![Gaudi's Park Guell in Barcelona.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170905091009im_/http://www.traveller.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/v/6/h/q/image.related.TravellerThumbnail.300x200.gms84a.png/1479789150485.jpg)
Twenty things that will shock first-time visitors to Spain
No one speaks English, it's amazingly cheap and Barcelona's not that dodgy.
No one speaks English, it's amazingly cheap and Barcelona's not that dodgy.
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Madrid is a mix of old and new; high culture and fun.
There is a universe of flavour to explore across the Iberian Peninsula, bursting with history and regionality and just plain old good times.
This high-speed train can reach speeds up to 300km/h - this is train travel, but not as my children know it.
European cities are not exactly car friendly, and Madrid and Barcelona are no exceptions.
The towns around northern Spain are more agricultural than charming and historic, so this one could be a better route to take.
Barcelona is Europe's top city for short-haul visits, and for good reason.
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Incredible art is placed front and centre on the Spanish stage, with architecture born from rebellious and creative spirits such as Dali, Picasso and Gaudi. Throw Roman ruins, Islamic architecture and gothic cathedrals into the mix, and you have an enthralling destination. Cities are linked by diverse landscapes; mountain ranges, Mediterranean coastlines, and rustic villages that cling to dusty hilltops, not to mention the food... oh the food.