Practical Information for visiting Spain

Spain uses the euro (€). Cards are accepted almost everywhere including contactless, though small bars, village shops and some market stalls still prefer cash, and a minimum spend for card payment is common.

ATMs are plentiful; withdrawing from a bank machine beats a currency exchange counter. Tipping is modest and not expected — rounding up or leaving small change for good service is normal, and the percentages usual in North America would be unusual here. Many bars charge differently for standing at the counter than for sitting outside.

Coverage for mobile networks is good across the country and excellent in cities, with gaps in mountain areas. EU roaming rules cover European visitors; others will find local SIMs and eSIMs cheap and easy.

Wi-fi is standard in accommodation and widespread in cafes. The high-speed AVE network links most major cities and is the practical way to move between them, with contactless ticketing increasingly standard on urban transport.

Spain is a safe country to visit by most measures -- violent crime against travelers is rare. The practical risks visitors actually encounter are almost entirely petty and preventable.

• Pickpocketing is the most common issue by far, concentrated in crowded tourist areas and on public transport -- Barcelona's Las Ramblas and metro, Madrid's Sol and metro, and crowded beaches nationwide see the most reports. Keep bags zipped and worn in front on crowded transit and in busy plazas.
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• Common scams worth recognizing: fake petition signers and "friendship bracelet" distraction techniques near major landmarks, unlicensed taxi drivers quoting inflated flat fares from airports, and the classic "someone spills something on you" distraction just before a pickpocketing attempt.
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• Sun and heat are a genuine everyday consideration in summer, especially inland -- Madrid and Andalusia's interior see extreme heat that catches visitors unprepared, so pacing outdoor sightseeing around the early morning and evening in July/August matters.
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• Wildfires are a growing summer risk in parts of the country, particularly Galicia and inland forested areas during hot, dry stretches -- check regional alerts if traveling to rural areas in peak summer.
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• Emergency number: 112 works free of charge from any phone anywhere in Spain and connects to police, fire, or medical services.

No vaccinations are required and tap water is safe to drink, though in a few coastal and island areas it tastes heavily of minerals and locals buy bottled.

Healthcare is of a high standard. EU visitors should carry a European Health Insurance Card and UK visitors a GHIC. Pharmacies are marked with a green cross and operate a duty rota for nights and holidays.

The genuine risk is heat. Inland summer temperatures regularly exceed 40°C, and heat-related illness is the most common serious problem visitors encounter. Plan around the middle of the day rather than through it.

Eat late; arriving for dinner before nine marks you out and often means a kitchen that has not opened. Dress modestly in churches and cathedrals, several of which enforce it.

Smoking is banned indoors in public places. Wearing swimwear away from the beach or pool is prohibited in many coastal towns and fined. Drinking alcohol in the street is illegal in most cities.

You are legally required to be able to identify yourself, and police may ask for a passport or a copy. Regional sensitivities are real: in Catalonia and the Basque country, assumptions about national identity are best left unmade.

112 is the single emergency number across Spain, covering police, fire and ambulance, with English-speaking operators available. It works from any phone.

Some regions also run direct lines — 091 for national police and 062 for the Guardia Civil, who cover rural areas and highways — but 112 reaches everything and is the number to remember.

In the mountains, rescue is coordinated through 112; give a named refuge, trail or valley and an altitude if you can.