Travel Insurance for Spain
Spain’s a country that captures the heart of anyone who visits. Madrid and Barcelona are energetic cities that are packed with plenty to do; the Costa del Sol is renowned for its beautiful Mediterranean beaches, while the Pyrenees and the Picos de Europa are among the best mountain ranges on the continent. Alternatively, you can explore the Moorish towns of the south, or go on a cultural pilgrimage to Bilbao.
Food and wine are national obsessions in Spain and many of the country’s best recipes have been handed down through the generations. Side streets in the cities are often packed with ornate tapas bars and Michelin-starred restaurants, where you can try the freshest fish and latest Mediterranean dishes. Don’t worry about being too full after lunch, either; you can treat yourself to a siesta like a local.
Spanish is the country’s national language, but many people in Spain also speak variants of Catalan, Galician and Basque. Like many other countries on the continent, Spain’s currency is the euro. It’s easily accessible and tradable, so you can exchange your money before you travel or when you arrive.
No matter where you’re heading in Spain, it's important that you get travel insurance to help protect you against risks you may encounter. We offer different levels of cover, so you can choose an insurance type to suit your needs. If you’re taking a family holiday to Majorca, for example, then you may find that our Family travel insurance is best suited to your needs. But if you’re planning to visit Ibiza with friends, then our Group policy may be better.
Below is some more information about our products, for which Terms and Conditions apply. Please visit the policy information hub for full details.
Why may I need travel insurance for Spain?
Even though Spain is close by and a safe place to visit, you should still take out travel insurance before you travel, because accidents can still happen. For example, your flight may be delayed or cancelled, you may injure yourself walking along the beach or you may have your personal possessions stolen by an opportunistic pickpocket. Thankfully, our travel insurance for Spain helps cover you for these eventualities and more.
Although the EHIC or the GHIC is an important document, it doesn’t replace travel insurance for Spain. Like the UK, Spain has both public and private healthcare, so some treatment might be free if you travel with an EHIC or GHIC. But your EHIC or GHIC will not cover you for everything; if you need medical repatriation or mountain rescue, for example, you’ll need to pay for it. And if you fall ill or get injured in Spain and require healthcare that isn’t covered by an EHIC or GHIC, you’ll have to pay for the treatment yourself – unless you travel with insurance.
Despite the UK leaving the EU in January 2021, the EHIC remains valid for UK holders until the expiry date of their card. However, once your EHIC has expired you will have to apply for a Global Health Insurance (GHIC). The GHIC will take the place of the EHIC and can be applied for and ordered now if you don't already own an EHIC
Our Single Trip, Annual and Backpacker policies can help keep you protected during your holiday to Spain. Across our Single Trip and Annual policies, you can choose from our Bronze, Silver or Gold levels of cover. Depending on the level of cover you choose, you’ll be protected for:
- *Not available with Bronze level cover
- **Only available with Gold level cover
- Terms and Conditions apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re planning to visit Spain on a holiday, then you can stay for up to three months without a visa.
Please note that, despite the UK leaving the EU, you still won't require a visa to travel to Spain on holiday unless you are staying in the Schengen area, or elsewhere in the EU, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
Spain is generally considered to be a safe place to visit, and most holiday-makers enjoy problem-free trips. But there are still some things you should be aware of when you visit Spain.
Firstly, like many countries, Spain’s busy tourist areas attract opportunistic criminals. If you’re heading to popular spots like La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona or the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid, then you should be wary of pickpockets. Try to keep valuables hidden away in a zipped pocket or bag, and always make sure they’re out of sight when not in use. Thankfully, if the worst does happen and you’ve taken out our Silver or Gold travel insurance for Spain, then your personal possessions, including your cash and your passport, are covered.
You must also be careful when consuming alcohol. Recently, there have been a number of serious incidents (some fatal) where people have fallen from balconies while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. As well as having a devastating impact on your family and friends, if you injure yourself (or worse) whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs, your insurance will be invalid. For full information, please see the General Exclusions information in your policy documents.
Many sports and leisure activities are covered on our standard travel insurance policies at no additional premium. From 5th May 2021 we will temporarily be unable to offer cover while you take part in riskier Category 2 and Category 3 sports and leisure activities like kite surfing and rugby. This is only for the short term, while we make improvements to our online booking process. Please keep an eye on the Allianz Assistance website in the future so you are aware when we are able to offer this additional cover again. Policies purchased before 5th May 2021 aren’t affected and your cover won’t change.
Whether you want to try your hand at surfing in Santander, fancy trekking in the Picos de Europa National Park or want to cycle around the plains, hills and mountains of Majorca, our travel insurance for Spain covers a number of sports and leisure activities as standard.
But if you want to try something a little bit riskier, you may need additional cover. We are currently unable to offer our Sports and Leisure Activities insurance for higher risk Category 1 and Category 2 activities like kite surfing and rugby, but we are hoping to be able to provide this option again in the near future.
To understand exactly what you’re covered for, and to see what terms, conditions and exclusions apply, please check your policy documents.
The cost of your travel insurance for Spain will depend on a number of factors, including:
- The age and number of people travelling
- The length of the trip
- Whether anyone has a pre-existing medical condition they need to declare, since this may affect your eligibility
- Whether they need additional cover
To understand exactly how much your travel insurance for Spain will cost you, visit our Get a Quote page.
Before you travel to Spain, there are a number of things you should know. Firstly, smaller villages and towns are likely to honour siesta, which means that shops, bars and restaurants will close for a period of time in the afternoon.
In Spain, mealtimes tend to differ to the UK. This is most evident in the evenings, when restaurants will open later. Many Spanish people eat their evening meal after 9pm, so if you’re travelling with children and need to eat earlier, then you may have to do some research on restaurant opening times before you set off.
In the summer months, the weather can be extremely hot and sunny. Even if the forecast isn’t great, you should still pack plenty of sun cream, in case the weather improves whilst you’re away. And if it is sunny during your visit, you should avoid being out in the direct sunlight for long periods.
Finally, languages and cultures vary across the country. For example, if you visit the north-eastern area of the country around Barcelona and Costa Brava, you’re likely to be surrounded by a Catalan culture and language. But, if you visit the region that straddles the border between France and Spain, then you’ll see the Basque culture and language. As a result, you should research the area you’re visiting before you travel, to see whether there’s anything you need to know about the local culture before you arrive.
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