What can travellers expect in Spain?
Spain stretches from the boulevards of Madrid, through the Modernisme buildings of Barcelona, to the Moorish palaces of Andalusia and the beaches of the Basque Country. Anyone wanting to combine cities, art, cuisine and coast can most easily do so by linking Madrid, Barcelona, Seville and San Sebastián with the AVE high-speed train, which connects the major cities in around 2 to 5.5 hours.
Four major regions shape the country: central Spain around Madrid with the Castilian plateau, Catalonia with Barcelona and the Costa Brava, Andalusia in the south with Seville, Córdoba and Granada, and the Basque Country in the north with San Sebastián and Bilbao. Added to this are the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands off the African coast, which this page does not cover in detail.
This page summarises regions, best time to visit, entry requirements and health (as of September 2026), along with the guidance from Switzerland's FDFA, Germany's Federal Foreign Office and Austria's BMEIA for Swiss, German and Austrian nationals.
Sources: Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria
What kind of destination is Spain?
Spain is a multi-ethnic state with four official languages: alongside Castilian, Catalan, Basque (Euskera) and Galician are co-official in their autonomous communities. Architecture from the Moorish era through Gothic to the modernism of Antoni Gaudí shapes the cities, while festivals such as the Feria de Abril in Seville or the Tamborrada in San Sebastián structure the social year.
Politically, Spain is divided into 17 autonomous communities, of which Catalonia, the Basque Country and Galicia have their own co-official languages. This shapes everyday life and signage: in Barcelona, street signs are often written first in Catalan, in the Basque Country additionally in Euskera, a language with no known relation to other European languages.
Culturally, the range spans the Moorish palaces of Andalusia, around 780 years of Islamic rule until 1492, through the colonial era to modernism: the seven buildings by Antoni Gaudí in and around Barcelona represent, according to UNESCO, an outstanding creative contribution to architecture and building technology around 1900.
Everyday life is shaped by region: late mealtimes (lunch usually from 2 pm, dinner from 9 pm), a dense festival calendar with Semana Santa and Feria de Abril, and countless local patron saint festivals that are celebrated differently from town to town.
Sources: UNESCO World Heritage Centre · spain.info, Turespaña
Which regions of Spain are worth visiting?
Most trips connect Madrid in the centre with Barcelona on the Mediterranean coast, Seville in the south and San Sebastián in the Basque Country – four cities linked by the AVE high-speed train in around 2 to 5.5 hours. They are often supplemented with Granada and the Alhambra, Córdoba and the Mezquita, or the Camino de Santiago in the northwest.
Madrid
The capital lies geographically at the centre of the Iberian Peninsula at around 667 m. The museum triangle of Prado, Reina Sofía and Thyssen-Bornemisza is, according to spain.info, among the most important art collections in the world; the Retiro Park and the Paseo del Prado have been UNESCO World Heritage since 2021. The Plaza Mayor is around 400 years old, and the Royal Palace has, according to spain.info, over 2,000 rooms.
Barcelona
Barcelona combines Mediterranean beaches with the seven buildings by Antoni Gaudí, declared UNESCO World Heritage in 1984 and 2005 respectively: Sagrada Família, Park Güell, Casa Batlló, Casa Milà, Casa Vicens, Palau Güell and the crypt of the Colònia Güell. The Gothic Quarter, the Ramblas and the La Boqueria market define the old town.
Seville and Andalusia
Seville is the capital of Andalusia; the cathedral, the Alcázar and the Archivo de Indias have together formed a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1987. The Giralda, the cathedral's bell tower, was once the minaret of a mosque. Around 140 km to the northeast lies Córdoba with the Mezquita, a former mosque with over 850 columns, and a further 200 km to the east lies Granada with the Alhambra, the Moorish palace complex overlooking the city, UNESCO World Heritage since 1984.
