Spain: #1 travel destination for Brits

Is anyone surprised that Spain was the most popular travel destination this summer? With sun, beaches, culture and enough sangria for everyone, it's really no wonder so many Brits head to Spain each and every summer to get their dose of Vitamin D before heading back to another year of work in England.

Spain Tourism revealed that holiday bookings were up by 11% this summer almost all around the county but especially on the islands, both the Balearic and Canary Islands. Along the coast, Marbella, Valencia, Barcelona and Alicante were among the most popular places to relax on the beach and catch some rays. Wondering what the top 10 places to visit in Spain are? If you've already seen Ibiza and La Palma then maybe it's about time you visited another part of the country, these are just to spark your curiosity and your wanderlust.

1. Barcelona

Of course Gaudi's playground is the first city on the list. It's a buzzing place with great beaches, culture, museums and attitude. Watch out though, it's considered the most popular place for pitpocketers. As long as you keep an eye on your belongings, you'll be fine.

2. Madrid

The capital of Spain definitely deserves to be up near the top. It has some of the world's best art museums and galleries. It's the best place to see Spain's greatest painting master's work as well as royal palaces and parks. The nightlife is unlike any other and the tapas are always delicious.

3. Andalusia

The southern region of Spain is listed here because it is so rich in historical monuments. Many battles were fought here between the Christians, Catholics, Arabs and Turks, the Ottoman age was a bloody one. The top cities to visit here include Granada (for the beautiful Alhambra), Seville, Cordoba and Malaga.

4. Costa del Sol

This part of Spain may be popular among tourists but it hasn't lost it's Spanish flavour. If you want to escape the cool autumns and springs of Europe, then head here. Take time to appreciate the beautiful ruins along the coast, creating a striking contract against the concrete high-rises.

5. Valencia

This is your ticket to the White Coast, la Costa Blanca. The city of Valencia overlooks the sea and has some incredible architecture. Don't miss the Silk Exchange, dating from the 15th century. These Gothic-style buildings were where Valencia's commercial district was born. This city was also a major port town in those days as well.

6. Bilbao

Bilbao is a great city to pair with a trip to Barcelona. It's located in the north, not far from San Sebastian. It is home to the famous Guggenheim Museum, designed by the even more famous Frank Gehry. Apart from that the medieval town is quite cool as well.

7. Balearic Islands

You can either fly or reach these islands by ferry. Mallorca is one of the most popular of the islands. The main city, Palma, has great shopping and it a little bit more relaxed than its neighbouring island Ibiza. This island is wild with parties and clubs. The beaches are something to be envied as well.

8. Castilla and Leon

This is the central region in Spain, including several important cities in the history of modern Spain. Salamanca's old town is an UNESCO site, with outstanding architecture. Avila's medieval walls are also protected as Heritage Sites by UNESCO. Segovia has one of the world's tallest Roman Aqueducts that is still standing. It's an impressive site to see!

9. Toledo

Did you know that Toledo was once the capital of Spain? It overlooks the River Tagus which travels all the way to Lisbon and flows into the Atlantic Ocean. The Cathedral has quite a few El Greco paintings inside and the Mezquita del Cristo is also worth checking out.

10. Extremadura

If you're fascinated by Spain's conquistadors from the 16th century, then head here. It's near Portugal and sits in the very western part of Spain. It's a city of extremes: boiling in summer, frigid in winter. It's the hometown of rebels like Cortes and Pizarro.

Images: footprints*, fontxico, Philip Larson / Flickr cc.