Spain Travel Risk Overview
Is Spain safe right now? Checked 16 October 2026
Spain scores 27/100 on our travel risk index (Moderate). The US State Department rates Spain Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution, updated 1 Aug 2026); the UK has no advice against travel; Canada says: exercise a high degree of caution. No change in government advice in the last 7 days.
Spain has a Travel Risk Calculator score of 27 out of 100 (moderate risk tier); city-level files are available for 60 cities. The score combines five layers (security, crime and scams, health and medical access, natural hazards, current alerts) built from government advisories and open data. This page also covers nine safety categories (crime, disease & health, government advisory, political & civil unrest, natural disaster & weather, transport & route, environmental, digital security, money safety), the current US State Department advisory, GDACS disaster alerts, CDC health notices for Spain, recent news headlines, plus links to every city we have an editorial file for.
Run a personalized Spain assessmentAI safety snapshot · refreshed Oct 16, 2026
Spain currently carries a moderate baseline safety risk of 27/100 and a US State Department Level 2 advisory. Ongoing safety concerns include active drought conditions and recent wildfire alerts affecting travel. Additionally, travelers should be aware of a Level 1 global Dengue health notice from the CDC.
AI-summarized strictly from the live public-source data below (US State Dept advisory, GDACS, CDC, Google News). Auto-refreshed at most once per day on the first visit. Not official advice.
Live conditions last refreshed: Oct 16, 2026 07:06 UTC
How safe is Spain to visit in 2026?
Spain currently sits at 27/100 on Travel Risk Calculator's five-layer score, which puts it in the moderate-risk tier. Most travelers will be fine in Spain with normal preparation, but a few risk categories warrant attention. The full live US State Department advisory text for Spain, current GDACS disaster alerts, CDC health notices, and recent news headlines are shown in the Live conditions section below. For city-specific files (Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia), see the City Risk Files section below — they include neighborhood-level scam patterns, transport notes, and medical-access details where available.
Spain: a traveler’s safety briefing
Spain is a safe, low-violence country whose signature visitor risk is street theft — Barcelona in particular is one of Europe’s pickpocketing capitals, with hotspots on La Rambla, the metro, and the beachfront. Madrid, Seville, and the costas see similar distraction and bag-snatch tactics. Nightlife areas add drink-spiking and over-billing risks in a few venues. Violent crime against tourists is rare. Keep bags zipped and in front in crowds, never leave belongings unattended on the beach, and be alert to staged “help” and football-shirt distraction scams.
Editorial context from the Travel Risk Calculator team — generalized, not personalized advice. The live US State Department advisory, GDACS, and CDC data below always take precedence; verify against your own government’s advisory before you travel.
Country score
Driven by: security (35/100) and natural hazards (37/100).
Spain's score of 27 is higher than the scores of 18% of the 241 countries we cover.
Data file
| Source | calibrated 2026-05-09 v1.0 (knowledge-based; State Dept advisory tiers, GPI, OSAC patterns) |
|---|---|
| Last updated | 2026-05-09 11:01:52 |
| City files | 60 |
Assessment memory
Anonymous assessments help Travel Risk Calculator identify which country and city files deserve deeper review.
| Saved assessments | 0 |
|---|---|
| Average composite | No saved signal yet |
Score layers
Safety categories
Official Government Travel Advisories
Cross-referenced official travel advice from the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada, normalized to a unified 1–4 risk scale.
Department of State
Exercise increased cautionin Spain due to terrorism and unrest. Terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Spain. Terrorists may attack with little …
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
FCDO travel advice for Spain. Includes safety and security, insurance, entry requirements and legal differences.
Global Affairs Canada
Health – editorial change
UK content contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Canadian advice provided by Global Affairs Canada under open government terms. US advice provided by the US Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs.
Entry Requirements & Local Laws
Official travel advice summary from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
🛂 Entry Requirements
This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of the current rules for the most common types of travel. The authorities in Spain set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Spanish Embassy in the UK. Passport validity requirements Spain follows Schengen area rules. Your passport must: have a ‘date of issue’ less than 10 years before the date you arrive – if you renewed your passport before 1 October 2018, it might have a date of issue that is more than 10 years ago, making it invalid for entry to the Schengen area have an ‘expiry date’ at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area (the expiry date does not need to be wit
Summary of UK FCDO advice, updated Aug 12, 2026 · Full requirements →
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Travel Advisory Level History
Historical official advisory level changes over time.
Protests, Strikes & Closures This Week
Verified recent event reports monitored for Spain within the last 7 days.
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english.elpais.com · Oct 16
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prnoticias.com · Oct 16
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finance.jrj.com.cn · Oct 16
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sapo.pt · Oct 16
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UNREST Otro mundo es posiblelostiempos.com · Oct 16
What Changed This Month in Spain
Chronological record of verified security, advisory, health, and hazard updates over the past 30 days.
