Tell me what to do when I go to Spain for two weeks!

Don't bother trying to get into El Bulli - you won't, plus it may well be closed for the winter season. Just go to lots of bars and sample all the tapas you can, some won't be so good, but the best is incredible.

You need to know the Cal Pep, and the Fish joint behind the Mercato del Born.

If you can get a nice clear day the Parc Guell is lovely too, plus you have to go to Camp Nou - it's obligatory.

G to thread to fill in the details of the great weekend we spent there. Watching footie in locals bars is a good thing to do, even if it's West Ham v Spurs playing a really boring 0-0 draw.

If you are in Madrid, get the train down to Toledo. It's only an hour or so away but so much older. Great El Greco paintings in many of the churches. Madrid itself isn't the prettiest, although the galleries are amazing. The big three are the Prado, Reina Sofia and the Thyssen something or other.

From Barcelona, it's an easy trip west to the Basque country. Bilbao is the main city (and has Frank Gehry's shiny Guggenheim), but the surounding villages are lovely too. Try Guernica if you like atrocities.

Several cities in Castile are worth a detour, particulaly Salamanca which is built of honey coloured stone and is full of students (many of them American yelling "BUENAS TARDES!" in Californian accents). Cracking main square. The Castilian cities of Avila, Segovia and Leon are also full of charm.

Try to head down to the south and see a bit of Andalucia. Seville is the city for culture and the cathedral is the largest in the world. Columbus is buried within and the minaret (El Giralda) is the tower to climb for a great perspective of the city. Cordoba and Granada are the best surviving places for Moorish arcitecture. The Alhambra is the one sight you shouldn't miss. The old Morrish district is great for cheap restaurants and mint teas.

If you have time, the Alpaharras region on the southern slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain range forms a beautiful collection of ancient villages connected by steep roads and the Andalusian whitewashed villages of Jimena de la Frontera and Zuheros are perfect.

For accommodation, splash out on a parador for a night. These are state run hotels (mostly) in ancient buildings like monasteries and castles. Not too pricey either. Also, if you get to Guadix, you can stay in a cave. Albeit one with plumbing and electricity.

The beaches in the south west are supposedly the best for surfing (I can't validate this), but the Costa Brava and Costa del Sol are fine too. The latter is more built up and full of European tourists.

You'll need a bit of Spanish out of the cities. I envy you, Spain is a wonderful country.

http://www.travelinginspain.com/

If you love art museums, Madrid has three unbelievably good ones all within walking distance of each other (mentioned by Mikey G). You must go to the Royal Palace in Madrid, also. YOU MUST. It's like Napoleon's Apartments in the Louvre, but BIGGER.

Ronda is worth visiting, if only for the gorgeous view of the countryside from the long walk along a cliff (start from *the bridge* over the gorge). Thumbs-up to Seville (don't forget - you can walk up the tower in the cathedral for a fabulous view), Toledo, and Cordoba, too. Good luck, and have fun!

I only did "touristy" stuff while there, but it was cool and sorta the point I guess.

And I know this will be obvious and totally lame but spain takes the siesta *seriously* and if you're not used to it, then it really sucks to be out walking in the sun when everything's shut down because you didn't plan ahead.

Then step outside, Ronda is a beautiful city.

Revive! GF and I are going for two weeks in late March, with general itinerary of Madrid/Rioja/Barcelona/Cuenca.

So any new/different recommendations from above? Also, we're renting a car. Anything I need to know about driving there? Any/all thoughts appreciated.

driving there is ok, or so i found it. nothing to recommend in particular, tbh, las ramblas in barca is a lively area ime but i've only spent a few days there, and i've whistlestopped through some of the other places mentioned but spain has always been about the beaches and relaxation for me, you'll probably be looking for the cultural highlights

the oldest restaurant in the world is in Madrid - fucking amazing food.

Revive1 We're going to Barcelona on Friday to catch the end of the Bowie exhibition and then we have two weeks to....????

San Sebastian obv. and would love to work in Almeria somehow.