Last Updated on April 28, 2025 by Joy Editors
Spain’s blend of romance, culture, and adventure captured our hearts the moment we landed. My partner and I couldn’t pick just one destination from Spain’s 17 unique regions as we planned our post-wedding trip. Each region promised something special.
Our Spanish honeymoon turned out better than we dreamed. We watched the sun set over Granada’s Alhambra with its beautiful Moorish architecture and shared quiet moments along the country’s 3,000-mile coastline. The original worry about our packed schedule disappeared once we realized 10-14 days gave us plenty of time to explore multiple cities. On top of that, high-speed trains made our trips between Barcelona and Madrid a breeze.
A romantic Spanish getaway doesn’t need to cost much. We lived our dream honeymoon for about $10,000 over 10 days – this is a big deal as it means that many other European destinations cost more. Spain gave us unforgettable moments everywhere we went, from wine tasting in beautiful vineyards to watching authentic flamenco shows. I’m excited to share what we learned to help you plan your perfect Spanish honeymoon.
How We Chose Spain for Our Honeymoon
Picking our first vacation spot as newlyweds wasn’t simple. We looked at many places, made detailed spreadsheets and spent nights talking about where to go. Spain quickly became our top choice. Let me tell you the story of how we fell in love with this Mediterranean paradise.
How We Chose Spain for Our Honeymoon
Why Spain stood out among other destinations
Spain’s incredible diversity grabbed our attention right away. The country has 17 unique regions that each offer their own character, culture, cuisine, and sometimes even language dialect. This meant we could enjoy several mini-vacations in one trip.
Spain gave us more than other European destinations we looked at:
- Climate perfection – With more than 300 days of sunshine annually, Spain secures the top spot as Europe’s sunniest destination
- Extraordinary coastline – Over 5,000 miles of stunning beaches and Mediterranean shoreline
- Cultural richness – A fascinating blend of Mediterranean, Moorish, and Celtic influences
- Safety and accessibility – Direct flights from the US and outstanding safety reputation
Spain seemed perfect for different honeymoon styles. My husband loves architecture and history while I’m passionate about food and beaches. We needed a place that would make us both happy.
“We kept coming back to Spain because it felt like the perfect middle ground,” I told my new husband. “If we want adventure one day and relaxation the next, Spain can deliver both.”
The romantic reputation of cities like Seville helped seal our decision. People often call it “probably the most romantic city in Spain”. Its fountain-filled plazas and atmospheric streets promised the perfect backdrop for our first days as newlyweds.
The practical side made sense too. High-speed trains connect many Spanish cities, so we could see several regions without constantly moving our base. We could stay in Barcelona and take day trips to smaller towns along the Costa Brava.
Our original expectations vs. reality
We had some misconceptions before booking our flights. I thought Spain was just beaches with some interesting cities. My husband expected historic sites and thought the food might not match up to Italy (his previous favorite). We couldn’t have been more wrong.
Spain refuses to fit in a simple box. The beaches amazed us with their variety – from popular coastal stretches like Puerto Banus in Marbella to hidden coves that needed hikes or boat rides to reach. Each spot offered something unique.
The weather made everything better than we imagined. One couple said visiting Spain during fall was “absolutely perfect in terms of weather, prices, and number of tourists”.
The architecture blew us away. Photos of Gaudí’s work in Barcelona didn’t prepare us for seeing it in person. My husband, who loves architecture, was “completely floored by the city’s architecture and overall energy”, just like many other travelers.
Spain’s food scene surprised us most. We knew about tapas but didn’t realize we were heading to a food paradise. San Sebastian has earned its reputation as “the world’s best city for foodies”. That’s high praise from people who love their food.
Spanish daily life exceeded our expectations. People take time for lunch “where a beer or glass of wine is always on the menu” before the traditional siesta. This lifestyle – late dinners, family celebrations, and enjoying every moment – changed our view of vacation completely.
Our one-time honeymoon destination has become our favorite country to visit. As someone perfectly said: “When you consider all your options, Spain is probably the greatest honeymoon destination on the planet”. We couldn’t agree more after our experience.
Best Time to Plan a Honeymoon in Spain
My wife and I picked Spain for our honeymoon. The next big question was about the perfect time to visit. The timing of your trip can turn your dream vacation into an amazing experience or leave you feeling disappointed. Our research showed that Spain’s weather patterns affect crowd sizes and your overall trip experience by a lot.
Best Time to Plan a Honeymoon in Spain
Spring and fall: the sweet spots
The data showed us something clear – late spring (April-June) and early autumn (September-October) are the best times to visit Spain. These “shoulder seasons” give you great weather, fewer tourists, and better deals.