- Feb 11, 2026 GDACS Alert Drought is on going in Austria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Belgium, Belarus, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Spain, France, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Russia, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia, San Marino, Ukraine, (orange).
- Oct 2, 2026 CDC Notice Level 1 - Global Dengue (Watch).
- Sep 23, 2026 CDC Notice Level 2 - Global Polio (Alert).
- Oct 13, 2026 Score Change Alcañiz risk score moved from 34 to 33 (Daily recalculation (scoring v2)).
- Oct 13, 2026 Score Change Alcarraz risk score moved from 33 to 31 (Daily recalculation (scoring v2)).
- Oct 13, 2026 Score Change Amposta risk score moved from 34 to 33 (Daily recalculation (scoring v2)).
City Risk Files in Spain
Showing 60 destination files with city-specific safety data in Spain, ranked by demand and population.
Barcelona
Tier ACatalonia
Madrid
Tier AMadrid
Valencia
Tier AValencia
Málaga
Tier AAndalusia
Girona
Tier ACatalonia
Sevilla
Tier BAndalusia
Santa Cruz
Tier BCanary Islands
Ciudad de Ceuta
Tier BCeuta
Galapagar
Tier BMadrid
Zaragoza
Tier BAragon
Badalona
Tier BCatalonia
Santander
Tier BCantabria
Marbella
Tier BAndalusia
La Mujer
Tier BAndalusia
Elche
Tier BValencia
Torrejón de Ardoz
Tier BMadrid
Gavá
Tier BCatalonia
Esplugas de Llobregat
Tier BCatalonia
Sitges
Tier BCatalonia
Salou
Tier BCatalonia
Valdepeñas
Tier BCastille-La Mancha
Cártama
Tier BAndalusia
Almuñécar
Tier BAndalusia
La Solana
Tier BCastille-La Mancha
Alginet
Tier BValencia
La Puebla de Cazalla
Tier BAndalusia
La Palma del Condado
Tier BAndalusia
Salvatierra de Miño
Tier BGalicia
Tudela de Duero
Tier BCastille-Leon
Las Palmas
Tier BCanary Islands
Dos Hermanas
Tier BAndalusia
Ciudad de Melilla
Tier BMelilla
San Fernando de Henares
Tier BMadrid
Teruel
Tier BAragon
Bañolas
Tier BCatalonia
Albolote
Tier BAndalusia
Bailén
Tier BAndalusia
Cassá de la Selva
Tier BCatalonia
Villarrubia de los Ojos
Tier BCastille-La Mancha
Granada
Tier BAndalusia
Getafe
Tier BMadrid
Castellón de la Plana
Tier BValencia
Burgos
Tier BCastille-Leon
Albacete
Tier BCastille-La Mancha
Logroño
Tier BLa Rioja
Huelva
Tier BAndalusia
Reus
Tier BCatalonia
Fuengirola
Tier BAndalusia
Tomelloso
Tier BCastille-La Mancha
Cieza
Tier BMurcia
Crevillente
Tier BValencia
Bétera
Tier BValencia
Arenys de Mar
Tier BCatalonia
Corbera de Llobregat
Tier BCatalonia
Astorga
Tier BCastille-Leon
Bilbao
Tier BBasque Country
Cádiz
Tier BAndalusia
Torremolinos
Tier BAndalusia
Figueras
Tier BCatalonia
Blanes
Tier BCatalonia
All towns in Spain (569 additional local facts pages)
These localities carry verified regional geography, nearest hospitals, airports, and natural hazard records with the country baseline risk score.
Live conditions in Spain
Country-scoped real-time data — official advisory from the US State Department, disaster alerts from GDACS, health notices from the CDC, news from Google News. For city-specific weather and air quality, open any city page below.
Official travel advisory
Level 2 · Exercise Increased Caution
Spain - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Read full advisory → · US Department of State
Track Spain’s advisory
Get one email if the US State Department travel-advisory level for Spain changes. No account, unsubscribe anytime.
Traveller notes from government advice
Advice for women travellers
Attacks, including sexual assaults, are rare but do occur. In an emergency call 112.
Avoid splitting up from your friends, do not leave drinks unattended and do not go off with people you do not know. Save the location of your accommodation on your maps app, so it’s easy to find. See TravelAware ‘Stick with your mates’ for tips and advice.
See advice on getting help if you are a victim of crime abroad.
British Consulates in Spain (+34 917 146 300 or +44 207 008 5000) can provide local information and support.
