Palma Cathedral above the water in Mallorca
TheMediterranean.com The Luxury Gateway
DestinationsStayResortsSailCruisesFlyTrainsLiveLuxury Real EstateShopDineExperiencePlan a Trip

Home›Mediterranean destinations›Spain

Spain

From the villas of Ibiza and Mallorca to Marbella's Golden Mile, the art of Madrid and the three-star tables of Barcelona: Spain at its finest on the Mediterranean, chosen by one rule: first class or not at all.

Palma Cathedral, MallorcaPhotograph: Tom Podmore

La cultura

Moorish palaces, flamenco and the Prado

Spain carries the marks of everyone who ruled it: Roman cities, nearly eight centuries of Moorish Andalusia, and the golden age of the empire that followed. The Alhambra in Granada and the great mosque of Córdoba are among the most beautiful buildings in Europe, and Seville's cathedral is one of the largest Gothic churches anywhere.

Madrid keeps three of the world's great art museums within a short walk of one another: the Prado, the Thyssen-Bornemisza and the Reina Sofía. Flamenco, born in Andalusia, is listed by UNESCO as part of the cultural heritage of humanity, and Jerez gives it a festival of its own each winter.

Spanish cooking stands with the best in the world, from Barcelona and Girona to the coast of Cádiz. This guide brings together only the first class: the finest resorts and hotels, the great three-star tables, the harbours of the Balearics and the Costa del Sol, and the private side of Spain's great festivals.

A few words of Spanish
EnglishSpanishSay it
HelloHolaOH-lah
PleasePor favorpor fah-VOR
Thank youGraciasGRAH-thee-ahs (GRAH-see-ahs is also understood)
Good eveningBuenas noches (after dark; buenas tardes earlier)BWEH-nahs NOH-chehs
The bill, pleaseLa cuenta, por favorlah KWEN-tah, por fah-VOR
The stone houses of Deià below the Tramuntana mountains, bougainvillea at a window
Deià, Mallorca

Where to go

The best places to visit in Spain

Ibiza, Mallorca, Marbella and Barcelona: the best time to visit, the one best hotel, restaurant and beach club, and how to arrive by private jet, helicopter or yacht.

Ibiza

Best time to visitJune and September are ideal: the island is fully open, the sea is warm and the villas and beach clubs are calmer than in July and August. For the quiet, rural Ibiza, come in May or October.

  • Stay
    BLESS Hotel Ibiza (Forbes Five-Star)

    On the beach on Ibiza's east coast, the island's only hotel at that level.

  • Dine
    Sublimotion

    A 12-seat dinner staged with light and projection, open in summer only; it holds no MICHELIN stars but is Ibiza's one unrepeatable dining experience.

  • Beach
    Blue Marlin Ibiza

    The best-known address on Cala Jondal, running from lunch on the sand to evening DJ sets.

Arrive privately
By private jet
Ibiza (IBZ / LEIB), 7 km from Ibiza Town, about 15 to 20 minutes by car.
By helicopter
Not a usual airport transfer; private charters run between Ibiza and Mallorca.
By sea
IGY Ibiza Marina, 27 superyacht berths for yachts of 20 to 150 metres; at the foot of Dalt Vila, a short walk to the old town.

The full Ibiza guide ›

Mallorca

Best time to visitJune and September are ideal: warm sea, reliable sun and room to breathe in the coves and harbours, with superyacht racing off Palma in June. July and August are the hottest and fullest months.

  • Stay
    Cap Rocatone of the 25 Finest Resorts

    A 19th-century fortress guarding the Bay of Palma, protected as a national monument, set in a 30-hectare reserve with two kilometres of private coastline.

  • Dine
    Voro

    In Canyamel, it is the only MICHELIN two-star in the Balearic Islands.

  • Beach
    None that meets our standard yet.
Arrive privately
By private jet
Palma de Mallorca (PMI / LEPA), about 15 minutes by car to Palma.
By helicopter
Not a usual airport transfer; private helicopter charters link Mallorca with Ibiza and Menorca, and Four Seasons Resort Mallorca at Formentor arranges them from its own helipad.
By sea
Club de Mar-Mallorca, Palma, more than 70 berths for yachts of 40 to 170 metres; about 10 minutes to central Palma. Puerto Portals, 10 km from Palma, takes yachts up to 60 metres.

The full Mallorca guide ›

Marbella

Best time to visitMay to June and September to early October are ideal: hot, dry days, a sea warm enough to swim and calmer beaches than July and August. Winter stays mild and sunny, good for golf and long lunches.

