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About Spain
- TEMPERATURES
In this page you’ll find the average temperature and rain-fall registered in the main Spanish destinations over the period 2001-2005. This information has been obtained from the Spanish National Institute of Statistics website (details for 2006 not yet available). Temperature is shown in Celsius. Details are displayed for city, year and month. HERE
- NEAREST AIRPORTS: HERE
- TIPS FOR VISITING SPAIN:
+ NEW REGULATIONS FOR HAND LUGGAGE
+ VISA
+ CURRENCY
+ TIPS
+ CUSTOMS
+ PETS
+ LANGUAGES
+ OPENING TIMES
+ ELECTRICITY
+ TAXES
+ PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
+ LOCAL FIESTAS
New regulations for hand luggage
Only limited amounts of liquids may be taken on board flights that depart from EU countries and on connecting flights from Europe. This includes all German domestic flights. Please note that more and more countries are following these regulations for hand baggage.
Liquid and gel-based products such as healthcare products and cosmetics may be carried in hand luggage as long as they comply with the following regulations:
* Containers with liquids and similar products may contain up to 100 millilitres (the printed maximum quantity applies).
* All containers must be carried in a transparent resealable plastic bag (e.g. a so-called "zip-lock") with a maximum capacity of one litre.
* One bag per person.
* The bag must be presented separately at the security check.
Medication and special foodstuffs (e.g. baby food) which are needed during a flight may be transported outside the plastic zip-lock bag.
Articles and plastic bags that do not comply with the regulations may not be taken on board. Similar regulations apply in an increasing number of countries worldwide, such as the USA, Japan and Korea.
Duty-free articles purchased at airports inside the EU or on flights on planes registered in the EU, may be carried on board in a sealed bag as long as they are accompanied by a receipt bearing the date of the flight (this does not apply to flights to the USA or to code-share flights). These items must be sealed by the duty-free sales staff.
Additional special regulations apply to USA and UK flights. For example, liquids still may not be taken on board as hand luggage on any flights departing from or flying via the United Kingdom. Special regulations apply to liquid Duty Free items in hand luggage taken on board direct and connecting flights to the USA. Please ask about these at the local sales outlet.
Visa
Travelling to Spain is easy. The documents you need vary depending on where you are from.
If you are a citizen of the European Union, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, all you need is your Identification Card, or a valid passport. Minors travelling with their ID card must have a document that shows parental authorisation.
If you are from any of the following countries: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, United States, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Nicaragua, New Zealand, Panama, Paraguay, Korea, Romania, San Marino, the Holy See, Singapore, Uruguay, or Venezuela: all you need is a valid passport to enter Spain, where you can stay for a maximum of 90 days.
If you are from any other country, according to the criteria of the EU, you must request a visa at the Spanish Consulate of your country of residence. You will also need a valid passport.
For these cases, the Spanish authorities may ask for documents showing where you will be staying, confirmation of an organised tour, return air tickets, tourist circuit, or a personal letter of invitation. You may also be asked to show proof of having sufficient financial resources to support yourself during your stay in Spain.
Since conditions may vary, we recommend you contact your local Spanish Consulate or Embassy for more information on these requirements.
Currency
From January 1st, 2002, the new currency of Spain, like that of most European Union countries, is the EURO. Tourists may bring up to 6,010.12 Euros without declaring the amount at customs.
Tips
A 10 % tip is customary but not compulsory.
Customs
You may bring the following into Spain:
- Personal effects, one video camera or two still cameras, a portable radio, a tape recorder, and a laptop PC per person are admitted free of duty provided they show signs of use.
- Two hundred cigarettes, or 50 cigars, or 250 grams of tobacco are also permitted.
- Two bottles of wine (2 litres) or one bottle of spirits (1 litre) per person over 17 years old.
- 50 grams of perfume.
- 250 ml of eau de toilette.
The following sports equipment is also allowed: fishing gear, one bicycle, skis, tennis paddle or squash racquets, and golf clubs.
Pets
There is no rule in Spain. Pets must be accompanied by their owners or their owner's authorized representatives. It must be justified by written certification that the animal has been kept under their owner's supervision for at least three months prior to their entering Spain, along with a veterinary certificate stating that the animal is in good health and has been inoculated against rabies (for dogs and cats).
Languages
Spain is a country rich in languages. Spanish is the official language; however other languages co-exist in some communities: Basque in the Basque Country, Galician in Galicia, Catalan in Catalonia and Valencian in Valencia. There are also other dialects in other regions of the country.