Spring temperatures stay comfortable between 15-24°C (59-75°F). We could walk through Madrid’s historic streets and Barcelona’s architectural wonders without running for shade or air conditioning every few minutes.
The autumn weather is just as nice with temperatures between 17-24°C (63-75°F). You can enjoy sightseeing and Spain’s beautiful beaches without fighting summer crowds. Tourist spots, beaches, and seasonal activities stay open through autumn. You get all summer’s perks without any of its downsides.
These seasons show Spain’s most colorful side. The country comes alive with exciting festivals and cultural events from March to May and September to October. We planned our May honeymoon to catch Seville’s famous Feria de Abril, which became one of our trip’s best memories.
Couples watching their budget will love these shoulder months – hotels cost less and travel rates drop. We hadn’t planned on saving money, but the extra cash let us treat ourselves to special experiences like a private sunset tour of the Alhambra.
Why we avoided peak summer months
July seemed like a good choice at first, but our research changed our minds. Summer in Spain (June-August) brings the biggest tourist crowds, especially near the coast.
Two main reasons made us skip summer:
- Intense heat – Summer temperatures climb above 30°C (86°F). Madrid and Seville turn into ovens in July and August, making sightseeing tough and tiring.
- Overwhelming crowds – Places like Barcelona get too many tourists in summer. Barcelona’s locals have started limiting visitor numbers, which told us it wouldn’t be the best time for our visit.
August brings another challenge – locals head to the beach, and many family-owned restaurants close for vacation. This would have limited our chances to experience authentic Spanish culture.
Beach weather is great from June to September, but summer’s drawbacks outweighed its benefits for our honeymoon. We chose May instead, which let us enjoy warm beaches in southern Spain without peak season hassles.
May and September won us over with their warm, pleasant weather, smaller crowds, and better hotel prices. This timing choice made our trip special – we enjoyed Spain’s romantic atmosphere without pushing through crowds or dealing with extreme heat.
Our Favorite Romantic Cities and Hidden Gems
Spain’s rich variety of places gave us romantic moments that went beyond anything we could have imagined. The busy cities and secret coastal spots each added their own special touch to our honeymoon trip.
Our Favorite Romantic Cities and Hidden Gems
Barcelona: Modern romance and architecture
Barcelona mixed stunning architecture, Mediterranean coastline, and lively energy to create an unforgettable romantic setting. We held hands while walking through Antoni Gaudí’s masterpieces, and it felt like a fairytale. Park Güell showed us amazing city views, while the Sagrada Família’s detailed design left us speechless.
The Gothic Quarter became our morning ritual. We wandered through narrow medieval streets with no real plan. “Getting lost in those cobblestone lanes helped us find the most authentic moments,” I told my husband as we found hidden plazas and sweet cafés away from tourist spots.
The sunset cocktails from a rooftop bar gave us a magical view of the city. Many boutique hotels have these high-up hideaways where newlyweds can celebrate while watching the city change as night falls. The sea breeze, wide views, and Barcelona’s sparkling lights made our evenings without doubt romantic.
Seville: Flamenco nights and historic charm
Seville captured our hearts in ways we never expected. People call it “probably the most romantic city in Spain,” and it lived up to that name with fountain-filled plazas, horse-drawn carriages, and amazing architecture. Santa Cruz neighborhood showed off the city’s old-world charm with white walls and winding streets that seemed made for honeymoon couples.
The authentic flamenco show became our Seville highlight. “The passion and intensity of the performers mirrored our own feelings,” my partner said after we watched a show in a small, candlelit venue. This traditional dance connected us to Spanish culture in ways we hadn’t predicted.
The beautiful Alcázar Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, took us through centuries of history with its amazing architecture and magical gardens. We climbed La Giralda tower and saw sweeping views that showed us Seville’s romantic point of view.
Costa Brava: Secluded beaches and quiet towns
The peaceful Costa Brava offered a different kind of romance from the cities. This coastal region north of Barcelona let us share quiet moments away from crowds. The area had hidden coves we could reach only by hiking trails or boats—creating private spots where we could really connect.
Begur’s pristine beaches became our favorite escape. “These turquoise waters are perfect for snorkeling,” my husband said as we explored the clear waters of Ses Negres marine reserve. The medieval town of Besalú added history to our romantic walks across ancient bridges and through preserved buildings.
We picked small boutique hotels instead of big resorts to boost our experience. These places, from converted farmhouses to luxury countryside hotels, gave us customized service that made our honeymoon feel extra special.
