Photography In Spain - My Experience

In this blog, I’ll share my experience of photographing Spain. At the time of writing, I’ve visited 15 different towns and cities over four months. While there are still some key locations I have yet to visit, I feel that I have a good overall understanding of what it’s like to travel and take photographs in this amazing country.

Blog Scope

I’m a photographer who travels to take photos and document the journey. This is my hobby; it isn’t part of some grand project or narrative. This blog is therefore aimed at people who travel for fun and enjoy photographing their trips. When I travel, my priorities are to see as much as possible and take photos. I’m not a foodie, history enthusiast, or art connoisseur, so don’t expect much of that to appear in this blog.

When to Visit

The climate in Spain varies drastically. I remember freezing my arse off in Bilbao in December and overheating in Seville in August. Generally speaking, unless you love hot weather, I would avoid southern Spain during the summer. The heat can be intense, and unless you’re accustomed to it, you can write off the middle of the day.

We spent a month in Málaga during the summer a few years ago. While the mornings and evenings were pleasant, the period between 12:00 and 16:00 was unbearable for us. Of course, we come from a cold climate, so that wasn’t much of a surprise. Places such as Valencia are a dream during the winter and even better in April. I remember spending February in Valencia and wearing shorts and a jumper most days. It was perfect.

In contrast, we stayed in Madrid during October, and by the end of the month, we needed thick winter jackets because it was freezing. Regardless of where you go, I would try to avoid the peak summer months because of the heat and overtourism.

Duration

The great thing about Spain is that you can make a trip work for almost any number of days. Its cities are ideal for three-day breaks, while those staying longer have countless small towns and villages to explore. That’s before we even mention the countryside, mountains, and deserts.

I would say that two weeks will give you ample time to experience a broad selection of locations across the country. One week is enough to sample a particular region, while a long weekend is ideal for exploring a single city.

Getting Around

During our visits, we travelled exclusively by train, bus, and coach. The high-speed trains are incredible, allowing you to cross the country in very little time. Local buses and long-distance coaches are also generally good. Public transport is all you need in the larger cities. For more rural areas, however, I would recommend hiring a car.

Other Travel Essentials

While you’ll find more English speakers in the larger cities, the reality is that you’ll need to learn some basic Spanish words and phrases, or at least use a translation app. Unlike in some other European countries, English isn’t as widely spoken. I would also recommend carrying cash. Keep at least €50–€100 with you, including some coins, just in case. In larger cities and tourist hotspots, remain aware of pickpockets, opportunistic thieves, and common scams.

Camera Gear

If I had to choose the ideal camera for Spain, it would be the Fujifilm X100VI. To be honest, any compact camera with a focal length of around 35mm in full-frame terms would be ideal. On my Sony, I used a 24–50mm zoom, which was perfect for this environment. I would avoid large, bulky equipment whenever possible.

Attitudes Towards Photography

My experience has been positive, and I generally found Spanish people to be unbothered by photography. This isn’t Asia, where people often welcome having their photo taken, but it also isn’t Morocco, where photographers can occasionally receive a hostile response. I found people in Spain to be respectful and kind, provided that their boundaries were also respected. If you plan to shove your camera into people’s faces, pretend to be Bruce Gilden, or generally behave like a creep, you might face some confrontation. If you’re polite, respectful, and able to read the room, you’ll have a great time and come away with some excellent photos.

Madrid

Let’s start with the capital, Madrid. We spent a month here in October 2023, and it was our first proper Spanish experience. It’s a fascinating city with an enormous amount to see and do. I also love that nearby towns such as Toledo and Chinchón are easy to explore.

The one thing I didn’t do, and wish I had in hindsight, was head into the mountains, which you can see from the city itself. Overall, Madrid lends itself very well to street photography, with plenty of interesting visual elements to look out for.

The locals were friendly, too. I distinctly remember photographing a bridge when an older man approached and began speaking passionately to me in Spanish. After some back and forth, I established that he was actually the architect who had designed it.

I think three full days in Madrid is enough to get a feel for the city. I would then dedicate more time to exploring the surrounding towns and countryside.

Valencia

Valencia has something special about it, although I can’t quite put that feeling into words. Perhaps I need one more trip to work it out.

I spent around six weeks in this wonderful place, and it really does have everything. Its large, beautiful old town glows with timeless shades of yellow and orange. I remember spending entire days circling the narrow streets while the winter light bathed the buildings. It was bliss.

You also have a modern district filled with glass, steel, and reflections. There is a beautiful park running through the city and, of course, an enormous stretch of coastline beside some wonderfully photogenic neighbourhoods.

Last but certainly not least, there is the incredible Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe. Of all the places I’ve visited in Spain, I feel that Valencia offers the greatest variety within a very manageable city. If I had to choose only one Spanish city to visit, I genuinely feel that Valencia has it all. I’ve already written a detailed blog about Valencia, which you can read here.

Andalusia

Andalusia isn’t a city but an entire region, and one I have yet to explore fully, despite spending seven weeks there. It includes some of Spain’s most historic destinations, including Seville, Granada, and Córdoba. You’ll also find some of the country’s best beaches and coastal towns, with Nerja being my favourite.

This is a vast area densely packed with places to see, so I still have plenty of work to do. I wrote a brief blog about it, which you can read here.

Barcelona

Barcelona, is arguably one of the most recognisable cities in the world. It’s big, busy, and energetic. I only spent a few days there, so my knowledge is very limited. However, my first impression was that it felt like a larger and more chaotic Valencia. While I loved my time there, I don’t think a few days was enough to form a proper overview. Barcelona is therefore back on my “visit properly” list.

Bilbao

Bilbao is the only part of northern Spain I’ve visited, and, as with Barcelona, my stay was brief. I spent a long weekend there visiting a friend in December, so I didn’t get to experience the city fully. Of course, I visited the famous Guggenheim Museum and walked around the old town, but that was about it. I plan to take a dedicated trip around northern Spain in the coming years.

Menorca

If your dream is to see as much of Spain as possible, you better get started. Saying that there is a lot to see would be an understatement. Mainland Spain is enormous, so you can imagine how much more time you’ll need when you factor in all the Spanish islands dotted around. While I’ve spent the occasional day in the Canary Islands, I can only speak properly about Menorca, one of the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean.

Menorca is small, quiet, reserved, and secluded. You’ll find pristine waters, beautiful hiking trails, and quaint seaside towns. Even Mahón, the island’s capital, has a laid-back atmosphere that’s difficult to match. I can see this being the sort of place you visit to escape the craziness of the world.

We spent around ten days on the island, completed several coastal hikes, and explored numerous towns by bus. All in all, it’s a wonderful place that we’ll return to, although next time, we’ll hire a car and bring some bikes.

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