Spain, on Europe's Iberian Peninsula, is really 17 autonomous regions, each with its own geography and culture. Spain has both a North Atlantic and Mediterranean coastline. The rocky Atlantic coast has many fishing ports and not many yacht harbours and is frequented by large and powerful swells. La Coruna, Bayone and Puerto Sherry are three of the most popular harbours for yachts on the Atlantic coast. The Mediterranean coastline is more gentle and forgiving and home to many popular marinas including Almerimar and Palma de Mallorca.
"Spain (Spanish: España, [esˈpaɲa] (listen)) or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España), is a country in southwestern Europe with parts of territory in the Atlantic Ocean and across the Mediterranean Sea. The largest part of Spain is situated on the Iberian Peninsula; its territory also includes the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean, the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea, the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla, and several minor overseas territories also scattered along the Moroccan coast of the Alboran Sea. The country's mainland is bordered to the south by Gibraltar; to the south and east by the Mediterranean Sea; to the north by France, Andorra and the Bay of Biscay; and to the west by Portugal and the Atlantic Ocean.
With an area of 505,990 km2 (195,360 sq mi), Spain is the largest country in Southern Europe, the second-largest country in Western Europe and the European Union, and the fourth-largest country by area on the European continent. With a population exceeding 47.4 million, Spain is the sixth-most populous country in Europe, and the fourth-most populous country in the European Union. Spain's capital and largest city is Madrid; other major urban areas include Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Zaragoza, Málaga, Murcia, Palma de Mallorca, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Bilbao.
Anatomically modern humans first arrived in the Iberian Peninsula around 42,000 years ago. The first cultures and peoples that developed in current Spanish territory were Pre-Roman peoples such as the ancient Iberians, Celts, Celtiberians, Vascones, and Turdetani. Later, foreign Mediterranean peoples such as the Phoenicians and ancient Greeks developed coastal trading colonies, and the Carthaginians briefly controlled part of the Spanish Mediterranean coastline. From the year 218 BCE, the Roman colonization of Hispania began and, with the exception of the Atlantic cornice, they quickly controlled the territory of present-day Spain. The Romans had driven the Carthaginians out of the Iberian peninsula by 206 BCE, and divided it into two administrative provinces, Hispania Ulterior and Hispania Citerior. The Romans left a long-lasting legacy that included their language, religion, laws and political and social institutions. Hispania was also the birthplace of Roman emperors such as Trajan or Hadrian.Hispania remained under Roman rule until the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the fifth century, which ushered in Germanic tribal confederations from Northern and Central Europe. During this period, the peninsula was ruled by the likes of the Suevi, Alans, Vandals and Visigoths, while part of the Mediterranean Coast belonged to the Byzantine Empire. Eventually, the Visigothic Kingdom emerged as the dominant power in the peninsula by the fifth century.
In the early eighth century, the Visigothic Kingdom was invaded by the Umayyad Caliphate, ushering in over 700 years of Muslim rule in Southern Iberia. During this period, Al-Andalus became a major economic and intellectual centre, with the city of Córdoba being among the largest and richest in Europe. Several Christian kingdoms emerged in Northern Iberia, chief among them León, Castile, Aragón, Portugal, and Navarre. Over the next seven centuries, an intermittent southward expansion of these kingdoms—metahistorically framed as a reconquest, or Reconquista—culminated with the Christian seizure of the last Muslim polity in the peninsula, the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada in 1492. That same year, Christopher Columbus arrived in the New World on behalf of the Catholic Monarchs, whose dynastic union of the Crown of Castile and the Crown of Aragon is usually considered the emergent Spain as a unified country. Jews and Muslims were forced to convert to Catholicism and the latter were eventually expelled from Castile and Aragon. The upholding of religious orthodoxy among converts was tasked to the Inquisition. In the wake of the Spanish colonization of the Americas, the Crown came to hold a large overseas empire, which underpinned the emergence of a global trading system primarily fuelled by the silver extracted in the New World.Spain is a developed country, a secular parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy, with King Felipe VI as head of state. It is a high-income country and an advanced economy, with the world's fourteenth-largest economy by nominal GDP and the sixteenth-largest by PPP. Spain has one of the longest life expectancies in the world at 83.5 years in 2019. It ranks particularly high in healthcare quality, with its healthcare system considered to be one of the most efficient worldwide. It is a world leader in organ transplants and organ donation. Spain is a member of the United Nations (UN), the European Union (EU), the Eurozone, the Council of Europe (CoE), the Organization of Ibero-American States (OEI), the Union for the Mediterranean, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the World Trade Organization (WTO) and many other international organisations.