Granada: The magic of Alhambra at sunset
Our Spanish honeymoon wouldn’t be complete without Granada’s crown jewel—the Alhambra. This stunning Moorish fortress and palace complex sits against the Sierra Nevada mountains, creating an unforgettable sight.
The real magic happened at sunset when the reddish-brown walls turned soft pink against the mountains. “At sunset, the walls of the palace are illuminated by a warm coral hue,” I whispered to my partner as we watched this daily change. This natural light show over ancient architecture became our most precious honeymoon memory.
The palace amazed us with its detailed Islamic designs, peaceful fountains, and quiet courtyards of the Nasrid Palaces. The Generalife gardens gave us another romantic setting where Moorish royalty once shared poetry with their loved ones.
We ended our Granada visit by climbing to Mirador San Nicolás. The panoramic views of the Alhambra at twilight created a breathtaking scene that countless couples have enjoyed through history.
Find Your Dream Spain Honeymoon Spot
How We Balanced Adventure and Relaxation
The secret to our amazing Spanish honeymoon was finding the sweet spot between learning new things and taking it easy. Spain’s beautiful cities, stunning architecture, and perfect beaches made us want to do everything at once. But we quickly learned that finding the right balance helped us really enjoy our romantic adventure.
How We Balanced Adventure and Relaxation
Planning downtime between sightseeing
We came up with a great strategy to add “buffer days” throughout our trip. After learning about Spanish culture, we found that taking a siesta made perfect sense – especially with Spain’s hot afternoons.
“The afternoon break wasn’t just about avoiding the midday sun,” I explained to friends after returning. “It became our chance to process everything we’d experienced that morning.”
Our typical day looked like this:
- Morning exploration (8-1 pm): Museums, landmarks, and walking tours
- Extended lunch and siesta (1-4 pm): Long, leisurely meals followed by relaxation
- Evening activities (4-10 pm): Sunset views, dinner, and nightlife
Spanish culture lined up perfectly with our schedule, especially in Andalucía where lunch breaks can last for hours. Local shops and smaller places closed during these times too, proving it right.
Spanish life really picks up at night. Taking afternoon breaks gave us energy to enjoy evening activities like flamenco shows in Seville or nighttime walks through Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter.
“We scheduled one completely agenda-free day for every three days of sightseeing,” my husband wrote in our travel journal. This pattern let us recharge after busy days and left room to find unexpected treasures.
Choosing activities that matched our energy levels
We picked activities carefully to match both our interests and energy levels. I love active exploration while my husband prefers cultural experiences, so we looked for things that worked for both of us.
We sorted activities by how much physical and emotional energy they needed. To cite an instance, we balanced hiking in the Pyrenees with relaxing wine tours in Rioja. The vineyards were beautiful and didn’t take much effort.
Mixing adventure with relaxation created a natural flow. A day of architectural tours in Barcelona was followed by beach time along Costa Brava’s hidden coves. This back-and-forth kept things fresh and helped us avoid the exhaustion that hits many couples trying to see it all.
Being near water was a great way to balance our honeymoon. A private sailboat charter let us explore hidden beaches and relax on deck. Thermal baths and couples’ spa treatments at boutique hotels helped us recover after active days.
We talked about our energy limits before the trip. “I’m good for about four hours of walking tours before I just need a break,” I said during planning. My husband felt the same way, which helped us make realistic plans.
Quality became more important than quantity. Instead of rushing to see all of Barcelona’s Gaudí masterpieces in one day, we really experienced one or two sites and saved the rest for next time. This let us soak in each place’s atmosphere instead of just checking boxes.
This balanced approach still stands as our favorite travel memory. The relaxed pace helped us connect with Spain and each other. The most romantic moments happened when we weren’t even trying – sharing sangria at a hidden courtyard café or watching the sunset from our hotel balcony.
Where We Stayed: Hotels That Made a Difference
We found that picking the right places to stay turned our Spanish honeymoon from good to truly unforgettable. The places we chose to rest our heads gave us some of our most treasured memories and shaped our whole experience.
Where We Stayed: Hotels That Made a Difference
Boutique hotels vs. luxury resorts
Spain offers honeymooners two distinct paths—cozy boutique properties and sprawling luxury resorts. This choice became one of our key planning decisions.
Small boutique hotels in historic city centers gave us personal attention that bigger hotels just couldn’t match. The traditional charm and 17th-century architecture of smaller properties in Seville stole our hearts. We loved coming back “home” to rooms with Sevilliano-styled décor after walks through romantic streets.
These boutique properties helped us connect with Spanish culture. Many were old private mansions or farmhouses that kept their original character while becoming charming hotels.
