Spain Travel Safety

Road safety

Road conditions and road safety can vary throughout the country. In some areas, aggressive drivers and excessive speeds can pose risks. Travellers may experience delays crossing between Spain and Gibraltar due to increased border controls. Be sure you are adequately prepared for lengthy delays, for example, by carrying water during hot summer days.

Precautions

Ensure that your personal belongings, including passports and other travel documents, are secure at all times. Carry a photocopy or digital copy of your passport identification page, driver's licence, train or airline tickets and credit cards. Do not leave luggage unattended at any airport check-in or ticket counter, car rental desk or in hotel lobbies. Thieves take advantage of distracted travellers to steal unattended bags. Violent crime is rare, but does occur. Avoid frequenting unlit areas, particularly at night. Tactics used by criminals Thieves work alone or in groups. They use various techniques to distract their victims and steal their belongings. Thieves also distract their victims with offers of assistance (with directions, for example). While the victim is distracted, an accomplice robs the victim. Be extremely cautious with your belongings at all times and in all places. Thieves have been known to fake or provoke road-related incidents, such as flat tires. When a motorist stops to help, the thieves steal the motorist's car or belongings. The reverse scenario has also occurred, whereby a thief offers to help a motorist in distress and steals the motorist's car or belongings. In the event of a road-related incident, be extremely cautious about accepting help from anyone other than a uniformed officer from the National Police Corps or Civil Guard. There is a high threat of theft from rental vehicles. Be particularly vigilant in service areas on coastal highways. Avoid leaving any luggage or valuables in the vehicle. Use secure parking facilities. When travelling by car, always lock your doors, keep windows closed and keep valuable belongings out of sight.

Identification

In Spain, foreign visitors must present a passport upon check-in at a hotel. Do not leave your passport with reception. Wait until they have taken the details or made a copy of and returned the passport to you. Restaurants, hotels, shops and other such establishments routinely request passports or other pieces of government-issued photo identification, such as a driver's licence, to process credit card transactions. You must carry adequate ID, such as a passport, to provide to a police officer upon request. You could be detained until you can prove your identity. Keep a photocopy or digital copy of your passport's photo page in a safe place, should your passport be lost or seized.

Women's safety

Spain is generally safe, women travelling alone should maintain personal security awareness. Avoid dark or non-tourist areas at night. Instead try to be around larger crowds, whether they are fellow tourists or local citizens. Women, particularly foreigners may be subject to unwanted male attention and catcalls in certain places. Be vigilant if approached by strangers seeking assistance and exercise common precautions throughout your travel.

Fraud

Credit card and ATM fraud occurs. Be cautious when using debit or credit cards. Specifically: pay careful attention when your card is handled by others, use ATMs located in well-lit public areas or inside a bank or business, avoid using card readers with an irregular or unusual feature, cover the keypad with one hand when entering your PIN, check for any unauthorized transaction on your account statements.

Scams

Internet scams originating in Spain are common. In a typical scam, the victim is contacted via email and informed that they have won a substantial prize in the Spanish lottery (el Gordo), when in fact the victim has never participated in the lottery. The victim is asked to deposit an amount of money in a bank account to pay taxes and other fees before collecting the prize or coming to Spain to close the transaction. In a similar scam, a person is informed that he or she is the recipient of a large inheritance, and that funds must be deposited into a Spanish bank account so the inheritance can be processed. Another common scam takes the form of a bogus email purportedly sent from an individual well known to the victim and claiming that he or she is in trouble and needs funds. Before attempting to assist financially, always speak to the person directly rather than following the instructions in an email. Do not travel to Spain with the intention to obtain restitution after losing money to a scam. Instead, file a report with your local law enforcement agency and seek legal advice on how to deal with the situation.

Crime

Petty crime, such as pickpocketing and purse snatching, is common. It is most prevalent in larger cities and particularly during holidays, festivals and weekends. Thieves are especially active in crowded areas, such as: airports, public transportation facilities, roads, hotel lobbies, restaurants and outdoor cafés, beaches, tourist attractions. Home burglaries occur in larger cities and sometimes affect homes offered through accommodation-sharing apps.

Spiked food and drinks

Never leave food or drinks unattended or in the care of strangers. Be wary of accepting snacks, beverages, gum or cigarettes from new acquaintances, as the items may contain drugs that could put you at risk of sexual assault and robbery.

Terrorism

There is a threat of terrorism in Europe. Terrorists have carried out attacks in several European cities. Be particularly vigilant if attending sporting events and during religious holidays and other public celebrations, as terrorists have used such occasions to mount attacks. Targets could include:government buildings, including schoolsplaces of worshipairports and other transportation hubs and networks, public areas such as tourist attractions, restaurants, bars, coffee shops, shopping centres, markets, hotels and other sites frequented by foreigners. Always be aware of your surroundings when in public places. The Spanish government maintains a public alert system on terrorism and communicates threat level changes online and through local media (including social media).

LGBT

Spain is a tolerant and progressive place for LGBTI travellers. There are active LGBTI communities and social venues, particularly in big cities. Same-sex marriage has been legal in Spain since 2005. Spain does not recognise a third gender.

Illegal or restricted activities

Some local councils in Spain have banned the consumption of alcohol in the street and on-the-spot fines may be issued. Some local councils will impose fines if you're caught wearing swimwear on the seafront promenade or the adjacent streets.

Driving

The use of cellular telephones while driving is prohibited, unless the vehicle is fitted with a hands-free device (for example, in-car Bluetooth or a mounted GPS device). For stays up to six months, you must carry an International Driving Permit and your valid driver's licence to drive in Spain. For stays longer than six months, you must obtain a Spanish driver's licence. The use of a seatbelt is mandatory for the driver and all passengers in a car. Children under 12 who are less than 135 cm tall must ride in appropriate car seats. Vehicles must be equipped for emergency situations. You must carry:2 red warning triangles that must be placed in front of and behind the vehicle in case of accident or breakdown, reflective jacket, kept inside the car (not in the trunk), that you must wear when leaving a vehicle that is stranded or involved in a highway accidenta spare tirefull set of spare light bulbs, plus the tools to change them. Drivers who fail to comply with these laws may be subject to on-the-spot fines. Penalties for drinking and driving are severe. The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.05 percent or 0.03 percent for new drivers. Convicted offenders can expect heavy fines or jail sentences, and driver's licences may be confiscated.