Europe · Destination guide
Spain
Capital: Madrid
🛂Visa requirements
💳Money & payments
Cards: Cards universally accepted. Contactless is widely used.
ATMs: BBVA and CaixaBank ATMs are most reliable and commonly fee-free for foreign cards.
Tipping
Not expected but appreciated. 5–10% in restaurants for good service. Bar staff: not expected. Taxi: round up.
💬Language
Spanish (Castilian); Catalan in Barcelona, Basque in north
Good in major cities and tourist resorts. Limited in rural areas.
Useful phrases
- ·Gracias — Thank you
- ·La cuenta, por favor — The bill, please
- ·¿Habla inglés? — Do you speak English?
- ·Perdona — Excuse me
Language preparation
15 min/day for 8 weeks ≈ 672 useful words and phrases
Learn some Spanish before you go
Good in major cities and tourist resorts. Limited in rural areas. — even basic phrases open doors and locals appreciate the effort.
Start with these
- 1.Gracias — Thank you
- 2.La cuenta, por favor — The bill, please
- 3.¿Habla inglés? — Do you speak English?
- 4.¿Cuánto cuesta? — How much?
Not a native English speaker?
English is the international travel language — building confidence before your trip makes every interaction easier.
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🔌Electricity & plugs
Standard European plug. UK visitors need an adapter.
🤝Local customs & etiquette
- 1.Lunch (14:00–16:00) and dinner (21:00–23:00) are eaten much later than most countries — restaurants before 21:00 may be empty or closed.
- 2.Siesta culture persists in smaller towns — many shops close 14:00–17:00.
- 3.Tapas are usually small and meant to be shared — order multiple rounds rather than one large dish.
- 4.Dress well when going out — Spanish nightlife culture values appearance.
- 5.In Catalonia, making an effort with Catalan rather than Castilian Spanish is appreciated.
📶SIM cards & connectivity
Local SIM: Movistar, Vodafone Spain, and Orange are major operators. EU visitors: free roaming included.
WiFi: Good in hotels and cafés. Barcelona and Madrid have good public WiFi coverage.
🛡️Safety
Generally safe. Pickpockets on La Rambla in Barcelona and around Madrid's Puerta del Sol. La Boqueria market is notorious for bag snatching.
💉Health
No vaccinations required. Tap water safe. EU visitors: EHIC/GHIC valid.
🚨Emergency numbers
emergency
112
police
091
ambulance
061
🚗Driving
🚆 Getting to the circuit in Spain
Train, shuttle, and race day transport guide
Explore Spain