Luxury resorts, on the other hand, let us relax with their detailed amenities. We found everything from sprawling gardens and beautiful pools to onsite spas and multiple restaurants. These self-contained paradises made it easy to spend whole days without stepping outside.
Our top 3 favorite stays and why
Three special properties lifted our honeymoon experience above the rest:
Belmond La Residencia in Mallorca took our top spot. This beautiful 16th-century manor house sits among olive groves and citrus orchards. The views of Tramuntana Mountains and Mediterranean Sea created perfect moments for two. We loved dining at “one of the most romantic dining spots in Mallorca.” The outdoor massages and morning yoga classes made it extra special.
Casa del Poeta in Seville won us over with its perfect spot in the city center. This 18-room boutique hotel stands just a short walk from the old town, showing off traditional Andalusian architecture. The quiet interior courtyard became our favorite spot to sip morning coffee and plan our adventures.
Mas de Torrent in Costa Brava surprised us. This lovely restored 18th-century farmhouse with its lush gardens gave us a perfect base to learn about northeastern Spain. We could easily reach Girona, Costa Brava’s beaches, and the medieval village of Pals. Each evening, we came back to pure luxury and peace.
Lessons Learned: What We Would Do Differently
Our Spanish honeymoon was magical, but we learned some hard lessons along the way. Despite careful planning, we faced unexpected challenges that taught us a lot about traveling as newlyweds in this beautiful country.
Mistakes we made and how to avoid them
We completely missed the mark with Spanish dining schedules. The hunger pangs hit hard during the quiet hours between 4-8 pm when restaurants close their doors. By day three in Seville, we couldn’t find a single open restaurant! This taught us to adapt quickly to local mealtimes—lunch around 2-3 pm and dinner after 9 pm.
Sunday closures caught us by surprise. Most shops and supermarkets shut their doors completely. We needed groceries for our boutique apartment but couldn’t find any open stores. A Saturday shopping trip would have saved us the trouble.
We tried cramming too many sights into each day and ended up exhausted. Spain has over 45 UNESCO sites, but racing between them took away from our enjoyment. “The practice of being present together was the most important thing, not how fast you could get in and out,” a fellow traveler shared wisely.
Tips for a smoother, more romantic trip
Spain rewards those who follow its natural rhythm. A 10-14 day trip lets you enjoy your time while spending about three days in each location.
High-speed trains make city-hopping romantic and quick. A rental car gives you the freedom to explore charming small towns and scenic countryside at your own pace.
Here are some romantic activities to boost your trip:
- Take a private sailboat out for a day at sea
- Float over Spain’s countryside in a hot air balloon
- Relax with a couples massage or thermal circuit with champagne at historic bath houses like Aire de Sevilla
Spanish locals dress up more than tourists expect, so pack some nice clothes instead of workout gear. Looking sharp shows respect for local culture and makes those romantic dinners even more special.
The best part of our trip came from embracing Spain’s relaxed pace. We stopped rushing through our checklist and started savoring each moment together. This approach turned our honeymoon into the perfect start to our married life.
Spain Honeymoon Budget Estimator
Conclusion
Spain exceeded our honeymoon expectations without doubt. We created lasting memories through passionate flamenco shows, stunning architecture, clean beaches, and delicious food. Each region showed its own charm. Barcelona amazed us with modernist wonders, Seville charmed us with historic streets, Costa Brava welcomed us with hidden coves, and Granada’s Alhambra cast its spell on us.
Our Spanish honeymoon became special because of how we experienced it. We adapted to the Spanish lifestyle with long lunches, afternoon siestas, and evening walks. This relaxed pace turned our trip from basic sightseeing into a deeper connection. We savored every moment together instead of rushing between tourist spots.
The timing of our visit made a big difference. Spring and fall are perfect seasons for Spanish honeymoons. The weather is great, crowds are thin, and nothing is closed. These off-peak times also helped our budget, so we could upgrade our experiences without spending too much.
Our choice of hotels improved our trip substantially. We stayed in small boutique hotels in historic buildings that connected us to Spain’s heritage. Strategic luxury upgrades created romantic moments we’ll never forget. These carefully picked places became our havens to reflect on daily adventures.
Spain taught us how to travel as newlyweds. We learned to follow local customs, plan rest days, and focus on quality over quantity. The few challenges we faced are now funny stories we share years later.
Spain proves to be a perfect honeymoon canvas. Couples can write their love story against beautiful landscapes and rich culture. The country’s different regions, great transport links, and romantic atmosphere make it ideal for adventure and intimacy seekers. Your most precious memories will come from enjoying the trip together, just like we did.