Spanish art, music, literature and cuisine have been influential worldwide, particularly in Western Europe and the Americas. As a reflection of its large cultural wealth, Spain has the world's fourth-largest number of World Heritage Sites (49) and is the world's second-most visited country. Its cultural influence extends over 570 million Hispanophones, making Spanish the world's second-most spoken native language." Wikipedia
Latest Reviews
Cabrera Island
4.3
A beautiful historic island with a dark past worth a night stop over. Not a huge amount to do but still super pretty.
Cala'n Porter
4.9
We found a music bar set into a mountain cave overlooking the sea and sunset and loved the atmosphere. Spent the morning swimming in the bay to clear our heads before setting off for Mahon.
Cala'n Porter
4.8
A stunning blue water location to anchor with an elevated coastal view of the horizon and sunset. Got lost following a random track along the coast but found some amazing views.
Ciutadella de Menorca
4.7
Lots to do and friendly locals. We had so much fun here. Will definitely come back.
Cadiz
4.7
A pleasant stop over to shelter from the high winds for a few days. Interesting and pretty town worth a visit.
La Manga Dos Mares Marina
4.2
Brad at the yacht services was very helpful. The water in the inner sea is a bit murky.
Cartagena
5.0
A wonderful marina and a super interesting town with something going on all the time, a great place to stay for a week or more and explore.
Lanzarote Island
4.5
A very windy desert/moon like landscape with wide sandy beaches and a large national park around the volcano.
Forecast

Top facilities
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![]() 1 . Menorca Cruising0.0Menorca Cruising has a long history going back to 1994 when it was established as the first RYA sailing school in the Mediterranean. Mahon harbour offered the perfect location for teaching begin... |
![]() 2 . Endeavour Sailing0.0At Endeavour Sailing we want to ensure that all our clients achieve their goals, have a fantastic time, return and recommend us to friends. It is our commitment to you, to ensure that you are on... |
![]() 3 . Lava Charter0.0Our Team could not be more different. This is not only fun, but is above all the foundation for efficiency and team spirit. You can find everything at LAVA CHARTER except strict hierarchy. Each tea... |
![]() 4 . Canary Sail0.0With 15 years experience in the Canaries, we can offer an unrivalled range of RYA Tidal practical and theory sailing courses in the exquisite waters of the Western Canary Islands. We also have sail... |
![]() 5 . Canary Sail0.0With 15 years experience in the Canaries, we can offer an unrivalled range of RYA Tidal practical and theory sailing courses in the exquisite waters of the Western Canary Islands. We also have sail... |
![]() 6 . Yachting Soto Grande0.0Yachting Sotogrande was created in 2002 by Simon Thompson who is the founder of the company and Principal of the RYA Training Centre. Sotogrande Marina was chosen for our Yachting Centre due to it... |
Top Marinas, Harbours and Anchorages
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![]() 4 . Portchico Harbour0.0A small harbour on the western bank of the tidal Rego de Foz. Close to a large sandy beach and close to the bars and restaurants. |
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![]() 8 . Portocelo Anchorage0.0A natural sandy drying harbour up a narrow rocky channel in a isolated rural setting. |
![]() 10 . O Vicedo Port Harbour0.0A small fishing harbour with three pontoons for local boats north of a sandy anchorage that leads to the village supermarket and a couple of restaurants. |
![]() 12 . Barqueiro Harbour0.0A small fishing harbour with a single pontoon for local boats on the western bank of the sandy Sor Manon river. |
![]() 14 . Espasante Harbour0.0A partially drying harbour with a field of buoys for nose-to-tail mooring, found north of a wide sandy beach. A short 15min walk east to bars and restaurants in town. Supermarket 15min further south. |
![]() 16 . Carino Harbour0.0A field of buoys and a long single pontoon for local boats inside a large commercial/fishing harbour wall. Walk 10min north to the first restaurant and around the bay for others and a supermarket. ... |
![]() 18 . Cedeira Harbour0.0A large harbour with a field of buoys and a quayside for fishing boats. A 30min walk east into town for shops and restaurants. |
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![]() 22 . Caranza Pontoons0.0Four pontoons on a solid concrete jetty ramp providing shore access to the nearby hospital. taxi ride into Ferrol or a long walk. No local facilities. |
![]() 24 . La Grana Pontoons0.0Four pontoons on the western bank of the gulf overlooking the large commercial port of Ferrol. Small number of shops and restaurants nearby. Taxi ride into Ferrol. |
![]() 26 . Ares Marina0.0A partially sheltered marina in the Gulf de Ares with four long crowded pontoons with basic facilities. Marina restaurant and a 20min walk west and around the sandy bay to supermarket and more rest... |
