Plan your pit stops
BARCELONA
What to do: Head to the rooftop terrace at the Hotel Barcelo Raval for stunning (and free!) 360-degree views, www.barcelo.com/en-us/hotels/ spain/barcelona/barcelo-raval.
Sample local cuisine and cava (Catalonia’s sparkling wine) while exploring Barcelona on a sidecar tapas tour, brightsidetours.com.
Don’t miss Antoni Gaudi’s iconic works, including Casa Batllo, Park Guell and La Sagrada Familia. Beat the lines at the breathtaking basilica by purchasing tickets in advance, www.sagradafamilia.org/en.
Where to camp: CityStop, citystopbcn.com. It’s all about location at this bare-bones parking lot squeezed between high-rise buildings. The overnight campsite is a quick walk to the L2 and L4 metro lines and offers bathrooms, showers and Wi-Fi.
Another option, about 83 miles south, is the familyrun Camping Cala d’Oques, www.caladoques.com. Fall asleep to the sounds of waves crashing at this small campsite on the beach in Tarragona.
PENISCOLA
What to do: Skip the busy beach in this tourist hot spot and head to the impressive Knights Templar castle and former papal residence, which juts into the clear blue waters.
Where to camp: The oceanfront Camping Playa Tropicana, www.campingplayatropicana.com, in the village of Alcossebre. This upscale campsite offers indoor and outdoor pools and Jacuzzis, laundry room, supermarket, restaurant, beauty salon, car wash and playground. It’s also steps from a quiet beach and the Michelin-starred restaurant Can Roig, www.canroig.es.
VALENCIA
What to do: Chow down on meat-based Valencian paella in the birthplace of the classic rice dish.
Learn about Valencian history and culture through its thriving street art scene on a graffiti tour of old town, www.valenciaurbanadventures.com.
Snack like a local at Horchateria El Collado with sweet pastries called fartons dunked in horchata de chufa, a sugary drink.
Wander the futuristic glass and concrete complex known as The City of Arts and Sciences, home to Valencia’s impressive Principe Felipe Science Museum, www.cac.es/en/museu-de-les-ciencies.html, and Spain’s largest aquarium, www.oceanografic.org.
CARTAGENA
What to do: This picturesque port city is home to historic sites including a Roman theater and military fortress, Bateria de Castillitos, which offers panoramic views of Cartagena Bay.
Where to camp: Camping Lo Monte, camping lomonte.com, north of Cartagena, near the beach in Alicante. Its well-manicured grounds offer swimming pools, a gym, restaurant, spa and group activities.
MOJACAR
What to do: Explore shops and cafes in the winding streets of charming old town Mojacar, a hillside village dotted with white buildings. Or grab a drink and watch the sunset over the Mediterranean in Mojacar Playa, the trendy beachfront part of town.
GRANADA
What to do: It’s all about the Alhambra. The immaculately restored ninth century complex is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Spain’s most-visited attractions. You could lose an entire day exploring the ornate, tiled palaces, gorgeous gardens and military fortresses with sweeping city views. Buy tickets online as they can sell out weeks in advance, www.alhambradegranada.org.
Regroup after a long day with a massage and Arabian bath experience at the tranquil Hammam Al Andalus, granada.hammamalandalus.com/en.
Where to stay: Camping Las Lomas, www. campinglaslomas.com/en, a wooded mountain retreat east of Granada. Campers will find breathtaking views of the valley and Canales Reservoir, as well as mini golf, table tennis, a swimming pool, sauna, restaurant and supermarket.