Spain, renowned for its rich history, vibrant culture, and breathtaking landscapes, continues to capture the hearts of travellers worldwide. With 2024 just around the corner, Spain Tourism Board has unveiled a plethora of experiences that make the country a must-visit destination for globetrotters seeking diverse and unforgettable moments.
Below are some of the many reasons Spain is a destination to watch and visit in 2024:
EXCITING NEW HOTEL OPENINGS
The Blackpine Hotel – opening April 2024
The Blackpine Hotel is an ode to the Pyrnees mountains, built with sustainability at its heart, the hotel combines the cool romance of Andorra with the honey-coloured warmth of an eco-conscious interior. From building materials to its day-today workings, it’s the perfect harmony of alpine comfort and climate care. A brand-new property of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, the hotel will be available for stays just ahead of the Summer season.
Fairmont La Hacienda – Easter 2024
Set amidst La Hacienda Alcaidesa Links Golf Resort will comprise of 153 hotel guest rooms with three junior suites and two two-bedroom suites. In addition, 51 villas will complete the desirable room offering, with 15 composed of 30 junior suites and 30 one-bedroom suites. The 36 remaining villas will be sold to third parties and will come complete with a private pool, extensive living room and kitchen amenities.
Handwritten Collection Madrid – opening June 2024
Handwritten Collection will make its debut in Spain with a property located in Madrid. The décor will be reminiscent of art deco, with Madrid touches, whilst echoing the owner’s passion couture, which will be the leitmotif of the property, coming to life in small details throughout the guest experience. The Handwritten Collection brand was recently launched by Accor, with “unique hotels with a soul of their own”.
OKU Andalusia – opening Summer 2024
Set on a secluded stretch of white sandy shores, where the Andalusian hills meet the sea and with views across to Gibraltar and North Africa, OKU Andalusia located just outside the Sotogrande, will be the ultimate beachside retreat, bringing with it the brand’s much-loved reputation for laid-back, soulful and offbeat luxury.
Mondrian Ibiza – opening Summer 2024
Overlooking the turquoise waters of Cala Llonga, Mondrian Ibiza brings chic sophistication, inventive design and extraordinary experiences to the Mediterranean’s most lively destination. During summer season of 2024, guests will be able to experience a new level of the island’s unique energy, culture and beauty, in true Mondrian style.
Mandarin Oriental Punta Negra, Mallorca – opening second half of 2024
The luxury resort will feature 131 guestrooms, including 44 suites and nine bungalows just steps from the water. The location offers plenty of natural beauty, from the cliff tops and gardens to the ocean and coves, and the hotel accommodates for guests to experience it with rooms that feature full and partial sea views, outdoor terraces and balconies and private panoramic plunge pools.
Novotel Valencia – opening late 2024
A new flagship hotel in the Turia Garden, a popular area of the city between the historic centre and the palacio de Congresos. The hotel’s design will be both modern and traditional, a mixture which reflects the architecture of the city. Novotel Valencia will be the first in Spain to feature the brand’s Sundukovy Sisters’ design concept, which is characterised by its modernity, timelessness, and elegance. The project is being led by the architecture and interior design studio, Monica Fullana, and will feature an attractive rooftop with an outdoor pool and bar that is expected to be one of the most popular locales in the city.
ME by Melia Hotel Malaga – opening end of 2024
The hotel will be located on the Calle Victoria, next to the Plaza de la Merced, with views of the sea and the monuments of the Alcazaba, and therefore also near the Roman Theatre, the Picasso Museum and the Museum of Malaga. Melia will introduce Malaga to one of its most iconic brands, combining architecture, design, art and cuisine to provide guests with an authentic experience connected to the essence of the destination.
W Marbella – end of 2024
A five-star luxury hotel near the Real Zaragoza Beach. It will offer 240 rooms, 140 of which will be residential, a spa with a beauty salon, a restaurant, swimming pools and five rooms with a surface area of 1,000m2 and a covered terrace for events.
ABUNDANCE OF CULTURAL AND SPORTING EVENTS
The Ironman 70.3 comes to Valencia
Ironman, the most famous triathlon event in the world, will hold three iterations of its half-distance triathlon in Valencia. The first Ironman 70.3 will take place on April 21, 2024, in and around the Marina de Valencia and the City of Arts and Sciences. Participants will have to travel a total of 70.3 miles (hence the name), or 113 kilometers, including a 90-km bike ride, a 1.9-km swim in the waters of the Mediterranean, and a 21.1-km run. The cycling event will include an added challenge with a climb to Sierra Calderona, on the outskirts of Valencia, with an elevation gain of 700 meters. The run will take place along the Turia Garden, where spectators will be able to cheer on the participants.
Valencia will host the third edition of the FIA Motorsport Games
The Circuit Ricardo Tormo will host the motorsport event as its main venue, situated just 20 kilometres from the capital. Additional activities will also be held at the Kartódromo de Chiva, the Circuit de La Ribera de Guadasuar, in the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències, and in the Requena area. The competition categories will cover everything from circuit races to Electric Street – which includes Auto Slalom and Karting Slalom, Karting, Esports, Off-road, and Rally.
Andalucía Flamenco Museum to open in Jerez
Jerez de la Frontera is set to unveil the highly anticipated Andalucía Flamenco Museum. Recognised as one of the primary strongholds of Flamenco, Jerez’s cultural identity is intricately intertwined with the art of Flamenco, wine and horses.
