Language Trip

Travel Essentials › Spain

Travel Essentials

Spain: What To Know Before You Go

Plugs: Types C and F, 230 V. Emergency: One number for everything 112, Police 091. Tipping: Not expected; rounding up or leaving a few euros for good service is common. Tap water: Generally safe to drink tap water.

Open The Spain Trip Kit

Plugs And Power

Types C and F, 230 V

Emergency Numbers

Checked 13 Oct 2026 against the official page: policia.es

Tipping

Not expected; rounding up or leaving a few euros for good service is common.

Water And Health

Tap water

Generally safe to drink tap water

Vaccines

Routine vaccines; hepatitis A for most travelers; hepatitis B for unvaccinated travelers under 60; rabies for some travelers

Malaria

None

Checked 13 Oct 2026 against the official page: wwwnc.cdc.gov

Apps To Download Before You Go

• Bizum: The Spanish instant payment system built into banking apps, used to split bills and pay small shops.
• Cabify: The Spanish ride-hailing app widely used in Madrid, Barcelona and other cities.
• FREE NOW: Hails licensed taxis in most Spanish cities.
• Uber: Available in Madrid, Barcelona and tourist areas.
• WhatsApp: Spain's universal messaging app for restaurants, hosts and friends.
• Renfe: Books high-speed AVE and regional trains across the country.
• ALSA: The main intercity coach company, often cheaper than trains.
• Ouigo / Iryo: Low-cost high-speed competitors to Renfe on the main routes.
• Glovo: Barcelona-born delivery app dominant for food and groceries.

Customs And Etiquette

Greetings. Two cheek kisses (starting right) are common among friends and in social settings; a handshake is standard for business.

Meal times. Lunch is often around 2pm and dinner from 9–10pm; many small-town shops close for a midday siesta.

Dress at religious sites. Cover shoulders and knees when visiting cathedrals and churches.

Safety And Scams

Spain is very safe with low violent crime; the main risk for tourists is pickpocketing in busy tourist areas and on public transport.

Pickpocketing hotspots. Las Ramblas in Barcelona and crowded metro lines are prime spots; keep bags zipped and in front of you.

Fake plainclothes police. Scammers posing as police ask to inspect your wallet 'for counterfeit bills' — real police won't ask this on the street; ask to go to a station.

Clipboard/petition scam. A distraction where someone asks you to sign a petition while an accomplice picks your pocket.

Women travelers. Generally very safe; occasional catcalling (piropos) occurs but serious harassment is rare, including in nightlife areas.

LGBTQ+ Travelers

Legal · Safe

Legal and well-protected — same-sex marriage has been legal since 2005, and Spain is one of the most LGBTQ+-friendly countries in the world, with Madrid and Sitges as major destinations.

What Things Cost

2026-09

Best Time To Visit

April–June and September–October offer the best balance of mild weather and manageable crowds; July–August is hot and very busy on the coast, especially in the south.

Do You Need A Visa?

Spain visa requirements by nationality

Phrases

Basic Catalan phrases · Basic Galician phrases · Basic Basque phrases

العربية · Azərbaycan · বাংলা · Deutsch · English · Español · Français · हिन्दी · Indonesia · 日本語 · ខ្មែរ · 한국어 · मराठी · Português · Русский · Türkçe · اردو · O‘zbek · Tiếng Việt · 中文 · 繁體中文