Spain travel guide for Britons

Britons can enter Spain without a visa for tourism or short business stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. From 2026, you will also need an ETIAS travel authorisation, which you apply for online before you travel. Your passport must be valid for the whole of your stay and have been issued within the last 10 years.

For longer stays, work, study or residence, you need a different visa or permit, which you apply for through the Spanish consulate in the UK. Check the current rules before you book, because requirements can change.

UK citizens are visa-exempt for Spain for tourism and short stays. The 90-day limit applies across the whole Schengen Area, not just Spain, so days spent in France or Italy count against the same allowance. If you plan to stay longer, you must apply for a visa or residence permit before you travel.

From 2026, the EU's ETIAS system will require visa-exempt travellers, including Britons, to get an online authorisation before flying. It is not a visa; it is a quick online application that, once approved, is valid for multiple entries over three years. The exact start date and fee are still to be confirmed, so check the official ETIAS page before you go.

Your passport must be valid for the entire duration of your stay and should have been issued within the last 10 years. Border officials may ask for proof of return travel, accommodation and sufficient funds, so carry printouts or have them on your phone.

The British Embassy in Madrid is the main point of contact for UK citizens in Spain. There are also consulates in Barcelona, Alicante, Málaga, Ibiza, Las Palmas, Palma de Mallorca, Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Seville. For passport renewals, notarial services or emergency assistance, contact the nearest one.

If you lose your passport or are a victim of crime, report it to the local police and then contact the embassy or consulate. They can issue emergency travel documents, but they cannot help with legal matters or pay for medical treatment. For routine questions, check the gov.uk travel advice page first.

A mid-range trip to Spain costs roughly £70–£120 per person per day, including accommodation, meals, local transport and a few paid sights. Budget travellers can manage on £50–£70 a day with hostels, supermarket meals and free attractions, while those wanting comfort or guided tours should plan for £150 or more.

Flights from the UK to Madrid or Barcelona start around £40–£80 one‑way on budget airlines if you book early, but can double in peak season. Accommodation: a hostel bed £20–£40, a mid‑range hotel £60–£120, and a four‑star hotel £120–£250 per night. Meals: a menu del día at lunch costs £10–£15, a dinner with wine £20–£35. Museums like the Prado charge about £12–£15, and high‑speed trains between Madrid and Barcelona run about £40–£80 one‑way if booked in advance.

Direct flights from London to Madrid or Barcelona take about 2.5 hours. From Manchester, Birmingham or Edinburgh, add 30–60 minutes. Budget airlines (easyJet, Ryanair, Jet2) fly to many Spanish cities, including Alicante, Málaga, Palma and the Canaries, so you can often find cheap fares if you book a few weeks ahead.

For the islands, flights to Mallorca take about 2 hours from London, and to Tenerife or Gran Canaria about 4 hours. The Canaries are in the same time zone as the UK in winter (WET), while mainland Spain is one hour ahead. Use a flight‑time planner to check exact durations from your home airport.

Spain uses the same plugs as the UK? No – Spain uses Type F sockets (the round two‑pin kind), with a voltage of 230 V and frequency 50 Hz. UK plugs (Type G) will not fit, so bring a travel adapter. The voltage is the same as the UK, so your devices will work without a converter, but check for dual‑voltage chargers for laptops and phones.

Most hotels and hostels have standard European sockets, and many newer ones include USB ports. If you are staying in an older building, you may find only one or two sockets per room, so a small power strip or multi‑adapter is handy.

Tipping is optional in Spain and not expected as in the US. Locals often round up the bill or leave small change, and a 5–10% tip is appreciated for good table service in restaurants. In bars, leaving a coin or two is fine. Taxi drivers and tour guides do not expect tips, but rounding up is common.

Service charges are usually included in the bill, so check before adding extra. In tourist areas, some staff may expect more, but you are not obliged to tip more than you feel is fair.

The single European emergency number 112 works for police, fire and ambulance anywhere in Spain, and operators speak English. For the national police, call 091; for the Guardia Civil (rural and traffic police), call 062. Save 112 in your phone before you travel.

For medical emergencies, you can also call 061 for an ambulance. If you need to report a crime, go to the nearest police station; you will need a police report (denuncia) for insurance claims. The UK embassy can help if you are a victim of a serious crime, but they cannot investigate.