Tipping
๐ฅTipping is not obligatory in Spain as service is included by law, but rounding up or leaving 5โ10% for good service is a welcome gesture.
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Tipping is not obligatory in Portugal, but 5-10% is appreciated for good restaurant service.
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Public Transport
Madrid and Barcelona have excellent, affordable metro systems; use the Renfe app to book intercity trains and buy tickets in advance for the best fares.
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Lisbon and Porto have good metro networks, and intercity trains and buses connect the country efficiently.
โTram 28 in Lisbon is a prime pickpocket location โ keep bags in front of you and secure all valuables before boarding.
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Tourist Healthcare
EU citizens with a valid EHIC card receive free or reduced-cost treatment in Spain's excellent public healthcare system; non-EU visitors should carry comprehensive travel insurance.
โNon-EU visitors without travel insurance face potentially very large bills for hospital treatment or medical evacuation โ do not skip this coverage.
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Portugal's SNS public health service is solid, and EU citizens can use their EHIC card for free or reduced-cost treatment.
โNon-EU travellers without travel insurance face full out-of-pocket costs at private facilities; public emergency care is always provided but wait times vary.
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Local Laws
Cannabis is decriminalized for personal use in private spaces only โ smoking in public or buying on the street is illegal and subject to fines.
โPublic drinking bans in Barcelona and other cities are actively enforced with on-the-spot fines โ do not assume outdoor drinking is tolerated.
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Personal drug use is decriminalized in Portugal, meaning possession of small amounts leads to an administrative warning rather than criminal charges.
โDrug trafficking carries severe criminal penalties regardless of Portugal's decriminalization policy for personal use.
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Emergency Numbers
Call 112 for all emergencies in Spain โ it is the EU universal number and connects to police, ambulance, and fire services with English-speaking operators.
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Dial 112 for all emergencies โ police, fire, and ambulance โ anywhere in Portugal.
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Dress Code
Spain is generally relaxed about dress, but cover your shoulders and knees when entering churches or cathedrals, and avoid wearing swimwear away from the beach.
โBarcelona actively fines tourists (up to โฌ300) for walking in the city centre in swimwear or going shirtless outside of beach areas.
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Portugal is very relaxed about dress, but shoulders and knees should be covered when visiting churches and especially the Fรกtima sanctuary.
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Alcohol Rules
The legal drinking age in Spain is 18, bars stay open very late, and wine culture is deeply embedded โ but public drinking is banned and fined in most major cities.
โDrink-driving limits are lower than in the UK (0.5g/L vs 0.8g/L) and enforcement is regular โ designate a driver or use taxis if drinking.
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The legal drinking age is 18, alcohol is cheap and widely available, and drinking in public is generally permitted.
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Bargaining Culture
Bargaining is not customary in Spanish shops or markets โ prices are fixed almost everywhere, though El Rastro flea market in Madrid has some room for negotiation.
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Bargaining is not part of Portuguese culture and fixed prices are the norm in almost all settings.
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Photography Rules
Photography is generally free in Spain's public spaces and streets, but many major attractions including the Sagrada Famรญlia prohibit interior photography โ always check signage.
โFlying a drone without AESA authorization is illegal in Spain and can result in confiscation and significant fines.
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Portugal is extremely photo-friendly with almost no restrictions, though respectful photography is required at Fรกtima during religious services.
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Sunday & Holiday Hours
Large shops are restricted on Sundays in most regions, siesta closures (2โ5pm) are common on weekdays, and fiesta days vary significantly by region.
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Most independent shops close on Sundays, but shopping centres, restaurants, and cafes generally stay open.
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Taxi & Rideshare
๐ฅUber and Cabify both operate in Spain's major cities, and official metered taxis are reliable and regulated โ always use the meter or agree a fare before departure.
โUnlicensed taxi touts operate near airports and major tourist sites โ always use official marked taxis or a registered app-based service.
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Uber and Bolt are widely available in Lisbon and Porto and are generally reliable and fairly priced.
โAvoid accepting rides from unlicensed drivers who approach tourists at airports or major attractions โ always use official taxi ranks or apps.
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Water Safety
๐ฅTap water is safe to drink throughout mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands, but tap water in the Canary Islands is not recommended for drinking.
โDo not drink tap water in the Canary Islands โ it is not recommended even though it is technically treated.
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Tap water is safe to drink throughout mainland Portugal and on the islands of Azores and Madeira.
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ATMs & Cash
Use bank-branded ATMs and always choose to be charged in euros (decline DCC) โ Euronet and standalone ATMs charge very high fees.
โEuronet ATMs in tourist areas charge up to โฌ5+ per withdrawal plus an unfavourable exchange rate โ always use a bank ATM instead.
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The Multibanco ATM network is widespread and accepts foreign cards, but avoid Euronet machines which charge high fees.
โEuronet ATMs in tourist areas of Lisbon and Algarve charge high fixed fees and often present DCC โ avoid them entirely.
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SIM Card & Internet
๐ฅBuy a prepaid SIM from Movistar, Vodafone, Orange, or Yoigo at airports, phone shops, or supermarkets โ tourist SIMs with generous data are available from around โฌ10.
