Spain

Late spring beats summer everywhere south of Madrid — July/August heat in Seville or Granada is genuinely brutal. The north coast (San Sebastián, Basque Country) flips this: summer is actually its best season.

• Feria de Abril, SevilleTwo weeks after Easter

  Andalusian culture at full volume — book accommodation 6+ months out if you want to be there.

• La Tomatina, BuñolLast Wednesday of August

  Famous, chaotic, and genuinely fun if that's your speed — it's one town, one day, not representative of Spain broadly.

Cards are near-universal; small tapas bars and rural spots may prefer cash. Tipping is light — round up or leave small change, rarely more than 5–10%.

No special vaccinations required. Emergency number: 112. Pharmacies (green cross) handle most minor issues without an appointment.

eSIMs work well; Movistar, Vodafone, and Orange cover the country thoroughly, including most rural areas.

Sun protection matters more here than most of Europe — even spring/fall midday sun is strong, especially in the south.

The AVE high-speed network rivals France's — Madrid–Barcelona and Madrid–Seville both run under 3 hours. Book ahead in high season for the best fares.

Useful for Andalusia's smaller towns (Ronda, the white villages) or the north coast; unnecessary for a Madrid/Barcelona-focused trip.

Dinner starts late — 9pm is normal, 8pm is early. Siesta-era shop closures (roughly 2–5pm) are less universal in big cities now but still common in smaller towns.

• Hola (hello)
• Por favor (please)
• La cuenta, por favor (the check, please)
• Gracias (thank you)