LGBTIQA+ Pride Festivals
Madrid Pride (MADO) is a party for everyone and is an enormous event that celebrates equality and diversity in an outrageous and fun way. The most important event is the national LGBTIQA+ pride parade, which takes place on the first Saturday of July. In recent years, more than two million people have participated, making it one of the largest Prides in Europe.
Barcelona to host 37th America’s Cup
The America’s Cup will take place in Barcelona in September and October. This makes the Catalonian capital the first in the world to host both an Olympic Games and America’s Cup event.
World Triathlon Championship heads to Malaga in 2024
Malaga is to play host to the World Triathlon Championship Finals in 2024. This prestigious event, often referred to as the “crown jewel” of World Triathlon’s championship series, sees top athletes travel to iconic cities around the world to compete in biking, swimming and running races to accumulate ranking points. Malaga will also serve as the ultimate showdown destination for Elite, U23, Junior and Para triathletes.
SUSTAINABILITY CONTINUES TO BE A FOCUS
Lonely Planet’s most sustainable destination
Renowned travel authority Lonely Planet recently unveiled its list of the most environmentally friendly holiday destinations for 2024, with Spain awarded the number one spot. Throughout the country, there has been significant investment in cycle paths, electric buses, and train routes to provide a plethora of eco-friendly transportation options.
Valencia named European Green Capital for 2024
The prestigious award by the European Commission underpins the city’s commitment to environmental sustainability and its ongoing efforts to address the challenges of climate change, as well as fair and inclusive green transition. The seaside city is a must visit for sustainably minded travellers, with seemingly endless gardens, squares, and parks in the city. Valencia also encourages healthier, sustainable, and inclusive food production through its ‘Neighbourhood and Food Programme’.
UNESCO World Heritage Site Anniversaries
The oldest five World Heritage Sites in Spain are approaching their 40th anniversary, having been designated in 1984. These include Alhambra, Generalife and Albayzin, Granada Burgos Cathedral Monastery and Site of the Escorial, Madrid The Historic Centre of Cordoba Works of Antoni Gaudi. In September 2023, the prehistoric sites of Talayotic Menorca were added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list, bringing the total number of sites in Spain to 50.
Barcelona to host Ocean Decade Conference
Next year will mark the fourth year of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, under the leadership of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission. This strengthens Spain’s commitment to the blue economy and sustainable development of the ocean, solidifying the country’s dedication to marine sciences. The three-day event will be co-led with a range of partners: Government of Catalonia and the Barcelona City Council through the Barcelona Capital Náutica Foundation, and the Spanish National Ocean Decade Committee, which is led by the Ministry of Science and Innovation through the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC).
Seville – European Capital of Smart Tourism
The Andalusian capital was awarded European Capital of Smart Tourism by the European Commission in 2023, solidifying its position as a leading global tourism destination. The city is dedicated to innovation and sustainability and will continue to progress its smart city initiatives to promote smarter and more energy efficient buildings and city environments, aligned with its long-term vision to become a climate neutral city in 2030.
BRIMMING WITH CULINARY TALENT
Oviedo named as the Spanish Capital of Gastronomy 2024
Oviedo, the capital city of the Spanish region of Asturias, has been awarded the prestigious title of Spanish Capital of Gastronomy for 2024, with the runners-up being Alicante (Region of Valencia), Antequera (Andalucía) and Castellón (Region of Valencia).
Oviedo is a gastronomic powerhouse, renowned for its fantastic produce, traditional dishes, culinary heritage and renowned restaurants, including NM by Nacho Manzano, which won its first Michelin star in November 2023. Throughout 2024, visitors to Oviedo and its environs can expect to enjoy the many events taking place throughout the city in celebration of Oviedo’s gastronomic traditions, with dishes such as cachopo (a fried cheese-and-veal dish similar to escalope or schnitzel) guaranteed to take centre stage.
Situated in the mountainous north of Spain, Asturian cuisine is famed for its rich meat dishes (such as carne gobernada – beef braised in white wine), fresh seafood, creamy cheeses, savoury stuffed breads (bollos preñaos) and hearty, rich bean stews, the most famous of which is fabada. The region is also well known for its apples, the core ingredient in traditional Asturian cider (sidra), a local delicacy which is customarily poured from a great height.
NEW CONNECTIONS
A new high-speed railway line in Asturias
A new high-speed line between Madrid and Oviedo opened in November 2023, allowing for quicker more sustainable travel to the northern region of Asturias in 2024. Renfe’s new high-speed Talgo AVRIL trains will cut the travel time between Asturias and the capital by over an hour – bringing it down to 2 hours 43 minutes, with at least three trains per day operating on the new route. The Spanish high-speed train network set a new passenger record in the second quarter of 2023, carrying 8.32 million passengers, a 33% increase from the previous year. The growth of high-speed rail travel in Spain continues to provide sustainable and cost-effective transportation options throughout the country.
Iberia launches Madrid to Doha flights
Iberia has launched a new direct daily flight between Madrid and Doha, complementing Qatar Airways’ existing two daily flights connecting the capital cities of Spain and Qatar, as well as three daily flights between Barcelona and Doha.
