Spain Travel Guide 2026: Barcelona, Madrid, the Alhambra and Where to Go

The essentials, updated for 2026

Entering Spain

Schengen rulesSpain is in the Schengen Area. Europe's Entry/Exit System, which records fingerprints and a photo of non-EU visitors at the border, has been fully operational since 10 April 2026.

ETIAS travel authorisation

No start date yetVisa-exempt visitors will eventually need an online ETIAS authorisation, but the EU has dropped its late-2026 target and will announce a date months ahead. No applications are being taken yet.

Barcelona tourist tax

Up to €12 a nightSince 1 April 2026, per person in five-star hotels (€7 Catalan tax plus a €5 city surcharge); €9.50 in holiday rentals. The city surcharge rises by €1 a year until 2029.

Sagrada Família, adult

€26For the basic ticket with the audioguide app; €36 with tower access. The new Tower of Jesus is complete outside, but its viewpoint is not expected to open before 2027.

The Alhambra, Granada

Timed entryThe Nasrid Palaces have a fixed time slot you must arrive for. Bring the original passport or ID used for booking, and book weeks ahead in high season.

Money and plugs

Euro (€), Type C/FCards are accepted almost everywhere. Sockets take the round two-pin European plug.

Where to go

Gaudí and the sea

Barcelona

The Sagrada Família, Park Güell and Casa Batlló, the medieval lanes of the Gothic Quarter around the cathedral, and city beaches a short walk away.

Book the Sagrada Família ahead; slots sell out

Our Barcelona Cathedral guide →Sagrada Família tickets ↗

Sagrada Família & Park Güell tour →Partner link

Art and the capital

Madrid

The Prado, the Reina Sofía and the Thyssen within walking distance of each other, the Royal Palace and the Retiro park. High-speed trains reach Seville, Barcelona and Valencia in a few hours.

Toledo and Segovia are easy day trips by train

Madrid tourism ↗

Moorish palaces

Andalusia

The Alhambra in Granada, Córdoba's Mezquita and Seville's cathedral and Alcázar, with whitewashed hill towns in between and beaches on the Costa del Sol around Málaga.

Book the Alhambra first, then plan around your slot

Official Alhambra tickets ↗Andalusia tourism ↗

Book an Alhambra visit →Partner link

Food and coast

The Basque Country

San Sebastián's bay and pintxos bars, and Bilbao's Guggenheim Museum, an hour or so apart along a green Atlantic coast.

Cooler and greener than the south in summer

Basque Country tourism ↗

Mediterranean islands

The Balearic Islands

Mallorca's coves and mountains, Ibiza's beaches and nightlife, and quieter Menorca, with frequent flights and ferries from the mainland.

Busiest from June to September

Balearics on Spain.info ↗

Year-round sun

The Canary Islands

Volcanic islands off the coast of Africa: Tenerife with Mount Teide, Spain's highest peak, plus Gran Canaria and Lanzarote. Mild enough for the beach in winter.

A popular winter escape from northern Europe

Canary Islands tourism ↗

When to go

You can visit Spain at any time of year. The summer heat in the south is the main thing to plan around.

Spring and autumn

March to May and September to November are the best months for cities and Andalusia, with warm days and lighter crowds.
Holy Week before Easter brings processions to Seville and other Andalusian cities; book rooms early.
Valencia's Las Fallas festival fills the city in mid-March.

Summer and winter

July and August are very hot in Seville, Córdoba and Madrid; the north coast and the islands are more comfortable.
The beaches and islands are busiest and most expensive in summer.
Winter is mild in the south and warm in the Canaries, and the cities are quieter.

What to pack

Pack for sun and long days on foot, with something warmer for the north and the mountains.