Practical Information for visiting Andalusia

Cellphone and internet coverage is strong across Andalusia's cities, coasts and main roads, and thins out only in the more remote parts of the Sierra Nevada, the Sierra de Grazalema and other mountain interiors. Movistar, Vodafone and Orange España, Spain's three main networks, cover Seville, Cordoba, Granada, Málaga and the coastal resort towns reliably.

EU visitors benefit from roam-like-at-home rules; visitors from outside the EU should check roaming costs or buy a Spanish prepaid SIM or eSIM on arrival, widely available at airports and city centres. Public Wi-Fi is common in hotels, cafés and many public squares in the tourist cities. Download offline maps before heading into the Sierra Nevada, the pueblos blancos or Doñana National Park, where signal can drop.

Andalusia is a safe destination for travellers; take the standard precautions against petty crime, bag-snatching and pickpocketing common to any busy European tourist city, particularly on public transport and around crowded sites like the Alhambra and Seville's cathedral. Use official taxis or ride apps at night in unfamiliar areas.

Summer heat is the region's real hazard: temperatures inland in Seville and Cordoba regularly exceed 40°C in July and August, so avoid strenuous activity in the early afternoon, carry water, and use sun protection. Wildfire risk rises in the dry summer months in the Sierra Nevada and other wooded interiors; follow any local fire restrictions. Sea conditions on the Atlantic Costa de la Luz can carry stronger currents than the sheltered Mediterranean beaches, so heed posted flag warnings.

Spain has a high standard of health care, and no special vaccinations are required for Andalusia beyond routine ones. For a medical emergency, dial 112 and ask for an ambulance, the common emergency number across Spain and the European Union. EU and UK visitors should carry a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which covers reciprocal state healthcare; comprehensive travel insurance is still recommended, as it does not cover everything, including repatriation.

The dominant seasonal risk is heat: from June to September, especially in the inland cities of Seville and Cordoba where temperatures regularly top 40°C, dehydration and heat exhaustion are real dangers, so pace outdoor sightseeing around the cooler morning and evening hours. Sun protection matters year-round on the coast. Tap water is safe to drink throughout the region.

Andalusia follows Spanish and EU law. Visitors from outside the Schengen area may enter visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period; check requirements before travel, as rules differ for longer stays or work. The legal drinking age is 18; alcohol is sold in supermarkets and bars under standard Spanish licensing hours. Smoking is banned in enclosed public spaces, including bars and restaurants, but permitted on most outdoor terraces.

Etiquette here favours a relaxed pace: lunch runs late (roughly 2 to 4 p.m.) and dinner later still (often after 9 p.m.), with many shops closing for a midday siesta in smaller towns, especially in high summer. Dress modestly, covering shoulders and knees, when visiting the region's cathedrals, mosque-cathedral and other religious sites. Tipping is appreciated but not obligatory; rounding up or leaving 5-10% in restaurants is typical.

Emergency number: 112, the common emergency number across Spain and the European Union, for police, fire and ambulance, free from any phone. Health advice: EU and UK visitors should carry a GHIC or EHIC for reciprocal healthcare; comprehensive travel insurance is still recommended.

Consular: foreign consular help is listed on each country's travel advisory for Spain; most embassies are in Madrid, with consulates in Seville, Málaga and other major cities. Natural hazards: extreme summer heat inland (regularly above 40°C in Seville and Cordoba, June to September), wildfire risk in dry summer months, and stronger Atlantic currents on the Costa de la Luz than on sheltered Mediterranean beaches. Visa-exempt visitors may stay up to 90 days in any 180-day Schengen period.