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Country guide · Spain

Spain travel apps and what you need before you go

Spain follows Schengen rules: many visitors, including US, UK, Canadian and Australian citizens, can stay up to 90 days in any 180 without a visa, and since April 2026 non-EU travellers are registered at the border in the EU Entry/Exit System (EES). ETIAS is not running yet, so there is nothing to apply for. On the ground, book trains with Renfe, Iryo or Ouigo, take rides with Cabify, Uber, Freenow or Bolt, reserve restaurants on TheFork and order food on Glovo.

Checked against official sources on 22 October 202614 apps · 5 to set up at home
Plaza de España in Seville with its canal and tiled bridges
Photo: Carlos Delgado, CC BY-SA 4.0

What you need to enter Spain

Rules depend on your passport. Check if you need a Schengen visa with a Spanish consulate or the EU's official travel site before you book.

Schengen visa or visa-free stay

Spain is in the Schengen area. Many passports, including US, UK, Canadian and Australian, are visa-exempt for stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period across all Schengen countries combined. Count back 180 days from any date of your stay to check you are within the limit. Nationals of countries on the EU visa list need a Schengen visa from a Spanish consulate.

Source: Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Schengen visas · Spanish Ministry of the Interior: Entry requirements · EUR-Lex: Regulation (EU) 2018/1806, visa lists

Passport validity

Non-EU visitors need a passport issued within the last 10 years and valid for at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave the Schengen area.

Source: Spanish Ministry of the Interior: Entry requirements

Entry/Exit System (EES)

The EU's Entry/Exit System started in October 2025 and has been fully running at all external Schengen borders since 10 April 2026. Non-EU short-stay visitors have their passport details, a face photo and fingerprints recorded on first entry, and passports are no longer stamped. Allow extra time at the border on your first trip.

Source: European Union: EES · eucrim: EES fully operational since 10 April 2026

ETIAS

ETIAS, the planned EUR 20 travel authorisation for visa-exempt visitors, is not in operation and no start date has been announced. The EU says it will give several months' notice. Do not pay any site offering an ETIAS today.

Source: European Union: ETIAS · Government of the Netherlands: ETIAS · SchengenVisaInfo (19 October 2026)

Funds, accommodation and return ticket

Border officers may ask non-EU visitors for proof of accommodation (a hotel booking or a carta de invitación from a host), a return or onward ticket, and proof of funds. For 2026 the minimum is EUR 121.10 per person per day, with a minimum of EUR 1,098.90, shown by cash, cards with a bank statement, or similar. Online bank printouts are not accepted.

Source: Spanish Ministry of the Interior: Entry requirements

Before you fly: 7 steps

  1. Check if your passport needs a Schengen visa.
  2. Make sure your passport is under 10 years old and valid 3 months beyond your departure from Schengen.
  3. Count your Schengen days for the last 180 days if you travel in Europe often.
  4. Keep hotel bookings, your return ticket and a card or bank statement handy at the border.
  5. Book high-speed trains early with Renfe, Iryo or Ouigo.
  6. Set up Cabify or Uber with your home number before you fly.
  7. Pack a Type C/F plug adapter if your devices need one.

The apps that matter in Spain

Grouped by the job they do. Set up at home means install it and sign in before you fly, while you still have your home number and Wi-Fi.

Taxis and ride hailing

Cabify

Spanish ride-hailing app with upfront prices, widely used in Madrid and other cities.

Set up at home

Prices are shown before you accept. Set up with your home number and card before you fly.

Official siteSource: Cabify Spain

Uber

Ride hailing in Madrid, Barcelona and other Spanish cities, often with licensed taxis as an option.

Set up at home

Compare with Cabify and Bolt; prices vary by time of day.

Official siteSource: Uber Spain

Freenow

Taxi app, now Freenow by Lyft, for booking and paying for licensed taxis.

Set up at home

Useful in Barcelona and Madrid when you want an official taxi without paying cash.

Official siteSource: Freenow

Bolt

Ride hailing in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Málaga, Bilbao and other cities.

Set up at home

Often the cheapest of the ride apps; check it alongside Cabify and Uber.

Official siteSource: Bolt: Cities

Metro, buses and city transport

ALSA

Spain's biggest long-distance bus company, covering routes trains do not, including many airport links.

