Field guide

Spain

Europe • Southern EuropeMadridEuro (EUR) · €

ES, Kingdom of Spain, Reino de España

This page stitches together our stored feeds—expect warm, human-readable snippets rather than dry data tables.

Snapshot metadata

Last generated December 21, 2025 at 10:30 PM

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Names & aliases

SpainKingdom of SpainESReino de España

Quick facts

Need-to-know at a glance

Capital

Madrid

Currency

Euro (EUR) · €

Languages

Spanish, Catalan, Basque, Galician

Population

49,315,949

Area

505,992 km²

Calling code

+34

Driving side

Right-hand

Pre-trip intel

Safety & entry

Advisories and border basics from our stored feeds.

Safety outlook

El Salvador - Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions

Updated due to change in travel advisory level to reflect changes in crime. Country Summary: Exercise normal precautions in El Salvador. Gang activity has decreased over the last three years. This has caused a drop in violent crimes and murders. U.S. government employees working in El Salvador are allowed to travel throughout the country during daylight hours. However, due to the risks, U.S. government employees are prohibited from traveling between cities or departments at night. There are exceptions. U.S. government employees are allowed to travel at all hours between San Salvador and: El Salvador’s international airport. La Libertad department. U.S. government employees are prohibited from using public buses. State of Exception In March 2022, the Government of El Salvador declared a “State of Exception” in response to an increase in gang murders: The State of Exception allows local authorities to arrest anyone they think is involved in gang activity. It suspends several constitutional rights. This includes the normal protections of criminal procedure, like the right to a speedy or fair trial. Tens of thousands of people are currently in prison under the State of Exception. Several U.S. and other foreign citizens have been detained under the State of Exception. They remain in prison and have yet to face trial. The State of Exception is still in place. Read the  country information page  for additional information on travel to El Salvador. If you decide to travel to El Salvador:  Always use major highways and roads. Minimize travel outside of major cities at night. El Salvador has zero tolerance for driving under the influence of alcohol. You can be detained for having any level of alcohol while driving. Do not drink and drive. Stay aware of your surroundings. When possible, travel in pairs or in groups, especially for long trips and in rural places. Avoid relying on online maps or applications. They might not accurately show local road conditions. Do not hitchhike. Ensure you have multiple forms of communication when traveling and the ability to charge your devices. Do not physically resist any robbery attempt. Stay alert when visiting banks or ATMs. Do not display signs of wealth, such as expensive watches or jewelry. Engage local guides certified by the national or local tourist authority when hiking in backcountry areas.  Use caution when swimming near El Salvador’s beaches. Follow water condition warnings. Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive Alerts from the U.S. Embassy and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. Review the  Country Security Report  for El Salvador. Prepare a backup plan for emergency situations. Review the  Traveler’s Checklist . Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information  related to your travel and return to the United States.  We highly recommend that you buy insurance before you travel. Check with your  travel insurance provider  about evacuation assistance, medical insurance, and trip cancellation coverage. (Updated April 8, 2025 at 12:00 AM)

El Salvador’s international airport.
La Libertad department.
The State of Exception allows local authorities to arrest anyone they think is involved in gang activity.
It suspends several constitutional rights. This includes the normal protections of criminal procedure, like the right to a speedy or fair trial.
Tens of thousands of people are currently in prison under the State of Exception.
Several U.S. and other foreign citizens have been detained under the State of Exception. They remain in prison and have yet to face trial.

Full advisory

Source: U.S. Department of State

Entry & Docs

Visas, customs & paperwork

Not available.

Source: Wikivoyage

On the ground

Getting around & connectivity

Practical notes from Wikivoyage sections.

Transport

Getting around

Rail travel in Spain The train system in Spain is modern and reliable, most of the trains are brand new and the punctuality rate is one of the highest in Europe, the only problem is that not all the populated areas have a train station; sometimes small towns don't have one, in those cases you need to take a bus. Another issue with the Spanish Rail network is that the lines are disposed in a radial way so almost all the lines head to Madrid. That's why sometimes travelling from one city to another geographically close to it might take longer by train than by bus if they are not on the same line. Always check whether the bus or the tr…

The train system in Spain is modern and reliable, most of the trains are brand new and the punctuality rate is one of the highest in Europe, the only problem is that not all the populated areas have a train station; sometimes small towns don't have one, in those cases you need to take a bus. Another issue with the Spanish Rail network is that the lines are disposed in a radial way so almost all the lines head to Madrid. That's why sometimes travelling from one city to another geographically close to it might take longer by train than by bus if they are not on the same line. Always check whether the bus or the train is more convenient. The Spanish high speed rail system is, however, more reliable than that of - say - Germany, because the gauge of traditional and high speed trains is different and thus high speed lines are only used by high speed passenger trains meaning fewer delays due to congested lines or technical problems. All lines that cross the border into France have either a break of gauge (thus making changing train or a lengthy gauge change necessary) or are high speed, thus making the high speed trains the vastly preferable option to cross the border. Trains between Barcelona and France are operated jointly by SNCF and renfe and both sell tickets for any international train on that route. Spain has numerous rail links with neighbouring Portugal, none of them high speed. There are only three rail links with France, one at Hendaye on a traditional line requiring a break of gauge, a connection used for local traffic near Latour de Carol (this is the closest rail line to Andorra) and one near Figueres for high speed trains. The former two see the occasional sleeper train while the latter sees the vast majority of passenger travel and all high speed trains. The former link through the Pyrenees near Canfranc has been abandoned but the former border station at Canfranc is still served from the Spanish site and worth a visit if you're a railway enthusiast or history buff.
Like many European countries there has been a separation between running trains and running infrastructure (including stations). The infrastructure company is called [https://www.adif.es/inicio adif] and their website has train operator independent information about their stations including platform and departure times. They also have a more travel focussed smart-phone app. Note that local trains and regional/longer distance services are listed separately.

