Last Updated: February 8, 2023
Spain Vs. Greece – Which Mediterranean Country Is Best?
Two of the most popular vacation destinations in Europe are without a doubt Spain and Greece, but which one is going to suit you better? Let me start by first saying, no matter which one you choose you’re going to have a great time. I have traveled extensively around both of these magical countries and I can say without question, that visiting both is a must if you have the time and budget.
But, life isn’t always so easy and chances are you’re going to have to pick between them. When it comes to Spain vs Greece, they are both relatively similar in some ways but very different in others. Join me as I discuss everything you need to know about Spain vs Greece so you can pick the right destination for your next vacation.
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About These Great Countries
Since both Spain and Greece are quite large countries, it’s key to look at their natural environments to get a sense of what each one has to offer. It’s my favorite way of looking at a country as it gives rise to activity ideas and further thoughts about what you might be able to do there.
Spain
Spain is a very diverse country when it comes to its different features. You could travel from north to south and east to west and easily think you were in a completely different country when you arrived.
Northern Spain is home to the Pyrenees mountain range and the Picas De Europa mountain range too. These areas are full of wonderful peaks and national parks where you can hike in the summer, get to know the traditional villages and in the winter you can even ski.
The northern end of Spain that touches the Atlantic starts on the border with France and moves from San Sebastian all the way around to the wild western Atlantic coast close to the iconic town of Santiago De Compostela.
I’m not going to lie, this is one of my favorite parts of Europe and this is thanks to the towering cliffs, white sand beaches, amazing waves for surfing, and the mountains that fall into the sea.
The northeastern coast of Spain drops down from the Pyrenees to the Mediterranean and it’s where you’ll find iconic cities like Barcelona or Valencia that come with a ton of history, sand beaches, and just off the coast are the Balaeric islands of Majorca and Ibiza which cater to a different side of Spanish culture too.
The southern coast of Spain is similar with stunning golden sand beaches, craggy mountainous regions in the background, and great towns such as Seville and Marbella which are all worth exploring.
Then, of course, there is central Spain which is home to arid plains and towns like Salamanca and Madrid, all of which are packed with ancient history and are great places to visit.
Greece
Greece is a little different from Spain as it’s made up of thousands of idyllic islands and its mainland is covered mostly in mountains (which I think of as Greece’s hidden gems!). But, this means spending time in Greece is going to be centered around either island hopping or picking one island for the majority of your stay.
The seas around the Greek islands are undeniably beautiful. Most of the beaches in Greece are pebble beaches, meaning not only do you come home from the beach without any sand on your feet ( a real bonus) but it also means the waters are crystal clear. Imagine azure blue water where you can see the bottom at 30ft, and you have pretty much every Greek shoreline.
With so many islands and calm seas, you can rent boats for the day and go exploring around the island with no licenses needed, and spending time under the water is great too since the visibility is so good.
Mainland Greece also has quite a lot to offer such as the spectacular scenery of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Meteora. The rock formations and ancient buildings create a landscape that one might have never seen before.
The mountains of mainland Greece are also covered with hiking trails that can take you from one traditional village to the next, therefore it’s a great idea to spend some time in both the islands and up in the more mountainous regions.
Something Greece has is more ancient history than almost every other country in the world. It’s home to Athens with its 5th-century B.C. Acropolis citadel with the Parthenon temple and tonnes of other ancient Greek temples all around the country that were built and dedicated to Greek gods.
Greece is also home to hundreds of ancient museums, so if you’re a bit of a history buff, then you’ll love spending time learning about all the wonders of Ancient Greece.
Verdict
When it comes to Spain vs Greece, choosing between them is almost impossible since they have so much more to offer. Spain, in my eyes, has a lot more diversity when it comes to its natural landscapes while with Greece you have the stunning mountainous mainland and the thousands of islands that are all worth exploring.
It’s a very tough choice, as Greece certainly has the edge when it comes to seeing all the monuments of Ancient Greece but Spain is also home to a lot of old Roman ruins that are some of the best-preserved in Europe.
Things To Do In The Outdoors
Spain
When it comes to ocean activities, there isn’t much you can’t do in Spain. If you’re looking for some of the best surfing waves in the world, then the entire northwest coastline of Spain is the perfect playground to spend your time in with some of the most famous waves in the world such as Mundaka.
If it’s hiking you’re after, the options are endless between the Pyrenees and Picas De Europa, let alone all the hiking trails along the dramatic coastline of the north and the tamer coast along the east and south of the country.
The famous pilgrimage to Santiago De Compostela is a very famous and beautiful hike, and there are some wonderful routes that will have you starting in the Pyrenees and walking all the way down to the Mediterranean coast.
Island hopping is also an option in Spain. While there aren’t thousands of islands, the Balaeric islands of Ibiza, Majorca, and Menorca are all stunning and we all know how good the parties on Ibiza are.
