Spain Travel 2025: Essential Safety Tips, New Regulations, and What Tourists Need to Know Before Visiting

Listeners planning to travel to Spain this summer should be aware of several important updates and advisories. Spain continues to draw record numbers of visitors with its renowned culture, cities, and beaches, but there are heightened travel precautions and new regulations in place for 2025. The United States Department of State assigns Spain a Level 2 advisory, urging travelers to exercise increased caution due to the ongoing threat of terrorism. Spain maintains a high national terrorism alert level, and attacks could occur indiscriminately in public places without warning. Travelers are advised to remain vigilant, heed local authority guidance, and pay attention to official warnings. Emergency services can be reached nationwide via 112.

Spain has responded to concerns over overtourism and public disturbances by expanding bans on public drinking for 2025. According to Travel Weekly Asia and other sources, drinking alcohol is now strictly prohibited on streets, parks, and beaches in many popular destinations, with fines that can reach up to €3,000. There are also stricter regulations on alcohol sales in some nightlife areas. These rules are rigorously enforced, aiming to maintain public order and ensure a more family-friendly environment.

COVID-19 no longer impacts entry procedures for Spain. There are no health controls or pandemic-related restrictions for arrivals—travelers do not need to provide proof of vaccination, testing, or recovery. That said, it is recommended not to travel if you are experiencing symptoms compatible with respiratory illnesses. However, general entry requirements still apply, with tourists from non-EU countries needing to comply with valid passport and visa stipulations. Beginning in October 2025, Spain and the broader European Union will launch the Entry/Exit System, an automated system that logs non-EU travelers each time they cross EU borders using biometric scans instead of traditional passport stamps. Travelers from visa-exempt countries, including the UK and the US, should prepare for the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) starting in late 2026, which will require online pre-authorization.

Spain remains one of Europe’s safest countries for tourists, with violent crime being very rare. However, petty crime such as pickpocketing and purse snatching is common, especially in large cities like Madrid and Barcelona, as well as in crowded tourist areas, during festivals, and on public transportation. To protect valuables, it’s wise to use inside zipped pockets, avoid displaying cash or electronics, and be particularly alert in crowds. Demonstrations and strikes occur regularly in cities like Barcelona and elsewhere, sometimes leading to disruptions in travel plans, road closures, or transportation delays. It’s important to avoid areas with ongoing demonstrations and to follow instructions from local authorities.

Coastal waters can be hazardous—beachgoers should always observe the colored flag system indicating swimming conditions and avoid beaches during severe weather or if warning flags are present. Some areas may also have risks from jellyfish or other marine life, so local advice should be sought before entering the water.

Finally, with a record increase in visitors—over 17 million in the first quarter of 2025 alone—crowding is significant in tourist hotspots. Some cities have seen protests and strong reactions from locals frustrated with the influx. It’s recommended to book accommodations and tours well in advance, remain respectful of local communities, and be prepared for busy public transport and attractions.

Travelers headed to Spain this summer are strongly advised to stay informed of the latest local rules and advisories, follow all guidance from local authorities, and plan ahead for a safe and enjoyable trip.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Listeners planning to travel to Spain this summer should be
aware of several important updates and advisories. Spain continues to
draw record numbers of visitors with its renowned culture cities
and beaches, but there are heightened travel precautions and new
regulations place. For twenty twenty five, the United States Department
of State assigns Spain a Level two advisory, urging travelers

(00:24):
to exercise increased caution due to the ongoing threat of terrorism.
Spain maintains a high national terrorism alert level, and attacks
could occur indiscriminately in public places without warning. Travelers are
advised to remain vigilant, heed local authority guidance, and pay
attention to official warnings. Emergency services can be reached nationwide

(00:45):
via one one two. Spain has responded to concerns over
over tourism and public disturbances by expanding bans on public
drinking for twenty twenty five. According to Travel Weekly Asia
and other sources, drinking alcohol is now strictly prohibited on streets, parks,
and beaches in many popular destinations, with fines that can

(01:06):
reach up to three thousand euro There are also stricter
regulations on alcohol sales in some nightlife areas. These rules
are rigorously enforced, aiming to maintain public order and ensure
a more family friendly environment. COVID nineteen no longer impacts
entry procedures for Spain. There are no health controls or

(01:26):
pandemic related restrictions for arrivals. Travelers do not need to
provide proof of vaccination, testing or recovery. That said, it
is recommended not to travel if you are experiencing symptoms
compatible with respiratory illnesses. However, general entry requirements still apply,
with tourists from non EU countries needing to comply with

(01:48):
valid passport and visa stipulations. Beginning in October twenty twenty five,
Spain and the broader European Union will launch the Entry
Exit System, an automated system that logs not on EU
travelers each time they cross EU borders using biometric scans
instead of traditional passport stamps. Travelers from visa exempt countries,

(02:09):
including the UK and the US should prepare for the
European Travel Information and Authorization System EAS starting in late
twenty twenty six, which will require online pre authorization. Spain
remains one of Europe's safest countries. For tourists, with violent
crime being very rare. However, petty crimes such as pickpocketing

(02:29):
and purse snatching is common, especially in large cities like
Madrid and Barcelona, as well as in crowded tourist areas
during festivals and on public transportation. To protect valuables, it's
wise to use inside zipped pockets, avoid displaying cash or electronics,
and be particularly alert in crowds. Demonstrations and strikes occur

(02:50):
regularly in cities like Barcelona and elsewhere, sometimes leading to
disruptions in travel plans, road closures, or transportation delays. It's
important to avoid areas with ongoing demonstrations and to follow
instructions from local authorities. Coastal waters can be hazardous. Beach
goers should always observe the colored flag system indicating swimming conditions,

(03:13):
and avoid beaches during severe weather or if warning flags
are present. Some areas may also have risks from jelly
fish or other marine life, so local advice should be
sought before entering the water. Finally, with a record increase
in visitors over seventeen million in the first quarter of
twenty twenty five alone, crowding is significant in tourist hotspots.

(03:37):
Some cities have seen protests and strong reactions from locals
frustrated with the influx. It's recommended to book accommodations and
tours well in advance, remain respectful of local communities, and
be prepared for busy public transport and attractions. Travelers headed
to Spain this summer are strongly advised to stay informed
of the latest local rules and advisories, follow all guidance

(04:01):
from local authorities, and plan ahead for a safe and
enjoyable trip.