What do you need to know before you visit Spain?
Spain is a marvellous country to travel around. I’ve been to Spain 5 times already, and I’m planning to go visit again and again.
I love the atmosphere, the diversity, the people, the architecture, the language and so much more.
I gathered some simple practical tips for visitors.
These travel tips will make your visit run more smoothly and help you plan a great vacation in Spain.
Table of contents
Free walking tours in Spain
I like to take free walking tours, preferably on my first or second day in a new city. They cover the highlights briefly, so later you can decide what to explore further in your own time.
You get a general picture of where you are, the history of the place and some local anecdotes and tips. It’s also a good way to meet people on your trip (usually other tourists, but not always; locals join them too).
Free walking tours are led by enthusiastic guides and are tip-based, meaning you decide at the end of the tour how much you’d like to pay.
For many guides, this is their main and sometimes only source of income. The guides will try their best to make the tour as entertaining and engaging as possible.
You can also ask your guide for recommendations on where to go, what to see, where to eat and how to use public transport. They’re normally happy to share their local knowledge.
All popular tourist destinations in Spain have free walking tours.
In Madrid, I took a free walking tour with a very energetic guide who managed to tell us the complex history of Madrid in a couple of hours.
In Valencia, I took a tour with a very knowledgeable guide. It was a great way to spend the afternoon and she also gave us some general tips about the city, beyond the usual historical stories and data.
In Barcelona, I went on a free tour of the Old City. Again, you get a compact version of the history of the city centre. It makes the rest of your visit much more meaningful.
Full list of free tours in Spain
Top tourist attractions in Spain
The Spain trip bucket list can be literally endless; there are so many great things to see in Spain!
To get you started, here are the most popular tourist attractions in Spain.
Some of these require you to book tickets way in advance and it’s best to buy skip-the-line tickets because queues for the popular spots can be long.
- Park Güell in Barcelona
- Alhambra Palace in Granada
- Casa Batllo in Barcelona
- Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao
- The Royal Palace in Madrid
- The Cathedral in Seville
- The Great Mosque in Cordoba
- Sagrada Família in Barcelona
- Prado Museum in Madrid
- City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia
- Plaza Mayor in Madrid
- The Royal Alcázar in Seville
Use high-speed trains in Spain
Spain has excellent public transport, including high-speed AVE trains between major cities. Book train tickets in advance for discounts.
I took the train several times in Spain, between Barcelona, Valencia, Madrid, Málaga, Seville, and Córdoba. I was really impressed.
The train system in Spain is modern, punctual and very convenient. The trains are fast, comfortable and with way more legroom than you might expect.
I normally use Omio or Trainline to find trains and buses around Europe.
Book early for discounts
Reservations on Renfe, Spain’s national railway operator, normally open 60 days in advance. On some major routes, they may open even earlier.
If you know where and when you’re going to travel, book as early as possible and you can save quite a bit of money. Básico fares offer the best discounts. In general, the earlier you book, the more you can save.
Arrive at the station early
My second tip about taking trains in Spain is to arrive at the station early.
In some countries, you can just arrive at the station, buy or validate your ticket and get on the train, but in Spain it’s a good idea to get there a bit earlier.
When travelling between major cities in Spain, especially on the high-speed AVE trains, it’s best to arrive at the train station at least 20-30 minutes in advance.
You want to allow time to line up for the security check, locate your platform, and board that train. Boarding gates typically close five minutes before departure.
In larger stations like Madrid Atocha or Barcelona Sants, you want to arrive even earlier, around 30-45 minutes in advance.
These stations are large and it takes longer to find your platform.
The Spanish schedule
Siesta hours
The siesta is a traditional midday break in Spain and a Spanish cultural symbol.
Many shops and businesses close in the afternoon, usually around 2-5 PM, for a siesta.
As a visitor in Spain, you want to plan your shopping and errands around this.
This happens especially outside major tourist areas, but it’s always a good idea to check the opening hours of any shop, business, or restaurant in advance.
I encountered this on my first day in Valencia when I wanted to buy a local SIM card and the mobile company’s branch was closed in the afternoon.
The historical roots of the siesta are in Spain’s agricultural era when workers had to rest during the hottest hours of the day. These days you can think of it as a very long lunch break and a nice reminder of work-life balance.
Late meals
The timezone in Spain is confusing. It’s supposed to be GMT, but it’s one hour behind.
Spanish people eat late, so expect to have lunch around 2PM and dinner at 8PM or later.
If you’re hungry at 6PM, for example, you may find that most restaurants haven’t opened for dinner yet.
In the late afternoon, people often have an afternoon snack, called Merienda.
In central parts of a city, you can always find restaurants that are open all day long, especially the ones aimed at tourists. You may also find some bistros or cafes that are open in the afternoon.
Nightlife doesn’t start until after 10 PM and can go on into the early hours.
When you visit Spain, adjust your schedule accordingly, so you can enjoy the culture and hang out with locals.
Eating out in Spain
Apart from the late meal times, here are some extra tips to use when you go to restaurants in Spain:
When you enter a restaurant in Spain you’ll be asked if you came to eat (“para comer?”) and then you’ll be asked for the number of people (e.g. “para dos?” meaning “for two?”).
Sometimes the waitstaff will struggle with English, so it’s worth learning these easy phrases.
It’s a good idea to look for the “menu of the day” (Menu del Día) on a chalkboard or as a separate menu on your table.
You’ll find it in many restaurants and it offers great value. It will typically include a starter, a main course, dessert and a drink at a considerably reduced price.
Of course, you can still order from the full menu if you don’t like what’s on offer that day in the Menu del Dia.
It’s common to order multiple tapas or small plates for the table to share.
Tipping at restaurants in Spain is not mandatory. You can round up the bill, and even then they are likely to ask you if you want your change. Some restaurants add a service charge to your bill.
Free museum days in Spain
Many museums in Spain are free to enter. For the ones that aren’t free, you can get free tickets on specific days or evenings.
Museums offering free entry in Madrid include the Prado, Reina Sofía, Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, and the Royal Palace of Madrid.
Check schedules in advance on the museum website. You can also find lists on the Madrid official tourism site.
In Barcelona, museums that offer free entry on the first Sunday of the month include Museu Picasso, the Museu Blau, the MNAC, the Museu de Disseny, and the CCCB.
Many national museums around Spain offer free entry on these special days:
- 18 April: International Day for Monuments and Sites
- 18 May: International Museum Day
- 12 October: Spain’s National Holiday
- 6 December: Constitution Day
When to visit Spain
My recent trips to Spain were in September, October, and November, the end of summer and the beginning of autumn.
Weather-wise, it’s a good time to visit as the temperatures aren’t too high and it’s not too cold yet. Springtime is similarly pleasant and comfortable.
It is a good idea to visit Spain during winter, as it doesn’t get too cold (though some parts of Spain may be rainy).
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1 Comment
These travel tips for Spain are super helpful! Love the idea of using trains and joining free walking tours.