On average, from the UK it’s just a two hour flight until you reach the sunny shores of Spain, so it’s just your favourite film or a quick nap and you’ll be there before you know it. This makes Spain a great family destination as you don’t need to worry about a long and stressful flight with little ones.

Mainland Spain offers six Costas to choose from, each with a different character. In the northeast, there’s the rugged beauty of Catalonian Costa Dorada and Costa Brava, while the All Inclusive favourite Costa Blanca sits in the southeast. Across the south, you’ll also find lively holidays to Costa del Sol, the golden beaches of Costa Almeria and the Spanish Algarve region of Costa de la Luz in the far southwest.

Holiday favourites range from the lively and ever popular Benidorm to classy Marbella and fun-loving, perfect for families, PortAventura. They sit beside quieter neighbours where you can enjoy a peaceful break while being in easy reach of the attractions. What’s more, on holiday in Spain you can explore cultural cities such as quirky and modern Barcelona, the city of art and science Valencia and historical Seville.

What type of Spanish holiday are you looking for? Whether it’s an All Inclusive holiday for all the family or a cheap holiday to Spain to enjoy some Vitamin D, there are many options to choose from. Plus, Spain is of course the perfect winter holiday destination to beat those winter blues.

Beaches with a view

The majority of the beaches in Spain are backed by the breathtaking mountainous landscapes that you can explore or just simply enjoy as a backdrop. From your sun lounger or beachfront café, whichever resort you’re in, you can often see mountain peaks on one side and a pretty marina or sweeping bay on the other.

Beaches in Spain range from large crescents of sand enjoyed by many to small and peaceful coves away from it all. Cheap holidays in Spain are a breeze because you can just spend days and days relaxing on the Spanish shores, especially on the Golden Coast, AKA Costa Dorada. Here, the golden sands seem to go on for days with crystal clear shallow water perfect for paddling or splashing around with the little ones, watersports for adrenaline junkies and plenty of cafes, restaurants and shops for everything else you could need.

When you want to roll off the sand, there’s also so much to do in Spain. There are many natural parks, hiking trails and mountain villages to explore inland, one of which is the town of Guadalest. If you’re heading off for a holiday in Costa Blanca, visit this unusual spot perched on top of a sheer cliff face – with plenty of shops and museums to visit while you’re there.

Cultural sights

Holidays to Spain aren’t all about the cocktails and sandy shores – come here for authentic Spanish heritage and architectural wonders and you won’t be disappointed. Spain is a country rich in history, much of which you will find well-preserved today.

Barcelona is brimming with examples of Antoni Gaudi’s weird and wonderful architecture – as well as beaches – or, for something more space-age, some of Valencia’s buildings look like they might take off.

Ancient architecture can be found in the many castles all across the country, such as Alicante’s large Castell de la Santa Barbara, which offers the best panoramic views across Alicante. In Costa Brava, Tossa de Mar’s 12th century castle is in a prime position right on the beach and after being partly demolished in 1917, a lighthouse was built in among some of its impressive walls.

Both of these fascinating sights are free to enter and explore so thy make a great addition to your cheap Spain holiday itinerary.

Fun time attractions

Kids and big kids alike won’t be able to resist speeding down the huge waterslides or strapping themselves into a rollercoaster seat at the country’s numerous theme parks – and there’s even waterpark hotels!

Spain’s most visited theme park is PortAventura World in Costa Dorada, which has been likened to Disneyland and has several parks to it, including rollercoasters, waterslides and it’s very own Ferrari Land.

Aqualandia Water Park in Benidorm is another one of the best water parks in Spain providing a great day out for everyone. If you’re seriously daring hit Vertigo, the highest slide in Europe where you’ll reach 100mph, or enjoy the vast selection of shoots, flumes and rapids at a slightly slower pace.

Tickets can be booked online and in advance for both of these parks, often allowing you to make extra savings. Spain is full of all kinds of fun parks, all of which can still be enjoyed on your cheap holiday in Spain.

A taste of Spain

The Spanish love to eat and see it as a sociable activity involving all the family. They take their time over dinner and often mealtimes are quite a bit later than at home, for example, typical dinner time would be between 9pm and 11pm.

There are a number of areas in Spain where you can find world-class food, such as the town of Cambrils in Costa Dorada, which is seen as the gastronomic centre of Spain. However, wherever you go along the Spanish coast you’ll be treated to fresh fish and local meat and produce, combining to make divine dishes, such as the classic Spanish paella. You’re sure to also find fish and chips, burgers or pizza joints if you want a taste of home, or you’ve got picky eaters in tow.

It can be super easy to budget because you’ll tend to find prices in Spain are similar to those back home, or less. Whether you’ve opted for an All Inclusive break of a cheap Spanish holiday, dining out – even for a night or two – should certainly be on the cards.

Big nights or quiet evenings

There are some real big-hitters when it comes to nights out in Spain. Benidorm certainly knows how to party, with big clubs and multiple bars, and of course a well known reputation. Enjoy everything from cabaret to beachfront Tiki bars, and karaoke joints to neon lit clubs.

The town of Sitges has a lively gay scene and is where you’ll be entertained by top quality drag acts and you’ll find plenty of LGBTQIA+ bars. If you’re looking for some luxury, you can have a lavish night out in the upmarket Marbella.

Even in the busy resorts, there are chill-out lounges, bar-restaurants and friendly pubs where you can simply sip a few drinks before retiring to your hotel room. If that’s not your thing, there are some incredible hotels in Spain that offer evening entertainment, from kids’ clubs to onsite nightclubs, so you can enjoy your nights in the comfort of your hotel.