  • Stay
    Marbella Clubone of the 25 Finest Resorts

    The address that made Marbella, founded in 1954 by Prince Alfonso von Hohenlohe on the beach of the Golden Mile, with its own beach club and pier.

  • Dine
    Skina

    Marcos Granda's restaurant on the Golden Mile is the only MICHELIN two-star on the Costa del Sol.

  • Beach
    La Cabane

    Open since 1965, it marked its 60th anniversary with a menu by chef Dani García and is run by Grupo Dani García with Grupo Mosh.

Arrive privately
By private jet
Málaga-Costa del Sol (AGP / LEMG), about 50 minutes by car along the AP-7, longer in midday traffic. Universal Aviation Spain runs a private aviation terminal (FBO) at the airport.
By helicopter
Not a regular option.
By sea
Puerto Banús, berths for yachts up to 50 metres, with anchorage for larger ones; about 15 minutes to central Marbella.

The full Marbella guide ›

Barcelona

Best time to visitMay, June and late September to October are ideal: warm days for walking the city, a sea fit for swimming from June, and less heat and fewer crowds than July and August. Barcelona is a year-round city, so winter is mild and never truly empty.

  • Stay
    Mandarin Oriental, BarcelonaForbes Five-Star

    On Passeig de Gràcia, it was raised to Forbes Five-Star in 2026, the city's only hotel at that level.

  • Dine
    Disfrutar

    Three MICHELIN stars, and named the world's best restaurant in 2024.

  • Beach
    None that meets our standard yet.
Arrive privately
By private jet
Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat (BCN / LEBL), about 15 km from the centre, about 20 to 30 minutes by car.
By helicopter
Not a regular option.
By sea
OneOcean Port Vell, berths for yachts up to 190 metres; in the old port, a few minutes from the Gothic Quarter and Las Ramblas.

The full Barcelona guide ›

Beyond the coast

Madrid, Seville, Granada and the wine country

Seville

The capital of Andalusia, built around the largest Gothic cathedral in the world, the Moorish and Mudéjar royal palace of the Alcázar, and the old quarter of Santa Cruz. The Cathedral, the Alcázar and the Archivo de Indias were listed together as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.

Best time to visitMarch to May, and October to November; July and August are very hot.

  • Stay
    No hotel yet meets our standard; the Hotel Alfonso XIII, by the Alcázar, is the city's grand address.

Granada and the Alhambra

The last capital of Moorish Spain, set below the Sierra Nevada. The Nasrid palaces of the Alhambra, the Generalife gardens and the hillside Albayzín quarter are a UNESCO World Heritage Site (listed 1984, extended 1994); entry to the Nasrid palaces is by timed ticket and sells out well ahead.

Best time to visitMarch to May, and September to November.

  • Stay
    No hotel here yet meets our standard; visit as a day trip from Marbella.

Madrid

Spain's inland capital, home to the Prado, the Thyssen-Bornemisza and the Reina Sofía within walking distance of one another. The Paseo del Prado and the Buen Retiro park were listed by UNESCO in 2021 as "a landscape of arts and sciences."

Best time to visitApril to June, and September to October.

Priorat

A hill wine country of terraced slate vineyards in Catalonia, below the cliffs of the Montsant Natural Park. Priorat is one of only two Spanish wine regions, with Rioja, to hold the top DOQ/DOCa classification, and its landmark is the ruined Carthusian monastery of Santa Maria d'Escaladei.

Best time to visitApril to June, and September to October, when the harvest is in.

  • Stay
    Terra Dominicata

    A winery hotel at Escaladei among its own vineyards, holding three MICHELIN Keys.

Girona

A walled medieval city on the River Onyar, with one of Europe's best-preserved Jewish quarters and a cathedral whose single Gothic nave is among the widest in the world. It is also home to the Roca brothers' El Celler de Can Roca, which holds three MICHELIN stars.

Best time to visitApril to June, and September to October.

  • Stay
    Hotel Esperit Roca

    The Roca brothers' 15-room hotel in a restored 19th-century hilltop fortress just north of the city, holding two MICHELIN Keys.

A turquoise cove and white sand beach below pine-covered hills in Mallorca
A cove in Mallorca

Stay

Luxury hotels and resorts in Spain

Cap Rocat on Mallorca and the Marbella Club are among the 25 Finest Resorts of the Mediterranean; the hotels below each hold Forbes Five-Star or two or three MICHELIN Keys.

