Health

Travel insurance

Take out comprehensive travel insurance before you depart to cover overseas
medical costs, including medical evacuation.

Remember, regardless of how healthy and fit you are, if you can't afford travel
insurance, you can't afford to travel. The Australian Government will not pay for
a traveller's medical expenses overseas or medical evacuation costs. This can
be very expensive and cost you many thousands of dollars upfront.

If you plan to 'run with the bulls', check beforehand if your insurance will cover
you.

Confirm:

what circumstances and activities are and are not covered under your policy
that you are covered for the whole time you will be away.

More information: Travel insurance

Physical and mental health

It's important to consider your physical and mental health before travelling,
especially if you have an existing medical condition.

At least eight weeks before you depart, see your doctor or travel clinic for a
basic health check-up, and to discuss your travel plans and implications for your
health.
Get vaccinated before you travel.

If you need counselling services while overseas, contact the Australian

Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 and ask to speak to a Lifeline
telephone counsellor.

More information:

Taking care of your health

World Health Organization advice for travellers

Medication

Not all medications available over the counter or by prescription in Australia are
available in other countries. Some may even be considered illegal or a
controlled substance, even if prescribed by an Australian doctor.
 Take prescription medicine with you so you remain in good health. Always carry
on your person a copy of your prescription or a letter from your doctor stating
what the medicine is, how much you'll take and that it's for personal use only.

Before you leave Australia:

check if your medication is legal in each country you're travelling to

get medical documents authenticated by the Department of Foreign Affairs and
Trade before you depart (if required).

More information: Prescription medicines

Health risks

Health risks in Spain are similar to those in Australia. Keep an eye on the news
and other sources for any new health risks that may develop and follow the
advice of Spain's Ministry of Health.

If you develop flu-like symptoms in Spain, the Spanish Ministry of Health

recommends you telephone the Spanish Emergency Services Hotline 112.
English speaking personnel will provide advice on how to proceed, by
telephone.

Medical facilities

The standard of medical facilities in Spain is high.

Safety and security

Terrorism

Terrorists may seek to target European countries, including Spain, during the
European summer. Exercise heightened caution in popular tourist locations and
places where crowds gather across Spain.

Spain's national terrorism alert level is at four ("high"), on a scale of 1 to 5. It

was raised from three ("medium") in June 2015, following terrorist attacks in
several European cities and the disruption by European security services of a
 number of other planned attacks. Targets have included public transport and
transport hubs, and public places frequented by foreigners. The threat of
terrorism remains.

Spain has been the target of terrorist attacks. A series of coordinated bomb
attacks occurred on the Madrid commuter train system in March 2004, killing
192 people and injuring over 1400.

The Basque terrorist group ETA waged a terrorist campaign in Spain for five
decades. In October 2011, ETA announced a "definitive cessation of armed
activity". However, the group remains armed and has broken ceasefire
agreements in the past. During its campaign, ETA targeted Spanish tourist
destinations, including coastal resorts and transport hubs such as airports,
seaports, train stations and motorways. Government infrastructure and interests
were also targeted, including the police and civil guard. Attacks by ETA did not
focus on any particular city or region.

Terrorism is a threat throughout the world, including in Europe. In recent years,

terrorists have staged attacks in a number of European cities, including Paris,
Brussels, London, Berlin, Nice, Stockholm and St Petersburg. Targets have
included public transport and transport hubs, and public places frequented by
foreigners. In addition, a number of planned attacks have been disrupted by
European security services in recent years.

Be alert to possible threats, especially in public places.

Exercise particular caution around locations known to be possible terrorist targets.
Report any suspicious activity or items to police.
Keep an eye on the news for any new or emerging threats.
Take official warnings seriously and follow the instructions of local authorities.
If there is an attack, leave the affected area immediately if it is safe to do so.

More information: Terrorism threat worldwide

Civil unrest/political tension

Demonstrations and strikes can disrupt traffic and public transport services,
including air and train services. Some demonstrations held close to tourist areas
in large cities such as Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia have resulted in clashes with
police.

Avoid demonstrations as they could become violent.

Keep an eye on the local news and other sources for information on planned and
possible unrest.
Follow the advice of local authorities.
Check on any flights or other transport bookings and be ready to adjust your travel
plans.
 Crime

You could encounter petty crime, such as bag snatching, pickpocketing and
theft from cars. Many thefts occur in restaurants and sidewalk cafes when
travellers place bags on the backs of chairs or at their feet. Tourist attractions,
public transport, railway stations, cruise terminals, museums, beaches,
restaurants and hotel foyers are often targeted by thieves, especially during the
peak tourist season of summer. Credit card and ATM fraud, often involving
sophisticated equipment, is increasing in Spain.

Thieves often work in gangs and use various ploys to distract the attention of
tourists. Examples include:

a criminal using a large map or offer of assistance to distract a traveller's attention,

while an accomplice steals the traveller's belongings.
thieves posing as plain clothes police officers and, after asking for identification,
stealing money and credit cards from tourists' wallets. Tourists are sometimes
intimidated into providing the PIN for their ATM card.

