The picture-postcard image of Spain may be blue skies and golden sands – but this incredible country has so much more to offer. In fact, we think it’s one of the best destinations in Europe. So we’ve pitted the country against its distinguished neighbors, to see if it can hold its own in everything from fine wines to fun fiestas…

DINING (Spain vs. Denmark)

Denmark may be home to the lauded Noma, which was voted Best Restaurant in the World for three years running by Restaurant Magazine, but that title has now been taken by El Celler de Can Roca in Girona. With Mugaritz and Arzak (both in San Sebastián) also featuring in the top 10 of the 2013 list, and many others frequently showered with accolades, there is little argument that Spain is now Europe’s fine dining capital.

credit: by Kasia Wyser-Pratte

ART (Spain vs. the Netherlands)

The Netherlands has spawned many incredible artists, with Dutch masters including Van Gogh, Rembrandt and Vermeer producing a trove of magnificent art. But Spain’s collection is equally rich, and has a similarly high pedigree – and yet it all started much earlier. Chronologically, Spain displays its ice-age art at the Cave of Altamira, its Islamic jewels of Córdoba, its 20^th century masters such as Francisco de Goya, Pablo Picasso, and Salvador Dalí across the country and its most contemporary works at the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao.

MOUNTAINS (Spain vs. Switzerland)

The Alps are the giants of Europe, and Switzerland holds some of this range\’s most elegant and exclusive mountain resorts. But Spain also offers up lofty pleasures, with the peaks of the Pyrenees, the Cantabrian Range, and Sierra Nevada providing beautiful vistas and opportunities for skiing, rock-climbing, and hiking.

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LAKES (Spain vs. Sweden)

With over 100,000 lakes, Sweden is a freshwater paradise. And yet in the fight for the title for Europe\’s best lake destination, Spain holds its own, racking up points for the crystal-clear waterways of the Ruidera Lakes – a designated Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO – and for the restful idyll of the glacial Lakes of Covadonga.

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WINE (Spain vs. Italy)

The battle for wine supremo is a close call. It is all about opening your mind and your palette to different varieties. If you’ve got a soft spot for Prosecco, try sipping on crisp sparkling Catalan Cava. If it is Pinot Grigio you adore, compare it to the clean and fresh Albariño white. And when it comes to reds, Spain has a trump card; the world famous La Rioja wine region, where the dry climate produces a silky, spicy, full-bodied pour.

BEACHES (Spain vs. Croatia)

Croatia\’s Dalmatian coast is a heady mix of fine sandy stretches, rocky crags and hideaway coves, but Spain edges ahead in the beach stakes for the staggering variety it can offer. For those who love the bright lights as much as the ocean, there are urban beaches in Barcelona and San Sebastián, while surfers descend on the Basque Country for world-class waves. And as for that postcard vision of beach paradise, visit Galicia\’s Islas Cies Beach, a flawless strip of sand that is frequently cited as one of the best beaches in the world.

SNACKS (Spain vs. Greece)

With the likes of tzatziki, phyllo pastries and kabobs, the Greeks certainly know how to snack.  But nobody sweats over their small portions like Spain. Tapas (or pintxos in the Basque Country) are omnipresent in Spain, and the variety of tapas is astonishing. Examples range from cured meats, deep-fried fish, and grilled vegetables to fresh olives, thick omelets, and potato croquettes. And for a sweet treat, try the street-foo favorite churros: deep-friend tubes of delicious pastry that are drizzled or dipped in molten hot chocolate.

MUSIC (Spain vs. Austria)

When it comes to music, Austrian names like Mozart, Strauss and Schubert carry clout in the classical scene. But Spain has its own vibrant and passionate indigenous music style called Flamenco, which originated in Andalusia, southern Spain. Flamenco artists are renowned for their mesmerizing artistry, and none are more honored than the recently deceased master Paco de Lucía.

BARS (Spain vs. the UK)

The Great British pub is an institution, but with last orders often called before midnight, a night out in the UK is frequently cut short. Come the witching hour in vibrant Spain, things are just warming up. Aside from the ubiquitous tapas bars – always good for a glass of beer or Rioja – there are massive all-night megaclubs, as well as dive bars, swanky cocktail lounges and a new swath of increasingly popular gin bars. Bottoms up!

credit: by Southern Foodways Alliance

CHURCHES (Spain vs. Russia)

Russia\’s churches, with their colorful bulbous spires, are incredibly eyecatching, but Spain also possesses an array of striking religious structures. Two of the most famous are the colossal, Gothic Seville Cathedral, and Gaudi\’s unfinished Sagrada Familia – but there are also medieval naves dotted throughout the countryside.

FESTIVALS (Spain vs. Germany)

Germany may attract an onslaught of tourists for its famous Oktoberfest, but Spain hosts more weird and wonderful festivals than any other European country. Some of the best include the annual tomato-throwing antics of La Tomatina in Valencia, the bizarre festivities of Cascamorras in Baza – where the revelers grease themselves and try to protect a local statue from theft – and the famous running of the bulls in Pamplona.

credit: by dahon

CHEESE (Spain vs. France)

Famous French names like Camembert and Comté tend to dominate many a cheese counter, but Spain has its own thriving cheese industry that offers much more than just Manchego. There is a whole world of Spanish dairy to be discovered, from the pungent mixed milk blue Cabrales to the mild and buttery Tetilla.

LITERATURE (Spain vs. Ireland)

Ireland\’s literary heritage is in no doubt, but Spain\’s gives it a run for its money. Besides native writers such as Migeul de Cervantes, Francisco de Quevedo and Luis de Góngora, the country also has deep connections with foreign literary figures, as the likes of Hemingway and Orwell found inspiration for their novels here.

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Spain has a wide array of things to see and do, and Best in Spain tours can help you get your head around what aspect of Spain you most want to see. For example, you can delve into local cuisine on one of Best In Spain’s gastronomic tours of San Sebastian or discover Spanish art in Best in Spain’s Goya Beyond the Prado tour – or you can even craft your own custom travel itinerary. Find out more at Best-In-Spain.com.