Mallorca

Four Seasons Resort Mallorca at Formentor

A seaside resort among the pine woods of the Formentor peninsula, at Mallorca's northern tip, with its own beach. MICHELIN gives it two Keys.

Marbella

Marbella Club

Prince Alfonso von Hohenlohe founded the Marbella Club in 1954 on a family estate by the sea, and helped turn a fishing village into Spain's most glamorous resort town.

Visit website ↗

The finest hotels

Each rated Forbes Five-Star or holding two or three MICHELIN Keys.

See all 12
  • La Residencia, A Belmond HotelDeià, Mallorca

    A hillside village hotel in the Serra de Tramuntana that holds two MICHELIN Keys. Visit website ↗

  • Hotel Can CeraPalma

    A small hotel in a historic town house in Palma's old quarter, with two MICHELIN Keys.

  • Mandarin Oriental Punta NegraMallorca

    Mandarin Oriental's Mallorca resort at Punta Negra, west of Palma, with two MICHELIN Keys.

  • Cap Vermell Grand HotelCanyamel, Mallorca

    A hotel in the valley of Canyamel on Mallorca's east coast, with two MICHELIN Keys.

  • Hotel Can FerreretaSantanyí, Mallorca

    A restored manor house in the village of Santanyí in south-east Mallorca, with two MICHELIN Keys.

  • BLESS Hotel IbizaIbiza

    A beachfront hotel on Ibiza's east coast, rated Forbes Five-Star. Visit website ↗

Private villas and estates

  • Son Bunyola villasMallorca

    Three standalone villas, Sa Punta de S'Aguila, Sa Terra Rotja and Son Balagueret, let for exclusive use by Virgin Limited Edition on its own 330-hectare estate in the UNESCO-listed Tramuntana mountains, with five kilometres of private coastline. Visit website ↗

Friends raising cocktails across a table in a restaurant with green panelled walls
Cocktails with friends

Dine

The best restaurants in Spain

Spain's three-MICHELIN-star restaurants on our list, the finest two-stars, and the most celebrated beach clubs.

Three MICHELIN stars

Two MICHELIN stars, and more of the finest

Beach clubs

  • Blue Marlin IbizaCala Jondal

    The best-known address on Cala Jondal in southwest Ibiza, running day-to-night from lunch on the beach to evening DJ sets. Visit website ↗

  • Casa JondalCala Jondal (Ibiza)

    A seafood-led beach restaurant on the same bay as Blue Marlin, with the menu by chef Rafa Zafra. It is one of the hardest lunch tables to book on the island.

  • El ChiringuitoEs Cavallet (Ibiza)

    A beach restaurant minutes from Ibiza Town with a quieter, more refined following than the party clubs, open daily in season. Visit website ↗

  • La CabaneMarbella

    Open since 1965, this Marbella beach club marked its 60th anniversary with a menu by chef Dani García and is run by Grupo Dani García with Grupo Mosh. Visit website ↗

Private chefs and catering

For a villa, a yacht or a wedding.

Cooking schools

A ketch under sail below the medieval walls and towers of Tossa de Mar on the Costa Brava
Under sail at Tossa de Mar, the Costa Brava

Sail

Yacht charter in Spain

The marinas of Palma, Ibiza, Barcelona and Puerto Banús, the brokers with offices in Palma, and a seven-day route from Palma to Ibiza.

Superyacht marinas

  • Club de Mar-MallorcaPalma

    Rebuilt from end to end, with 543 berths, more than 70 of them for yachts of 40 to 170 metres, inside Porto Pi at the western end of Palma's port. Visit website ↗

  • Puerto PortalsMallorca

    701 berths for yachts of 8 to 60 metres at Portals Nous, 10 km from Palma, with a waterfront of restaurants and luxury shops that makes it the island's social harbour. Visit website ↗

  • OneOcean Port VellBarcelona

    A fully serviced superyacht marina in the old port of Barcelona, with berths for yachts up to 190 metres and a members' club, crew lounge and 24-hour security.

  • IGY Ibiza MarinaIbiza Town

    27 superyacht berths for yachts of 20 to 150 metres at the foot of Dalt Vila, the UNESCO-listed old town. Visit website ↗

  • Puerto BanúsMarbella

    915 berths on 15 hectares of sheltered water, taking yachts up to 50 metres with anchorage for larger ones, set against Marbella's best-known luxury waterfront. Visit website ↗

A week at sea

The Balearics: seven days from Palma to Andratx, Ibiza and Formentera, with the anchorages, restaurants and beach clubs reached by tender.

