Spain Travel 2025: Essential Safety Tips and New Rules for Tourists Navigating Entry Requirements and Public Guidelines

Travelers considering a visit to Spain should note that the country remains a top destination with a strong safety record, but updated advisories and new travel rules apply in 2025. As of now, there are no Covid-19 restrictions for entry into Spain and visitors are not required to present health documents or undergo health checks upon arrival. Despite the absence of pandemic-related barriers, anyone experiencing symptoms similar to Covid-19 is still recommended to postpone travel.

Spain continues to experience a high terrorism alert level, and authorities have cautioned that terrorist attacks could remain a possibility, targeting public spaces or events with little or no warning. Official advisories from multiple governments, including the United States and Australia, call for travelers to exercise increased caution due to the ongoing threat of terrorism as well as the potential for civil unrest or demonstrations. Demonstrations, particularly in politically sensitive regions like Catalonia and major cities, can be frequent and sometimes escalate into violence or disrupt transportation services, so it is advisable to avoid protest areas and monitor local news and instructions from authorities closely.

A significant policy change rolled out in December 2024 requires all tourists staying in hotels or renting cars—regardless of whether the booking is made online or in person—to submit personal information, which Spanish authorities will retain for three years. This applies to all visitors over the age of 14, who must now provide a signature as part of the process. This measure aims at enhancing public safety and is strictly enforced.

In response to overtourism and its related challenges, Spanish authorities have imposed expanded bans on drinking alcohol in public places, including streets, beaches, and parks. Fines for violating these bans can reach up to €3,000, and nightlife areas face stricter restrictions on alcohol sales. Observing local regulations and refraining from drinking in these prohibited places is strongly advised.

While Spain is widely regarded as one of the safest countries in Europe, petty crime—especially pickpocketing—remains a concern in tourist-heavy cities like Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, and Valencia. Travelers should take standard precautions such as keeping valuables secure, staying alert in crowded areas, and remaining discreet about carrying cash or expensive items. Demonstrations, strikes, and mass gatherings can also cause sudden disruptions to travel plans, including temporary closures of roads, airports, or train lines, so flexibility in planning is recommended.

When enjoying Spain’s renowned coastal areas, pay close attention to warning flags at beaches—green for safe swimming, yellow for caution, red for hazardous conditions, and black for contamination. Diligence is warranted, especially during unpredictable weather or in areas where marine hazards like jellyfish may be present.

Travelers should ensure they understand Spain’s entry requirements, which may depend on the country of origin, and review these details with their local Spanish embassy or consulate before departure. For emergency assistance in Spain, dialing 112 will connect you with police, medical, or fire services.

Spain in 2025 remains an attractive destination for international visitors but calls for awareness of evolving travel rules, personal safety precautions, and the current security environment to ensure a smooth and enjoyable trip.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Travelers considering a visit to Spain should note that the
country remains a top destination with a strong safety record,
but updated advisories and new travel rules apply in twenty
twenty five. As of now, there are no COVID nineteen
restrictions for entry into Spain, and visitors are not required
to present health documents or undergo health checks upon arrival.

(00:23):
Despite the absence of pandemic related barriers, anyone experiencing symptoms
similar to COVID nineteen is still recommended to postpone travel.
Spain continues to experience a high terrorism alert level, and
authorities have cautioned that terrorist attacks could remain a possibility,
targeting public spaces or events with little or no warning.

(00:45):
Official advisories from multiple governments, including the United States in Australia,
call for travelers to exercise increased caution due to the
ongoing threat of terrorism, as well as the potential for
civil unrest or demonstrations. Demonstrations, particularly in politically sensitive regions
like Catalonia and major cities, can be frequent and sometimes

(01:07):
escalate into violence or disrupt transportation services, so it is
advisable to avoid protest areas and monitor local news and
instructions from authorities closely. A significant policy change rolled out
in December twenty twenty four requires all tourists staying in
hotels or renting cars, regardless of whether the booking is

(01:28):
made online or in person, to submit personal information, which
Spanish authorities will retain for three years. This applies to
all visitors over the age of fourteen, who must now
provide a signature as part of the process. This measure
aims at enhancing public safety and is strictly enforced. In
response to overtourism and its related challenges, Spanish authorities have

(01:51):
imposed expanded bands on drinking alcohol in public places, including streets,
beaches and parks. Fines for violating these bands can can
reach up to three thousand euros, and nightlife areas face
stricter restrictions on alcohol sales. Observing local regulations and refraining
from drinking in these prohibited places is strongly advised. While

(02:13):
Spain is widely regarded as one of the safest countries
in Europe, petty crime, especially pickpocketing, remains a concern in
tourist heavy cities like Madrid, Barcelona, Seville and Valencia. Travelers
should take standard precautions such as keeping valuables secure, staying
alert in crowded areas, and remaining discrete about carrying cash

(02:34):
or expensive items. Demonstrations, strikes, and mass gatherings can also
cause sudden disruptions to travel plans, including temporary closures of roads, airports,
or train lines, so flexibility in planning is recommended. When
enjoying Spain's renowned coastal areas, pay close attention to warning
flags at beaches, green for safe swimming, yellow for caution,

(02:57):
red for hazardous conditions, and black for contamination. Diligence is warranted,
especially during unpredictable weather or in areas where marine hazards
like jellyfish may be present. Travelers should ensure they understand
Spain's entry requirements, which may depend on the country of origin,
and review these details with their local Spanish embassy or

(03:18):
consulate before departure. For emergency assistance in Spain, dialing one
one two will connect you with police, medical or fire services.
Spain in twenty twenty five remains an attractive destination for
international visitors, but calls for awareness of evolving travel rules,
personal safety precautions, and the current security environment to ensure

(03:41):
a smooth and enjoyable trip