Spain Travel 2025: Essential Safety Tips for Visitors Navigating New Entry Requirements, Wildfires, and Urban Challenges

Spain remains a popular destination, but listeners considering travel should be aware of several new developments and ongoing advisories as of August 2025. The European Entry/Exit System, known as EES, will be implemented from October 12, 2025, for all non-EU nationals. International travelers, including Americans, Australians, and visitors from other non-EU countries, will be required to register fingerprints and a facial photo at the border, which is expected to cause longer queues when entering and leaving the Schengen Area, including Spain, according to the Australian government’s Smartraveller advisory.

There are no longer any COVID-19-related entry requirements for Spain. Neither proof of vaccination nor health forms are needed, and there are no pandemic-related checkpoints. Travelers are still advised to avoid visiting if they exhibit symptoms of illness, and basic health precautions are recommended by Spanish travel providers.

A significant safety concern across Spain is the continued high national terrorism alert. Authorities remind visitors that an attack could occur at any time and in any place, so travelers should remain vigilant, heed official warnings, and follow the instructions of local authorities if an incident occurs.

Travelers should be especially attentive to personal security in urban areas, where petty theft and pickpocketing—especially in tourist hotspots like Madrid and Barcelona—are common. Thieves in cities often use distraction techniques and work in groups. The UK’s Foreign Office recommends keeping valuables secure, watching bags and wallets in public, and taking advantage of safety features at your accommodation. In addition, crime involving travelers in vehicles—sometimes called ‘highway pirates’—remains an issue around major highways and parking areas.

Spain has recently expanded public alcohol restrictions. From 2025, consuming alcohol on the street, on beaches, and in parks is prohibited in many cities, with fines reaching up to 3,000 euros. Stricter controls on nighttime alcohol sales have also been introduced to tackle overtourism and anti-social behavior.

Listeners should pay attention to natural hazards, as well. Since early August 2025, wildfires have intensified in parts of central and northwestern Spain—including Ourense, Zamora, Salamanca, León, and Cáceres. Evacuations are underway in affected regions, and road closures, poor air quality, and travel disruptions are possible if wildfires spread or conditions worsen. Local authorities stress that listeners should take extreme caution, particularly those with respiratory concerns, and always follow evacuation orders and monitor the news for updates. Heatwaves, flash floods, and unpredictable weather events linked to climate change are occurring more often and may impact travel plans.

For travelers interested in outdoor activities such as hiking or skiing, Spain’s mountain regions can see rapid weather changes and even altitude sickness in high-altitude areas like Granada or Tenerife. Emergency rescuers are on call, but negligent behavior that leads to rescue may result in a bill from regional authorities.

In summary, Spain is generally considered very safe for tourists, with lower rates of violent crime than many other large European countries. Key safety recommendations include staying alert in crowded spaces, safeguarding your belongings, learning about local laws—including public drinking bans—and reviewing official travel advisories before and during your trip. By keeping up with the latest travel requirements, listening closely to local warnings, and exercising normal precautions, travelers can enjoy Spain’s vibrant cities, stunning landscapes, and rich culture with greater confidence.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Spain remains a popular destination, but listeners considering travel should
be aware of several new developments and ongoing advisories. As
of August twenty twenty five, the European Entry Exit System
known as EEES will be implemented from October twelfth, twenty
twenty five for all non EU nationals. International travelers, including Americans,

(00:22):
Australians and visitors from other non EU countries, will be
required to register fingerprints and a facial photo at the border,
which is expected to cause longer queues when entering and
leaving the Schengen Area, including Spain. According to the Australian
government's Smartraveler Advisory, there are no longer any COVID nineteen

(00:42):
related entry requirements for Spain, Neither proof of vaccination nor
health forms are needed, and there are no pandemic related checkpoints.
Travelers are still advised to avoid visiting if they exhibit
symptoms of illness, and basic health precautions are recommended by
Spanish travel pers A significant safety concern across Spain is

(01:04):
the continued high national terrorism alert. Authorities remind visitors that
an attack could occur at any time and in any place,
so travelers should remain vigilant heat official warnings and follow
the instructions of local authorities if an incident occurs. Travelers
should be especially attentive to personal security in urban areas

(01:25):
where petty theft and pickpocketing, especially in tourist hotspots like
Madrid and Barcelona, are common. Thieves and cities often use
distraction techniques and work in groups. The UK's Foreign Office
recommends keeping valuables secure, watching bags and wallets in public,
and taking advantage of safety features at your accommodation. In addition,

(01:47):
crime involving travelers in vehicles, sometimes called highway pirates, remains
an issue around major highways and parking areas. Spain has
recently expanded public alcohol restrictions from twenty twenty five. Consuming
alcohol on the street, on beaches and in parks is
prohibited in many cities, with fines reaching up to three

(02:08):
thousand euros. Stricter controls on night time alcohol sales have
also been introduced to tackle overtourism and anti social behavior.
Listeners should pay attention to natural hazards as well. Since
early August twenty twenty five, wildfires have intensified in parts
of central and northwestern Spain, including orenz Zamora, Salamanca, Leone

(02:29):
and Cassras. Evacuations are underway in affected regions and road closures,
poor air quality and travel disruptions are possible if wildfires
spread or conditions worsen. Local authorities stress that listeners should
take extreme caution, particularly those with respiratory concerns, and always
follow evacuation orders and monitor the news for updates. Heat Waves,

(02:53):
flash floods, and unpredictable weather events linked to climate change
are occurring more often and may impact travel plans for
travelers interested in outdoor activities such as hiking or skiing.
Spain's mountain regions can see rapid weather changes and even
altitude sickness in high altitude areas like Granada or tenerif

(03:13):
emergency rescuers are on call, but negligent behavior that leads
to rescue may result in a bill from regional authorities.
In summary, Spain is generally considered very safe for tourists,
with lower rates of violent crime than many other large
European countries. Key safety recommendations include staying alert in crowded spaces,

(03:34):
safeguarding your belongings, learning about local laws, including public drinking bands,
and reviewing official travel advisories before and during your trip.
By keeping up with the latest travel requirements, listening closely
to local warnings, and exercising normal precautions, travelers can enjoy
Spain's vibrant cities, stunning landscapes, and rich culture with greater confidence.