Opening Times
Usual shop opening hours are 9:30 am - 13:30 pm, Monday-Saturday, and 15:00-20:30 pm, Monday-Friday. Major shopping centres, department stores and supermarkets stay open without a break from 10:00 am - 9:00 pm or in some cases until 10:00 pm.
Banks are mainly open Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 14:00 pm (ATMs are available throughout the country. Make sure that the signs at the back of your ATM card match the signs on the ATM machine. ATMs in Spain only accept four digit PINs so it is very important to make sure you have a four digit PIN before travelling).
Breakfast time is usually from 8:00-10:00 am and lunchtime in restaurants from 13:00-15:30 pm. Dinner is served from 8:30-11:00 pm. Many catering establishments operate a continuous service throughout the day, a common practice in coffee shops and bars, at many of which it is possible to order snack-like servings (tapas), a limited variety of set dishes, rolls and small portions of selected foods (raciones).
Nightlife in Spain is in a class of its own, particularly from Thursday to Sunday. Pubs, late-night haunts (bares de copas) and discotheques normally stay open until 3:00 or 4:00 am in the morning, and in major cities, such as Madrid and Barcelona, there are countless night-spots that stay open till dawn.
Electricity
220 volts (50 cycles) is commonly used in Spain. Two round prong plugs are used in all outlets. Standard American plugs will not fit into Spanish outlets. Adapters may be purchased at any hardware store.
Taxes
A 7 or 16 percent V.A.T. (Value Added Tax) tax is added to all rates. This tax on services is non-refundable.
Travellers not coming from the EU can be paid back the V.A.T. tax of those goods purchased during their staying in the EU if they show all the documents at customs within three months. The vendor usually prepares all the documents, although it is a voluntary system and not all of them do it.
Public Holidays
There are 14 Public Holidays in Spain, 10 of which are shared by the entire country, and 4 celebrated only within the boundaries of each autonomous region.
January 1st- New Year's Day
January 6th - the Epiphany
Good Friday
May 1st - Labour Day
August 15th - Feast of the Assumption
October 12th - Spain's National Day
November 1st - All Saints' Day
December 6th - Constitution Day
December 8th- Feast of the Immaculate Conception
December 25th- Christmas Day
Local Fiestas
If you want to experience “real Spain” you might want to come on one of the following dates:
Throughout the year: BULLFIGHTING
Bullfighting is the Spanish National Festivity, no doubt one of the most famous and controversial celebrations with fans and detractors all over the world. There are Fairs throughout the year in cities with ancient bullfighting traditions, like Seville and Madrid -something extra to see on your visit.
February: CARNIVAL
Although we would never dare to compete against the popularity of the Carnival in Rio, the celebrations in Cadiz are worth a visit. March 19th (same each year): FALLAS IN VALENCIA
You might have heard about the fantastic cardboard figures that get burned on the night of Saint Joseph, while the roar of fireworks resounds throughout the city. Well, that’s Valencia on the night of nights - the highlight of the Fallas celebration.
March-April: EASTER IN SEVILLE
You don’t have to be a believer to enjoy the deep respect and devotion that characterise the Easter Processions and Celebrations in Andalusia. One of the most emotive points is the “Madrugá”, the night of Holy Thursday to Holy Friday, when the city stays awake and from the balconies spectators wait for the most important Brotherhoods to pass by with their Saints. It really is simply amazing.
APRIL FESTIVAL IN SEVILLE
After the solemnity of the Easter celebrations, the capital of the Region of Andalusia explodes in a 24 hours/6 day non-stop party with loads of food, wine and, of course Flamenco. The festival takes place in a specific area of the city, meaning you can enjoy “normal” Seville and, on top, have access to that frenzied week we call “Feria de Abril”.
July 7th (same every year): SAN FERMINES
If Hemingway fell in love with this celebration, it must be for a good reason. Running before bulls through the narrow streets of an old town in Northern Spain does sound a bit risky, but more than 1,000000 visitors can’t be wrong. Can they?
August: TOMATINA IN BUŃOL
Every year, on the last Wednesday of August, in a tiny little town near Valencia, over 30,000 visitors from around the world go nuts at the Tomato party, or Tomatina, which basically consists of throwing tomatoes at anyone near you. At the last Tomatina, 120,000 kg of tomatoes were thrown. It probably isn’t the cleanest activity on offer, but you can’t deny that it’s fun!