Read the itinerary

Superyacht charter brokers with an office here

Refit and maintenance

  • MB92 GroupBarcelona and La Ciotat

    A superyacht refit specialist of more than 30 years, with a €40 million investment in its Barcelona yard; its French yard at La Ciotat has a 4,300-tonne shiplift for yachts up to 115 metres, a 2,000-tonne shiplift for yachts up to 80 metres, a 300-tonne travelift and a 200-metre dry dock. Visit website ↗

  • Astilleros de MallorcaPalma

    A long-established Palma yard in the port's Contramuelle-Mollet area dedicated to refit and maintenance of yachts and superyachts, with technical and logistics support across the Mediterranean. Visit website ↗

  • STP Shipyard PalmaPalma

    A 130,000 m² open refit yard taking yachts up to 120 metres, with a 1,000-tonne travelift, among the largest in Europe, and more than 500 specialist companies on site that owners can hire directly. Visit website ↗

  • VMG Astilleros de SaguntoSagunto (Valencia)

    A refit and repair yard founded in 2020 by the Ibaizabal Group, with a 5,000-tonne shiplift on a 102 by 22 metre platform for yachts up to 125 metres, among the largest shiplifts in the world built for yachts, and classed by Lloyd's Register. Visit website ↗

Cruises

Spain by sea

The cruise ports of Spain, and where the luxury lines call.

Spain's great cruise ports are Barcelona, Palma, Málaga and Valencia; the small luxury ships also reach Ibiza, Mahón and, up the Guadalquivir, Seville.

Where the luxury lines call

From the lines' own 2026 and 2027 voyages. Ports change from season to season, so check the voyage before you reserve.

Luxury Cruise LinesSuites at Sea

Travel

First-class travel in Spain

The great hotel trains, first-class rail and the chauffeurs at our standard. Private jet arrivals are covered in the questions below.

First-class rail

The top class on the scheduled high-speed trains, from city to city.

  • Renfe AVE, Prémium

    The top fare in Confort, the first-class carriage of Spain's high-speed AVE, with 2+1 seats.

  • Iryo, Infinita Bistró

    The top class of Iryo, Spain's private high-speed operator, in a first-class carriage at the end of the train with 2+1 seats. A light meal and drinks are served at the seat, and the ticket is flexible.

The hotel trains

Overnight journeys in restored carriages.

  • Al Andalus: Seville to Madrid

    Spain's luxury train of restored 1920s carriages, with Grand Class rooms and Deluxe Suites.

Chauffeurs and self-drive

  • Carey InternationalFrance, Spain and Italy

    Founded in 1921, Carey is one of the oldest names in executive chauffeured transport, operating in more than 80 countries, with long-term franchise partners in France, Spain and Italy running Carey-branded vehicles. Visit website ↗

  • RentluxBarcelona, Madrid, Ibiza and Marbella

    Luxury car hire with a fleet it owns outright and offices at Maremagnum in Port Vell, Barcelona, at the Jarama circuit outside Madrid, on the airport road in Ibiza and on Bulevar Príncipe Alfonso de Hohenlohe in Marbella. Visit website ↗

  • The Luxury Car Hire ClubMarbella

    Prestige car hire from an office at La Quinta Golf and Country Club above Marbella, with collection and return at Málaga Airport. It owns its cars, among them Ferrari, Lamborghini, Rolls-Royce, Bentley and Porsche. Visit website ↗

  • Ibiza Best CarIbiza

    Supercar hire that owns its own fleet, from an office on Avenida Pere Matutes Noguera in Ibiza, delivering to the airport's VIP terminal, villas, hotels and Marina Botafoch. Visit website ↗

  • Exclusive Rental CarsIbiza

    Luxury car hire on the island since 2006, from an office on the airport road at Sant Jordi, with more than 100 cars, all under two years old. The fleet includes Ferrari, Lamborghini and Porsche, delivered anywhere on Ibiza. Visit website ↗

  • Porsche DriveMadrid

    Porsche's own short-term hire programme, run in Madrid by the official Centro Porsche Madrid Norte on Avenida de Burgos, for a weekend or a holiday. Drivers must be 25 or over, or 35 for Turbo models. Visit website ↗

Shop

Luxury shopping in Spain

Passeig de Gràcia, Madrid's Golden Mile and Puerto Banús; the jewellers born in Spain; and the ateliers of Mallorca.

The great shopping streets

  • Passeig de GràciaBarcelona

    Barcelona's grand modernista boulevard and Spain's most expensive street, lined with the flagship boutiques of the great luxury houses, among them Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Hermès, Cartier and Gucci.

