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National Information on Spain

Comparison of temperatures

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Madrid111316182330323229221512
London68911152021201915107

General note:

Below is an information overview. The conditions of entry, as well as the political and health situation, can change anywhere in the world at any time. We therefore recommend checking before your trip. Please check the website of the Foreign Office (www.gov.uk/) before your departure.

Location:

Spain is south-west of the Pyrenees on the Iberian Peninsula. Its neighbouring states are Portugal, Gibraltar, the Principality of Andorra and France.

Form of government:

Parliamentary constitutional monarchy. King Felipe VI has been the head of state since 19 June 2014. Pedro Sánchez has been the head of government since 2 June 2018.

Capital:

Madrid

Religion:

Roman Catholic (more than 90%)

Language:

Spanish (Castellano) is the official language. The respective regional languages have official status in the autonomous regions of the Basque Country, Galicia, Catalonia and Valencia.

Climate:

Madrid: highland climate; Castilian Plateau (680 metres above sea level): dry, cold winters, hot summers (up to 40 °C); coast: Mediterranean and Atlantic climate

Electricity:

Electricity in Spain is supplied at a voltage of 230 V and in the form of alternating current with a frequency of 50 Hertz. You need an adapter in your hotel.

Local time:

Spain is part of the Central European Time zone where GMT+1 applies, along with daylight saving time.
Making telephone calls: To make phone calls to the UK, pre-dial 0044 (+44). To make phone calls from the UK to Spain, pre-dial 0034 (+34).

Entry requirements for British citizens:

For entry, UK citizens should have at least 3 months left on the passport after the day they plan to leave Spain and the passport should be less than 10 years old. A stay of up to 90 days in any 180-day period without is permitted without a visa. Nationals of other countries are advised to inquire at the Spain Embassy about the entry requirements applicable to them. Customers are reminded that it is their sole responsibility to make sure that passport and visa entry requirements for the country or countries that they are visiting are satisfied. Regulations in respect of passport and visa requirements for Spain are the responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation whose Web site is http://www.exteriores.gob.es. However, passport and visa requirements change from time to time and are also dependent on the purpose of your visit and your nationality. Whilst we endeavour to provide guidance where necessary, we can not be responsible for any problems encountered (whether at any point of entry or elsewhere) in the event that passport and visa requirements are not satisfied. For up-to-date information on entry requirements, please visit https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/.

Tour guides:

Your expert tour guides will be able to provide you with detailed information about the country, people, history, culture etc., and offer advice and assistance for organising your trip. They can also help with room allocation and look forward to welcoming you with initial information. Here you will find out all you need to know and useful information about the trip. We have put together a varied programme including numerous highlights, enabling you to experience the culture and diversity of landscape that Spain has to offer, and learn all about the country and its people.

Additional package:

Although your trip already includes a comprehensive package, you also have the option of choosing added extras on arrival.
Explorer package: The package includes the 3 unique full-day excursions „White Villages & Marbella“, „Seville“ and „Granada & Alhambra“: only £199* per person.
Gourmet package: 7 × tasty evening meals: only £99* per person.
* Package prices may vary when booking on site.

Currency:

The euro has been the official currency in Spain since 2002. Exchange rate (as at January 2023): 1 GBP = 1.14 EUR; 1 EUR = 0.88 GBP.
Banks/Credit cards: Purchases can be paid for in cash and using the most popular credit cards. This payment system is typical in Spanish shops; the symbols of credit cards accepted are usually displayed at the entrance to shops. ID cards are required when paying by credit card. Travellers’ cheques (in dollars or Euro) can also be cashed in banks. It is also possible to withdraw cash from ATMs using EC/Maestro cards but high fees may be charged by the respective bank.
ATTENTION: Caution is advised when paying with bank or credit cards as criminals may try to copy the traveller’s bank card and obtain the relevant PIN code without being noticed to then withdraw cash from cash machines using fake cards. Travellers are therefore advised to keep an eye on their bank card when paying with it and to enter their PIN number with discretion. Care should also be taken when using bank and credit cards with PIN code in exchange offices.

Customs regulations:

There are a number of products which have entry or exit limitations in Spain from outside the European Union. These include cultural goods, wild fauna and flora and products derived from these, vegetables and plant products, weapons and ammunition, medicines, tobacco and alcoholic beverages (please note the alcohol and cigarette allowances). You cannot take meat, milk or products containing them into EU countries.
In terms of medications, only those necessary for personal use are allowed, and they must be accompanied by a copy of the prescription or medical report. Important: If you’re travelling to Great Britain from outside the UK, your personal allowances mean you can bring in a certain amount of goods without paying tax or duty. If you go over your allowances you must declare all your goods and pay tax and duty on all the goods in that category. Please inform yourself about the current customs regulations: www.gov.uk/bringing-goods-into-uk-personal-use/arriving-in-Great-Britain.

Safety instructions:

Crime: Vigilance should be exercised regarding pickpockets and petty crime in larger tourist centres in particular. We recommend leaving cash, identity documents, driving licences, air tickets and other important documents in the hotel safe, for example, and only carrying the cash (and EC or credit card) you need on a given day on your person. Travellers should try to steer clear of large groups of people and keep an eye on their valuables at tourist spots, airports (including in the security area), railway stations, the metro, buses etc.

Medical information:

At least 8 weeks before your trip, check the latest country-specific health advice from the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC – https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/countries) on the TravelHealthPro website. Each country-specific page has information on vaccine recommendations, any current health risks or outbreaks, and factsheets with information on staying healthy abroad.

Medical care:

In Spain, anyone with state insurance in the UK is entitled to medical treatment – where urgently necessary – by doctors, dentists, hospitals etc. registered with the foreign statutory health insurance association. You should get a free UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before leaving the UK. If you already have an EHIC it will still be valid as long as it remains in date. All travellers should ensure they have adequate travel health insurance, which covers risks not assumed by the statutory health insurance companies (e.g. repatriation to the UK in the event of illness, treatment by private doctors or in private hospitals). You can also contact your health insurance company for information on current regulations.
Customers must ensure that they are in good physical and mental health in line with the trip in question. Customers must enquire about the physical mobility and psychological autonomy required for this trip.

All information is subject to change/Last updated: January 2023


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