Spain Travel Guide: Schengen Rules, Meal Times, and What to Know Before You Go

Spain is in the Schengen Area, and for visa-exempt travellers (US, UK, Canadian, Australian passports among them) the rule is a maximum of 90 days within any rolling 180-day period — counted across the entire Schengen zone combined, not per country. If you're also visiting France or Italy on the same trip, those days count against the same 90, not a separate allowance each.

The EU's planned ETIAS pre-travel authorisation (similar in concept to a US ESTA) is not yet required as of this guide's last update, despite earlier announced target dates that have since slipped. Do not pay any site claiming you need to apply for one now — check travel-europe.europa.eu directly for the current, official status before you fly.

UK passport holders: since Brexit you're treated the same as US/Canadian/Australian travellers under this same 90/180 rule, not under any EU-citizen allowance.

Contactless and card payments are now the default in most of Spain, including for small purchases, with a common PIN-free tap limit around €50 above which you'll need to confirm with a PIN. Cash still matters in rural areas, small markets, some taxis, and family-run venues, so keep some euros as backup rather than assuming universal card acceptance.

Barcelona doubled its tourist accommodation tax in April 2026, on top of an existing charge — this is city-specific, not a national tax, so don't assume every Spanish city charges the same rate. Other cities and regions set their own separate rules.

Spain has an extensive high-speed rail network (RENFE) linking major cities. Point-to-point tickets booked ahead are often cheapest for a simple itinerary; multi-country rail passes exist too (the Eurail brand recently merged into Interrail as a single name — if you've read older advice using the old branding, the underlying passes still work the same way, just check current terms directly before buying). Most high-speed and night trains need a paid seat reservation even with a pass.

The genuinely useful practical fact: lunch (comida) is typically 2-4pm and is the main meal of the day, dinner (cena) typically starts 9-10pm or later — show up at 7pm expecting dinner and you'll often find the kitchen isn't even open yet. 'Siesta' today mostly means a midday business closure in smaller towns rather than a universal nap; big cities increasingly run continuous hours.

Tipping is not obligatory the way it is in the US — service staff are paid properly. Rounding up or leaving small change is normal for everyday service; 5-10% for an exceptional meal is generous, not required.

Two things worth knowing that are genuine, well-documented tourist risks rather than paranoia: pickpocketing and staged-distraction theft are real, organised problems in specific high-footfall spots (Barcelona's Las Ramblas and Madrid's tourist centres are named repeatedly by official travel advisories, not just blogs) — keep your passport in the hotel safe and carry a copy instead.

June through August, and especially August, is peak season — coastal areas get crowded, prices peak, and many Spaniards themselves take their own holiday then, so some local shops and restaurants close for weeks. Spring (March-May) and autumn (September-October) are the commonly recommended balance of good weather and fewer crowds.

Easter week and the turn of the year also see real crowding and higher prices in major cities — worth building into your planning if your trip lands near either.