  • The Golden Mile (Calle Serrano and Calle José Ortega y Gasset)Madrid

    The heart of the Salamanca district, where Ortega y Gasset holds Dior, Chanel and Hermès and Serrano holds Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Loewe.

  • Muelle RiberaPuerto Banús, Marbella

    The quayside of Marbella's superyacht marina, facing the moored yachts, where Louis Vuitton, Dior, Bulgari and Fendi keep boutiques on the Ribera, with Hermès and Chanel also in the port. Visit website ↗

Jewellers and watchmakers

Artisan ateliers

Auction houses

  • AnsorenaMadrid

    Madrid auction house and jeweller operating since 1845 from Calle de Alcalá 52, holding sales of Spanish and European paintings, decorative arts and antique jewellery alongside its gallery and valuation services. Visit website ↗

Art galleries

  • Hauser & Wirth MenorcaIsla del Rey (Illa del Rei), Mahón

    The Swiss blue-chip gallery's island outpost in Mahón harbour, in restored historic buildings on Illa del Rei, reached by boat, open from spring to late October. Visit website ↗

  • Galería Elba BenítezMadrid

    Leading Madrid contemporary gallery founded in 1990, in a courtyard space at Calle San Lorenzo 11, showing installation, sculpture, video, photography, painting and performance. Visit website ↗

The great marques

Official showrooms, most by appointment.

See all 12
  • Lamborghini BarcelonaBarcelona

    The official Lamborghini dealership for Catalonia, listed on the marque's own dealer locator. Visit website ↗

  • Aston Martin BarcelonaBarcelona

    The authorised Aston Martin dealer, on Passeig de la Zona Franca within the Quadis prestige cluster. Visit website ↗

  • McLaren BarcelonaBarcelona

    McLaren's retailer for Spain, operated by Comercial Chelsea 1979, which opened in 2017 when it took over from the earlier Marbella site. It is listed on McLaren's official retailer locator. Visit website ↗

  • Bentley MarbellaSan Pedro de Alcántara

    The official Bentley dealership for the Costa del Sol, run by C. de Salamanca from its prestige site on Avenida Norberto Goizueta, a short drive west of Puerto Banús. Visit website ↗

  • Ferrari C. de Salamanca MarbellaSan Pedro de Alcántara

    The official Ferrari dealer for southern Spain and the flagship marque of C. de Salamanca, a house founded in 1907 by the Marquis of Salamanca. Visit website ↗

  • Lamborghini MarbellaPuerto Banús

    Lamborghini's showroom in Puerto Banús, which opened in summer 2025 as the marque's third in Spain, serving the Costa del Sol, with Ad Personam personalisation. Visit website ↗

The Great Marques: showrooms, factories and cars to hire ›

Palm trees and formal gardens beside the Moorish palace of the Alcázar in Seville
The gardens of the Alcázar, Seville

Experience

Events and things to do in Spain

The Spanish year: the great events, month by month; each event's own website gives this year's dates.

The great museums

Opera houses, concert halls and festivals

Wine estates that receive visitors

  • Familia TorresPacs del Penedès (Catalonia)

    The family's home winery offers bookable cellar and vineyard tours with food and wine pairings, and the El Celleret restaurant beside the vineyards. Visit website ↗

Golf

Health spas

Sport and motoring

  • Santa María Polo ClubSotogrande, Spain

    Spain's leading polo club and home of the Sotogrande International Polo Tournament each August, the country's great polo tournament.

  • PalmaVelaPalma, Mallorca, Spain

    The Real Club Náutico de Palma's spring regatta, in late April and into May, one of the first big-boat gatherings of the European season, with Maxi and TP52 classes and boats from about 17 countries. Visit website ↗

  • Rafa Nadal AcademyManacor, Mallorca, Spain

    Rafael Nadal's academy in his hometown, with tennis and padel courts, on-site suites, a Rafa Nadal museum, and adult camps alongside its junior and year-round programmes. Visit website ↗

  • AscariRonda

    A private members' club in the hills near Ronda, inland from Marbella, set on an estate of more than 180 hectares around a 5.4-kilometre circuit of 26 corners, also used by carmakers for launches. Visit website ↗

  • Museo Automovilístico y de la ModaMálaga

    Nearly a hundred restored cars, from the Belle Époque and Art Deco years to coachwork by Figoni and Bugatti, share the former Tabacalera building with a collection of haute couture from Chanel, Dior, Givenchy and Balmain, across thirteen themed rooms. Visit website ↗

Weddings and celebrations

  • Son MarroigDeià, Mallorca

    The clifftop estate of Archduke Ludwig Salvator of Austria, now a house museum in his honour, above the sea on Mallorca's northwest coast. Couples marry beneath its white marble pavilion over the sea. Visit website ↗

After dark

Live

Luxury real estate in Spain

A home in Spain: the agencies and advisers at our standard, for the purchase and for life after it.

