Spain

Travel Ideas: Why Spain Is Where Everyone Falls in Love

Did you know that Spain received 82.8 million foreign tourists in 2018?

It’s easy to see why Spain is a tourist hotspot—the European country offers an array of cultural landmarks, fascinating history, and beautiful beaches.

Keep reading to learn why Spain should be your next vacation and to find out why so many tourists fall in love with the country.

Reasons to Visit Spain

Spain is a bustling, beautiful country that is filled to the brim with incredible sights, exciting things to do, awe-inspiring places to relax, and scrumptious dishes to try.

But what are the country-specific reasons why so many tourists flock to popular Spanish destinations?

1. Blissful Beaches

If you’re planning on visiting Spain, you need to take a trip to one of Spain’s many luxurious beaches.

Spain is blessed to have over 5,00 miles of coastline and thousands of beautiful beaches. Spain is also blessed to have 300 days of sunshine, so you’ll have plenty of time to kick back and relax on a beach.

Maximize your beach trip’s relaxation by choosing one of the hidden gems in the country.

Some beaches can get very busy, so why not head to Costa de la Luz? Costa de la Luz is situated near the Portuguese border and has a number of hidden coves and unspoiled beaches. 

2. Cool, Cosmopolitan Cities

The cities you must see in Spain include the capital city, Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, and Seville.

These bustling cities have an array of museums, art galleries, shopping facilities, and breathtaking architecture to explore. 

Madrid and Barcelona are best known for being big arts and cultural hotspots. In these cities, you’ll find plenty of historic churches and cathedrals, fascinating landmarks and monuments, and intriguing modern art. Not to mention the vast abundance of restaurants, cafes, and bars to try.

3. Historic and Cultural Wonders

Spain has 45 UNESCO World Heritage Sites to explore (along with other landmarks and historical points of interest, that haven’t yet made it onto the UNESCO list).

Discover the cave paintings of Altamira, take a trip to Segovia’s Roman aqueduct, head over to Granada and marvel at the Alhambra fortress, or check out the historic city of Toledo.

History buffs are really spoiled for choice in Spain, as there are so many fascinating places to tick off and learn about as you journey through the country.

4. Delicious Food and Delightful Wine

What could be better than wining and dining while looking out across beautiful Spain scenery?

Spain has an unlimited array of restaurants, cafes, bars, and eateries scattered throughout the country.

Sample all the local cuisines and find yourself a new favorite dish. We recommend trying some tapas, Paella, Gazpacho, Patatas bravas, and Pisto.

As for the wine, Spain is known for producing incredible wine so make sure you try coupling some wine with your meals. Alternatively, head over to a winery and learn more about how the wine is made and try a variety of different wines.

5. Amazing Spain Landscapes

Spain is home to endless beaches which are ideal for relaxing on, but if you’re more of an adventurous soul then you need to check out the impeccable Spanish landscapes and mountains.

Have a go at hiking up some of the northern Pyrenees mountains, or head to the Sierra Nevada in the south of Spain and visit the popular skiing resort. 

If you want a contrast to the mountains in Spain, you can also find Cabo de Gata in Almeria. Cabo de Gata is Europe’s only desert and has been the inspiration for many Hollywood spaghetti westerns, which were filmed in the area.

6. Adventure Is Around Every Corner

Hiking isn’t the only activity that thrill-seekers and outdoor enthusiasts can do.

For those who like to get their heart pumping, you can walk along a scary footpath that leads to a zip line between Spain and Portugal.

There’s also an array of skiing and snowboarding options, as well as plenty of places to do scuba diving. 

On the northern coastline of Spain, you can also find annual surfing competitions. While in Pamplona, you can run with the bulls, this annual event takes place in July. In Spain, you can get involved with jet-skiing, rafting, canoeing, bungee jumping, climbing, and skateboarding. 

7. Weird Festivals

Spain is home to many strange and weird festivals.

However, because the Spanish know how to throw a party, we’re sure they won’t disappoint. 

Get stuck in with the celebration of near-death experiences as you get carried in an open coffin at the Festival of Santa Marta de Ribarteme. Start a tomato fight at the world’s largest tomato fight at the La Tomatina festival. 

8. Incredible Islands

Spain also boasts an abundance of incredible islands.

Head to Ibiza if you want an exciting nightlife experience and golden beaches. Treat yourself to the beautiful beaches and resorts in Majorca. Climb the volcano in Tenerife and enjoy excellent views of the volcanic surroundings. Hikers and volcanic lovers should also check out Lanzarote. 

La Palma is ideal for those who want to enjoy a lush green jungle and take part in several walking tours and trails. Historic enthusiasts need to explore Menorca, while whose who can’t keep still should head to Gran Canaria where you can find golf arenas and surfing opportunities. 

If you fall completely in love with everything Spain has to offer, then why not buy or rent a property there?