Source: UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (Open Government Licence v3.0), updated 12 Aug 2026. Full advice
LGBT+ travellers
Spain is a generally tolerant and progressive place for LGBT+ travellers. There are active LGBT+ communities and social venues, particularly in big cities. Same-sex marriage is legal. Transgender people can register under their preferred sex in public documents such as birth certificates, identity cards and passports without undergoing prior gender reassignment surgery.
Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers.
Source: UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (Open Government Licence v3.0), updated 12 Aug 2026. Full advice
Local laws and customs
Personal ID
You must provide photo ID if asked by a police officer. This includes the Guardia Civil and national, regional and local police forces. The police have the right to hold you at a police station until they have confirmed your identity.
Ignoring direct requests of a police officer can be considered as ‘disobedience’, which is a criminal offence.
Hotels, tourist accommodation and car rental companies have a legal duty to register passport and other details of tourists who check in or collect a vehicle.
When checking in to your accommodation, wait until hotel staff have registered your passport details, or taken a copy of your passport. Do not leave your passport at reception to collect later.
You may need to show ID when buying goods with credit or debit cards. Some shops will accept your driving licence or a copy of your passport, but some may ask for…
Read the full UK government advice
Source: UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (Open Government Licence v3.0), updated 12 Aug 2026. Full advice
Entry requirements
This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of the current rules for the most common types of travel.
The authorities in Spain set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Spanish Embassy in the UK.
Passport validity requirements
Spain follows Schengen area rules. Your passport must:
have a ‘date of issue’ less than 10 years before the date you arrive – if you renewed your passport before 1 October 2018, it might have a date of issue that is more than 10 years ago, making it invalid for entry to the Schengen area
Check the official entry requirements for your nationality before you travel.
Source: UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (Open Government Licence v3.0), updated 12 Aug 2026. Official entry requirements
Disaster alerts
Active Disaster Alerts
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Drought is on going in Austria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Belgium, Belarus, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Spain, France, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Russia, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia, San Marino, Ukraine, ORANGE · country-wide · 2026-02-11
The Drought notification level is Orange.
“~N km away” = event centroid within ~500 km of this location; “country-wide” = a national/regional alert that may not be near this specific city. Source: GDACS · fetched 2026-10-16 06:53:28 UTC
Health notices
Health Notices for this Destination
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Level 1 - Global Dengue WATCH · 2026-10-02
Dengue is a year-round risk in many parts of the world, with outbreaks commonly occurring every 2–5 years. Travelers to risk areas should prevent mosquito bites. Country List : Colombia, Vietnam, Maldives, Bolivia, Cambodia, Kenya, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Costa Rica, Mar
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Level 2 - Global Polio ALERT · 2026-09-23
Some international destinations have circulating poliovirus. Before any international travel, make sure you are up to date on your polio vaccines. Country List : Afghanistan, Algeria, Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Niger, Nig
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Level 1 - Global Measles WATCH · 2025-05-28
Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel. Country List : Afghan
Source: CDC Travelers’ Health · fetched 2026-10-15 19:24:31 UTC
Recent headlines
No recent national headlines were returned for Spain. This is not evidence that conditions are quiet; check local and official sources.
Automated safety monitor
Recent safety-relevant news for Spain
Headlines are an early-warning monitor, not risk assessments. Verify material developments with official authorities and the linked publisher.
- General Inside the Biggest Oil Spill You’ve Probably Never Heard Of - PBS www.pbs.org · Sep 22, 2026 23:12 UTC · via Googlenews
- Politics Why Kylian Mbappe Risked the Wrath of Spain With T-Shirt Protest - Sports Illustrated www.si.com · Sep 17, 2026 18:00 UTC · via Googlenews
- Politics APTOPIX Spain Protest - the-messenger.com www.the-messenger.com · Sep 15, 2026 05:03 UTC · via Googlenews
- Politics Dining outdoors in Spain: From popular custom to neighborhood protest against mass tourism and the privatization of public space - EL PAÍS English english.elpais.com · Sep 14, 2026 15:23 UTC · via Googlenews
- Safety Lando Norris hits out at F1 Virtual Safety Car rule after losing 'deserved' Spanish GP win - ESPN www.espn.com · Sep 13, 2026 07:00 UTC · via Googlenews
- Politics APTOPIX Spain Protest - The Herald Journal www.hjnews.com · Sep 11, 2026 11:16 UTC · via Googlenews
- Politics Dutch Government Advocates for EU-Wide Minimum Age for Social Media - Government.nl www.government.nl · Sep 11, 2026 07:00 UTC · via Googlenews
- Politics Spain Protest - Springfield News-Sun www.springfieldnewssun.com · Sep 10, 2026 18:41 UTC · via Googlenews
1991–2020 climate normals
Seasonal risk & best time to visit Spain
The most weather-stable two-month window for Spain is May–June, when typical daily temperatures run from about 9°C to 27°C and monthly rain averages 32 mm.