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NOS, MEO, and Vodafone Portugal offer tourist SIMs with good data packages, available at airports and phone shops.
โCheck whether your tourist SIM covers the Azores or Madeira at the same rate as the mainland before travelling to the islands.
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Electricity & Plugs
๐ฅSpain uses Type C and Type F (Schuko) plugs at 230V/50Hz โ British visitors need a plug adapter and American visitors need both an adapter and a voltage converter for older devices.
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Portugal uses Type C and Type F (Schuko) plugs at 230V/50Hz, the same as most of continental Europe.
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Scams to Avoid
Barcelona's La Rambla and Madrid's Puerta del Sol are pickpocket hotspots โ stay alert, use a money belt, and be wary of distraction scams including the bird poo and fake police tricks.
โBarcelona has the highest pickpocketing rate in Europe for tourists โ be especially vigilant on La Rambla, in the Metro, and at major attractions.
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The main scams to watch for are Tram 28 pickpockets, couvert charges at restaurants, and fake monks.
โCouvert (bread and olives placed at the table) is legal and will be charged unless you refuse it โ always check your bill.
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Crime & Safety
Spain is generally a safe country, but Barcelona has Europe's highest tourist pickpocketing rate โ distraction theft and bag snatching are the primary risks for visitors.
โBag snatching on motorcycles (tirones) is a risk in some Spanish cities โ wear bags across your body and away from the road when walking on pavements.
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Portugal is one of the safest countries in Europe for tourists, with violent crime against visitors being very rare.
โPickpocketing in Lisbon's Alfama district and on Tram 28 has increased significantly โ keep valuables secured at all times.
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Cultural Etiquette
Greet with two kisses on the cheeks (left first), expect lunch to be the main meal at 2โ4pm, and embrace the late Spanish schedule โ dinner before 9pm marks you as a tourist.
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Portuguese people are reserved at first but become warm and welcoming once acquainted; greet with two kisses on the cheeks.
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Language Basics
Castilian Spanish is the official national language, but Catalan, Basque, and Galician are co-official in their regions โ English is widely spoken in tourist areas.
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Portuguese is the official language, and English is widely spoken in Lisbon, Porto, and the Algarve.
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Beach & Swimming
Spain's beaches use a flag system โ only swim when the green flag is flying, topless sunbathing is legal everywhere, and watch for seasonal jellyfish in the Mediterranean.
โAtlantic-facing beaches (particularly in Galicia and the Bay of Biscay) can have powerful rip currents even in calm-looking conditions โ always swim at lifeguarded beaches.
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Portugal's beaches are stunning but the Atlantic brings strong currents and cold water โ always swim within flagged zones.
โAtlantic rip currents on Portugal's west-facing coast are a genuine drowning risk โ even strong swimmers should stay within flagged safe zones.
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Driving Rules
Drive on the right, carry your driving licence and passport at all times, and be aware that many major motorways (autopistas) charge tolls.
โDriving under the influence is heavily policed in Spain โ random breathalyser checkpoints are common, particularly on holiday weekends.
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Drive on the right, and be aware that most motorways use electronic Via Verde tolls that require a transponder or pre-registration.
โDriving on the A22 Algarve motorway and other electronic-toll-only roads without a transponder or subsequent online payment will result in fines.
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Restaurants & Food
Lunch (2โ4pm) is the main meal in Spain โ order the menรบ del dรญa for a 3-course meal with wine for โฌ10โ15, and expect dinner to begin no earlier than 9pm.
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Portuguese cuisine is outstanding and affordable, but always check whether couvert (bread and olives) will be charged before accepting it.
โCouvert items placed on your table are legally chargeable โ say 'Nรฃo obrigado' immediately if you do not want them to avoid an unexpected addition to your bill.
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Religious Site Etiquette
Cover shoulders and knees when entering any church or cathedral in Spain, and note that the Mezquita-Catedral in Cรณrdoba now charges entry for non-worshippers.
โThe Alhambra in Granada sells out weeks or months in advance โ book official tickets only via the Patronato de la Alhambra website to avoid scam resellers.
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Cover shoulders and knees at all churches, and observe absolute silence and modesty at the Fรกtima pilgrimage sanctuary.
โThe Fรกtima sanctuary enforces strict dress and behaviour codes year-round, particularly during pilgrimage dates โ do not treat it as a casual sightseeing stop.
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Weather & Best Time
The best time to visit mainland Spain is MarchโMay or SeptemberโOctober; August is extremely hot inland; the Canary Islands are warm year-round.
โInland Spain (Madrid, Seville, Cรณrdoba) experiences extreme heat in July and August โ heat-related illness is a genuine risk for tourists unaccustomed to 40ยฐC+ temperatures.
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The best times to visit are spring (March-May) and early autumn (September-October) for pleasant weather and smaller crowds.
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Money-Saving Tips
Order the menรบ del dรญa for a 3-course lunch with wine for โฌ10โ15, visit museums on their free entry days, and use an Interrail pass for multi-city rail travel.
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Eat the prato do dia at local tascas, visit museums on free Sunday mornings, and buy wine and pastรฉis de nata at street prices.
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