During winter, the mountains of Spain become ski slopes adding a whole new dimension to what you can do in Spain and when to visit. The peaks of Sierra Nevada in southern Spain and the Pyrenees in the north are home to some of the most affordable skiing in Europe.
Other activities available include scuba diving, windsurfing, kite surfing, rock climbing, sailing, windsurfing, white water rafting, and more.
Greece
When most of us think of going to Greece, we think of sitting on a beach on a Greek island, and while this is something that has to be done at some point, it’s not all Greece has to offer. (See Our Recommended Greece Itinerary)
The most obvious playground in Greece is, of course, the crystal clear seas that lap its shores. If you have ever wanted to learn how to sail then there isn’t a better place than Greece to do it. Booking a 4-day island hopping tour where you get to learn to sail a boat isn’t something you can do in many places, but the thousands of Greek islands make this a reality.
Another ocean activity that is amazing in Greece is Scuba Diving and this is thanks to the crystal clear water and the numerous features you can dive around. There are some amazing cave and wreck dives to be found around the islands and the visibility is second to none.
Other great ocean activities in Greece include sea kayaking, SUP-ing, long-distance ocean swimming, and windsurfing. This is all made possible by the incredibly calm waters that Greece has outside of the heavy winds of winter.
Outside of the beach and the sea, Greece is also famous for its rock climbing and you can climb rock faces that will have you falling to the sea if you fail or the more daunting ones on the mainland, especially in Kalymnos which is a famous area for it.
As I already mentioned, Greece is also very mountainous and great for hiking. You can do simple day hikes around amazing landscapes or do a 50-mile multiple-day hike staying at traditional villages along the way.
With so many mountains you might think that snow and skiing were possible in Greece, and you’d be right. During the winter, the tall peaks see some excellent snowfall and you will have quite a few ski resorts to choose from.
Verdict
The decision between Spain vs Greece doesn’t really get easier in this section. Greece is by far the best country to visit if you want to go island hopping or scuba diving, while Spain is far better for things activities like surfing and kite surfing.
I’d also say Spain has the edge when it comes to hiking and general exploration as it has such a diverse array of natural environments in one country. In the end, most of the activities are similar and it doesn’t make it any easier to choose between Spain vs Greece.
The Food
Spain
The food in Spain is somewhat spectacular and it ranges from tapas to full-blown steaks, chorizo, paella, and of course, fresh seafood. Let’s be honest though, Spain is most notably known for its tapas which can include anything and everything.
Some of the best Spanish tapas dishes include Patas Bravas (possibly the most delicious potatoes you will ever eat) garlic fried prawns, octopus, croquetas (pork or fish in bechamel sauce deep-fried in bread crumbs), and my favorite of all, their steak.
I have never had a better steak than in the north of Spain as a tapas restaurant. The waiter first presented the marbled cut of meat and then it’s slated and cooked over hot coles to a perfect medium-rare. It melted in my mouth and I can still taste it today.
Outside of tapas, Sapin is of course also famous for its Spanish omelets aka Tortilla Española which are made with a differing mixture of onions, potatoes, chorizo, and spinach. They are delicious, very filling, and can be eaten at almost any meal or as a snack.
Paella is another Spanish classic that hails from Valencia. A mixture of rice, vegetables, meat, and seafood is all mixed together in a large dish that is traditionally shared with the family. A traditional paella may have rabbit and/or chicken in it, but these days pork and calamari, mussels, prawns, and even clams are added to the dish.
Another Spanish classic that you have to try in Spain is Fabada which is a warm wintery stew made from beans, tomatoes, and chorizo or blood sausage. It’s absolutely delicious.
We also can not talk about Spanish food without discussing the northern Spanish town of San Sebastian. It’s hailed as one of the food capitals of Europe and is home to an incredible number of Michelin Star restaurants, so if you want to experience Spanish cuisine at its best, you better head there.
Greece
Greek food is just as impressive as Spanish food in my eyes but it’s also very different. Greek is famous for feta, olives, lamb, and amazing seafood, and all of these dishes and ingredients are simply delightful.
Wherever you are in Greece, you’re going to find feta on the menu and while a traditional greek salad of olives, feat, cucumber, and tomatoes is a great side dish, you can’t leave Greece without trying some baked feta. It arrives as a whole block of feta covered in bread crumbs that have been baked to the feta’s melting point. The crispy outside with the deliciously warm feta inside is to die for.
The Greeks love eating lamb and whether it’s a slow-cooked lamb pot with a side of potatoes or a traditional mousaka you order, it’s going to be some of the tenderest lamb you might ever try. Mousaka is one of the most traditional Greek dishes and is made by layering filled aubergines with lamb mince with fried puréed tomato, onion, garlic and spices, potato, then a topping of béchamel sauce and cheese.
