832
Index............846
About Our Writers............864
SPAIN IN FOCUS
Experience Spain
Paradores: A Night with History............40
Madrid
El Prado: Madrid’s Brush with Greatness............72
The Art of Bullfighting............118
Castile–León and Castile–La Mancha
The Wines of Spain............189
Galicia and Asturias
El Camino de Santiago............229
Bilbao and the Basque Country
Basque Spoken Here............283
Minature Food, Maximum Flavor: An Introduction to Tapas............292
Barcelona
Gaudí: Architecture Through the Looking Glass............408
Catalonia and Valencia
Spain’s Food Revolution............495
Andalusia
Flamenco: The Heartbeat of Spain............642
The Alhambra............703
Maps
What’s Where............10–11
What’s Where............12–13
Great Itineraries............29
Great Itineraries............31
Languages of Spain............38
Centro Madrid............60–61
Where to Eat............90–91
Where to Stay............106–107
El Escorial............135
Side Trips from Madrid............138
Toledo............150
Castile La Mancha............155
Castile–Leon............165
Segovia............170
Salamanca............181
Burgos............200
Leon............204
Eastern Galicia to Santiago............217
Santiago de Compostela............220
Costa de Morta & Rias Baixas............236
A Coruna and Rias Altas............241
Western Asturia............248
Picos de Europa............256
Cantabria............259
Bilbao............277
The Basque Coast............291
Southern Navarra and La Rioja............312
Eastern Catalan Pyrenees and La Cerdanya............337
Western Catalan Pyrenees............349
Aragon and the Central Pyrenees............359
The Western and Basque Pyrenees............373
The Rambla and the Raval............389
El Barri Gotic and La Ribera............394
Barceloneta, La Ciutadella and Port Olimpic............402
The Moderniste Eixample............405
Upper Barcelona: Gracia & Parc Guell, Pedralbes & Sarria............419
Montjic............424
Where to Eat in Barcelona............436–437
Where to Stay in Barcelona............452–453
Side Trips from Barcelona............474
North Catalonia............486
Southern Catalonia............503
Costa del Azahar and Valencia............514
Valencia............519
Majorca............540
Minorca............558
Ibiza and Formentera............568
Valencia to the Costa Blanca............585
The Murcia Coast............604
Seville............627
Where to Eat and Stay in Seville............636
Sidetrips from Seville............649
Huelva Province............653
Cadiz Province............657
Cordoba............670
SideTrips from Cordoba............683
Jaen Province............689
Granada............699
Side Trips from Granada............723
Costa de Almería and Costa Tropical............737
Malaga and Inland............747
Malaga............749
Gibraltar............784
Upper Extremadura............795
Lower Extremadura............809
Merida............810
What’s Where............10
Spain Planner............14
Spain Today............16
What’s New in Spain............18
Making the Most of Your Euros............19
Top Spain Attractions............20
Spain’s Top Experiences............22
Quintessential Spain............24
If You Like............26
Great Itineraries............28
FAQ............33
History You Can See............34
Languages of Spain............38
Chapter 2: Madrid............45
Welcome to Madrid............46
Madrid Planner............48
Getting Here and Around............50
Exploring Madrid............52
Tapas Bars and Cafés............81
Where to Eat............86
Best Bets for Madrid Dining............87
Where to Stay............101
Best Bets for Madrid Lodging............102
Nightlife and the Arts............115
Sports and the Outdoors............126
Shopping............128
Side Trips from Madrid............134
Chapter 3: Castile–León and Castile–La Mancha............141
Welcome to Castile–León and Castile–La Mancha............142
Castile–León and Castile–La Mancha Planner............144
Getting Here and Around............145
Castile–La Mancha............147
Castile–León............164
Chapter 4: Galicia and Asturias............209
Welcome to Galicia and Asturias............210
Galicia and Asturias Planner............212
Getting Here and Around............214
Santiago de Compostela and Eastern Galicia............216
The Costa da Morte and Rías Baixas............225
A Coruña and Rías Altas............240
Western Asturias............247
The Picos de Europa............253
Cantabria............258
Chapter 5: Bilbao and the Basque Country............267
Welcome to Bilbao and the Basque Country............268
Bilbao and the Basque Country Planner............270
Getting Here and Around............272
Bilbao and the Basque Coast to Getaria (Guetaria) ............275
San Sebastián to Hondarribia............302
Navarra and Pamplona............311
La Rioja............322
Chapter 6: The Pyrenees............329
Welcome to The Pyrenees............330
The Pyrenees Planner............332
Getting Here and Around............334
Eastern Catalan Pyrenees............336
La Cerdanya............342
Western Catalan Pyrenees............348
Aragón and Central Pyrenees............357
The Western and Basque Pyrenees............372
Chapter 7: Barcelona............379
Welcome to Barcelona............380
Barcelona Planner............382
Getting Here and Around............384
Exploring Barcelona............387
Beaches............427
