Spain

Spain is a country of plural identities that reveals itself differently with every region you cross. From the vertiginous genius of Gaudí's Sagrada Familia in Barcelona to the serene Moorish magnificence of the Alhambra on its hilltop above Granada, from the dazzling whiteness of Andalusia's pueblos blancos to the lunar plateaux of Castile and the wild coves of the Costa Brava, Spain bewilders and enchants in equal measure. The fifth-largest economy in the European Union, the country counts 50 UNESCO World Heritage Sites — including the Sagrada Família, Park Güell, the Burgos Cathedral, Toledo's old town, the Camino de Santiago and the Altamira Caves — placing it among the most heritage-rich nations on the planet.

But Spain is, above all, an intensity of living. That intensity expresses itself in every tapas bar at midnight, every flamenco tablao in the Sacromonte quarter of Granada, every spring Feria where painted horses and ruffled flamenco dresses fill the streets. The Spanish rhythm is the country's most distinctive trait: lunch begins at 2pm, dinner rarely before 9pm, and the siesta is not a tourist cliché but a logical response to a country that runs structurally two hours behind the rest of Western Europe in terms of social timing (Spain shares a time zone with Poland, despite its geography aligning it with Portugal and Morocco). Understanding this rhythm is the key to enjoying Spain rather than fighting it.

The country's gastronomy — tapas, Basque pintxos, Valencian paella, Iberian ham, Rioja and Albariño wines — is both a social ritual and a philosophy of generosity. Combined with its art, its climate and the remarkable diversity of its landscapes, it draws more than 85 million foreign visitors a year, making Spain the world's third most visited country. Whatever corner you choose first, you will leave with the very firm intention of coming back.