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🇪🇸 Spain

Spain is no. 2 in our list of the 50 most visited destinations, with 93.8 million international arrivals in 2024. Below: visa rules for every passport, cash limits at customs and the tourist traps official travel advice warns about.

Rank 2 of 50 by international arrivals (93.8 million, 2024) · Source: UN Tourism

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Explore Spain: things to do, shopping, food and getting around

Madrid, Barcelona and Andalusia first. Every item links to the page it was taken from; official tourism-board and transport-authority pages first.

Things to do

  • Go for tapas the local way

    Hop between bars with a caña (small beer) or a chato of wine and share small plates; in Granada and parts of Madrid a tapa often comes free with a drink.

    Source: Spain.info – Non-stop nightlife

  • Watch flamenco at a tablao

    Flamenco 'tablaos' are found especially in Andalusia; concert halls in the big cities host jazz, rock and singer-songwriters.

    Source: Spain.info – Non-stop nightlife

  • Book the Alhambra in advance

    Granada

    Buy Alhambra tickets only through the official website or phone line, as early as possible. Night visits to the Nasrid Palaces are also offered; the Palace of Charles V and the Alhambra Museum are free.

    Source: Spain.info – How to buy tickets for the Alhambra

  • Sunset at the Temple of Debod

    Madrid

    Spain.info suggests the Temple of Debod or the Círculo de Bellas Artes rooftop for sunset views over Madrid.

    Source: Spain.info (Turespaña) – Madrid

Places to visit

  • Prado, Reina Sofía and Thyssen museums

    Madrid

    Madrid's 'golden triangle' of art; the Retiro Park and Paseo del Prado are on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

    Source: Spain.info (Turespaña) – Madrid

  • Royal Palace, Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol

    Madrid

    Landmarks you pass on a walk through central Madrid, with La Latina next door for tapas.

    Source: Spain.info (Turespaña) – Madrid

  • Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, Casa Batlló and La Pedrera

    Barcelona

    Barcelona's Gaudí and Art Nouveau landmarks.

    Source: Spain.info (Turespaña) – Barcelona

  • Seville Cathedral, the Giralda and the Real Alcázar

    Seville

    Europe's largest Gothic cathedral, its Giralda tower viewpoint and the Alcázar palace (night visits in summer), all a few metres apart.

    Source: Spain.info (Turespaña) – Seville

Shopping

  • El Rastro flea marketBudget

    Madrid

    Sunday and holiday mornings around Ribera de Curtidores: over 1,000 stalls of second-hand clothes, antiques, crafts, books and records.

    Source: Spain.info – El Rastro

  • Weekly street markets: Els Encants, Las Dalias, La AlcaiceríaBudget

    Almost every Spanish city has weekly or monthly street markets; Spain.info names Els Encants (Barcelona), La Alcaicería (Granada) and Las Dalias (Ibiza).

    Source: Spain.info – Shopping tips

  • La Boquería marketBudget

    Barcelona

    Barcelona's best-known traditional market, off Las Ramblas.

    Source: Spain.info (Turespaña) – Barcelona

  • Salamanca district and Passeig de GràciaUpmarket

    The luxury shopping areas of Madrid (Salamanca, the 'Golden Mile') and Barcelona (Passeig de Gràcia, Diagonal).

    Source: Spain.info – Shopping tips

  • Shops stay open lateUpmarket

    In the main shopping areas most stores open 10:00–21:00; Sunday is the usual closing day.

    Source: Spain.info – Opening times and public holidays

Cheap ways to get around

  • Madrid Tourist Travel Pass

    Madrid

    Unlimited metro, EMT bus and Cercanías in zone A (Madrid city) from €10.30 for 1 day to €43.20 for 7 days in 2026; the metro airport supplement is not charged. Children under 11 pay half.

    Source: CRTM (Madrid transport consortium) – Tourist ticket

  • Barcelona T-casual: 10 trips for €13

    Barcelona

    A 10-journey zone-1 ticket for one person across metro, bus, tram and trains, with transfers within 75 minutes. Not valid at the Aeroport T1/T2 metro stations.

    Source: ATM Barcelona – T-casual · tmb.cat

  • High-speed trains between cities

    AVE high-speed trains link Madrid with Barcelona and Seville in about 2½ hours and Valencia in about 1h40.

    Source: Spain.info – Getting around Spain

  • Night buses

    City buses usually run 06:00–23:00, the metro later, and a night service usually runs 23:30–06:00.

    Source: Spain.info – Opening times and public holidays

Nightlife

  • Late nights are normal

    People go out from about 10pm until the early hours; Friday and Saturday are the busiest nights, and some clubs stay open until sunrise.

    Source: Spain.info – Non-stop nightlife

  • Ibiza's superclubs

    Ibiza

    Ibiza is famous for its huge clubs and themed parties.

    Source: Spain.info – Non-stop nightlife

  • Madrid's legendary nightlife

    Madrid

    Spain.info describes Madrid's nightlife as legendary, with live music and venues open until sunrise; La Latina is the neighbourhood for tapas.

    Source: Spain.info (Turespaña) – Madrid

Food

General tips

  • Emergency number 112 and the AlertCops app

    112 is free, works everywhere and has translation. The free AlertCops app lets you report a crime to the police in several languages.

    Source: Spain.info – Safety

  • Keep valuables close in crowds

    Carry only the cash you need and take care in crowded transport and shopping areas.

    Source: Spain.info – Safety

  • Canary Islands are one hour behind

    Spain uses UTC+1 and the Canary Islands UTC+0; clocks go forward on the last weekend of March and back on the last weekend of October.

