Morocco & the Costa del Sol

Seville is a wonderful destination, a sophisticated and sun-kissed city on the banks of the Guadalquivir river. It's a treat for all the senses: the smell of orange blossom, the heart-tugging sounds of flamenco, the taste of tapas enjoyed in a bustling bar... The architecture is another big draw, from Roman ruins to grand Baroque edifices with Moorish flourishes, and the highlight of the calendar is undoubtedly Semana Santa, when a spectacular Easter parade fills the streets and accommodation gets booked up months in advance.

After years of neglect, Tangier is finally being restored to its former glory as a cosmopolitan crossroads between Europe and Africa. The Moroccan government has invested heavily in modern infrastructure, while the spruced up medina shines with a new-found cultural dynamism.

The marina at Puerto Banús is a prime destination for the glitterati on the Costa del Sol, a place where oligarchs’ private yachts float alongside upmarket restaurants and designer boutiques. If this doesn’t sound like your scene then try heading inland to lovely Ronda, or check out the beaches around Marbella.

The bustling port of Motril is less than an hour’s drive from Granada, last stronghold of the Moors in Spain and home to the famous Alhambra palace. The narrow streets of the Albayzín quarter are particularly evocative of the days of Al Andalus, and you can explore Granada’s Jewish heritage in the atmospheric Realejo district.

Although Ibiza is best known as a hedonistic party island, it’s easy to give the clubbers a swerve and discover the White Isle’s mellower side. The island boasts some spectacularly beautiful coastline, and the fortified Old Town (Dalt Vila) is UNESCO listed.

From the warren-like medieval streets of the Barri Gòtic to the fantastical modernist architecture of Antoni Gaudí, from the dizzy heights of Mount Tibidabo to the golden sands of Barceloneta, there’s never a dull moment in Barcelona.