Finding your dream Spanish property is as easy as strolling down the beautiful Costa del Sol beaches with Right Casa Estates. Spend more time enjoying Spain and all of its wonders.

Why Spain? Now You Know

There are so many reasons why Spain is the right choice for your next vacation, or even as a place of permanent residence.

Whether you enjoy relaxing on the beach, exploring the great outdoors, treating yourself to the latest high-end fashion, or sitting back and trying new dishes, Spain is the perfect place for you.

If you enjoyed reading this article, be sure to check out some of our other insightful articles. 

Location Independent: How to Become a Freelancer in Spain

Spain is a wonderful country that 46 million people call home. In addition to those Spanish residents, some 82 million tourists pour into the country each year (which is actually causing a number of infrastructural problems).

Given Spain’s popularity, it’s no wonder why so many entrepreneurs have considered freelancing within the nation’s borders.

Are you one of those people?

If you are, brace yourself. Freelancing and collecting payments from Spanish businesses and citizens in Spain can be an unnecessarily complicated process that’s riddled with paperwork and fees.

Below, our team gives you a quick overview of how to become a freelancer in Spain and insight on how you can go through the process of getting properly documented.

Step 1: Ask Yourself if Freelancing is Right For You

Freelancing around one of the most culturally rich countries in the world may sound like a good idea, but is it really?

As a freelancer, there are no promises. You have to make your own breaks every day and if you don’t, you don’t get paid. Furthermore, as a declared freelancer in Spain, you’re unable to collect unemployment benefits during “soft periods”.

Couple all of that with the fact that Spain’s economy isn’t the greatest (meaning fewer clients) and everything can equal a pretty dismal life for a freelancer.

Still, people have made it as freelancers in the country before so if you’re willing to bust your butt, keep reading!

Step 2: Understand if You’re Eligible to Freelance in Spain

If you’re an expat from the United States that freelances remotely and wants to continue to do that in Spain, this article doesn’t really apply to you. You can easily get a tourist visa and work for your US-based clients from a beach in San Sebastian and no one will bother you.

After all, you’re bringing money into the country without taking any money out of it! The Spanish government will love you for that.

While you may run into some snags as far as visa renewals are concerned, as long as you can prove income, you should have no trouble getting things to work.

If you’re planning on actually freelancing in Spain by pulling money out of the economy (ex: having Spanish clients) things get a little dicier. In order to work in Spain, you’ll likely need to be a Spanish citizen or a member of the EU.

If you’re one of those two things and have the documentation to back it up, you should have what you need to start going through the freelancer documentation process.

Step 3: Get Your Paperwork in Order

Now the real fun of the how to become a freelancer in Spain process begins. You have to start getting your documentation in order to present it to the social security office and the Hacienda (the country’s tax entity).

You’ll need your Spanish citizenship documentation, passport or visa. You’ll also need your NIE or NIF (social security number), your bank account details and your Modelo 30 (more on that in a moment).

We also recommend bringing a native Spanish speaker with you when filling out paperwork.

Step 4: Visit Your Local Social Security Office

If you don’t have a Modelo 30 (a special tax document) you can pick it up at your local social security office. Note that there are a lot of social security offices in Spain and some provide different services.

Call ahead and explain that you’re going through the how to become a freelancer process. They will either reassure you that they can help or will point you to another social security office.

Step 5: Visit the Hacienda

With your Modelo 30 and other documentation in hand, it’s time to head over to the nation’s tax office. Getting seen at the tax office can be a grueling process filled with unnecessary paperwork and unhelpful agents.

Take a deep breath.

Even if you have to reschedule your appointment for another day due to some snag, if you’re respectful and follow directions to the best of your ability, you’ll walk out with the paperwork you need to be a registered freelancer.

Step 6: Turn in Your Paper Work to the Social Security Office

When you leave the Hacienda, you’ll come away with paperwork that your social security office needs so they can start taking freelancer taxes from your bank account.

This process should be simple and once your paperwork is turned in, you’re done!

Freelancer Taxes

Spain is relatively non-hospitable on the tax front when it comes to self-employment. They’ll take anywhere from 50 euros to 250 euros out of your account each month as a fee just for declaring yourself a freelancer (that’s a lot of tapas money).

This fee comes with no special benefits.

If ever you feel like the fees you’re being charged are making it impossible for you to operate, consider creditos online en el acto (taking out a small loan online or de-registering as a freelancer which is a much quicker process than registering.

Wrapping Up How to Become a Freelancer in Spain

The how to become a freelancer in Spain process is far from an easy one. Even when you accomplish it, the reality of being a freelancer in Spain is also far from easy.

If you’re set on going through the motions though, by all means, do it! If you end up being successful, you’ll be able to enjoy steady income in a beautiful place that’s teeming with delicious food!

For more information on all things self-employment and digital marketing, check out more of our content on Article City today!