Spain's cities are among the most popular tourist destinations in Europe. However, they are also quite diverse. Each representing a different aspect of Spanish culture, art, food and nightlife. Not sure where to go? Have a look at the 8 cities below.

• Madrid – the capital of the country boasts many museums and galleries, parks, gardens and squares such as Plaza de España, Plaza de Cibeles and Plaza Mayor. A must see is the Royal Palace, the Almudena Cathedral and the Templo de Debod, one of the few remaining Egyptian structures in Europe. Enjoy stunning views over the city from the Faro de Moncloa or stroll through La Latina, a vibrant barrio of narrow streets full of little bars and tapas spots. Madrid’s famous nightlife is a thrilling experience with its open air discotheques, flamenco bars, terrazas (open air cafes) and hip and happening clubs great for spotting celebrities and football stars.

• Barcelona – the coastal metropolis in the Catalonia region of Spain has endless offerings. Architecture, culture, shopping, parks, an energetic nightlife and even sandy beaches. Las Ramblas is one of the biggest tourist attractions. This long promenade with its many side streets runs from the seafront up to the Plaça de Catalunya and is home to a diverse array of street artists, vendors, locals and tourist from all over the world. When you say Barcelona, you think of its most prominent citizen, architect and visionary Antoni Gaudí and the legacy he left to the city in the form of many houses (Casa Batlló), parks (Parc Güell) and the most famous and celebrated: Sagrada Familia.

• Seville – also known as the Flamenco capital of Spain with many authentic Flamenco bars, Seville is one of the largest historic centres of Europe filled with monuments, museums and romantic parks. The city’s most famous building, the Alcázar of Seville, is an enormous palace dating back to the 10^th century when it was a Moorish fort. The current Real Alcázar was built on the remains of this fort in the 14^th century. To this day, the palace is used as the royal family’s official residence. Other highlights are the crescent shaped Plaza de España, the lush Maria Luisa park which is home to many temples, fountains and sculptures and the Seville Cathedral.

• Malaga – the Andalusian port of Malaga in the far south of the country combines a laid-back beach vibe with city life and plenty of arts and culture. It’s home to the Picasso museum and lots of fish restaurants, tapas bars, street markets and Andalusian charm.

• Valencia – Located at the Mediterranean sea Valencia brings the best combination of culture and beach. In the historical centre you can find a place to eat paella or have a sip of the local favourite 'Aqua de Valencia'. The City of Arts and Science is an architectural highlight. It hosts a planetarium, an oceanarium and an interactive museum. In March Valencia is all about Las Fallas - the festival in which immense artworks arise around the city to be burned on the last day.

• Salamanca - Situated in north western Spain, this medium sized city is one of the most important student hubs in the country; attracting both national and international students. The university dates back to 1218 and is one of the oldest in Europe. Its compact centre is alive with bars, restaurants and clubs. Salamanca is also a popular location to learn Spanish and you can find language schools for every level.

• San Sebastian -  Surfers from around the world flock to the Basque city of San Sebastian for its incredible waves. There are tournaments from early spring well into autumn and surfing has become a way of live in this resort on the Bay of Biscay. Rent a bike to explore the surrounding hills, and have a phenomenal view of the city and bay from Monte Igueldo, or relax at la Concho beach before grabbing a bite at one of the countless Pintxo bars around the city.

• Granada - Most famous for the Alhambra. This vast palace and fortress belonged to the Moorish rulers of Granada, a city in the autonomous community of Andalusia. De stunning halls, courtyards, gardens and artefacts are a unique mix of Islamic and Christian architecture. Another highlight is Granada’s Albayzin quarter. Harking back to the days of Muslim rule, the Albayzin is an ancient neighbourhood with traditional souks and many Arab restaurants.

What do you think is the best city in Spain?

By Matt Bent

As I sat enjoying some tapas this week, I tuned into the conversation that was happening at the next table. A small group of Spanish speakers were discussing the problems they had with their computers; how they were having trouble with Microsoft Word and Excel, with formatting their paragraphs and tabulating data. I suddenly recalled when I first arrived in Spain, barely able to remember how to tell the taxi driver where I wanted to go.

Since that time, I realised that despite some fumbling and incorrect use of grammar, my Spanish had improved a lot. There are certainly different ways of picking up the language here in Spain, be it through classes, your work environment, going to the shops… In my opinion it’s much more effective than learning Spanish in Britain. So, I’ll tell you why I think it’s best to learn Spanish in Spain.

After studying Spanish on and off in Britain, I had a foundation of vocabulary and basic grammar, but I found that my problem was finding places to use and practice the language outside of classes. A large part of the problem was that I was surrounded by English all the time, and had few ways of practicing my second language skills.

As you may imagine, it is possible to improve in reading and listening through books or the internet. Yet, I believe that for speaking and writing practice, in particular, one needs to be corrected sooner rather than later before bad habits set in. It’s much easier to make improvements if you’re using the language around native speakers.

Once I moved to live in Málaga, I was thrust into a different world, one in which speaking Spanish is a necessity. The imperative firsts may include how to ask all manner of questions, such as how to get your social security number, how to read the lunch menu, where the cheapest place for a decent drink is, and so on. After a month or so of being here, once I’d completed my TEFL course at Tefl in Spain, I joined the teaching circle in Málaga. This opened up a lot of opportunities to both teach students English and meet people from whom I could learn Spanish.

I started taking Spanish classes in January at Málaga Lenguas, the partner school of Tefl in Spain, on a course specialised in lessons for teachers of English. Right now our classes focus on improving our knowledge and application of grammar, and include various activities and topics for listening and discussion practice. One of the best things about learning at Málaga Lenguas is that the lessons are taught in the language you’re learning. At times it can be difficult to stay in ‘Spanish mode’ for an intensive hour and a half, but it is certainly rewarding.

In addition to formal or conversation classes to practice your speaking and listening, there are language exchanges – something that I never came across in Britain. These ‘intercambios’ are perfect for an informal meet up with speakers of other languages, and a fantastic way of making new friends.

As well as spending time in classes and language exchanges I’m occasionally called in to take over at the reception at work. I had to quickly become accustomed to taking telephone messages, taking course payments, and most importantly, giving course information to potential students. That first month required me to learn a lot, and fast. It was also a brilliant way of learning how to adapt and prioritise what new language I needed to learn.

To wrap up, I’d say that starting to learn a new language in Britain certainly has its merits. However, I found that it can be difficult to keep up the use of it once you step out of class, or put down your book. Here in Spain you’re required to use Spanish constantly. This reinforces what you’ve been learning and gives you the opportunities to practice and correct your mistakes.

Furthermore, if you don’t live around a Spanish speaking environment as a new learner, you simply don’t have the exposure necessary to improve. Over here you are surrounded by the language all the time; on the bus, in your favourite restaurant, on the radio, in the local newspaper, and so on. To summarise, these are just some of the reasons why I believe it’s best to learn Spanish in Spain.

¡Hasta pronto chicos y chicas!