Thieves commonly target motorists, especially (though not only) along the
Mediterranean coast from Marseille in France to Valencia in Spain. They might
try to convince you to pull over because of an apparent problem with your
vehicle, or offer assistance to change a slashed or flat tyre. While one assists
you, an accomplice steals from the car. Cars with foreign number plates are
often targeted. Thieves have also broken into caravans and motor homes,
particularly in public parking areas.

Incidents of drink spiking, followed by theft and sexual assault, have been
reported.

To protect yourself from crime:

Pay close attention to your personal belongings, particularly in places frequented by

tourists.
Always keep your car doors locked and keep luggage and personal possessions out of
sight when driving and when parked.
Whenever you can, use a secure parking facility, especially overnight. Don't leave your
vehicle unattended for long periods of time.
When driving, be wary of requests for or offers of assistance, especially along the
Mediterranean coast.
Effectively secure your caravan / motor home against theft.
Carry only what you need for the day. Leave other valuables, including your passport,
in a secure location. Keep your passport and other identity documents separate from
each other.
Avoid wearing expensive watches, jewellery and cameras.
Avoid ATMs that open onto the street, especially at night. Use ATMS in banks, shops
and shopping centres.
Avoid walking in quiet and poorly lit streets, especially at night.
 Do not accept drinks from strangers or leave food or drinks unattended.
Stick with people you trust in bars and nightclubs.
Keep an eye on local sources of information on crime.

Scams

There are a number of elaborate scam operations based in Spain. Inheritance

scams and Spanish lottery scams are the most common form, but other scams
also operate in Spain. Inheritance scams typically involve receipt of a message,
purporting to be from a lawyer in Spain, informing an Australian that they have
received a substantial inheritance from a previously unknown relative who died
in Spain. Scam lotteries based in Spain claim to represent Spanish state
lotteries. If you receive unexpected correspondence from Spain asserting a
financial windfall, look carefully into the claim before sending money or
travelling to Spain.

If you have been a victim of a Spanish lottery scam, do not travel to Spain to
seek restitution. Instead, obtain legal advice.

More information: Scams.

Running of the bulls

The annual Running of the Bulls takes place in Pamplona in July. Participating
in the Running of the Bulls is dangerous. Each year, a number of participants
are seriously injured. Some participants have been killed.

Some people have been killed or seriously injured by jumping off fountains
during the festivities in Pamplona.

Your travel insurance may not cover you if you participate in the Running of the
Bulls, jump from fountains or take other risks.

Read about travel insurance

Carefully check the details of your insurance policy
Use common sense.

Money

Declare cash of 10,000 Euros or more (or the equivalent in another currency) if
you are travelling between Spain and any non-European Union (EU) country.
This includes notes and coins, money orders, cheques and traveller's cheques.
If you fail to declare your cash or you give incorrect information on entry to, or
 exit from, Spain, you will be fined. You do not need to declare cash if you are
travelling to or from another EU country.

The currency of Spain is the Euro.

Natural disasters, severe weather and climate

If there is a natural disaster, follow the advice of local authorities.

Earthquakes

Spain experiences earthquakes but major quakes are rare. There is frequent
seismic activity on the Canary Island of El Hierro. The risk level set by local
authorities is Green (the first of three levels).

More information:

Canary Islands Government

Earthquakes

Severe weather

Spain experiences extreme storms from time-to-time, particularly along the

northern coast and islands. Northern areas can be affected by heavy snows
during the winter months.

Forest fires

Spain experiences forest fires, especially in the Summer months (June to

August). In 2009, fires in several regions claimed lives and caused extensive
property damage. The risk of fire is higher in rural areas. Strict penalties apply
for any actions that could start a fire. If camping, ask the local authorities for
advice on the fire danger and any fire restrictions.
Visas

Spain is a party to the Schengen Convention, along with a number of other

European countries. This allows you to enter Spain without a visa in some
circumstances.

In other circumstances you will need a visa. Visa and other entry and exit
conditions (such as currency, customs and quarantine regulations) can change
at short notice. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Spain for the most
up to date information.

- Viajes de carcter turstico o privado.

En estos casos se podr exigir la presentacin de alguno de los siguientes documentos:
1. Documento justificativo del establecimiento de hospedaje o carta de invitacin de un particular, si
se hospeda en su domicilio, expedida por la Comisara de Polica correspondiente a su lugar de
residencia.
IMPORTANTE: En ningn caso, la carta de invitacin suplir la acreditacin por el extranjero de los
dems requisitos exigidos para la entrada.
2. Confirmacin de la reserva de un viaje organizado, con el itinerario.
3. Billete de vuelta o circuito turstico
Para la acreditacin de los medios econmicos, se tendr en cuenta lo dispuesto en la Orden
PRE/1282/2007, de 10 de mayo, sobre medios econmicos cuya disposicin habrn de acreditar los
extranjeros para poder efectuar su entrada en Espaa. La cantidad mnima a acreditar es de 70,77
euros por persona y da, con un mnimo de 636,93 euros o su equivalente legal en moneda
extranjera.