Spain travel itineraries

April–June and September–October are ideal — warm days, cool evenings, manageable crowds. July and August are punishingly hot inland (Seville and Cordoba routinely 40°C+) but pleasant on the coast, with peak crowds and prices. Winter is mild in Andalusia and the Canaries, cold in Madrid and the north, and skiable in the Pyrenees and Sierra Nevada.

Citizens of the EU, UK, US, Canada, Australia and many other countries can visit visa-free for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period across the entire Schengen area (Spain, France, Germany, Italy, and 23 others count together). Passport must be valid at least 3 months beyond your departure. Visa-exempt non-EU travelers will additionally need an ETIAS travel authorisation once the system becomes mandatory (expected 2027 after a transitional period) — apply online, valid 3 years, small fee.

Take the train for anything under 3 hours by AVE. Madrid–Barcelona in 2h 30m, Madrid–Seville in 2h 30m, Madrid–Valencia in 1h 40m. City-centre to city-centre with no airport hassle, and often cheaper than flying if booked in advance. Fly only for very long routes (Madrid to Canaries) or when combining with Portugal.

Pickpocketing on Barcelona metro Line 3, Las Ramblas, and around Madrid's Plaza Mayor is the main problem — teams work with distractions. Fake QR-code stickers pasted over legitimate menu QRs are a growing 2026 scam. Some restaurants in tourist areas charge for bread, olives, or water you did not order — check the bill. In taxis, insist on the meter or agree the fare in advance.

Lunch is 2–4 pm, dinner is 9–11 pm. Kitchens outside tourist areas are often closed from 4 to 8:30 pm entirely. This surprises most first-time visitors — plan around it or rely on tapas bars, which serve throughout the day. In Andalusia the schedule shifts even later in summer.

Yes — Spain is one of the safest countries in Europe. Violent crime is very rare. Petty theft (pickpockets, bag snatching) is the main real risk, concentrated in Barcelona and to a lesser extent Madrid. Standard urban precautions handle it: bags zipped and in front on crowded metros, no phone dangling in your hand on busy streets, valuables split between locations.