When individuals consider European Summers, lots of the photographs that pop up are in all probability scenes from Spain. The Gaudi structure, seaside villages, rolling hills, Mediterranean waters, quiet cobblestone streets—all of it may be present in Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, Granada, Córdoba, Girona, Ibiza, and numerous different cities throughout the nation. However with everybody dreaming of Spain, it means the nation is a well-liked vacation spot for lots of people. Like, a complete, entire lot of individuals.

In response to the most recent data, Spain has already had 17 million guests within the first quarter of 2025 alone. That’s a 5.7 % enhance in guests in comparison with final yr, and is the busiest yr for guests to the nation in recorded historical past. When accounting for Spain’s inhabitants of just below 50 million individuals, it may be straightforward to see how such a excessive quantity of holiday makers may overwhelm.

That knowledge doesn’t even account for the busiest summer season journey months proper across the nook. And whereas a rise in tourism could be good for some locations, that hasn’t been the case for Spain lately. In cities like Barcelona, locals have outright rejected the inflow of holiday makers, going as far as to pour water on eating vacationers and mass protests.

There’s already been just a few points to pay attention to this yr. Within the final days of April 2025, a power outage impacted transit, hospitals, and every part else in Spain, France, and Portugal. On Might 5, cable thefts on main practice traces brought on delays for 1000’s of individuals. Canada issued a journey advisory this week for the nation, warning vacationers to train a excessive diploma of warning on account of an increased threat of terrorism. The U.S. issued an identical Stage 2 warning associated to the specter of terrorism and civil unrest again in December 2024.

Given all of this data, it could possibly really feel past intimidating to maneuver forward together with your booked journey to Spain this summer season. Right here’s what to know earlier than you go, together with tips about avoiding the key crowds.

E book prematurely

Take into account reserving your journey for one more season. At this cut-off date, the costs will probably be too excessive and the supply will probably be sparse. However, when you’ve already obtained your tickets and your lodge reservations, be sure to’ve obtained reservations for eating places, excursions, transport, and museums earlier than your ft ever contact the bottom.

Put together for the crowds

If you’re going to one in all Spain’s extra fashionable cities, there will probably be crowds. Making reservations and bookings prematurely will help, however that received’t spare you from all the chaos. One nice possibility is to contemplate taking a day journey to smaller, much less fashionable locations throughout your go to. (T+L has suggestions on hidden gem wine regions and ignored locales bursting with Michelin starred restaurants.) Spots like Barcelona and Madrid don’t must be completely unmanageable. We’ve obtained a information to visiting Barcelona in any season and tips about the best things to see and do while in Madrid.

Journey responsibly

Will probably be sizzling, it is going to be crowded, and it is doable your expectations received’t stay as much as actuality—transit points and protests can pop up at any time, as we’ve already seen this yr. Be certain that to maintain your wits about you in order to not make any journey woes flip into true nightmares. Maintain all of your valuables packed away safely, make a sensible price range, stay street smart, examine your authorities’s journey advisories earlier than departure, drink loads of water, put on sunscreen, and act with grace in direction of locals and anybody offering you with a service.