Spain Travel Guide

Some facts about Spain

1. Spain has whopping 590 Blue Flag Beaches and is the country with the most Blue Flag sites every year since the awards began in 1987.

2. Spain boasts almost 8,000km of coastline.

3.Spain boasts 49 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, placing them in 4th position globally for the most sites. Italy, China and Germany take the top 3 spots.

4. Spain has the highest number of bars out of all the countries in the EU. Cheers to that!

5. La Tomatina is a festival held annually on the last Wednesday of August in the town of Buñol, where tons of ripe tomatoes are thrown at each other during one of the world's biggest food fights!

6. Spain produces around 44% of the world's olive oil - that's more than Italy.

7. Spain is home to the second most spoken language in the world: Spanish (just behind Mandarin).

8. Spain is home to the world's most visited construction sites. Barcelona's Sagrada Familia has been under construction since 1882 and is expected to be completed in 2026. The world-famous cathedral attracts millions of visitors each year.

9. There are no laws on nudity in Spain. That being said, it's considered inappropriate in plenty of places.

10. Spanish people have the second longest life expectancy in the world: an average of 79 for men and 85 for women.

Practical Info

Culture and etiquette

Religion

The national religion is Roman Catholic, but many other religions are practised.

Tipping

Tipping is discretionary. Restaurants always include service charges in your bill, but these will be clearly stated. A small tip of 5-10% on top of that is usually expected, but not a necessity.

Smoking

Smoking is popular with the Spanish so most places have designated smoking areas, which will be clearly signed. It's banned on public transport and inside where food is being served.

Language 101

The main language is Spanish. But Catalan, Basque and Galician are also spoken. We think it's a good idea to learn a few key phrases and words to help immerse yourself in the culture and authentically enjoy all the things to do.

• Hello - Hola (OH-lah)
• Goodbye - Adios (ah-dee-OS)
• Please - Por favor (por fah-VOHR)
• Thank you - Gracias (GRAH-cee-ahs)
• Yes - Sí (see)
• No - No (noh)
• I would like - Quisiera (kee-see-AYR-oh)
• The bill, please - La cuenta, por favor (lah KWEHN-tah, pohr fah-BOHR)

Jabs, visas and other advice

For up-to-date advice on jabs, visas and other foreign advice, we recommend following the government's website

Emergency numbers

For all emergency services call 112 - depending on availability you should be able to speak to someone in English.

What's the weather like in Spain?

We understand that weather matters when it comes to deciding when the best time to visit is and what you can get up to while you're away. Generally speaking Spain enjoys a mediterranean climate with warm, sunny summers and mild winters. To learn more about the weather in Spain in more detail, take a look at our month by month breakdown below.

Spain weather in winter (December to February). As you'd expect these are the coldest months in Spain, with temperatures ranging between 6-16ºC, however, it's nowhere as cold as most other European countries. In the north you can expect some frequent rainfall, across the rest of the country there's considerably less. Winter in the Canary Islands is a very different story, however! The Canary Islands enjoy a mild climate all year round with temperatures around 22ºC and long sunny days. It's no surprise that they're a popular place for a winter getaway!

Spain weather in spring (March to May). Spring is a lovely time to visit Spain in both city and beach locations; temperatures are warming up with highs of 24ºC and there's plenty of sunshine.

Spain weather in summer (June to August). Summer brings hot, dry weather with temperatures usually over 30ºC in the day and rarely dropping below 18ºC at night. It's warmest inland and on the south coasts and slightly cooler the further north you go.

Spain weather in autumn (September to November). In autumn temperatures are starting to cool, particularly in the evenings and early morning. That being said, sunny days and mild temperatures, around the 18-23ºC mark, are often enjoyed, especially in the southern, eastern and central regions. Be sure to pack a waterproof jacket though as sudden showers aren't uncommon.

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