Trip Planning
Everything before you go — itineraries, timing, visas and booking.
Best time to visit Andalusia: heat, rain and quiet months
Andalusia by month: 36 °C July afternoons in Seville, the sea off Málaga at 22–24 °C from July to September, mild but wet winters and snow in the Sierra Nevada.
Best time to visit the Canary Islands: season by season
Canary Islands by season: winter sun from November to March, flowers in late winter and spring, summer trade winds, the warmest sea in September and October.
Costa Blanca in winter: weather, sea and what to do
Costa Blanca in winter: 17–18 °C afternoons in Alicante, the sea cooling to 14–15 °C, weather by month, walks and December sun through the Santa Llúcia Arch.
Winter sun: the Canary Islands, Madeira and southern Spain
Where it's warm in winter: 21–23 °C by day on the Canaries, 20–21 °C on Madeira, 16–18 °C on Spain's Mediterranean coast, plus sea temperatures and rainy days.
Madeira in winter: weather, sea and what to do
Madeira in winter: 20 °C afternoons in Funchal, the sea down to 18 °C, a wetter north, snowy peaks and waterfalls in full flow, plus which trails are open.
Mallorca in winter: weather, sea and what to do
Mallorca in winter: 15–16 °C afternoons and a cold sea, Palma without crowds, mountain walks after the rain, caves on wet days, and what closes.
The Dolomites in winter: what to do with and without skis
The Dolomites in winter: cold, dry days, cable cars up to the snow, frozen lakes, the Bolzano Christmas market, and which passes and roads close.
Best time to visit Lanzarote: winter sun or a quiet spring
When to visit Lanzarote: winter sun from November to March, a dry and quiet spring, hot summers and the warmest sea in September and October.
Gran Canaria in winter: where it's warm and what to do
Gran Canaria in winter: 20–23 °C on the coast, a warmer, sunnier south and cold summits, plus where to swim and when the almonds flower inland.
Tenerife in winter: weather, the sea and what to do
Tenerife in winter: about 22 °C on the south coast, a cooler, wetter north and snow on Teide, plus where to swim and what ice or heavy swell can close.
The Canary Islands in winter: Tenerife, Gran Canaria or Lanzarote?
Three Canary Islands in winter: beaches and a chance of snow on Teide in Tenerife, a warm south and cold summits in Gran Canaria, lava fields in Lanzarote.
Iceland in winter: six places worth the short days
Six places worth a winter trip to Iceland: northern lights near Reykjavík, Hraunfossar in ice, seals at Jökulsárlón and ice caves.
How to Plan a Travel Itinerary You'll Actually Stick To
A five-step system for turning a long list of sights into a realistic day-by-day plan.
Best time to visit Iceland
Iceland's northern lights, midnight sun, ice caves, puffins and Highland F-roads each run on a different calendar. Here's exactly when each one actually happens.
Snæfellsnes peninsula: a 2-day itinerary (Iceland in miniature)
A two-day loop around Snæfellsnes, south coast then north: which stops earn ten minutes, which need booking ahead, and how much fits into a winter day.
The Westfjords: a 3-day road trip through Iceland's remotest region
Three days through Iceland's least-visited region: Látrabjarg's puffin cliffs, Dynjandi's 100-metre falls and a fjord-top hike above Ísafjörður. The plan is honest about gravel roads, the ferry and fuel stops.
Best time to visit Catalonia
Catalonia's coast, cities and Pyrenees run on different calendars. Sea temperatures, hiking and ski seasons, and the dates for Sant Jordi, Sant Joan and La Mercè, broken down season by season.
Canyons of Aragon: a weekend in Sierra de Guara (and beyond)
Alquézar's canyon walkways need no guide; Rodellar's real canyons do. A geographically tight 2–3 day route through Sierra de Guara, with an honest look at season, permits and gear.
Catalonia beyond Barcelona: a 7-day road trip itinerary
A seven-day road trip beyond Barcelona takes in Montserrat's cliffs, the Collsacabra plateau, Núria by rack railway, Garrotxa's volcanoes and Cap de Creus. Every leg comes with real drive times.
Best time to visit Madeira
Madeira has no bad season, only trade-offs. Here is what each part of the year actually offers — weather, sea, crowds, prices — so you can match the month to the trip you want.
Best time to visit Tenerife
Tenerife works all year, so the real question is what you want. Here is the weather season by season, month by month — beaches, hiking, whales, Carnival, calima and the quiet, cheap weeks.
How to plan a self-drive trip in Iceland
The real decisions behind an Iceland road trip: when to go, which route, what car you actually need, how insurance works, and how to drive the country safely.
The Iceland Ring Road: a 7-day self-drive itinerary
Route 1 in a week, counter-clockwise: which stops fit each day, how long you'll actually drive, and where to sleep from Vík to Akureyri.
Tenerife in One Day: the 10 Stops Worth Driving To
One day and a car are enough to see ten of Tenerife's signature locations, from the lava fields of Teide to the laurel forest of Anaga. The list runs from the volcano and the Los Gigantes cliffs to black-sand beaches and historic towns.