Spain: Europe’s New Pickleball Capital

Few countries can match Spain's record of success in racquet sports.

Spain: Where Pickleball Meets One of the World's Great Travel Destinations

Long before pickleball arrived, Spain had already earned its reputation as one of Europe's great travel destinations. With abundant sunshine, vibrant cities, Mediterranean beaches, world-famous cuisine, lively plazas, and dozens of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the country offers an extraordinary blend of history, culture, and outdoor living.

Whether exploring Barcelona’s Sagrada Família, strolling along Madrid’s grand boulevards, relaxing on Málaga’s waterfront, standing beneath Granada’s breathtaking Alhambra Palace, or experiencing the energy of Seville and its flamenco traditions, visitors quickly understand why Spain consistently ranks among the world’s favorite destinations.

Today, pickleball has become one more reason to discover everything Spain has to offer—from world-famous cities and spectacular scenery to unforgettable food, culture, and hospitality.

Building Spain's Pickleball Community

American expatriate Mike Hess, who has lived in Spain for nearly 30 years, introduced pickleball to the country in 2010. Two years later, he founded the Spanish Pickleball Association—the first pickleball association in Europe—helping establish one of Europe's earliest organized pickleball communities and laying the foundation for the sport's continued growth across Spain.

What began with a handful of curious players has grown into one of Europe's fastest-growing pickleball communities. Dedicated courts continue to open across the country, clubs and tournaments continue to expand, and Spain's victory at the 2025 European Pickleball Championship was the natural result of more than a decade of steady growth.

As pickleball spread throughout Spain, visiting players began asking a simple question:

“How can we experience more of Spain while continuing to play pickleball?”

To answer that question, Mike Hess launched Mickle Pickleball Trips in 2014, combining two lifelong passions—pickleball and travel. Drawing on the relationships he had built while helping introduce the sport in Spain, he assembled a local Spanish team and created experiences that invite travelers to discover the country from the inside—sharing the courts with local players while exploring Spain's culture, cuisine, history, and hidden gems.

Because the trips are rooted in relationships developed since the earliest days of pickleball in Spain, travelers don't simply visit the country—they experience it alongside the people who helped build its pickleball community.

Explore Spain Through Pickleball

Discover immersive trips that combine local pickleball, unforgettable destinations, Spanish cuisine, history, and culture.

Barcelona & Madrid

The Barcelona & Madrid itinerary introduces travelers to Spain’s two great cosmopolitan cities, combining daily pickleball with Gaudí’s Sagrada Família, Madrid’s world-class museums, exceptional cuisine, and unforgettable day trips to Montserrat, Girona, Segovia, and Toledo.

The Best of Southern Spain

For many travelers, southern Spain is the country's most enchanting region. The Best of Southern Spain itinerary explores Málaga, Granada, Ronda, and Seville, where Moorish architecture, dramatic landscapes, Mediterranean coastlines, whitewashed villages, and the passion of flamenco create an unforgettable journey.

Why Spain Stands Apart

Spain has earned its place among the world's great racquet sport nations. Today, pickleball is becoming part of that legacy, giving players an entirely new way to experience one of Europe's most captivating destinations.

For travelers who want more than just great pickleball, Spain offers something few places can match: world-class cities, extraordinary history, unforgettable cuisine, and genuine connections with the local pickleball community. It is an experience that extends far beyond the court—and one that reveals the very best of Spain.