Prime real estate

  • Lucas FoxBarcelona

    Prime residential specialist founded in 2005, with more than 30 offices in Spain, including Barcelona, the Costa Brava, Mallorca, Sitges, Valencia and the Costa del Sol; majority-owned since 2025 by Dils, the Italian real estate group. Visit website ↗

  • Spain Sotheby's International RealtyBarcelona and Madrid

    The Sotheby's affiliate for Spain, brought together under the Vivium group in 2025, with offices in Barcelona, the Costa Brava, Madrid and La Moraleja, Palma, Port d'Andratx, Ibiza, Formentera, Menorca, Marbella, Alicante and Seville. Visit website ↗

  • Drumelia Real EstateMarbella

    Luxury agency based near Puerto Banús with about 20 years in the Marbella market, known for exclusive listings in the area's top neighbourhoods. Visit website ↗

  • Luxury Estates MallorcaPort d'Andratx

    The Christie's International Real Estate affiliate on Mallorca, based on the harbour road of Port d'Andratx, handling villas and estates in the island's southwest. Visit website ↗

Branded residences and new developments

  • St. Regis ResidencesFinca Cortesín, Casares (Costa del Sol)

    Spain's first standalone St. Regis-branded residences, developed by Caledonian with Marriott: 46 two-, three- and four-bedroom residences and penthouses designed by Studio MK27 (Marcio Kogan) with interiors by Lázaro Rosa-Violán, with St. Regis butler service and Finca Cortesín golf and beach club access.

  • Design Hills Marbella by Dolce&GabbanaGolden Mile, Marbella

    Sierra Blanca Estates' collaboration with Dolce&Gabbana, more than 90 apartments and penthouses of up to five bedrooms on a hillside plot of nearly 90,000 m², each furnished with Dolce&Gabbana Casa pieces.

  • EPIC Marbella furnished by FENDI CasaGolden Mile, Marbella

    Sierra Blanca Estates' three-phase scheme of 74 residences, 56 of them designed and furnished by FENDI Casa, with three- to five-bedroom apartments and penthouses, a private spa and a 25-metre infinity pool.

Architects and designers

  • Fran Silvestre ArquitectosValencia, Spain

    Founded in 2005, the practice concentrates on luxury private villas in Spain and abroad; its work includes Casa del Acantilado and Villa 95 in Sotogrande. Visit website ↗

  • OAB – Carlos FerraterBarcelona, Spain

    Carlos Ferrater's Office of Architecture in Barcelona designs private houses as well as hotels; with Borja Ferrater, Carlos Ferrater designed the Six Senses Residences at Kaplankaya on Türkiye's Aegean coast. Visit website ↗

  • Isabel López-QuesadaMadrid, Spain

    Her studio, founded in 1983, designs and decorates private houses in Spain and abroad, including homes in Malta and Greece, and her work is published in two monographs, "At Home" and "Town & Country." Visit website ↗

  • Lázaro Rosa-ViolánBarcelona, Spain

    A studio of more than 150 people with offices in Barcelona and Madrid, working on residential and hotel interiors with more than 500 completed projects in 40 countries. Visit website ↗

Private banks and advisers

  • Julius BaerMonaco, Milan, Madrid and Tel Aviv

    The Zurich-based private banking group, present in about 25 countries, lists Monaco, Milan, Madrid and Tel Aviv among its locations. Visit website ↗

  • PictetMonaco, Spain, Italy and Israel

    The Geneva private bank, established in 31 financial centres, has Mediterranean offices in Monaco, Madrid, Barcelona, Milan, Rome, Turin, Verona and Tel Aviv. Visit website ↗

  • Lombard OdierMadrid, Milan and Tel Aviv

    The Geneva private bank opened its first Spanish office in Madrid in 2007 and serves private clients from Milan and Tel Aviv as well. Visit website ↗

  • Rothschild & Co Wealth ManagementMonaco, France, Italy and Spain

    The family-controlled group's wealth management arm has Mediterranean offices in Monaco, Marseille, Aix-en-Provence, Milan and Madrid, the last opened in 2021. Visit website ↗