San Sebastián and the Basque Country
San Sebastián, called Donostia in Basque, lies on a shell-shaped bay with the city beaches La Concha and Ondarreta. The old town (Parte Vieja), with its high density of bars, is considered the centre of pintxo cuisine; the region, according to spain.info, ranks among the areas with the most Michelin stars per capita worldwide, with 15 stars across 7 restaurants. Around 100 km to the west lies Bilbao with the Guggenheim Museum, and a further 20 km away the coastal town of Getaria.
Camino de Santiago and Galicia
The Camino de Santiago ends in Santiago de Compostela in the northwest; the Spanish pilgrimage routes have been UNESCO World Heritage since 1993. Those who don't walk the whole route often walk only the last approximately 100 km from Sarria, which is enough for the Compostela pilgrim certificate. The cathedral of Santiago, the destination of all routes, holds, according to tradition, the tomb of the Apostle James, and attracts hundreds of thousands of pilgrims each year, many on foot or by bicycle.
Sources: spain.info, Turespaña · UNESCO World Heritage Centre · spain.info, Turespaña · UNESCO World Heritage Centre · UNESCO World Heritage Centre · spain.info, Turespaña
Destinations
Regions with their own page
Islands and regions
- Island GroupBalearic IslandsThe Balearic Islands lie in the western Mediterranean off the eastern coast of Spain and consist of four main islands: Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza…
- Island GroupCanary IslandsThe Canaries are of volcanic origin, lying in the Atlantic off the coast of Morocco, and consist of seven main islands.
When is the best time to visit Spain?
For city trips to Madrid, Barcelona and San Sebastián, spring (April to June) and autumn (September/October) are best, with milder temperatures than high summer and less rain than winter. Andalusia and Seville become very hot in high summer, with daily highs regularly above 33°C in July and August.
Climate statistics show a clear north-south gradient: San Sebastián on the Atlantic stays temperate year-round, with daily highs between 13°C in January and 26°C in August, but frequent rain (up to 149 mm in November). Seville inland, by contrast, has dry, very hot summers with just 1 mm of rainfall in July.
Madrid, Barcelona, Seville and San Sebastián through the year
| Madrid | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 11 | 13 | 16 | 20 | 25 | 30 | 35 | 34 | 28 | 22 | 15 | 12 |
| Low °C | 2 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 19 | 15 | 11 | 6 | 3 |
| Rainfall mm | 38 | 39 | 48 | 52 | 42 | 22 | 9 | 14 | 24 | 66 | 54 | 40 |
| Barcelona | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 14 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 22 | 26 | 29 | 30 | 27 | 23 | 18 | 15 |
| Low °C | 6 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 19 | 22 | 22 | 19 | 15 | 10 | 7 |
| Rainfall mm | 34 | 32 | 43 | 50 | 49 | 27 | 28 | 41 | 59 | 70 | 54 | 31 |
| Sevilla | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 15 | 17 | 19 | 22 | 27 | 30 | 33 | 33 | 29 | 25 | 19 | 16 |
| Low °C | 7 | 8 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 15 | 11 | 8 |
| Rainfall mm | 48 | 49 | 58 | 53 | 28 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 24 | 71 | 71 | 57 |
| San Sebastián | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 13 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 22 | 17 | 15 |
| Low °C | 5 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 13 | 9 | 7 |
| Rainfall mm | 126 | 95 | 90 | 86 | 82 | 68 | 48 | 51 | 64 | 94 | 149 | 117 |
Average daily highs and lows, and monthly rainfall. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station CUATRO VIENTOS (9 km, 691 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station BARCELONA (13 km, 4 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station SEVILLA HELIPORT (8 km, 5 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station SAN SEBASTIAN (16 km, 5 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020.
Madrid sits at around 667 m and has more continental characteristics than the coastal cities: cold, sometimes frosty winter nights (January lows around 2°C) and dry, hot summers with highs above 34°C in July. Barcelona benefits from the Mediterranean with milder winters (January lows around 5.7°C) and fewer heat extremes than Madrid or Seville.
