Covid travel news for Spain

Which countries are opening their borders and which are still closed? With travel being affected so much due to COVID-19 always check if there are any restrictions before you book an accommodation. Keep an eye on this page and find out where in the world you can still travel to...

Updates for Spain

Spain imposes more travel restrictions

Following the lead of several other European countries, Spain yesterday announced that it is to introduce more travel restrictions aimed at stopping the spread of new strains of Covid-19 in the country.

Spain has made the decision to impose restrictions on inbound flights coming from both Brazil and South Africa. In doing so, the country hopes to avoid importing cases of the more-virulent and more easily transmitted strains of Covid-19, with two particularly prominent strains originating in these countries and already causing a rise in cases in other countries around the world. The news follows four Brazilian travelers testing positive for Covid-19 in Madrid airport on Monday.

Updated on February 08, 2021.

Disclaimer the information is correct to the best of Weather & Climate's knowledge at the time of publication. Given the rapidly evolving nature of the international response to the COVID-19 outbreak Weather and Climate cannot guarantee its accuracy and can accept no liability for any errors or omissions

Regional Corona measures in Spain

A major national lockdown in Spain is not on the agenda, Health Minister Salvador Illa said this week. Corona policy remains decentralized until then; regions make many decisions themselves.

In Catalonia, one of the strictest measures to date came into force on Monday: residents are not allowed to leave their municipalities, while gyms and shopping centers have also had to close again. In many other Spanish regions, shops are open, but masks are mandatory.

The current Spanish corona policy aims to reduce the number of social contacts. That is why the national government has already imposed a curfew. The time at which residents must be inside can be determined by regions themselves.

Updated on January 07, 2021.

Spain makes PCR testing mandatory for travellers

Since Monday 23 November, it is only permitted to enter both the Spanish mainland as well as the Balearic Islands and Canary Islands via airports and ports if one carries the documentation of a negative PCR test. Not having these test results with you can result in large fines of up to 6,000 euros.

Updated on December 04, 2020.

In Spain you will need to wear a mask for the whole of 2021

In Spain, the mask requirement will remain in force throughout the following year 2021. The fact that the obligation of these masks will last another year has to do with the program of vaccines.

Two injections are needed, and then the effect of the vaccine still needs to be measured. It is therefore expected that this will take at least another year.

Updated on December 01, 2020.

Barcelona restaurants reopen on Monday

Cafes and restaurants in Barcelona and other cities in the Spanish region of Catalonia are allowed to open again until 21:30 in the evening. Cinemas, theatres and concert halls are also allowed to reopen with up to half the normal number of visitors.

It is a first step in the regional government's intention to reduce the corona measures, Spanish media report. The hospitality industry had to close in the middle of last month to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Restaurants and bars are only allowed to fill 30 percent of the spots. A maximum of four people per table are allowed on terraces if they keep their distance from each other. Gyms are allowed to reopen with a significant reduction in the number of people.

The curfew in Catalonia from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. will remain in place for the time being, as will travel restrictions previously imposed on residents of the wealthy coastal region.

Updated on November 19, 2020.

New entry requirements for Spain

Tourists travelling to Spain from high-risk areas will now have to prove that they have recently been tested negatively for the coronavirus. The Spanish Ministry of Health reported this on Wednesday.

Spain determines, on the basis of data from the European Union, which countries are considered a risk area. Countries where more than 150 per 100,000 inhabitants tested positive in the past two weeks, the EU considers as a risk area. According to this criterion, virtually the entire EU is a risk area at this moment (11-11-2020).

Updated on November 11, 2020.

State of emergency and curfew in Spain

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez declared a new state of emergency, that is set to last until May 2021. The country sees one of the largest increases in the number of positive corona tests across Europe.

The new state of emergency gives Spanish regions the power to impose stricter movement restrictions. The exact measures that will apply will therefore still depend on the regions themselves.

The new state of emergency does allow a nationwide curfew. This means between 23:00 and 6:00 you are not allowed to go out, however every region has the authority to adjust the start and end times of the curfew.

Updated on October 30, 2020.

U.K. and Germany opened up travel corridors to the Canary Islands

After being granted a travel corridor and ranking in UK’s list of safe travels, Spanish archipelago Canary Islands opens to tourists despite the coronavirus surging in Spain.

Tenerife and the rest of the islands, which include Gran Canaria and Lanzarote, have pledged to check whether tourists are clear of Covid-19 both on their arrival and departure.

