Spain Travel Guide

• Spain is bursting at the seams with culture and history
• It has some of the most modern, unique cities in Europe including Madrid and Barcelona
• It boasts beautiful beaches and year-round warm weather
• You can island hop around idyllic islands such as Ibiza
• It’s foodie heaven where you can tuck into delicious tapas and tasty Spanish cuisine
• It’s the perfect place to take off on a wider tour of Europe
• You can easily hop across the water into North Africa

Spain is known for its delicious cuisine, with an amazing choice of restaurants on offer. Tapas dishes (sometimes known as pintxos) are a popular choice, which provide small tasting dishes of meat, seafood, stews and vegetables. Paella is also a Spanish classic, with its saffron-flavoured rice combined with meat, seafood and vegetables.

Serrano ham and chorizo are popular meat products; tortilla (a potato omelette) also features regularly on menus, while olive oil and garlic are used for flavour in many dishes. Well-known drinks include local Spanish wines and sangria. 

Spain has a varied climate. The Southern and Eastern coastal regions are known for their year-round warmth and Mediterranean climate. In Northern Spain, temperatures can be colder, while the Central region remains largely warm and dry.

Visa Assistance

Visas may be required depending on your nationality, travel plans, and length of stay. Below are the FCDO travel advice for British travellers. Entry rules can change at any time, so always check with the relevant embassy before travelling.

To make things easier, we’ve partnered with The Travel Visa Company, a UK-based visa specialist. Their team can guide you on requirements and, for a fee, apply for visas on your behalf.

Entry Requirements for UK Travellers

This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of the current rules for the most common types of travel. 

The authorities in Spain set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Spanish Embassy in the UK.

Passport validity requirements

Spain follows Schengen area rules. Your passport must: 

• have a ‘date of issue’ less than 10 years before the date you arrive – if you renewed your passport before 1 October 2018, it might have a date of issue that is more than 10 years ago, making it invalid for entry to the Schengen area

• have an ‘expiry date’ at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area (the expiry date does not need to be within 10 years of the date of issue)

Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to. 

You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen. 

Dual nationals

When returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. See Dual citizenship.

Visa requirements

You can travel without a visa to the Schengen area, which includes Spain, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. This applies if you travel: 

• as a tourist
• to visit family or friends
• to attend business meetings, cultural or sports events
• for short-term studies or training

The requirements for working in Spain are different.  

If you’re travelling to other Schengen countries as well, make sure your whole visit is within the 90-day visa-free limit. Visits to Schengen countries in the 180 days before you travel count towards your 90 days. If you overstay the 90-day visa-free limit, you may be banned from entering Schengen countries for up to 3 years.

If you are visiting Spain and need to extend your visa-free stay for exceptional reasons, such as a medical emergency, you must apply to the immigration authorities (‘Extranjería’).

If you’re a visitor, border guards will look at your entry and exit stamps to check you have not overstayed the 90-day visa-free limit for the Schengen area.

If your passport is missing a stamp, show evidence of when and where you entered or left the Schengen area (for example, boarding passes or tickets) and ask the border guards to add the date and location in your passport.

At Spanish border control, you may need to show:

• a return or onward ticket
• proof of your travel insurance
• you have enough money for your stay - the amount varies depending on your accommodation
• a hotel booking confirmation or proof of address if you’re staying at your own property
• an invitation or proof of address if staying with a third party, friends or family, such as a ‘carta de invitation’ completed by your hosts

Using the e-gates

Use the desks staffed by border officers. If you’re aged 18 or over, and airport staff instruct you to, you may be able to use e-gates when they are working.

If you use an e-gate, make sure you get your passport stamped.

Staying longer than 90 days in a 180-day period 

To stay longer, you must meet the Spanish government’s entry requirements. If you’re in Spain with a residence permit or long-stay visa, this does not count towards your 90-day visa-free limit. 

Read more about entry processes if you live in Spain. 

If you cannot return to the UK before your visa-free limit expires, contact the Spanish government’s national information service. Dial 060 from a Spanish phoneline (in Spanish, with English speaking operators available).

Travelling between Spain and Gibraltar

Spanish border checks can cause delays when crossing between Spain and Gibraltar. If you are travelling to Spain through Gibraltar, check the travel advice for entry requirements for Gibraltar.

There is no charge to enter or leave Gibraltar. Do not hand over money to anybody claiming there is a charge.

Unaccompanied minors

Spanish law considers anyone aged 17 and under to be a minor. If an unaccompanied minor comes to the attention of the Spanish authorities (particularly in connection with criminal incidents or when in hospital), they will be considered vulnerable and may be taken to a minor’s centre until a parent or guardian is found.

Vaccine requirements

For details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s Spain guide.

Customs rules

There are strict rules about what goods can be taken into and out of Spain (PDF). You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

Taking food into Spain

You cannot take meat, milk or products containing them into EU countries. There are some exceptions such as powdered baby milk, baby food and special foods or pet feed required for medical reasons. 

Taking money into Spain

Declare cash or travellers cheques if the value is 10,000 euros or more. You will get a certified declaration to show you brought it in with you. If you do not, your money could be seized when you leave.

If a police officer asks you for ID then you must show them your passport. Spain has strict anti-drug laws and possession of even a small quantity of drugs can result in arrest. Some regions of Spain (including Madrid and Barcelona) have banned drinking alcohol in the street and if you are caught doing so you may face a hefty fine. In some areas of Spain, it’s against the law to wear swimwear or to go bare-chested in the street.

Lunches in Spain are often long, relaxed affairs which happen around 3 pm and dinner is often not eaten until 9 pm or even later. The Spanish love their nightlife and will often stay out until the early hours. The traditional Spanish ‘siesta’ (an afternoon nap) is no longer so common but some shops, bars and businesses do still sometimes close for periods during the afternoon. 

Health

British travellers should get a free Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) before leaving the UK. 

Safety

Spain is generally a safe European destination, but there is some street crime, with thieves often working in teams of two or more and using distraction techniques to obtain passports and money. Don’t keep your valuables all in one place and keep a copy of your passport somewhere safe.

Be extra vigilant at airports and in city centres. Occasionally, thieves may pose as police officers and ask to see a wallet as identification, so be wary if this occurs. Always buy your own drinks and keep them in sight at all times, to avoid the risk of spiking. Only use officially registered or licensed taxis.

We do not recommend hiring motorbikes, scooters, ATV vehicles, quad bikes or other types of motorised vehicles whilst abroad. Safety and quality of vehicles vary considerably and the traffic conditions can be much more dangerous than what UK travellers are used to. Should you wish to go against this advice, you should ensure you are hiring from a reputable company and that your travel insurance covers you for such activities.