In this page you’ll find the average temperature and rain-fall registered in the main Spanish destinations over the period 2001-2005. This information has been obtained from the Spanish National Institute of Statistics website (details for 2006 not yet available). Temperature is shown in Celsius. Details are displayed for city, year and month. HERE
- NEAREST AIRPORTS: HERE
- TIPS FOR VISITING SPAIN:
+ NEW REGULATIONS FOR HAND LUGGAGE
+ VISA
+ CURRENCY
+ TIPS
+ CUSTOMS
+ PETS
+ LANGUAGES
+ OPENING TIMES
+ ELECTRICITY
+ TAXES
+ PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
+ LOCAL FIESTAS
New regulations for hand luggage
Only limited amounts of liquids may be taken on board flights that depart from EU countries and on connecting flights from Europe. This includes all German domestic flights. Please note that more and more countries are following these regulations for hand baggage.
Liquid and gel-based products such as healthcare products and cosmetics may be carried in hand luggage as long as they comply with the following regulations:
* Containers with liquids and similar products may contain up to 100 millilitres (the printed maximum quantity applies).
* All containers must be carried in a transparent resealable plastic bag (e.g. a so-called "zip-lock") with a maximum capacity of one litre.
* One bag per person.
* The bag must be presented separately at the security check.
Medication and special foodstuffs (e.g. baby food) which are needed during a flight may be transported outside the plastic zip-lock bag.
Articles and plastic bags that do not comply with the regulations may not be taken on board. Similar regulations apply in an increasing number of countries worldwide, such as the USA, Japan and Korea.
Duty-free articles purchased at airports inside the EU or on flights on planes registered in the EU, may be carried on board in a sealed bag as long as they are accompanied by a receipt bearing the date of the flight (this does not apply to flights to the USA or to code-share flights). These items must be sealed by the duty-free sales staff.
Additional special regulations apply to USA and UK flights. For example, liquids still may not be taken on board as hand luggage on any flights departing from or flying via the United Kingdom. Special regulations apply to liquid Duty Free items in hand luggage taken on board direct and connecting flights to the USA. Please ask about these at the local sales outlet.
Visa
Travelling to Spain is easy. The documents you need vary depending on where you are from.
If you are a citizen of the European Union, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, all you need is your Identification Card, or a valid passport. Minors travelling with their ID card must have a document that shows parental authorisation.
If you are from any of the following countries: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, United States, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Nicaragua, New Zealand, Panama, Paraguay, Korea, Romania, San Marino, the Holy See, Singapore, Uruguay, or Venezuela: all you need is a valid passport to enter Spain, where you can stay for a maximum of 90 days.
If you are from any other country, according to the criteria of the EU, you must request a visa at the Spanish Consulate of your country of residence. You will also need a valid passport.
For these cases, the Spanish authorities may ask for documents showing where you will be staying, confirmation of an organised tour, return air tickets, tourist circuit, or a personal letter of invitation. You may also be asked to show proof of having sufficient financial resources to support yourself during your stay in Spain.
Since conditions may vary, we recommend you contact your local Spanish Consulate or Embassy for more information on these requirements.
Currency
From January 1st, 2002, the new currency of Spain, like that of most European Union countries, is the EURO. Tourists may bring up to 6,010.12 Euros without declaring the amount at customs.
Tips
A 10 % tip is customary but not compulsory.
Customs
You may bring the following into Spain:
- Personal effects, one video camera or two still cameras, a portable radio, a tape recorder, and a laptop PC per person are admitted free of duty provided they show signs of use.
- Two hundred cigarettes, or 50 cigars, or 250 grams of tobacco are also permitted.
- Two bottles of wine (2 litres) or one bottle of spirits (1 litre) per person over 17 years old.
- 50 grams of perfume.
- 250 ml of eau de toilette.
The following sports equipment is also allowed: fishing gear, one bicycle, skis, tennis paddle or squash racquets, and golf clubs.
Pets
There is no rule in Spain. Pets must be accompanied by their owners or their owner's authorized representatives. It must be justified by written certification that the animal has been kept under their owner's supervision for at least three months prior to their entering Spain, along with a veterinary certificate stating that the animal is in good health and has been inoculated against rabies (for dogs and cats).
Languages
Spain is a country rich in languages. Spanish is the official language; however other languages co-exist in some communities: Basque in the Basque Country, Galician in Galicia, Catalan in Catalonia and Valencian in Valencia. There are also other dialects in other regions of the country.
