The country that fills most of the Iberian Peninsula, Spain, takes its cues from all the regions surrounding it: the Mediterranean, northern Africa, and continental Europe. It is a melting pot in which each region has its own unique flair. In Barcelona, it’s all about Catalan culture and the art of Gaudi. But in Cordoba, you’ll find yourself living in a World Heritage Site and exploring an ancient city.

Spanish food as a whole is delicious but difficult to describe as the cuisine of Spain varies greatly by region. However, a few traditions and values are held throughout the country. Spanish cuisine relies first and foremost on quality ingredients, therefore, additional spices are minimal. Fresh fruits and vegetables from the good soil and warm weather keep much of Spanish cuisine light on calories but big on taste.

Breakfast, as in much of continental Europe, is a light meal of a coffee and a pastry. In some places, churros con chocolate, a sweet fried donut with thick hot chocolate, is a breakfast treat. The Spanish like snacking and sometimes a second pastry will be taken in the morning or a light snack might be had to whet the appetite a little while before lunch.

Lunch is the main meal of the day while dinners are lighter and eaten quite late at night (most have an afternoon snack, too). Tortilla de Patata, a potato frittata, is a Spanish tradition, which might appear as part of lunch or as the main component of dinner. Other Spanish specialties are paella (a dish of saffron rice with meat or seafood), grilled squid, bean stew, and stuffed peppers.

While Spain is home to many magnificent cities filled with amazing architecture, world-class museums, and excellent restaurants, one would be remiss to skip over the small towns and natural wonders the country has to offer. As a peninsula with many surrounding islands, Spain is a great beach destination; you can mix mornings drinking coffee and eating churros with afternoons spent lounging on the beach with a nap before a late dinner or night of flamenco dancing.

For the more adventurous, canyoning is a popular past time in Spain. Some canyons are dry and you can do a simple hike in them or a little climbing if there are many sheer rock faces. Others are wet at the bottom so you’ll want to bring your swimming trunks. Imagine swimming in the canyon with vertical cliffs rising up on both sides of you and just a small patch of blue sky high above.

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