Capital: Madrid
Time zone: Mainland Spain and Balearics GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 during the summer)
Telephone services: Country Code: 34 Outgoing Code: 07
Emergency telephone numbers: Dial 112 anywhere in the EU to reach the emergency services. Additional local numbers:-Police – 091, Fire / Ambulance (Bomberas) – 085
Tourist information: Spanish Tourist Office, 22-23 Manchester Sq., London SW1A 1LD Tel: (020) 7486 8077 (Customer services or 0891 669 920 brochure request line charged at 50p/min. Fax (020) 7486 8034.
Passport information: Valid passport required by all except: Nationals of EU countries with valid national ID cards and nationals of Austria, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, The Netherlands and Portugal whose passports expired less than 5 years. Nationals of Germany and the UK with passports expired less than 1 year. Nationals of Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Malta, Monaco, Netherland Antilles and Switzerland holding valid national ID cards or expired passports (maximum 5 years). Requirements may be subject to short term change. Contact the relevant authority before departure. It is advisable to have a return ticket. If you have no return ticket you may be asked of sufficient proof of funds to finance your stay.
Visa information: Required by all except Nationals of Aruba, Bolivia, Bonaire, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Curacao, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Kenya, Malaysia, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Singapore, Suriname and Venezuela for up to 3 months. Nationals who do not require a visa to visit a country which is a signatory to the Schengen agreement.
Health information: No information available, please seek medical advice prior to travel
Food & drink: Water is considered drinkable, normal precautions should be observed with food.
Currency: In common with 12 Member States of the European Union (EU), here the Euro is the currency. There are seven different banknotes and eight coins of the Euro. Each participating EU country has coins with one common side and a reverse side specific to each country, while the banknotes look the same throughout the euro area. All major credit cards are accepted. Travellers cheques in Sterling pounds can be easily exchanged. ATM availability: Over 35 000 locations.
Cost of living: Similar prices to other Western European countries.
Languages: Spanish (Castillan), Catalan, Galician and Basque
Weather: Varies from Temperate in the North to hot and dry in the South. The best months are from April to Oct although it can be excessively hot between July and August except at the coastal regions. The central plateau can be extremely cold during the winter.
Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50 Hz
Post: 5 days. Poste Restante facilities are available at main post offices
Transport: RAIL: Most cities are well served. It is mainly a radial service with connections between Madrid and all the major cities. The Spanish rail system is one of the cheapest in Europe. Discounts and special concessions can be found. ROAD: Motorways are well maintained and connect North and South. Trunk roads between major cities are general well maintained. BUS: Services run between towns and are cheap and efficient. CAR HIRE: all major companies have agencies. DOCUMENTATION: IDP is required or a translation of national driving licence. Insurance is required and a ‘green card’ is strongly recommended.
Special information: The Spaniards are a very hospitable nation, where courtesy is valued. Conservative casual dress is suitable, but some larger hotels may insist that men wear a jacket. Beach-wear should be confined to the beach / pool. Street crime can be a problem in some of the tourist areas and large cities.