Major festivals noticeably change prices and occupancy: the Feria de Abril in Seville (two weeks after Easter), the Fallas in Valencia (March, outside this page's scope), or the Tamborrada in San Sebastián (January). During these weeks, accommodation should be booked well in advance.
According to the Federal Foreign Office and the BMEIA, wildfire risk exists from spring to autumn across large parts of the country, heightened in dry, hot summers (as of September 2026).
Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria
What do you need to enter Spain?
Swiss, German and Austrian nationals enter with a valid passport or national ID card; a visa is not required for tourist stays. As EU or EFTA citizens, they are not subject to the general Schengen rule of a maximum of 90 days per 180 days that applies to nationals of many other countries (as of September 2026).
- Switzerland: A passport or national ID card is sufficient; no visa, no fixed length-of-stay limit thanks to the free movement of persons agreement with the EU.
- Germany and Austria: As EU citizens, a valid ID card or passport is sufficient; no visa, no length-of-stay limit.
- Other nationalities: For them, the European Commission's general Schengen rule applies: visa-free entry for up to 90 days per 180-day period for many nationalities, otherwise a Schengen visa. The Spanish embassy or representation in the country of residence is authoritative.
According to the Federal Foreign Office, minors travelling without or with only one parent should carry a letter of consent from the other parent. Cash amounts of 10,000 euros or more must be declared on entry or exit, and cash payments are limited to 1,000 euros according to the Federal Foreign Office.
The current information from Switzerland's FDFA, Germany's Federal Foreign Office, Austria's BMEIA and the Spanish authorities at the time of travel is authoritative.
Sources: Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria · European Commission, Migration and Home Affairs
What vaccinations and health precautions does Spain require?
No vaccination is required for entry. healthytravel.ch recommends keeping the standard vaccinations up to date and advises hepatitis B depending on the type of trip; there is no malaria risk according to healthytravel.ch. Since 2018, isolated locally transmitted dengue cases have been reported, along with annual cases of West Nile fever.
The CDC recommends a hepatitis A vaccination for most travellers as well as up-to-date protection against measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough and polio. A yellow fever vaccination is, according to the CDC, neither required nor recommended.
West Nile fever is transmitted by mosquitoes; cases occur every year. Mosquito protection is worthwhile from spring to autumn. Tick-borne diseases such as Lyme disease and TBE also occur, especially in rural and forested areas.
Medical care in cities such as Madrid, Barcelona and Seville meets European standards; for German and Austrian nationals, a social security agreement eases access to basic care. The BMEIA nonetheless recommends supplementary travel insurance, particularly for private clinics.
Sources: healthytravel.ch, Swiss Expert Committee for Travel Medicine · Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria
How safe is Spain for travellers?
The Federal Foreign Office and the BMEIA cite mainly pickpocketing in tourist centres and, on the A7 motorway between France and Barcelona, staged breakdowns followed by theft as risks. As in other major European destinations, there is an abstract terrorism risk, in remembrance of the 2017 attacks in Barcelona and Cambrils. Check the current situation with the FDFA, the Federal Foreign Office and the BMEIA.
According to the Federal Foreign Office, pickpocketing is widespread at airports, train stations, sights and beaches; in Barcelona, thefts involving the use of force also occur. Break-ins into holiday apartments and parked vehicles are documented.
According to the BMEIA, wildfires occur from spring to autumn, on a large scale in dry summers; fire and smoking bans must be observed. According to the Federal Foreign Office, heavy rain, especially at the end of summer, can turn dried-out riverbeds (ramblas) into raging torrents within a short time.
Sources: Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria
How do you get to Spain and travel around the country?