Source: Wikivoyage

Connectivity

Wi-Fi, SIMs & staying online

Not available.

Source: Wikivoyage

Local wisdom

Etiquette, tipping & staying well

Etiquette & respect

Generally speaking, Spaniards are widely regarded as welcoming and friendly.

Generally speaking, Spaniards are widely regarded as welcoming and friendly.

Source: Wikivoyage

Tipping guidance

Tipping, or "propina" in Spanish is not mandatory nor considered customary in Spain. As a result, you may find that waiters are not as attentive or courteous as you may be used to since they don't work for tips. In restaurants tipping is not expected at all for simple menus or in simple establishments. In the mid-range or splurge segment you can give 5-10% if you feel that the service was exemplary. Should you decide to tip, make sure you hand it to the waitstaff in cash instead of charging it to your credit card. In very touristy cafés and bars some tourists give a tip. In major resorts tipping may be common. Other service providers, such as taxi drivers, hairdressers and hotel personnel may expect a tip in an upscale setting. In very touristy environments, US-Americans may be expected to tip as service staff in these locations are aware that it's customary in the US to leave a tip for every drink or meal.

Tipping, or "propina" in Spanish is not mandatory nor considered customary in Spain. As a result, you may find that waiters are not as attentive or courteous as you may be used to since they don't work for tips.
In restaurants tipping is not expected at all for simple menus or in simple establishments. In the mid-range or splurge segment you can give 5-10% if you feel that the service was exemplary. Should you decide to tip, make sure you hand it to the waitstaff in cash instead of charging it to your credit card.
In very touristy cafés and bars some tourists give a tip. In major resorts tipping may be common. Other service providers, such as taxi drivers, hairdressers and hotel personnel may expect a tip in an upscale setting.
In very touristy environments, US-Americans may be expected to tip as service staff in these locations are aware that it's customary in the US to leave a tip for every drink or meal.

Source: Wikivoyage

Health & wellness

No summary available.

No bullet notes stored.

Source: Wikivoyage

Scams & street smarts

Common scams Some people could try to take advantage of your ignorance of local customs. In Spanish cities, all taxis should have a visible fare table. Do not agree a fixed price to go from an airport to a city: in most cases, the taxi driver will be earning more money than without a preagreed tariff. Many taxi drivers will also demand a tip from foreign customers or even from national ones on the way to and from the airport. You might round up to the nearest euro when paying though. In many places of Madrid, especially near Atocha station, and also in the Ramblas of Barcelona, there are people ('trileros') who play the "shell game". They will "fish" you if you play, and they will most likely pick your pocket if you stop to see other people play. Before paying the bill in bars and restaurants, always check the bill and carefully scrutinise it. Some staff will often attempt to squeeze a few extra euros out of unsuspecting tourists by charging for things they did not eat or drink, or simply overcharging. This is true in both touristy and non-touristy areas. If you feel overcharged, bring it to their attention and/or ask to see a menu. It is also sometimes written (in English only) at the bottom of a bill that a tip is not included: remember that tipping is optional in Spain and Spanish people commonly leave loose change only and no more than a 5%–8% of the price of what they have consumed (not an American-style 15–20%), so avoid being fooled into leaving more. Many tourists have reported lottery scams whereby they are contacted via the Internet or fax and informed that they have won a substantial prize in the Spanish lottery (El Gordo), when in fact they have never participated in the lottery. They are asked to deposit an amount of money in a bank account to pay taxes and other fees before collecting the prize or coming to Spain to close the transaction. There have also been reports of a scam whereby a person is informed that he or she is the recipient of a large inheritance, and that funds must be deposited into a Spanish bank account so the inheritance can be processed. In another common scam, some tourists have received a bogus email purportedly sent from an individual well known to them and claiming that he or she is in trouble and needs funds.

Some people could try to take advantage of your ignorance of local customs.
In Spanish cities, all taxis should have a visible fare table. Do not agree a fixed price to go from an airport to a city: in most cases, the taxi driver will be earning more money than without a preagreed tariff. Many taxi drivers will also demand a tip from foreign customers or even from national ones on the way to and from the airport. You might round up to the nearest euro when paying though.
In many places of Madrid, especially near Atocha station, and also in the Ramblas of Barcelona, there are people ('trileros') who play the "shell game". They will "fish" you if you play, and they will most likely pick your pocket if you stop to see other people play.
Before paying the bill in bars and restaurants, always check the bill and carefully scrutinise it. Some staff will often attempt to squeeze a few extra euros out of unsuspecting tourists by charging for things they did not eat or drink, or simply overcharging. This is true in both touristy and non-touristy areas. If you feel overcharged, bring it to their attention and/or ask to see a menu. It is also sometimes written (in English only) at the bottom of a bill that a tip is not included: remember that tipping is optional in Spain and Spanish people commonly leave loose change only and no more than a 5%–8% of the price of what they have consumed (not an American-style 15–20%), so avoid being fooled into leaving more.
Many tourists have reported lottery scams whereby they are contacted via the Internet or fax and informed that they have won a substantial prize in the Spanish lottery (El Gordo), when in fact they have never participated in the lottery. They are asked to deposit an amount of money in a bank account to pay taxes and other fees before collecting the prize or coming to Spain to close the transaction.
There have also been reports of a scam whereby a person is informed that he or she is the recipient of a large inheritance, and that funds must be deposited into a Spanish bank account so the inheritance can be processed.

Source: Wikivoyage

Tempo & rhythm