Spain travel guide
Sunshine, beaches, Gaudí, flamenco, tapas and islands for every kind of trip.
#2 most visited country93.8 million international arrivals in 2024 — 2nd most visited in the world (UN Tourism)Capital: MadridCurrency: EUR
Top destinations
Sagrada Família
Barcelona
Book timed tickets well ahead
Alhambra
Granada
Tickets sell out — book weeks before
Park Güell
Barcelona
Timed entry to the monumental zone
Prado Museum
Madrid
Velázquez, Goya; free last two hours
Mezquita
Córdoba
Mosque-cathedral
Plaza de España
Seville
Best at sunset
Camino de Santiago
Galicia
Famous pilgrimage walk
Toledo
Castilla-La Mancha
Day trip from Madrid
🏝 Top islands
MallorcaTenerifeGran CanariaIbizaMenorcaLanzaroteFuerteventura
Top cities
Route & transport
From the airport
✈️ Madrid — Barajas (MAD)
- Metro Line 8 to Nuevos Ministerios
- Cercanías train (C1/C10) from Terminal 4
- Airport Express bus 24h to Atocha/Cibeles
- Official taxis charge a fixed fare to the city centre
✈️ Barcelona — El Prat (BCN)
- Aerobús to Plaça de Catalunya
- R2 Nord train from Terminal 2
- Metro L9 Sud (needs an airport ticket)
✈️ Málaga (AGP)
- C1 Cercanías train to the city centre
🚆 Getting around
- AVE high-speed trains (Renfe, Iryo, Ouigo) link Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Valencia and Málaga
- Metro and buses in big cities; T-casual card in Barcelona
- ALSA buses for smaller towns
- Ferries and short flights to the Balearic and Canary Islands
Money & currency
- Currency: Euro (€, EUR)
- Cards and contactless accepted almost everywhere
- Avoid paying in your home currency on card machines
- Tipping is small — round up or leave 5–10% for great service
Live exchange rate — Euro (EUR)
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Rates by ExchangeRate-API, updated daily. Money changers and banks add their own margin.
What to avoid
🙏 Culture & etiquette
- Meals are late: lunch 2–4pm, dinner 9pm or later
- Many small shops close for a midday break in smaller towns
- In Catalonia and the Basque Country, respect local identity and languages — don’t insist everything is “just Spanish”
- Dress modestly in churches and cathedrals
📍 Places, scams & seasons
- Pickpockets on Las Ramblas, the Barcelona metro and Madrid’s Puerta del Sol
- Summer heat in the south often passes 40°C — plan sightseeing early
- Some cities have anti-mass-tourism protests; be respectful in residential areas
⚖️ Laws & restrictions
- Barcelona and some beach towns fine people for walking shirtless or in swimwear away from the beach
- Drinking alcohol in the street is banned in many cities
- Carry ID; police can ask for it
💬 Words & topics to avoid
- Don’t call Spanish people “Mexican” or assume Latin American culture
- Avoid calling Catalans or Basques simply “Spanish” in a heated way
- Avoid bullfighting debates if you don’t know your audience
Safety situations change. Always check the latest official advice: UK Foreign Office — Spain · US travel advisories.
Accommodations
Barcelona
Eixample (central, safe), Gràcia (local feel), Barceloneta (beach)
Madrid
Sol/Gran Vía (central), Malasaña (trendy), Salamanca (upscale)
Seville
Santa Cruz or Triana
Look for rooms with A/C in summer
Budget idea
Hostales and pensiones
Family-run guesthouses, often in beautiful old buildings
Available, but Spain now requires a national registration number on every short-term listing, and Barcelona plans to phase out tourist apartment licences by 2028. Check the listing is registered.
See today’s best-rated and best-value places (live prices):
Barcelona: Booking.com — best rated & valueAgodaAirbnb
Madrid: Booking.com — best rated & valueAgodaAirbnb
Top restaurants
La Boqueria
Barcelona
Famous market — eat at the counters
Mercado de San Miguel
Madrid
Gourmet tapas market
Parte Vieja pintxo bars
San Sebastián
Basque pintxos crawl
El Palmar
Valencia
Traditional paella by the Albufera lagoon
Top-rated restaurants right now: Barcelona on Google MapsMadrid on Google MapsSeville on Google MapsValencia on Google Maps
Top foods
Paella
Rice dish from Valencia — order for two or more
Tapas & pintxos
Small plates shared with drinks
Jamón ibérico
Cured Iberian ham
Tortilla española
Potato omelette
Gazpacho & salmorejo
Cold tomato soups from Andalusia
Churros con chocolate
Classic breakfast or late-night snack
Language
Official: Spanish (Castilian)
English: Common in tourist areas and with younger people
Also spoken: Catalan, Basque (Euskara), Galician and Valencian are co-official in their regions
| English | Local | Say it |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Hola | OH-la |
| Thank you | Gracias | GRA-thee-as |
| Please | Por favor | por fa-VOR |
| The bill, please | La cuenta, por favor | la KWEN-ta |
| Thank you (Catalan) | Gràcies | GRA-see-es |
Festivals
Las Fallas
15–19 March
Valencia
Semana Santa (Holy Week)
March/April
Seville, Málaga and nationwide
Feria de Abril
April/May
Seville
San Fermín
6–14 July
Pamplona
La Tomatina
Last Wednesday of August
Buñol, Valencia
La Mercè
September
Barcelona
Dates shift each year — confirm before booking.
Internet & SIM
📱 SIM & eSIM
- Main networks: Movistar, Vodafone, Orange, Yoigo
- EU SIMs roam free; others can buy prepaid SIMs (passport needed) or eSIM
📶 Coverage & Wi-Fi
- Excellent 4G/5G coverage in cities and along coasts
- Free Wi-Fi in most cafes and hotels
🔌 Power plugs
230V, 50Hz — plug types C and F
News
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Explore Spain with a local
TourGuyed guides are ID-verified locals and students who know the hidden spots, the fair prices and the customs. Chat first, pay safely and only release payment when you meet.
Sources: Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA), UK FCDO travel advice (Open Government Licence), UN Tourism, national tourism boards. Last reviewed 2026-10-11. Prices, rules and schedules change — double-check before you travel.