Bars and Cafés............427
Where to Eat............432
Best Bets for Barcelona Dining............433
Where to Stay............449
Best Bets for Barcelona Lodging............451
Nightlife and the Arts............462
Sports and the Outdoors............466
Shopping............466
Side Trips from Barcelona............473
Chapter 8: Catalonia and Valencia............477
Welcome to Catalonia and Valencia............478
Catalonia and Valencia Planner............480
Getting Here and Around............482
Northern Catalonia............485
The Costa Brava............492
Southern Catalonia............501
The Costa del Azahar............512
Valencia and Environs............516
Chapter 9: The Balearic Islands............527
Welcome to The Balearic Islands............528
The Balearic Islands Planner............530
Getting Here and Around............532
Majorca............537
Minorca............556
Ibiza............566
Formentera............574
Chapter 10: The Southeast............577
Welcome to The Southeast............578
The Southeast Planner............580
Getting Here and Around............582
South of Valencia to the Costa Blanca............584
The Costa Blanca............587
Inland from the Costa Blanca............600
The Murcia Coast............603
Inland from the Murcia Coast............608
Chapter 11: Andalusia............611
Welcome to Andalusia............612
Andalusia Planner............614
Getting Here and Around............616
Seville............619
Side Trips from Seville............648
Western Andalusia’s Great Outdoors: Province of Huelva............651
The Land of Sherry: Cádiz Province and Jerez de La Fronter............656
Córdoba............668
Side Trips from Córdoba............683
Land of Olives: Jaén Province............688
Granada............698
Side Trips from Granada............722
Chapter 12: Costa del Sol and Costa de Almería............727
Welcome to The Costa del Sol............728
The Costa del Sol Planner............730
Getting Here and Around............732
The Costa de Almería............735
The Costa Tropical............741
Málaga Province............746
Gibraltar............780
Chapter 13: Extremadura............787
Welcome to Extremadura............788
Extremadura Planner............790
Getting Here and Around............792
Upper Extremadura............794
Lower Extremadura............808
Vocabulary............815
Travel Smart Spain............823
Getting Here and Around............824
Essentials............832
Index............846
About Our Writers............864
SPAIN IN FOCUS
Experience Spain
Paradores: A Night with History............40
Madrid
El Prado: Madrid’s Brush with Greatness............72
The Art of Bullfighting............118
Castile–León and Castile–La Mancha
The Wines of Spain............189
Galicia and Asturias
El Camino de Santiago............229
Bilbao and the Basque Country
Basque Spoken Here............283
Minature Food, Maximum Flavor: An Introduction to Tapas............292
Barcelona
Gaudí: Architecture Through the Looking Glass............408
Catalonia and Valencia
Spain’s Food Revolution............495
Andalusia
Flamenco: The Heartbeat of Spain............642
The Alhambra............703
Maps
What’s Where............10–11
What’s Where............12–13
Great Itineraries............29
Great Itineraries............31
Languages of Spain............38
Centro Madrid............60–61
Where to Eat............90–91
Where to Stay............106–107
El Escorial............135
Side Trips from Madrid............138
Toledo............150
Castile La Mancha............155
Castile–Leon............165
Segovia............170
Salamanca............181
Burgos............200
Leon............204
Eastern Galicia to Santiago............217
Santiago de Compostela............220
Costa de Morta & Rias Baixas............236
A Coruna and Rias Altas............241
Western Asturia............248
Picos de Europa............256
Cantabria............259
Bilbao............277
The Basque Coast............291
Southern Navarra and La Rioja............312
Eastern Catalan Pyrenees and La Cerdanya............337
Western Catalan Pyrenees............349
Aragon and the Central Pyrenees............359
The Western and Basque Pyrenees............373
The Rambla and the Raval............389
El Barri Gotic and La Ribera............394
Barceloneta, La Ciutadella and Port Olimpic............402
The Moderniste Eixample............405
Upper Barcelona: Gracia & Parc Guell, Pedralbes & Sarria............419
Montjic............424
Where to Eat in Barcelona............436–437
Where to Stay in Barcelona............452–453
Side Trips from Barcelona............474
North Catalonia............486
Southern Catalonia............503
Costa del Azahar and Valencia............514
Valencia............519
Majorca............540
Minorca............558
Ibiza and Formentera............568
Valencia to the Costa Blanca............585
The Murcia Coast............604
Seville............627
Where to Eat and Stay in Seville............636
Sidetrips from Seville............649
Huelva Province............653
Cadiz Province............657
Cordoba............670
SideTrips from Cordoba............683
Jaen Province............689
Granada............699
Side Trips from Granada............723
Costa de Almería and Costa Tropical............737
Malaga and Inland............747
Malaga............749
Gibraltar............784
Upper Extremadura............795
Lower Extremadura............809
Merida............810
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