Spain quick facts
- Capital: Madrid
- Form of government: Parliamentary hereditary monarchy
- Population: 46,438,422
- General emergency call: 112
- Emergency fire brigade: 085
- Country code: +34
- Electric voltage: 230 V.
The Spaniards are open, sociable people and take every opportunity to enjoy the outdoors and the sun. The cozy chat with neighbors and acquaintances on the street keeps the Spaniards up to date and is part of the normal daily routine. Take a Spanish course in one of our language schools in Spain to enjoy Spanish life.
Spanish life begins at sunset , especially in summer. Restaurants are prepared for a much later dinner than is known in the rest of Europe. After dinner, the extremely lively and varied nightlife begins.
Use your trip to Spain to get to know the culture and everyday life of the people in this beautiful country and to enjoy Spanish cuisine, history and art. To make it easier for you to prepare for your trip, we have put together some useful information for you.
General information about Spain
Geography
As a country located in south Europe according to Countryaah.com, Spain is the largest country on the Iberian Peninsula and has coasts in all directions. Due to its size, it has very diverse landscapes, idyllic villages and modern metropolises to offer.
Time difference
The clocks in Spain are based on Central European Time (CET), so there is no time difference to Germany.
Climate and travel times
There is a very different climate in Spain. In the north there is more of an Atlantic climate with an average temperature of 18 ° a year. Especially in winter there is precipitation. In the center of the country there is a continental climate. Summer is very pleasant, in winter even snow falls. In contrast, the Mediterranean climate prevails in the south of Spain. Even in winter, the temperature here usually does not drop below 17 °. In summer you can expect 30 ° and more.
The climate in Spain is divided into various zones. The northern coast has an Atlantic climate with mild summers and winters. The average temperature is between 17.1 and 18.8 degrees. The mean value is well over ten degrees even in winter. Precipitation falls mainly in winter, with most rainy days in January. In the center of Spain there is an oceanic-continental climate. The winters with high levels of precipitation are very cold here, with lows averaging below three degrees, and snow falls regularly in the northern inland. The monthly average temperature fluctuates between 8.5 degrees in January and 30.8 degrees in July. In summer the temperatures are higher than on the coast. In the higher elevations within the Pyrenees there is a mountain climate. The winter here is cold and particularly long. The very freshly tempered summers are short. In contrast, the south of Spain is characterized by the Mediterranean climate. The winter is very mild with an average of at least 15.7 degrees, the summer with an average of over 30 degrees between June and September is relatively hot. Rain falls mainly in spring and autumn, the amount of precipitation decreases significantly towards the south. In the north-west of Spain, for example, there is almost five times as much precipitation as in the south-east. January is the rainiest there with an average of four days of precipitation, while in the northwest there are an average of 16 rainy days at the same time. With an average of at least eight hours of sunshine a day, the south is much friendlier than the north with an average of 5.4 hours of sunshine a day. In the center of the country there are an average of 7.8 hours of sunshine. During the summer months, the average is over ten hours of sunshine a day. In July, the sun shines an average of 12.3 hours a day, which is longer than in the south. The different climate in Spain affects the water temperature. This is on the southern coasts with an average of 18 degrees higher than in the north with an average of 15 degrees. In August, the average temperature of the sea is at its highest with 20 degrees in the north and 23 degrees in the south.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Maximum temperature | 13 ° | 14 ° | 15 ° | 18 ° | 20 ° | 23 ° | 26 ° | 28 ° | 25 ° | 20 ° | 16 ° | 12 ° |
| Minimum temperature | 5 ° | 6 ° | 8 ° | 10 ° | 12 ° | 15 ° | 18 ° | 18 ° | 17 ° | 15 ° | 11 ° | 6 ° |
| Hours of sunshine | 5h | 6h | 6h | 7h | 8h | 9h | 10h | 8h | 7h | 5h | 5h | 4h |
| Water temperature | 13 ° | 13 ° | 13 ° | 14 ° | 16 ° | 20 ° | 22 ° | 23 ° | 22 ° | 20 ° | 15 ° | 14 ° |
| Rainydays | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4th | 3 | 4th | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Travel preparations for Spain
Entry requirements
Citizens of an EU country do not need a visa to enter Spain, only a valid identity card or passport. With these documents, a stay of up to three months is permitted.
Citizens from countries outside the EU, on the other hand, need a visa to enter Spain. This usually has to be applied for personally at the responsible consulate.
Currency
Spain belongs to the euro zone and therefore, like Germany, has the euro as its official currency. But the Spaniards are not quite used to the euro, and prices are often also written in pesetas (the former currency).
The image of King Juan Carlos I de Borbón y Borbón is on the 1 and 2 euro coins. The 10, 20 and 50 cent coins are adorned by Miguel de Cervantes, a Spanish writer. The 1, 2 and 5 cent coins
are decorated with the image of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.
Health care
Spain has a good health system with adequate medical facilities and trained specialists. In Spain, all travelers who are legally insured in Germany are entitled to treatment if urgently required. You need the European health insurance card or a replacement certificate as proof.
Regardless of this, it is recommended that you take out health insurance abroad for the duration of your stay abroad, so that you can take advantage of the necessary return transport to Germany free of charge in the event of illness.