See all 10

Private healthcare

  • Clínica Universidad de NavarraMadrid

    A private university hospital run as one hospital across its Madrid and Pamplona sites. Visit website ↗

  • Hospital Ruber InternacionalMadrid

    A private hospital in the Quirónsalud group and one of only three private hospitals in Spain's top 15 in the 2026 Newsweek ranking. Visit website ↗

  • Centro Médico TeknonBarcelona

    Barcelona's leading private hospital, part of Quirónsalud, with institutes for cardiology, oncology, neurosciences and respiratory medicine, Joint Commission accreditation and a programme for international patients. Visit website ↗

  • Hospital Quirónsalud MarbellaMarbella

    The main private hospital of the province of Málaga, open for about 50 years, with 75 specialties, seven associated centres on the Costa del Sol and a long record of treating international patients.

  • Longevity Hub by Clinique La PrairieMadrid

    The Swiss clinic's first city longevity centre, 600 square metres on Calle de Fortuny, offering longevity protocols, preventive women's health programmes and aesthetic medicine. Visit website ↗

International schools

  • The American School of BarcelonaEsplugues de Llobregat (Barcelona)

    Founded in 1962, it teaches an American curriculum from preschool to grade 12 with the IB Diploma, IB Career-related Programme and US high school diploma, and is accredited by the Middle States Association. Visit website ↗

  • Benjamin Franklin International SchoolBarcelona

    Founded in 1985, it serves Pre-K to grade 12 with the IB Diploma and Middle Years programmes and is accredited by CIS and the Middle States Association. Visit website ↗

  • Aloha CollegeMarbella

    A not-for-profit British school founded in 1982 in Nueva Andalucía for ages 3 to 18, offering IGCSE, A-levels and the IB Diploma; it was among the first schools in Spain to teach the IB in English. Visit website ↗

  • Sotogrande International SchoolSotogrande

    A day and boarding school offering all three core IB programmes, with the IB Diploma authorised since 2000, serving the families of Sotogrande and the western Costa del Sol. Visit website ↗

  • King's CollegeMadrid

    Founded in 1969, a member of COBIS and the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference, it teaches the English National Curriculum from age 2 to 18, through IGCSE to A-levels or the IB Diploma, on its main campus at Soto de Viñuelas north of the city, with further campuses at La Moraleja and Chamartín.

Plan your trip

Luxury travel in Spain and the Mediterranean: your questions answered

When is the best time to visit Spain?

Ibiza: June and September are ideal: the island is fully open, the sea is warm and the villas and beach clubs are calmer than in July and August. For the quiet, rural Ibiza, come in May or October.

Mallorca: June and September are ideal: warm sea, reliable sun and room to breathe in the coves and harbours, with superyacht racing off Palma in June. July and August are the hottest and fullest months.

Marbella: May to June and September to early October are ideal: hot, dry days, a sea warm enough to swim and calmer beaches than July and August. Winter stays mild and sunny, good for golf and long lunches.

Barcelona: May, June and late September to October are ideal: warm days for walking the city, a sea fit for swimming from June, and less heat and fewer crowds than July and August.

Where are the best luxury hotels in Spain?

Ibiza: BLESS Hotel Ibiza (Forbes Five-Star).

Mallorca: Cap Rocat (one of the 25 Finest Resorts).

Marbella: Marbella Club (one of the 25 Finest Resorts).

Barcelona: Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona (Forbes Five-Star).

Spain has one of the 25 Finest Resorts of the Mediterranean: Four Seasons Resort Mallorca at Formentor.

How do you arrive in Spain by private jet?

Ibiza: Ibiza (IBZ / LEIB), 7 km from Ibiza Town, about 15 to 20 minutes by car.

Mallorca: Palma de Mallorca (PMI / LEPA), about 15 minutes by car to Palma.

Marbella: Málaga-Costa del Sol (AGP / LEMG), about 50 minutes by car along the AP-7, longer in midday traffic.

Barcelona: Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat (BCN / LEBL), about 15 km from the centre, about 20 to 30 minutes by car.

Which are the best restaurants in Spain?

Spain has 9 restaurants with three MICHELIN stars on our list: Aponiente (El Puerto de Santa María); Noor (Córdoba); DiverXO (Madrid); Quique Dacosta (Dénia); Disfrutar (Barcelona); ABaC (Barcelona); Lasarte (Barcelona); Cocina Hermanos Torres (Barcelona); El Celler de Can Roca (Girona).