Kebabs are another dish the greeks love to eat and lamb is also featured heavily there but chicken, beef, and fish play a large role. Being on the Med, the seafood in Greece is some of the best in the world. Fresh whole grilled fish, swordfish steaks, octopus, and prawns are just some of their best delicacies.
We can forget the Greek sides either and these really set off any meal you have in Greece. Fresh taramasalata, Greek olives, olive oil, and stuffed vine leaves called dolmades are their specialties. The dolmades will change from region to region and even household to household, so if you want a dish to continuously taste as it changes with where you eat, be sure to order them with every meal.
Another thing Greece is famous for is its honey and the baklava that comes with it. Baklava is an amazing dessert that is made with ground nuts and honey stuffed inside a filo pastry, sounds amazing doesn’t it?
The Verdict
The is, of course, a lot more to cover when it comes to Spain vs Greece and their respective food scenes. It probably needs a full article in itself. Both the cuisines are absolutely fantastic and have quite a range to them from fresh seafood to hearty home-cooked meals, so rest assured, whichever country you decide to visit, you’ll be tasting some amazing dishes.
The Cities & Towns
Something that has to be mentioned when discussing Spain vs Greece is their incredible cities and towns, some of which are the best you can find in Europe.
Spain
Spain is covered with stunning traditional towns and villages that look like they haven’t changed for hundreds of years and they are not hard to find either. A drive into the countryside will have you in these quaint villages in no time where you can enjoy the traditional food that each region has to offer.
One of the best cities in Spain to visit is without a doubt Barcelona. It’s an incredibly popular city for a weekend break and the combination of its stunning architecture, ancient history, cosmopolitan vibe and the fact it’s on the beach make it quite spectacular.
In Barcelona, you’ll find the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia which is stunningly beautiful, then there is the Gothic Quarter where Picasso used to live which is the heart of the old town, the Picasso museum is also worth a visit, and there is so much more to see too.
Seville, the capital of the southern region of Andalusia is another must-visit and it’s no surprise when you consider that the city was supposedly built by Hercules himself. In Seville, you’ll find flamenco dancers, amazing ancient architecture, and as the ancient capital of Muslim Spain, it is drenched in history.
Córdoba is another Andalusian city that is a must-see. It’s famous for its gigantic La Mezquita mosque and its old town is full of beautiful architecture too and full of winding cobbled streets, fountains, and flowers. It feels a little like you’re in a fairytale while you’re there.
We have only scratched the surface when it comes to Spanish towns and cities as historical places like Santiago De Compostela and the amazing San Sebastian are all places that should be on the list along with a lot more.
Greece
When on the Greek island, you are not going to struggle to find beautiful towns and villages, there are pretty much everywhere. The most beautiful of all the Greek islands might be Santorini and its towns Oia and Fira.
The towns of Oia and Fira sit on the edge of the island and are made up of whitewashed houses with blue dome roofs which when looked at from afar create a picture of quintessential Greece. The rugged baron mountain backdrop with these white and blue houses with the reaching deep blues of the Aegean sea make it something spectacular.
Be warned though, Santorini sees more than 2 million visitors a year so you’re not going to be alone.
Athens is another must-see while in Greece but only for a night or two before you head to the mountains or the islands. Walking around the ancient remains of the 5th century BC Acropolis and Parthenon are must, as is going to the museum at the Acropolis to learn all about the Ancient Greeks and their history.
Athens is, of course, more than just its ancient side, it’s very much alive today. You’ll find stunning streets surrounded by flower pots along with cafes, taverns, and little boutique stores that are a great example of Greek culture today.
If you had to visit just one city or town in Greece, it should perhaps be the town of Agios Nikolaos on the Greek island of Crete. Agios Nikolaos is a small port in Crete which is surrounded by the sea on every side, bar one. and is home to stunning houses in many colors that come right to the water’s edge. The vibe in Agios Nikolaos is lovely and relaxed, the seafood is amazing, and it’s somehow fantastic for shopping too.
Agios Nikolaos is also near Spinalonga which was a leper island quarantine center that was still in use in 1957 which is also worth a visit.
Verdict
What we have come to learn about Spain vs Greeve and their respective towns and cities in the above still doesn’t really help with choosing which of the two countries to visit. They are all equally beautiful, traditional, and historical in their own ways.
Spain vs Greece – The Verdict
Do you know which country you’d like to visit yet? The right answer is both as they are so wonderful but in such different ways. I’d suggest visiting Spain if you’re looking for diverse landscapes and a bit more of an active holiday but if you want amazing views, sailing, island hopping, and diving, and ancient wonders, then it has to be Greece.
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About the Author Roger Timbrook
Roger is a little obsessed with travel. He has been to over 40 countries, broken 3 suitcases and owned over 10 backpacks in 12 months. What he doesn't know about travel, ain't worth knowing!
