Spain

Recommended Vaccinations For Spain

For Most Travellers

Hepatitis B Vaccine

There is a low risk of infection with hepatitis B for this country, however, the vaccination is recommended.

Hepatitis A Vaccine

There is a risk of infection with hepatitis A for this country, therefore, the vaccination is recommended.

For Some Travellers

Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) Vaccine

A dose of Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is recommended for infants aged 6 to 11 months.

Rabies Vaccine

Vaccination against rabies is recommended for travellers whose activities or employment may bring them into direct contact with bats (i.e. adventure travellers, veterinarians, wildlife professionals, researchers, etc.).

Recommended Medications For Spain

There are no recommendations for Spain at this time.

Diseases To Be Aware of for Spain

For Most Travellers

Hepatitis B

There is a risk of infection with hepatitis B for this country.

Hepatitis A

There is a risk for acquiring hepatitis A in Spain.

For Some Travellers

Leishmaniasis

There is a risk of acquiring Leishmaniasis in this country through sand fly bites, particularly between dusk to dawn. Adventure tourists, outdoor athletes, or humanitarian aid workers are at a higher risk.

Measles

A dose of Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is recommended for infants aged 6 to 11 months.

Tuberculosis

Travellers to this country are at risk for tuberculosis if visiting sick friends or family, working in the healthcare field, or having close prolonged contact with an infected person.

Hanta Virus

There is a risk of acquiring Hantavirus in this country through the consumption of food and water contaminated by an infected rodent or through rodent bites.

Rabies

Rabies has not been reported in Spain and is considered a low risk for travellers, However, it may occur in bats. There is risk of rabies in the African territories of Ceuta and Melila in Spain.

Safety & Security in Spain

Personal Safety

Petty theft dominates the crime landscape in Spain, particularly pickpocketing in major cities and tourist areas. Barcelona consistently ranks among Europe’s pickpocketing capitals with incidents concentrated around La Rambla, Gothic Quarter, Sagrada Familia, and public transport. Madrid follows with high pickpocket activity at tourist sites including Plaza Mayor, Royal Palace, Retiro Park, and transport hubs like Atocha station. The Balearic Islands record the highest crime rate at 64 crimes per 1,000 people, followed by Catalonia and Madrid. Spain ranks 50th on the 2025 Crime Index by Country with relatively low perceived crime. Violent crime against tourists remains rare with a homicide rate of 0.69 per 100,000 inhabitants, significantly below the EU average of 1.0. Thieves commonly work in teams using distraction techniques including fake spills, requests for directions, fake petitions, and individuals posing as plainclothes police officers. Popular scam tactics involve bird poop distractions and bracelet sellers at tourist landmarks. Theft from vehicles occurs frequently, particularly cars with foreign number plates along the Mediterranean coast from France to Valencia. Property crime rates have declined over the past decade though Spain ranks 14th globally for reported theft. The AlertCops app provides direct contact with law enforcement, and Spain maintains a Foreign Tourist Service offering multilingual assistance after crimes occur.

Extreme Violence

Spain maintained a high national terrorism alert level throughout 2023 and temporarily reinforced measures in October following the Israel-Hamas conflict. Spanish authorities carried out 36 counterterrorism operations and detained 78 suspects on terrorism-related charges in 2023. On January 25, 2023, a machete attack linked to terrorism occurred at two churches in Algeciras, killing one person and injuring another. Spain conducted 36 counterterrorism operations in 2022, detaining 56 suspects. Security services have successfully stopped multiple planned attacks in recent years. The National Strategy Against Terrorism includes measures to prevent and respond to attacks against soft targets including hotels, stadiums, tourist resorts, and cultural sites. Terrorism remains a threat across all major European cities with attacks possible at any time without warning. Gun violence is virtually non-existent in Spain. Violent crime directed at tourists is exceptionally rare. The country ranks 23rd on the 2024 Global Peace Index among 163 countries. Despite the high terrorism alert level, actual incidents remain infrequent compared to the 1970s and 1980s when political extremists and separatist groups like ETA operated more actively. ETA dissolved in 2018. Spain leads European efforts against online terrorist content and radicalization through its Intelligence Center for Counterterrorism and Organized Crime. In 2023, Spain issued over 60 removal orders for jihadist propaganda and right-wing extremist terrorism materials under EU regulations.

Political Unrest

Demonstrations and strikes occur regularly throughout Spain, with some turning violent. Protests can happen with little warning, particularly in major cities including Madrid, Barcelona, and throughout Catalonia. Violent clashes between demonstrators and police have taken place, especially during protests related to Catalan amnesty issues from late 2023 into 2024. Demonstrations can disrupt traffic and public transport including access to airports, railway systems, and metro networks. Flight delays, cancellations, and port disruptions are possible during strikes. Mass protests against the government took place in June 2025 with attendance estimated between 45,000 and 100,000 in Madrid. Anti-tourism protests began in April 2024 across the Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, Barcelona, and Malaga. In July 2024, approximately 3,000 protesters in Barcelona used water guns to spray tourists and cordoned off restaurants. Between 20,000 and 50,000 people protested across the Canary Islands against overtourism in April 2024. The demonstrations in Mallorca drew about 10,000 people in May 2024. Pro-Palestinian protests occurred in September 2025, forcing the early end of the Spanish Vuelta cycling race with over 100,000 protesters reported. Historic demonstrations in October 2025 saw 300,000 people march in Barcelona and over 500,000 in Madrid regarding the Gaza situation. While most demonstrations remain peaceful, there is ongoing risk of unrest or violence with some protesters throwing flares and objects at police during recent government protests.

Areas To Avoid

Barcelona records the highest crime rate in Spain at 8,563 offenses per 100,000 residents in the first half of 2025. Within Barcelona, El Raval requires extra caution, particularly the southern section near Parallel Avenue after dark, though violent crime remains uncommon. The area near Plaça George Orwell requires additional vigilance especially after midnight. Ciutat Vella covering Barri Gotic, El Born, El Raval, and Barceloneta experiences high pickpocketing and burglary rates due to heavy tourist traffic. La Rambla and port areas warrant caution late at night. Barcelona airport including car rental facilities and the Aerobus presents high theft risk. Madrid follows Barcelona with a crime rate of 7.98 crimes per 100,000 inhabitants, with highest activity at Puerta del Sol, Gran Via, and train stations like Atocha. Tourist hotspots including Plaza Mayor and Royal Palace require heightened awareness. Malaga ranks fourth with 5.875 crimes per 100,000 inhabitants, experiencing increased crime related to drug trafficking and residential burglaries. Palma de Mallorca has a crime rate of 5.54 per 100,000, with nightlife areas and beaches seeing increased robberies and fights. Seville records 6.45 crimes per 100,000, with increases in property crimes and drug trafficking. The Balearic Islands overall report the highest regional crime rate at 64 crimes per 1,000 people. Granada’s Sacramonte neighborhood is mentioned in travel guides as requiring caution for solo travelers, particularly deep within the area late at night. Coastal areas generally experience higher crime rates than inland regions, with Catalonia leading in total recorded offenses at 207,567 incidents in the first half of 2025.