Handy for smaller towns and for routes like Granada, where buses can beat trains.

Official siteSource: ALSA

Metro de Madrid and TMB

Official apps for Madrid's Metro and Barcelona's metro and buses, with maps and live times.

Since 1 June 2026 you can tap a contactless bank card or phone at Madrid Metro gates for single journeys. In Barcelona, buy and load tickets in the TMB App with Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay or Google Pay.

Official siteSource: Comunidad de Madrid: card payment at Metro gates · TMB App

Trains and long-distance travel

Renfe

Spain's national rail operator app for AVE and Avlo high-speed trains, long-distance and regional services.

Book high-speed tickets early, as fares rise closer to departure. Tickets live in the app as QR codes.

Official siteSource: Renfe

Iryo

Private high-speed operator on Madrid routes to Barcelona, Seville, Málaga, Córdoba, Zaragoza and more.

Often cheaper than AVE on the same line. Compare with Renfe and Ouigo before buying.

Official siteSource: Moncloa.com (September 2026)

Ouigo

Low-cost high-speed trains linking Madrid with Barcelona, Valencia, Alicante, Seville, Málaga, Valladolid and Murcia.

Base fares include only a small bag, so add luggage when you book rather than at the station.

Official siteSource: OUIGO Spain

Trainline or Omio

Compare and book Renfe, Iryo and Ouigo, plus buses, in English in one place.

Good for side-by-side prices; booking direct with the operator can avoid a booking fee.

Official siteSource: Trainline · Omio

Maps

Google Maps or Moovit

Walking, driving and public transport directions across Spanish cities.

Download offline maps for rural drives. Moovit is a good extra for bus-heavy cities.

Official siteSource: Google Maps · Moovit

Messaging and calls

WhatsApp

The default way Spaniards message, including hotels, hosts, restaurants and tour guides.

Set up at home

Many small restaurants and apartments confirm bookings by WhatsApp, so keep it on your home number.

Official siteSource: WhatsApp

Food and delivery

TheFork

Restaurant booking app with a large Spanish selection and offers of up to 50 percent off à la carte at some restaurants.

Offers depend on the restaurant, day and time. Bookings earn Yums points that can be swapped for discounts.

Official siteSource: TheFork Spain

Glovo

Spanish delivery app for restaurants, groceries and pharmacy items; Just Eat and Uber Eats also operate.

Compare the same restaurant across apps, as fees differ.

Official siteSource: Glovo · Just Eat Spain · Uber Eats

Money: Euro (EUR)

Cards and phone payments are accepted almost everywhere, including small bars, and contactless is the norm. Keep some cash for markets and village bars. Bizum, the popular person-to-person payment app, needs a Spanish bank account, so it is not an option for most visitors. When a card machine offers to charge in your home currency, choose euros.

Practical things to know

Plugs
Types C and F (two round pins); 230 V.
Emergency number
112 for all emergencies; operators can usually help in English.
Mobile data
EU SIMs roam at home rates. Others can buy an eSIM or a prepaid SIM; Spanish prepaid SIMs need a passport to register.
Tipping
Not expected. Rounding up or leaving a few euros for good service at a sit-down meal is common.
Meal times
Lunch is usually 14:00 to 16:00 and dinner often starts around 21:00, later at weekends. Many kitchens close in the late afternoon.

Questions travelers ask

Do I need ETIAS to visit Spain?

Not yet. ETIAS is not in operation and no start date has been announced. The EU says it will give several months' notice before it starts.

What is the EES and what happens at the border?

The Entry/Exit System records non-EU short-stay visitors digitally instead of stamping passports. On your first entry your face and fingerprints are taken. It has been fully running since 10 April 2026.

How long can I stay in Spain without a visa?

If your passport is visa-exempt, up to 90 days in any 180-day period, counted across all Schengen countries together.

Do I need to show money at the Spanish border?

Officers may ask. In 2026 the minimum is EUR 121.10 per person per day, at least EUR 1,098.90 in total, along with proof of accommodation and a return ticket.

Can I use contactless on the Madrid Metro?

Yes. Since 1 June 2026 you can tap a contactless bank card or phone at the gates for single journeys.

Sources

Checked on 22 October 2026. Entry rules change, so confirm with the official links before you travel.

Found a mistake? Report a correction and we’ll check it against the source.

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