    Source: Spain.info – Opening times and public holidays

Summarised in our own words from the linked pages, official tourism boards and transport authorities first; items marked "Not official" come from other guides. Prices and opening times change, so check the source before you go. Last checked 23 Oct 2026.

Common tourist traps and how to avoid them

Scams and risky spots named in official travel advice for Spain, plus a few reported in public visitor reviews (labelled), in our own words.

  1. Distraction thefts at airports and car hire

    How it works: Teams distract you while you collect or check in bags or sort out a hire car, and take passports or wallets.

    How to avoid it: Keep a hand on your bag at counters and do not carry all your valuables together.

  2. "Highway pirates"

    How it works: Someone flags down a foreign-plated or hire car claiming a fault or damage, then robs it while you check.

    How to avoid it: If you must stop, do it in a lit public place like a service station and be wary of "helpers".

  3. Fake police asking for your wallet

    How it works: People posing as plain-clothes police ask to inspect your wallet or bag, on the street or after stopping your car.

    How to avoid it: Real police may ask for ID or vehicle papers but never your wallet; unmarked police cars show a lit "Policía"/"Guardia Civil" sign.

  4. Drink spiking

    How it works: Drinks are spiked with GHB or similar drugs in bars and clubs.

    How to avoid it: Buy your own drinks and keep them in sight.

  5. Timeshare and holiday-club offers

    How it works: Sellers use false incentives to push timeshares or holiday clubs.

    How to avoid it: Do not sign on the spot; check the company and your cancellation rights first.

  6. Street money changers

    How it works: Unofficial changers hand over counterfeit notes – and possessing fake money is a serious crime in Spain.

    How to avoid it: Change money only at banks or official exchange offices.

  7. Unlicensed taxis

    How it works: Unofficial drivers operate at airports and resorts; passengers can be fined up to EUR 600.

    How to avoid it: Use licensed taxis or book through a licensed firm.

  8. Overpriced restaurants on La Rambla

    How it works: Visitors describe restaurants on and right beside La Rambla with staff touting outside, picture menus and pre-mixed sangria, and complain about high prices and extra charges on the bill.

    How to avoid it: Walk a few streets away before eating, check the menu prices (and any service or terrace charge) before you sit down, and prefer places busy at Spanish meal times.

    From visitor reviews, not official La Rambla, Barcelona. Sources: reddit.com · reddit.com · reddit.com. Researched 23 Oct 2026; there is no official page to re-check, so this date is not updated automatically.

Official advice: FCDO: no areas advised against.

Emergency numbers in Spain

Other traps paraphrased from official travel advice: FCDO travel advice – Safety and security · FCDO travel advice – Warnings and insurance · FCDO travel advice – Getting help (emergency numbers) · FCDO page updated 12 Aug 2026 · Last checked 4 Oct 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Cash you can bring in and take out

Customs rules for banknotes and other cash when you enter or leave Spain.

EU external border (Reg. 2018/1672)

Bringing cash in
Declare cash of EUR 10,000 or more (or equivalent) when arriving from outside the EU.
Taking cash out
Declare cash of EUR 10,000 or more (or equivalent) when leaving to a country outside the EU.
Local currency (EUR) in
No limit (declaration only).
Local currency (EUR) out
No limit (declaration only).
Foreign currency
No limit (declaration only).
Within the EU
Spain (Law 10/2010) requires a prior declaration for any cross-border movement of EUR 10,000 or more, including to/from other EU countries, and EUR 100,000 or more for movements within Spain.
  • EU rule (Regulation (EU) 2018/1672): anyone entering or leaving the EU with EUR 10,000 or more in cash (banknotes, coins, bearer-negotiable instruments such as traveller's cheques, and gold coins/bullion of high purity) must declare it to customs at the point of entry/exit, using the EU cash declaration form. The threshold is per person, also for families/groups.
  • Customs can act on lower amounts if there are signs of criminal activity; undeclared cash can be detained and fined.

Official source: taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu · eur-lex.europa.eu · europa.eu · sepblac.es · Last checked 4 Oct 2026

Spain visa rules by passport

The general rule for each passport, from official sources. Open a passport to see conditions and options that depend on where you live.

Free movement (EU/EEA/Swiss)30 passports
Visa-free63 passports
Embassy visa105 passports

Verified rules for Spain: 197 of 198 passports; awaiting verification: 1; not yet covered: 0. A rule that is awaiting verification or not yet covered is not a negative visa decision: it only means we haven't confirmed it on an official source yet.

⚠ Unofficial sources: 1 rule for Spain is not from an official Spain government source (based on other governments' travel advice or secondary research). They are labelled on each page, are not counted as verified above, and should be confirmed with the embassy before travel.

Requirements for all visitors to Spain

These apply on top of the visa rules above, whatever your passport, unless an item says otherwise.

  • Proof of fundsProof of means of subsistence: 10 % of the gross minimum wage (EUR 122.10) per day, minimum EUR 1,098.90

    Applies to: non-EU/EEA/Swiss visitors at the external Schengen border, on request.

    Official source: home-affairs.ec.europa.eu · Last checked 2 Nov 2026

Nearby destinations

Official travel advice

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Plan your trip to Spain

Verify with the embassy before you book. Visa rules change without notice. We link every rule to its official source and last checked it on 23 Oct 2026, but the embassy, official e-visa portal and your airline have the final say. MyVisaPort is not a visa agent and is not affiliated with any government.