Spain Travel Information, Tips and More

Passport and Visa Requirement

Spain is a party to the Schengen Agreement. This means that U.S. citizens may enter Spain for up to 90 days for tourist or business purposes without a visa. Your passport should be valid for at least three months beyond the period of stay. You must have sufficient funds and a return airline ticket.

If you are a citizen from any other country we suggest you check the Visa website to see if a visa is needed.

Currency & Credit Card Payments
Euro is the currency in Spain. There's no limit to the amount of cash you can bring with you to Spain. However, you'll need to make a declaration at customs if you're traveling with more than €10,000 cash, including traveler's checks). Your bank will sell you euros at a competitive rate, though you'll pay a commission fee.

Language
The Netherlands (Holland) - Speaking the Language. The official language of the Netherlands is Dutch, which is spoken by nearly everyone in the Netherlands – approximately 90% of the population.
The Netherlands is Top English-Speaking Country. The Dutch have overtaken Sweden as the most proficient English speakers in the world outside the Anglosphere.

Water
99.5% of the public tap water in Spain is considered potable (safe to drink) according to Ministerio de Sanidad that is responsible for the quality of the water. ... The analysis showed that drinking water had improved since the last report by OCU on drinking water in 2006.

Time

Central European Summer Time is the Time zone in Spain, (GMT+2).

Spain has two time zones and observes daylight saving time. Spain mainly uses Central European Time (GMT+01:00) and Central European Summer Time (GMT+02:00) in Peninsular Spain, the Balearic Islands, Ceuta, Melilla and plazas de soberanía.

Electric Plugs

For Spain there are two associated plug types, types C and F. Plug type C is the plug which has two round pins and plug type F is the plug which has two round pins with two earth clips on the side. Spain operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz.

If you are traveling from the USA or Canada you will need a voltage converter, not just an adaptor.

Type C
Also known as the Europlug, this plug has two round pins that are 4–4.8 mm wide and spaced 19 mm apart. Type C plugs fit into sockets that conform to these dimensions, as well as Type E, F, J, K, or N sockets.

Type F
Also known as the Schuko plug, this plug has two round pins that are 4.8 mm in diameter and spaced 19 mm apart. Type F plugs also have two earth clips on the side.

You can purchase one on Amazon here - Travel Converter

Weather

Spain has a predominantly warm Mediterranean climate, with dry summers and winters with balanced temperatures. Here you can enjoy more than 3,000 hours of sunshine per year. It is no surprise, then, that this is one of the warmest parts of Europe. ... Winters are mild and in summer temperatures rarely exceed 25ºC.

Spain, one of the warmest countries in Europe: Spain's predominant climate is Mediterranean-temperate, with dry summers, and pretty constant temperatures during the winter. ... In the higher areas of the country, the climate gets rougher, and snow is frequent from the beginning of winter to the end of spring.

January is the coldest month in Madrid and most of Spain, so make sure to pack extra layers if you visit then versus in December or February.

Spanish winters are generally cold and dry, but milder than in neighboring European countries. Spain in the spring and fall is generally temperate and ranges from warm to cool, though at times summer and winter can encroach upon the other seasons, turning four seasons into what may sometimes feel like two.

What to Pack for Your Spain Vacation

Clothes. Pack lots of casual, lightweight clothes plus a few cardigans and a jacket. In the summer, the temperature in most of Spain is scorching hot and dry during the day then breezy and slightly cool at night. Given that, you will want to pack mostly shorts, summer dresses, skirts, tank tops, and short-sleeve tops. Cropped, loose trousers, lightweight denim, and a skirt will work for the bottom selections, with a handful of shirts to mix and match in light breathable fabrics like cotton and linen (you should have some casual choices mixed with ones that can be dressed up)

What should I wear in Spain?

* Men can wear shorts and T shirts at the beach, with flip flops, if they want to
* Women can wear shorts and T shirts also at the beach
* If one goes for lunch or dinner at a fancy restaurant, the men should wear shirts or polo shirts and long pants
* Women can wear fancy casuals.