International flights mainly land at Madrid-Barajas (MAD) and Barcelona–El Prat (BCN), which together serve, according to FlightConnections, more than 460 nonstop destinations in over 80 countries, including North America, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia. Between the major cities, the AVE high-speed train runs, connecting Madrid with Barcelona and with Seville in around 2 h 30 min each.
| Route | Mode of transport | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Madrid – Barcelona | AVE train | from around 2 h 30 min |
| Madrid – Seville | AVE train | from around 2 h 30 min |
| Barcelona – Seville | AVE train | from around 5 h 18 min |
| Madrid – San Sebastián | Train or car | around 5 h |
| Madrid airport – city centre | Metro, bus, train | around 30–40 min |
| Seville airport – city centre | Bus | around 35 min |
Madrid-Barajas serves, according to FlightConnections, 239 nonstop destinations in 77 countries, including Bogotá, Buenos Aires and São Paulo in Latin America as well as Doha and Dubai in the Middle East; the longest nonstop connection goes to Tokyo in around 14 hours. Barcelona–El Prat flies to 224 destinations in 66 countries, including New York, Mexico City and Shanghai; the longest route goes to Santiago de Chile in around 14 h 20 min.
Seville (SVQ) and San Sebastián (EAS) are smaller airports with mainly domestic and European connections; for intercontinental travel, Madrid or Barcelona usually serves as a hub with a connecting flight. Within Europe, arrival is also possible by train or long-distance bus via France, for instance with overnight connections toward Barcelona.
For travel between regions, the AVE, Alvia and regional trains as well as a dense motorway network are suitable. Travel documents should always be carried for domestic flights and train journeys; a valid EU driving licence is recognised, while an international driving permit is recommended for many other nationalities.
Sources: FlightConnections · FlightConnections · spain.info, Turespaña
What money do you need in Spain and how do you pay?
The national currency is the euro. Card payment is used practically everywhere, even for small amounts in bars and kiosks; ATM cash withdrawals are, according to the Federal Foreign Office, generally straightforward.
Cash payments in Spain are limited to 1,000 euros; anyone carrying more than 10,000 euros in cash must declare it on entry or exit. Tipping is not mandatory: in restaurants, 5 to 10 percent of the bill is common, in bars it's often enough to leave just the change; in the Basque Country and Galicia, people usually just round up.
Outside the major cities, for example in small villages in Andalusia or on the Camino de Santiago, card terminals are not always available; carrying some cash for hostels, markets and small bars is advisable and practical.
Sources: Federal Foreign Office, Germany · ZDFheute
Where is the best place to stay in Spain?
In Madrid, most accommodation is located around Sol, Gran Vía or the trendy La Latina district; in Barcelona, around the Gothic Quarter, the Eixample or directly on the beach. Seville and San Sebastián have compact old towns where almost everything is reachable on foot.
In Seville, most people stay in the old town near the cathedral and the Alcázar or in the Triana district on the other bank of the river. San Sebastián is split between the old town (Parte Vieja), with the city's highest density of bars, and quieter locations near the beaches La Concha and Ondarreta.
On the Camino de Santiago, pilgrims stay in simple pilgrim hostels (albergues) along the route; anyone walking the last approximately 100 km from Sarria should book early during the summer high season.
Sources: spain.info, Turespaña · spain.info, Turespaña
What do you eat in Spain?
Spanish cuisine is shaped by region: tapas and paella represent Madrid and the east, pintxos the Basque Country, where San Sebastián, according to spain.info, is among the cities with the most Michelin stars per capita worldwide, with 15 stars across 7 restaurants. In Seville, gazpacho and fried fish are part of everyday life.
In Madrid, the classics are cocido madrileño (stew), bocadillo de calamares (squid sandwich) and tapas in neighbourhoods like La Latina. Barcelona is known for pa amb tomàquet (bread with tomato), fideuà (noodle paella with seafood), and vermouth as an aperitif.
San Sebastián's old town, with its high density of bars, is considered the centre of pintxo cuisine: small bites, often served on toothpicks, chosen straight from the bar counter. In Andalusia, sherry from Jerez, jamón ibérico and the evening tapas round shape social life.
Sources: spain.info, Turespaña · spain.info, Turespaña
What culture and festivals shape Spain?