![]() 28 . Sada Marina0.0A large marina on the western bank of the Ria de Bentanzos with some long-stay moorings and a dry-dock for wintering. Several bars and shops nearby. Supermarket next to marina south. |
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Top Towns
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1 . Cala'n Porter
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![]() 2 . Cartagena3.8Owing to its natural strategic harbour the city has a strong commercial and naval port. North of the city is agricultural land. |
![]() 3 . Fuenterrabia/Hondarribia3.8Also known as Hondarribia on the north eastern coast of Spain bordering France. The town has a large marina and a sandy beach below the cliff edged cape. |
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4 . Soller
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![]() 5 . Bayona/Baiona3.7A popular touristic attraction close to Vigo with long sandy white beaches and a cluster of three marinas soon the inner side of the castle founded headland. |
![]() 6 . San Sebastian/Donostia3.7A city on the northern coast of Spain close to the French border. Donostia San Sebastian is home to a large sandy beach set in a Cresent bay protected from the Atlantic swell by the eastern mound b... |
![]() 7 . Cadiz3.6A landlocked historical city on the southern coast of Spain and home to the Spainish navy. The attractive old town is found towards the North-western tip of the city facing off to the large port to... |
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8 . Ciutadella de Menorca
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![]() 9 . San Javier3.6A small town set back from the coast by a large inner lagoon is home to the international airport. |
![]() 10 . Cadaques3.5A stunning town on the south coast of Spain in a large natural harbour. It has the feel of a sea-side village with lots of history including Salivdor Dali. |
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11 . Palma
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12 . La Savina
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![]() 13 . A Coruna3.0A densely populated historical and pretty city is constrained within a hammer head shaped outcrop and home to a busy port and three marinas. The city spreads inland westward into the hills. |
![]() 14 . Badalona2.6A fishing and boat building city a short distance north of Barcelona on the eastern coast of Spain popular for its' historic sights, beaches, and nightlife. |
![]() 15 . Espasante0.0On the eastern side of the bay toward the mouth of the river Ortigueira the small village hosts a wide sandy beach and a small harbour being a strong breakwater. |
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16 . Es Canutells
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![]() 17 . Carino0.0Tucked in from the Atlantic facing south east this small town is home to a sandy beach bay with a breakwater providing further shelter. A single pontoon runs into the middle of the bay and provides... |
![]() 18 . Cedeira0.0A tuna fishing town in the valley and tucked in behind the natural harbour. The sandy beach along the town extends out into the shallow bay overlooking the port. |
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19 . Cala Galdana
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![]() 20 . Ferrol0.0A busy city on the western end of Spains' northern coast. The city is found on the northern bank of the river Ferrol and is home to the navy and shipbuilding. Further inland beyond the industrial p... |
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21 . Cala'n Bosch
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![]() 22 . Ares0.0The town follows the east facing beach cove and is set on the soft sloping hills. The marina is at the southern end of the bay. |
![]() 23 . Sada0.0On the western bank of the river Betanzos home to a coupe of sandy beaches and a large marina. |
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![]() 25 . Laxe0.0A village on the north-west cast of Spain tucked inside a sandy bay with a breakwater providing some shelter and access to the village. |
![]() 26 . Camarinas0.0A small town on the north-west coast of Spain tucked inside of the cape. Home to a fishing harbour and a small number of pontoon moorings. |
![]() 27 . Mugia0.0Also known as Muxia the town is on a rugged outcrop of land between by the North Atlantic. Meanwhile nearby are several popular small sandy beaches. The town itself is home to a port and marina on ... |
![]() 28 . Fisterra/Finisterre0.0A small fishing town on the 'Coast of Death' on the north-western coast of Spain. The harbour has a small number of pontoons and a collection of colourful fishing boats dry-docked behind the breakw... |
![]() 29 . Cee0.0Found at the end of a deep bay in the valley of the hills beyond the large harbour and industrial iron factory. See has an unusual circular wall lined sandy beach, gardens and a hospital. Plenty of... |
![]() 30 . Muros0.0Tucked in around the headland Muros is found east facing away from the Atlantic sea. The towns pretty buildings are built in the hillside above the harbour and marina. |
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