You must present a valid passport, which will allow you to remain in Spain for a maximum period of 90 days.
If you come from another country, you should apply for a visa from the Spanish Consulate in your place of residence, subject to criteria established by the EU.
You will also require a valid passport. You may be required to specify the reason for your application for entrance to Spain.
Furthermore, if considered opportune, the Spanish authorities may require a document showing the establishment of accommodation in Spain, confirmation of booking on an organised tour, a return ticket or ticket for a tourist itinerary, or an invitation by a third party.
In addition, they may also require you to show that you are in possession of sufficient funds for maintenance during your stay in Spain.
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Health: The Spanish National Health Service has an extensive network of health centres and hospitals throughout the country.
The health centres offer primary health care services (family/GP services, paediatrics and nursing, with availability of midwives, physiotherapists and social workers). Hospitals offer specialised attention, with access via referral from primary healthcare services. There are also Accident and Emergency services available at hospitals and some health centres. A citizen of EU member state with the European Health Card (EHC) will receive the same temporary healthcare services as any other Spanish citizen. Countries that follow European Community rules: Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.
They enjoy the same health care benefits as member countries.
Countries with which Spain has bilateral agreements: Andorra, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Peru.
You will receive free medical care and hospitalisation in the case of a medical emergency, or accident, by showing the corresponding certificate from your country of origin.
Other countries:
Although you will be treated in case of emergency, you will need to pay for medical attention, so you are advised to purchase health insurance.
Pharmacies open from 9.30 to 13.30 h, and from 16.30 to 20.00 h. In all major cities you can find pharmacies that open 24 hours. Pharmacies follow a rolling late-hour schedule, which is published in the newspapers, and is posted at all pharmacies.
Emergency Calls: The emergency number to contact the Spanish police is the 091. For the Fire Department 080. For medical emergency calls the free number 112 (valid throughout Spain). The service is in Spanish, but in tourist areas is also offered in English, French and German.
Safety: The security situation is generally more than good. Despite this there are some areas of the city where theft are most frequent, you must then, as in any other city, take cautious and be vigilant, typical of places with high tourism density, in order to avoid unpleasant incidents. Among the areas most at risk are the market of the Sunday Rastro, for high tourist influx. Take special care during the night in the most dark and isolated areas of the Old Town, near Puerta del Sol, Plaza S. Ana, and the suburban area of Parque del Retiro.
In Madrid, incidents have been reported in all major tourist areas, including the area near the Prado Museum, near Atocha train station, in Retiro Park, in areas of old Madrid including near the Royal Palace and in Plaza Mayor. There has been an increase in the number of passport and bag thefts reported at Madrid’s Barajas Airport, local hotels, as well as in El Rastro (Madrid’s flea market) and in the Metro.
Telephones: Country Dialing Code
0034.
It's possible to make calls from public telephone booths, these boxes work with coins or cards that can be purchased at tobacconists.
Mobile Telephones: Spain uses the GSM system. Upon entering Spanish territory in your operator will connect automatically to the Spanish one with which it has close trade agreements.
Internet: The Internet cafe and Internet cafe are located in all Spanish cities. You will also find points of connection to Internet in airports, railway and main bus stations, as in some shopping malls. Generally these services operate in coins.
In Madrid you can see your e-mail, send and receive messages or surfing the net in Internet cafes that are everywhere now. If you travel with your computer, you can access the Internet from many hotels that have the Internet in the rooms. The alternative is to use wireless networks Wi-Fi which now exist at airports, railway stations, hotels and so on. In general the Wi-Fi zone (hotspot) are clearly indicated. The access is often a payment and your computer must be equipped with an Ethernet connection for access to the wireless network.
Money and Banks: Money is Euro.
The most important banks in Spain are Santander Central Hispano, BBVA (Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria), Banco Popular Español, Banco Sabadell, Banesto and Bankinter (Banco Intercontinental Español).
Banking Hours: Opening hours are Monday to Friday from 8:30 to 14:00, some even to Saturday from 9:00 to 13:00 (from June to August, some banks change the timetable).
Is widespread the presence of ATMs (Telebanco), usable with any ATM card empowered to international traffic.
Credit cards: Credit cards are accepted everywhere and with credit cards can also obtain cash advances at automated teller machines that are running 24 hours a day. Most major hotels, shops and restaurants accept major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Eurocard, Diner's Club and American Express). Travel checks, accompanied by passport, are accepted in most hotels, restaurants and shops.
Electricity: 220V, 50Hz service is standard, although 110V service persists in some remote areas. The Continental two-round-pin plug is standard.
Shopping hours: The most common business hours are Monday through Saturday, from 9.30 h to 13.30 h, and from 16.30 to 20.00 h.
Big shopping centres and department stores open from 10.00 h to 21.00 or 22.00 h uninterruptedly. These big stores open sometimes on Sunday.
In coastal cities, in high season, shops are usually open passed 22.00 h.
Cuisine: Spanish cuisine consists of a great variety of dishes which stem from differences in geography, culture and climate. It is heavily influenced by seafood available from the waters that surround the country, and reflects the country's deep Mediterranean roots. Among the multitude of recipes that make up the varied cuisines of Spain, a few can be considered common to all or almost all of Spain's regions, even though some of them have an origin known and associated with specific places. Examples include the potato omelette ("tortilla de patata", "tortilla espagnol" or just "tortilla"), gazpacho, paella, stews, migas, sausages (such as embutidos, chorizo, and morcilla), jamón serrano, and cheeses. There are also many dishes based on beans (chickpeas, lentils, green beans); soups, with many regional variations; and bread, that has numerous forms, with distinct varieties in each region. The regional variations are less pronounced in Spanish desserts and cakes: flan, custard, rice pudding (arroz con leche), torrijas, churros, and madeleines are some of the most representative examples. Many of the specialities of Spanish cuisine are based on seafood, although regional specialities are easier to find inland than along the coast. In the northern Basque provinces, there is cod vizcaina or cod pil-pil; angulas, the tasty baby eels from Aguinaga; bream and squid. Asturias has its bean soup, fabada, cheeses and the best cider in Spain, and in Galicia there is shellfish, especially good in casseroles, and a number of regional seafood dishes such as hake à la Gallega.
In the eastern regions the paella has a well-deserved reputation. It can be prepared in many ways, based on meat or seafood. Catalonia offers, among its outstanding specialities, lobster Catalan, butifarra sausage stewed with beans, and partridge with cabbage. Pan amb tomaquet, bread rubbed with olive oil and tomato, is a delicious accompaniment to local ham and cheese.
The Castile area specialises in roast meats, mainly lamb, beef, veal and suckling pig, but there are also stews, sausages, country ham and partridges. Andalucía is noted for its cooking (which shows a strong Arab influence), especially gazpacho, a delicious cold vegetable soup, a variety of fried fish including fresh anchovies, jabugo ham from Huelva and many dishes based on the fish which the coast provides in such abundance. SPANISH CUISINE RECIPES.
