Practical Spain
What to know before you go
Spain is an easy country to travel in, but it runs on its own clock — late meals, a midday pause, and a language map that shifts by region. Here's the practical layer that makes the rest of the guide land.
Money & tipping
- —Currency is the euro. Cards are accepted almost everywhere, even in bars and taxis, but carry some cash for rural villages, markets, and the occasional cash-only casa rural.
- —Tipping is optional, not expected. Round up in bars; 5–10% in a sit-down restaurant if you want to flag good service. Taxis: round up to the nearest euro.
- —ATMs are everywhere; bank ones ('cajero automático') charge lower fees than the standalone Euronet-style machines at airports and tourist spots.
Language
- —Spanish (Castilian) is universal. English is common in tourist hubs and thinner inland — a few phrases go a long way.
- —Catalan is primary in Catalonia and the Balearics; Basque in the Basque Country; Galician in Galicia. Signs and menus often switch. Locals always speak Spanish too.
- —Menus del día are usually written on a board, not translated — learn 'primero', 'segundo', 'postre', 'pan', 'bebida'.
Opening hours & meals
- —Lunch is the big meal, 1:30–3:30pm. Dinner starts late — 9pm is early, 10pm is normal in summer. Many kitchens close between 5 and 8pm.
- —Many shops close 2–5pm, especially outside big cities and in the south. Sundays most retail is shut; restaurants and some big stores stay open.
- —Tapas time is roughly 7–9pm — you're tide-me-over snacking, not eating dinner. Spaniards eat dinner after.
Electricity & devices
- —Type C and F plugs, 230V. Same as most of Europe; North American travelers need an adapter and a voltage converter for non-dual-voltage devices.
- —Free Wi-Fi is everywhere — bars, hotels, many public spaces. eSIMs (Movistar, Vodafone, Orange, plus Airalo/Holafly) avoid the SIM-counter queue.
Phones & data
- —EU/EEA plans roam at no extra cost (check your cap). Outside the EU, eSIM or a local prepaid SIM is far cheaper than home-roaming.
- —Free EU emergency number is 112 — works from any phone, no SIM required.
Health & safety
- —EU residents: carry your EHIC (or UK GHIC) for state healthcare; travel insurance still matters for repatriation and private care.
- —Tap water is safe nationwide, though some coastal/island towns taste mineral-heavy — bottled is cheap if you prefer.
- —Pharmacies ('farmacia', green cross) are well-stocked and the first stop for minor complaints — pharmacists advise freely.
- —Spain is one of Europe's safest countries for travelers. The main annoyance is pickpocketing in crowded tourist spots (Las Ramblas, El Rastro, Madrid metro) — keep bags closed and forward.
Entry & visas
- —Schengen area: 90 days visa-free for most non-EU visitors (US, UK, Canada, Australia). EU/EEA citizens enter on ID.
- —ETIAS authorization (a few euros, online) is the upcoming pre-entry check for visa-exempt travelers — confirm before your trip if it's live.
- —Passport should be valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned exit.
When to go
- —Shoulder seasons — April–June and September–October — are the sweet spot: warm, lighter crowds, and the countryside is green or golden rather than scorched.
- —Summer (July–August) is brutally hot in the interior (Seville, Córdoba, Madrid routinely 38–42°C) and peak-packed on the coast. Escape north (Galicia, Asturias, Basque Country) or head high.
- —Winter is mild on the Mediterranean and Canaries, cold in the central plateau and the mountains — ski in the Pyrenees and Sierra Nevada.
If you read nothing else
Carry a little cash, tip lightly, and don't expect dinner before 9pm. Learn 'primero/segundo/postre' for the menu del día. Bring an adapter, grab an eSIM, and keep your bag zipped in the busy spots. Go in shoulder season if you can.