Do you tip in Spain?

Not expected as in the US. In restaurants, 5–10% for good service. Round up taxi fares. Luxury hotels: porters €2–5 a bag, housekeeping €5–10 a day.

What should you wear in Spain?

Shoulders and knees covered in churches and cathedrals. Several towns fine people for walking the streets in swimwear or shirtless away from the beach, including Barcelona (€120–€500), Málaga and Marbella (€300–€750) and Palma (€100–€200). On yachts, soft-soled or bare feet on deck. Smart dress for fine dining; jackets are rarely required.

More of the Mediterranean

Luxury travel across the Mediterranean

PortugalLuxury Portugal Holidays: Lisbon & AlgarveExplore PortugalGibraltarGibraltar Travel Guide: The Rock in LuxuryExplore GibraltarFranceLuxury French Riviera Holidays & HotelsExplore FranceMonacoLuxury Monaco Holidays: Monte-Carlo Hotels & the Grand PrixExplore MonacoItalyLuxury Italy Holidays: Amalfi Coast & CapriExplore ItalyMaltaMalta Luxury Holidays & Valletta HotelsExplore MaltaSloveniaSlovenia Travel: Piran & Lake BledExplore SloveniaCroatiaLuxury Croatia Holidays: Dubrovnik & HvarExplore CroatiaBosnia and HerzegovinaMostar & Bosnia and Herzegovina Travel GuideExplore Bosnia and HerzegovinaMontenegroLuxury Montenegro: Bay of Kotor TravelExplore MontenegroAlbaniaAlbanian Riviera Travel GuideExplore AlbaniaGreeceLuxury Greece Holidays: Mykonos & SantoriniExplore GreeceTürkiyeLuxury Türkiye Holidays: Istanbul & BodrumExplore TürkiyeCyprusCyprus Luxury Travel: Limassol & PaphosExplore CyprusSyriaSyria: Ancient History, Culture & HeritageExplore SyriaLebanonLebanon: Ancient History, Culture & HeritageExplore LebanonIsraelIsrael Travel Guide: Tel Aviv & JerusalemExplore IsraelEgyptLuxury Egypt Holidays: Cairo, the Pyramids & the NileExplore EgyptLibyaLibya: Ancient History, Culture & HeritageExplore LibyaTunisiaTunisia Travel: Sidi Bou Said & CarthageExplore TunisiaAlgeriaAlgiers & Algeria Travel: Culture & HistoryExplore AlgeriaMoroccoLuxury Morocco Holidays: Marrakech & TangierExplore Morocco
A driftwood fire burning on the sand at dusk
A fire on the sand at dusk

Customs and etiquette

Customs and etiquette in Spain

How Spain does things.

Language
Spanish (Castilian) nationwide; Catalan, Valencian, Galician and Basque are co-official in their regions. English is widely spoken in luxury hotels and fine restaurants in the main resort and city areas.
Greetings
Two cheek kisses are usual between women, and between men and women, even on first social meetings; men usually shake hands. In business and with older people, a handshake and señor / señora are the safe start.
Dress
Shoulders and knees covered in churches and cathedrals. Several towns fine people for walking the streets in swimwear or shirtless away from the beach, including Barcelona (€120–€500), Málaga and Marbella (€300–€750) and Palma (€100–€200). On yachts, soft-soled or bare feet on deck. Smart dress for fine dining; jackets are rarely required.
Dining
Lunch is the main meal, rarely before 2 pm; dinner seldom starts before 9 pm, often 10 pm or later in Madrid. Book ahead for well-known restaurants. Meals are long and unhurried; the bill comes only when you ask.
Tipping
Not expected as in the US. In restaurants, 5–10% for good service. Round up taxi fares. Luxury hotels: porters €2–5 a bag, housekeeping €5–10 a day.
Good to know
Many smaller shops close for a long midday break (roughly 2–5 pm) and on Sundays; the evening paseo (stroll) around 8–9 pm is a fixture of town life.
Tourist tax
Hotels add a tourist tax per person per night: at a five-star hotel in Barcelona, €12 since spring 2026, with further rises planned; in Mallorca and Ibiza, up to €4 in summer.

Every list on this page is checked by hand and dated: last checked October 2026. Hotels, restaurants and events link only to their own official websites, where confirmed.

The Mediterranean Season Letter

Where to be, every season

Four letters a year, one for each season: the Mediterranean from spring to autumn, and Beyond the Mediterranean, into the Alps, in winter. The one best hotel to book, and the events worth crossing a sea for.