Flamenco, which originated in Andalusia, has been UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2010; Seville is considered one of its centres. Major festivals are the Feria de Abril in Seville, Semana Santa (Holy Week) nationwide, and the Tamborrada in San Sebastián in January.
The Feria de Abril, two weeks after Easter, transforms Seville with hundreds of tents (casetas), flamenco dresses and horse-drawn carriages; the preceding Semana Santa is marked by processions with brotherhoods (cofradías) carrying statues of Christ and Mary, whose penitential robes with pointed hoods have a centuries-old religious tradition unrelated to other symbols of similar shape.
In San Sebastián, the Tamborrada on 20 January marks the city's holiday with round-the-clock drum parades. Barcelona's festival calendar is shaped by La Mercè in September, with fire runs (correfocs) and human towers (castells), a Catalan tradition.
Sources: spain.info, Turespaña
What experiences are worthwhile in Spain?
Highlights include the Alhambra in Granada, the Mezquita in Córdoba, the seven Gaudí buildings in Barcelona, and the beaches of San Sebastián. Hikers will find long stretches on the Camino de Santiago or in the Sierra Nevada near Granada; football fans can visit stadiums like Camp Nou in Barcelona.
Cultural highlights
- Alhambra, Granada: Moorish palace complex overlooking the city, UNESCO World Heritage since 1984 together with the Generalife and Albaicín.
- Mezquita, Córdoba: former mosque with over 850 columns, today a cathedral.
- Sagrada Família, Barcelona: under construction since 1882, Antoni Gaudí's landmark work.
- Camino de Santiago: pilgrimage routes across northern Spain to Santiago de Compostela.
Active and outdoors
The Sierra Nevada near Granada offers Europe's southernmost ski region, and hiking up to over 3,000 m in summer. Along the coast around San Sebastián and in the Basque Country, beaches invite swimming, surfing and hiking along the steep coastline.
Experiencing festivals
Anyone wanting to experience the Feria de Abril in Seville, the Tamborrada in San Sebastián or the Fallas in Valencia should book accommodation months in advance, as prices and occupancy rise sharply during these weeks.
Sources: UNESCO World Heritage Centre · UNESCO World Heritage Centre · spain.info, Turespaña
How do you travel responsibly in Spain?
Anyone visiting the Alhambra, the Sagrada Família or the Camino de Santiago should book tickets officially and respect visitor quotas designed to protect individual sights from overcrowding. Public transport such as the AVE trains reduces the number of domestic flights between the major cities.
- Book tickets for the Alhambra and the Sagrada Família officially and in advance to respect visitor quotas.
- Stay in designated hostels on the Camino de Santiago and respect trail markings.
- Choose accommodation in Barcelona and San Sebastián thoughtfully during high season, as overtourism is a debated topic in both cities.
Sources: UNESCO World Heritage Centre
Which countries can Spain be combined with?
The most obvious choice is Portugal to the west, easily reachable by train or car; France borders to the north, and Morocco lies just a short ferry crossing away across the Strait of Gibraltar to the south. Morocco, however, lies outside the Schengen area and requires a separate entry check.
From San Sebastián, the French border and the French Basque Country are reachable in under an hour. Ferries run from Seville or Málaga to Tangier in Morocco; anyone continuing on to Morocco needs their own visa depending on nationality, which should be checked separately with the Moroccan representation.
Sources: Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria
Who is Spain a good fit for, and who is it less suited to?
Spain suits travellers who want to combine cities, art, cuisine and beach and can handle the heat in high summer. It is less suited to anyone who wants to visit tourist hotspots like the Sagrada Família or the Alhambra spontaneously without a reservation.
Spain works well for culture enthusiasts, food lovers and families who want to switch between city and beach. High summer in Andalusia is less ideal for travellers who don't tolerate heat well; in that case, the north with San Sebastián and the Basque Country, or spring and autumn for the south, are better suited.