Important Local Customs

The culture of Spain is based on a variety of historical influences, primarily based on pre-Roman Celtic and Iberian culture. Other ancient peoples such as Romans, Phoenicians, Carthaginians, and Greeks also had some influence.

SPAIN: Fiestas and Traditions. Best known among Spain's folkloristic traditions are certainly Flamenco and bullfights. You will find bullfights indeed throughout the country, the most popular event perhaps being the "Running of Bulls" during the Sanfermines in Pamplona. But bullfights are part and parcel of any Fiesta.

* Double cheek kissing. In Spain, people greet each other and say goodbye with a kiss on each cheek.
* Coffee. Spain has a strong coffee culture, and it is not uncommon to drink four or five cups of coffee a day at all hours of the day
* Beer and wine
* Bar litter
* Late lunches and dinners
* Nightlife
* Siesta
* Personal space.

Mobile Phones

Movistar is the most popular mobile operator in Spain, although in 2017 Vodafone ranked as providing the best 4G/LTE coverage servicing 96.5% of the country. Orange's networks cover 91.7% of the country while Movistar and Yoigo cover 89%.

The best SIM Card in Spain for your trip is Orange Tu Mundo Prepaid SIM Card. Cost: €23. Pros: The number one option for Cheapos. Great coverage.

Movistar Prepaid SIM Card. Cost: €19. Pros: Wide coverage in Spain. ...
Lycamobile SIM Card. Cost: Bundles start at €5. Pros: Affordable for international calls and data.

Internet Service

You will need a landline installed in order to use the internet at home. However, there are some Spanish internet and telecoms providers, such as Orange, that offer 4G coverage at home. This enables you to connect to the internet without a landline at speeds of up to 300Mb. The cost is around €40 a month.

The most common speed in Spain is 10 Mbit/s as it is the default offer from Movistar, the main broadband supplier in the country.

Free WiFi in Spain can be a solution to remain connected, as it is obviously free. Public WiFi in Spain are accessible only in main cities like Madrid or Barcelona. WiFi cafes are easier to find although not all coffee shops provide WiFi. However, more and more cafes in Spain are equipped with WiFi nowadays.

Shopping

Dirt cheap to buy in Spain, as are olives. You can buy extra virgin olive oil, which is the best to buy, at any Spanish supermarket for a much lower price than you can buy in the US. You can purchase some in a plastic bottle or in a tin, so keep this in mind when you need to pack it.

Portal del Angel is your spot for cheap shopping in Barcelona. ... You'll find all the deals at major clothes shopping chains like Pull and Bear, Zara, Massimo Dutti, Springfield, Benetton, H&M, Bershka, Mango, and more. It's also a cool place to find local shoe shops, mobile phone retailers, and even the Disney Store.

Great Souvenirs to Buy in Spain

Here are the things you can only buy in Spain.

1. Flamenco guitars. The Conde family are master guitar craftsmen who have been creating instruments for over a century in Spain
2. Caganers
3. Wineskin
4. Blue wine
5. Flamenco clothing
6. Jamón
7. Abanicos
8. Bullfighting poster.

Local Foods

Spain's most common food is the tortilla de patata, or potato omelet, according to Fodor's. Other gastronomical delicacies include seafood paella, chorizo sausage, gazpacho soup and tapas. Lunch is the biggest meal of the day, typically consisting of a soup or salad course followed by a main entree and a small dessert.

Paella Valenciana. Paella is perhaps the most famous Spanish dish of all, and certainly one of the most abused. Authentic paella originates from the region around Valencia, and comes in two varieties: Paella Valenciana, with rabbit and chicken; and seafood paella.

Common Spanish dishes:
These 8 dishes -- from seafood and meat to rice and pastries -- are essential meals when you travel to Spain.

1. Paella Valenciana. Paella is perhaps the most famous Spanish dish of all, and certainly one of the most abused
2. Patatas bravas
3. Gazpacho
4. Pimientos de Padron
5. Fideuà
6. Jamón
7. Tortilla
8. Churros

Don’t Leave Home without your Passport!