We recommend to always check if there are any latest travel restrictions before you book an accommodation. Travel may only be permitted for certain purposes and recreational travel may not be specifically permitted. Government measures are constantly changing, so we recommend that you regularly check for updates. Click here for the latest Spanish Corona information.

Updated on October 25, 2020.

Bars and restaurants in Catalonia, Spain will close for the next 15 days

Due to the sharp rise in the figures, the bars and restaurants in Catalonia will close for the next 15 days. The number of people allowed to be in a shop at the same time will also be reduced further, the authorities report. Bars and restaurants may only be open for take away or delivery. Amateur sport is being restricted and casinos have to close as well.

Updated on October 15, 2020.

Spain tightens Corona measures

Several Spanish regions have tightened measures to contain the virus. The number of infections in Spain have increased rapidly in recent days. In total, more than 400,000 people have now been infected.

Private meetings of more than ten people in and around Barcelona are forbidden. In the south-east of the country, around Murcia, no more than six people are allowed to come together if they do not live in the same household. And in the capital Madrid, the government recommends avoiding all social contacts as much as possible. The balearic island group (Menorca, Mallorca and Ibiza) speaks of a second wave. The virus spreads so quickly that the authorities say it is difficult to conduct contact tests.

Some countries announced that they would put the travel advice for the whole of Spain on orange.

Updated on August 25, 2020.

Wearing masks always mandatory in Madrid, Spain

Wearing masks is mandatory in Madrid at all times, according to regional leader Isabel Diaz Ayuso. It was also decided that all bars should close no later than 1:00 a.m. and that the catering industry should not allow companies of more than ten people. In addition, residents are advised to receive no more than ten people at home at a time.

Throughout Spain, the wearing of masks is mandatory on public transport and in all places where no distance of 2 metres can be held. Regional authorities may take additional measures, like Madrid just did. The Spanish capital hopes to avoid a total lockdown in this way.

Updated on July 28, 2020.

Madrid region made masks mandatory in all public areas

Updated on August 02, 2020.

Costa del Sol, Ibiza and Majorca make face masks mandatory from this week

Costa del Sol has become the latest Spanish region to enforce the use of face masks this week, following similar announcements from Ibiza, Majorca and Catalonia.

Masks will be compulsory in the region from Wednesday, July 15 regardless of social distancing, president of the Andalusian Government Juanma Moreno confirmed.

He added: "Despite the heat, difficulties and limitations, we have to get used to wearing the mask permanently. With the use of the mask, the risk of contagion is reduced to one per cent.”

Updated on July 14, 2020.

160,000 Catalans again in lockdown in Spain

Around 160,000 residents of the Catalan city of Lleida and six nearby villages will be in lockdown again from today. The local government's decision was approved by a judge yesterday, after there was a great deal of controversy over the far-reaching measures against the spread of the coronavirus. The Catalans are only allowed to leave on essential matters. In addition, 260,000 residents of L'Hospitalet near Barcelona have been urged to stay at home.

Updated on July 15, 2020.

Catalonia requires the wearing of mouth masks in public spaces

Catalonia requires the wearing of mouth masks in public spaces. The measure will take effect on Thursday, this was announced by Quim Torra. In the rest of Spain, wearing masks is only mandatory if keeping distance is not possible, both indoors and outdoors.

Updated on July 08, 2020.

Spain lifts travel restrictions for third countries

As from 1 July Spain and other EU countries start lifting the travel restrictions at the external borders for residents of the following third countries:

Australia
Canada
Georgia
Japan
Montenegro
New Zealand
Rwanda
Serbia
South Korea
Thailand
Tunisia
Uruguay

Spain opened its borders to the rest of the EU

Spain opened its borders to the rest of the EU and Schengen zone countries outside the EU on Sunday the 22nd of June. From June 30, people from several countries outside the European Union and Schengen Zone, where the Corona virus infection rates are lower, will be permitted to fly to Spain for non-essential purposes, Spain’s government has announced. Arrivals will have their temperature taken at the airport, state if they have had the virus and provide contact details.

Despite that Spain’s government last week raised the possibility to impose quarantine on British travelers, as a response to the same measure taken by Britain’s government, at the end it decided to open the borders without such requirements. Opening up the holiday market again before the summer season is over is seen as crucial to the Spanish economy.

We recommend to always check if there are any latest travel restrictions before you book an accommodation. Travel may only be permitted for certain purposes and recreational travel may not be specifically permitted. Government measures are constantly changing, so we recommend that you regularly check for updates. Click here for travel restrictions and guidelines for Spain.

Updated on June 29, 2020.

Weather and climate in Spain