SPAIN

 TRAVEL INFO | CITY PACKAGES

General Information

Capital: Madrid
Time: GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).
The Canary Islands: GMT (GMT + 1 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).
Tel. Code: 00 34 .
Official Language: Spanish (Castillian), Catalan (in the northeast), Galician (in the northwest) and Basque (in the north).
Currency: : Single European currency (Euro): The Euro is now the official currency of 12 EU member states (including Spain). The first Euro coins and notes were introduced in January 2002; the Spanish Peseta was still in circulation until 28 February 2002, when it was completely replaced by the Euro. Euro (€) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of €500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of €2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents.
Electricity: : 220 or 225 volts AC, 50Hz. Generally, round two-pin plugs and screw-type lamp fittings are in use.
Religion: There is no official religion, but the majority of the population is Roman Catholic.

Climate: : Spain’s climate varies from temperate in the north to dry and hot in the south. The best months are from April to October, although mid-summer (July to August) can be excessively hot throughout the country except the coastal regions. Madrid is best in late spring or autumn. The central plateau can be bitterly cold in winter.
Required clothing: : : Light- to medium weights and rainwear, according to the season.

Airports

Spain boasts over 30 international airports. Information on the major airports follows; information on any of the others can be obtained from AENA (Aeropuertos Espanoles y Navegación Aérea) Calle Arturo Soria 109, which is the organisation responsible for running all of the Spanish airports.
Madrid (MAD) (Barajas) is 15km (9 miles) northeast of the city.
Barcelona (BCN) (del Prat) is 12km (7 miles) southwest of the city.
Alicante (ALC) (Altet) is 12km (7 miles) southwest of the city.
Bilbao (BIO) (Sondika) is 10km (6 miles) north of the city.
Málaga (AGP) is 10km (6 miles) southwest of the city.
Santiago de Compostela (SCQ) is 10km (6 miles) northeast of the city.
Seville (SVQ) is 8km (5 miles) from the city.
Valencia (VLC) (Manises) is 8km (5 miles) west of the city.

Departure tax: None

Internal Travel

Air, Sea/River, Rail and Road are the modes of transportation used within Spain.

Travel Times

The following chart gives approximate travel times (in hours and minutes) from Madrid to other major cities in Spain.

  • City

  • Air

  • Rail

  • Road

  • Barcelona

  • 1.00

  • 8.00

  • 8.00

  • Bilbao

  • 0.50

  • 6.00

  • 5.00

  • Canary Is.

  • 2.30

  • -

  • -

  • Málaga

  • 1.00

  • 7.00

  • 5.00

  • Mallorca

  • 1.00

  • -

  • -

  • Palma

  • 1.10

  • 5.00*

  • 6.00*

  • Santander

  • 0.50

  • 6.00

  • 5.00

  • Seville

  • 0.55

  • 7.00

  • 6.00

  • Valencia

  • 0.50

  • 4.00

  • 5.00

*Note: Plus nine hours by boat (three hours by catamaran).

Passport/Visa

Passport:
Passport valid for at least three months including 90 days beyond the planned stay required by all except the following:
Nationals of the EU holding valid national ID cards for stays of up to 90 days.

Note: The requested validity and precise requirements of the passport may vary according to nationality and these are subject to change at short notice; please consult nearest Embassy/Consulate for further details.


Visas :
Required by all except the following:

  • Nationals of EU countries, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland regardless of purpose and/or length of stay;

  • Other nationals referred to in the chart above for stays of up to 90 days;

  • Nationals of Andorra, Anguilla, Argentina, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cayman Islands, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Falkland Islands, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong (SAR), Israel, Korea (Rep), Liechtenstein, Macau (SAR), Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Montserrat, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Romania, St Helena, San Marino, Singapore, Turks and Caicos Islands, Uruguay, Vatican City and Venezuela for stays of up to 90 days;

  • Holders of travel documents issued by the Geneva convention of July 1951, by Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK for stays of up to 90 days. Please note that British passports that do not have “European community” on the front page require a visa;

  • Crew members of airlines and merchant navy for stays of up to 90 days;

  • Nationals of any of the Schengen member states who hold permanent residency are entitled to re-enter the Schengen area without a visa, provided proof of residence and a valid passport are submitted;

  • Transit passengers continuing their journey by the same or first connecting aircraft provided holding valid onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport (except nationals of Afghanistan*, Angola, Bangladesh*, Congo (Dem Rep)*, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Eritrea*, Ethiopia*, Ghana*, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, India, Iran*, Iraq*, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria*, Pakistan*, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia*, Sri Lanka*, Syrian Arab Republic and Togo who always require an airport transit visa if not a permanent resident of Canada, EU countries or the USA; nationals marked * must be permanent residents of Andorra, Canada, Japan, Monaco, San Marino, Switzerland or the USA). As the preceding list is liable to change at short notice, visitors are advised to check transit regulations with the relevant Embassy or Consulate before travelling.

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