Opening Times
Usual shop opening hours are 9:30 am - 13:30 pm, Monday-Saturday, and 15:00-20:30 pm, Monday-Friday. Major shopping centres, department stores and supermarkets stay open without a break from 10:00 am - 9:00 pm or in some cases until 10:00 pm.
Banks are mainly open Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 14:00 pm (ATMs are available throughout the country. Make sure that the signs at the back of your ATM card match the signs on the ATM machine. ATMs in Spain only accept four digit PINs so it is very important to make sure you have a four digit PIN before travelling).
Breakfast time is usually from 8:00-10:00 am and lunchtime in restaurants from 13:00-15:30 pm. Dinner is served from 8:30-11:00 pm. Many catering establishments operate a continuous service throughout the day, a common practice in coffee shops and bars, at many of which it is possible to order snack-like servings (tapas), a limited variety of set dishes, rolls and small portions of selected foods (raciones).
Nightlife in Spain is in a class of its own, particularly from Thursday to Sunday. Pubs, late-night haunts (bares de copas) and discotheques normally stay open until 3:00 or 4:00 am in the morning, and in major cities, such as Madrid and Barcelona, there are countless night-spots that stay open till dawn.
Electricity
220 volts (50 cycles) is commonly used in Spain. Two round prong plugs are used in all outlets. Standard American plugs will not fit into Spanish outlets. Adapters may be purchased at any hardware store.
Taxes
A 7 or 16 percent V.A.T. (Value Added Tax) tax is added to all rates. This tax on services is non-refundable.
Travellers not coming from the EU can be paid back the V.A.T. tax of those goods purchased during their staying in the EU if they show all the documents at customs within three months. The vendor usually prepares all the documents, although it is a voluntary system and not all of them do it.
Public Holidays
There are 14 Public Holidays in Spain, 10 of which are shared by the entire country, and 4 celebrated only within the boundaries of each autonomous region.
January 1st- New Year's Day
January 6th - the Epiphany
Good Friday
May 1st - Labour Day
August 15th - Feast of the Assumption
October 12th - Spain's National Day
November 1st - All Saints' Day
December 6th - Constitution Day
December 8th- Feast of the Immaculate Conception
December 25th- Christmas Day
Local Fiestas
If you want to experience “real Spain” you might want to come on one of the following dates:
Throughout the year: BULLFIGHTING
Bullfighting is the Spanish National Festivity, no doubt one of the most famous and controversial celebrations with fans and detractors all over the world. There are Fairs throughout the year in cities with ancient bullfighting traditions, like Seville and Madrid -something extra to see on your visit.
February: CARNIVAL
Although we would never dare to compete against the popularity of the Carnival in Rio, the celebrations in Cadiz are worth a visit. March 19th (same each year): FALLAS IN VALENCIA
You might have heard about the fantastic cardboard figures that get burned on the night of Saint Joseph, while the roar of fireworks resounds throughout the city. Well, that’s Valencia on the night of nights - the highlight of the Fallas celebration.
March-April: EASTER IN SEVILLE
You don’t have to be a believer to enjoy the deep respect and devotion that characterise the Easter Processions and Celebrations in Andalusia. One of the most emotive points is the “Madrugá”, the night of Holy Thursday to Holy Friday, when the city stays awake and from the balconies spectators wait for the most important Brotherhoods to pass by with their Saints. It really is simply amazing.
APRIL FESTIVAL IN SEVILLE
After the solemnity of the Easter celebrations, the capital of the Region of Andalusia explodes in a 24 hours/6 day non-stop party with loads of food, wine and, of course Flamenco. The festival takes place in a specific area of the city, meaning you can enjoy “normal” Seville and, on top, have access to that frenzied week we call “Feria de Abril”.
July 7th (same every year): SAN FERMINES
If Hemingway fell in love with this celebration, it must be for a good reason. Running before bulls through the narrow streets of an old town in Northern Spain does sound a bit risky, but more than 1,000000 visitors can’t be wrong. Can they?
August: TOMATINA IN BUŃOL
Every year, on the last Wednesday of August, in a tiny little town near Valencia, over 30,000 visitors from around the world go nuts at the Tomato party, or Tomatina, which basically consists of throwing tomatoes at anyone near you. At the last Tomatina, 120,000 kg of tomatoes were thrown. It probably isn’t the cleanest activity on offer, but you can’t deny that it’s fun!