No threshold-level heat, cold, wind, or cyclone flag appears in the stored normals; November is the wettest typical month at about 66 mm.
Climate normals are planning context, not a short-range forecast. Source: Open-Meteo Climate API. Refreshed Jul 31, 2026.
Calculate risk for these travel dates Compare seasonal windows →
Diplomatic assistance
Embassies in Madrid
Embassy of Armenia and Embassy of Georgia and 3 other embassies are mapped in Madrid.
OpenStreetMap coverage is a location aid, not an official diplomatic directory. Before travel, save the address and emergency contact details published by your own foreign ministry.
Emergency Numbers
| Police | 091 |
|---|---|
| Ambulance | 061 |
| Fire | 080 |
| General emergency | 112 |
| Tourist police | 902 102 112 |
Essential local emergency phrases
Show this screen to first responders, hotel staff, or passersby if you cannot speak the local language during an emergency.
Latest AI-assisted briefing for Spain
Barcelona currently faces elevated safety and weather considerations, including recent heavy rainfall impacts in the Catalonia region. Visitors should account for regional transit restrictions during severe weather events.
Top risk drivers
-
Torrential Rain and Flooding in Catalonia
· disaster
Torrential rain and flooding have caused fatalities in the Catalonia region surrounding Barcelona, prompting local travel restrictions.
-
Elevated Property Crime Risk
· crime
A crime score of 50 indicates an elevated risk of theft and petty crime in urban areas like Barcelona.
-
Elevated crime exposure
· Crime
Higher reported levels of crime affecting travelers.
-
No travel insurance
· Money/Health
Out-of-pocket costs after illness or theft can be significant.
-
Crime exposure
· Crime
Pickpocketing and tourist-targeted scams are common in busy areas.
Recent intelligence
- Two people have died in Catalonia as the region is hit by torrential rain and flooding [source]
Live intelligence cited 8 public-source snippets. Every claim above is grounded in one of them — verify any specific detail by following the snippet links on the full assessment page.
Frequently asked questions
Is Spain safe to visit right now?
Mostly safe with normal precautions. Spain has a few categories that warrant planning — read the breakdown below and check the live US State Department advisory. Composite baseline: 27/100 (Moderate risk). Always cross-check with your home country's foreign-ministry advisory within 7 days of departure; the live US State Department advisory is shown above. Last refreshed October 2026.
What is the current travel advisory for Spain?
The current US State Department advisory level for Spain is shown in the Live conditions section above and is re-fetched every 6 hours from the official RSS feed. UK FCDO, Canada GAC, and Australia DFAT also publish advisories — for high-stakes trips, cross-check at least one foreign-ministry advisory in addition to your home country's. See our travel advisory guide for how to read each tier system.
Is it safe to visit Spain in October 2026?
For October 2026, the baseline composite for Spain is 27/100 (Moderate risk). Live data — advisories every 6 hours, disaster alerts every 30 minutes, health notices every 12 hours, news every hour — is shown in the Live conditions section above. For a personalized risk briefing for your specific trip and traveler profile, use the Travel Risk Calculator linked above.
How are these country-level travel risk scores calculated?
Each category is scored 0-100 from government advisories (US State Dept), crime indices, Global Peace Index data, WHO/CDC health context, and curated regional editorial knowledge. The composite is a weighted sum across nine categories — see /methodology for the full weight breakdown. Live data (advisories, news, disaster alerts, health notices) is layered on top of the baseline at request time.
Where can I find city-specific safety information for Spain?
City-specific files for Spain are listed in the City Risk Files section above. Each city page covers the same nine categories at city scope, plus city-specific scam patterns, transport-hub safety notes, medical-access detail, and (where available) neighborhood-level guidance. Use the header search to find a specific city directly.
When was this page last reviewed?
The baseline scores for Spain were last reviewed on May 9, 2026. Live intelligence (advisory, disaster alerts, health notices, news) refreshes automatically on the cadences described above.
Is this a substitute for an official travel advisory?
No. Travel Risk Calculator provides estimated risk information for planning purposes only. Always check your home country's official travel advisory and any health notices from your national health authority before traveling.
When is the best time to visit Spain?
May–June is the most weather-stable two-month window in the stored 1991-2020 normals. The most weather-stable two-month window for Spain is May–June, when typical daily temperatures run from about 9°C to 27°C and monthly rain averages 32 mm.
What is the rainy, hurricane, or severe-weather season in Spain?
The stored 1991-2020 normals do not cross this site's seasonal hazard thresholds; check a short-range forecast before departure.
Community Safety Sentiment
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Disclaimer
Travel Risk Calculator provides estimated travel-threat information for preparation purposes only. It does not replace official government advisories, medical advice, emergency alerts, immigration rules, insurance advice, police guidance, embassy information, or professional security consultation.