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We know that you are looking forward to traveling to Spain and enjoying good weather, gastronomy and the good life in Spain. Therefore, we want to help you be a little clearer about the situation in the country and give you some advice so that you can visit us in complete safety.
Can you travel to Spain?
The official date for the opening of borders is June 21, although only travelers from the Schengen area and the United Kingdom may come to Spain.
In fact, from June 15, Mallorca is receiving the first German visitors who will not have to be quarantined and must stay on the island for at least five nights. This is part of a pilot program to start recovering foreign tourism in the country.
So, if everything goes well, you will soon be able to visit us – always under measures of temperature and symptoms control- and discover beautiful paradises on the Spanish coast.
What security measures must be followed?
In Spain, the return to normality is being carried out in stages, depending on the situation in each region. Therefore, rules are different in each place and it is best to check out the phase in which the town you want to visit is, in order to be clear about what can and cannot be done.
However, there are two common standards throughout the country:
- Mandatory use of masks. The use of a mask is compulsory in Spain in public spaces for people over six, as long as the safety distance of two meters cannot be guaranteed. There are exceptions, such as people suffering from respiratory difficulties or people doing an activity (running, cycling…) that is incompatible with its use. The use of the mask is mandatory on public roads, outdoor spaces and in any closed space for public use.
- You must keep a distance of two meters with people who are not part of your family nucleus (with whom you do not share a home). If circumstances do not allow it, it is mandatory to wear a mask.
What kind of shops are open?
Again, it depends on what phase each region is in. Spanish regions are either in phase 2 or phase 3. These are the services that are running in each phase:
Services available in phase 2
- Commercial premises at 40% of the capacity.
- Shopping centers with a limited capacity of 30% in common areas and 40% in stores.
- Open-air markets with a third of the usual ports.
- Terraces of bars, restaurants and cafes at 50% of their capacity.
- You can eat inside the restaurants, with 40% of the capacity.
- Common areas of hotels and tourist accommodation with a third of the capacity.
- Libraries, museums, cinemas, theaters and auditoriums. These last three open to the public with a previously assigned seat and limitation of a third of the capacity.
- Recreational pools by appointment and a maximum capacity of 30%.
Services available in phase 3
- Commercial premises at 50% of the capacity.
- Shopping centers with limited capacity to 40% in common areas and 50% in premises.
- Open-air markets with half the usual ports.
- The terraces increase the capacity to 75% of its capacity. A perfect time to enjoy the cafes looking at the sea in any of these Alicante towns.
- Indoor restaurants, at 50% of its capacity.
- Common areas of hotels and tourist accommodation with 50% of capacity.
- Libraries, museums and exhibition halls at 50% of the capacity. Cinemas, theaters and auditoriums with pre-assigned seats and a 50% capacity limit.
- Recreational pools by appointment and a maximum capacity of 30%.
- Nightlife venues one third of the capacity and no dance floor allowed.
Likewise, we advise you to check with the authorities of the area you are going to visit to be sure of what is allowed.
Can you go to the beach?
First of all, we have very good news: 589 Spanish beaches have received the quality Blue Flag in 2020. Spain is the country with the most distinctions of this type in the world. So, you have to enjoy those beaches!
In any case, you must ALWAYS respect the safety distance both for sunbathing or sitting on the sand, as well as for walking and swimming. For this reason, some beaches are creating small plots to ensure standards are met. And in Valencia, for instance, there will be informants to remind bathers of the measures to be taken, in addition to police officers and drones to monitor compliance with the regulations. And in Andalusia 3,000 guards will be incorporated to check that the safety distance between visitors is respected.
The municipalities of the coastal towns will control access to their beaches, so the situation may vary depending on where we are. For example, people in Andalusia can stay on the beach for four hours maximum. On the other hand, beaches in some other places are still closed. So we advise you to check with the town hall of the town you want to visit to find out the conditions. We are looking forward to visiting these beaches, the best in Torrevieja.
Can you travel between regions?
Regional governments decide if their citizens can move between provinces inside the region. Of course, it is essential that the provinces that open their borders are in the same phase.
As of today, the Autonomous Communities that allow moving between their provinces are Andalusia, Aragon, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Galicia, the Basque Country and Castilla La-Mancha (only between Cuenca and Guadalajara). You can also travel freely in regions with only one province (such as Murcia or Cantabria).
However, mobility between regions will not be allowed until June 21, when the State of Alarm ends.
Situation in the most tourist destinations
The most popular destinations for those who visit Spain are in different phases:
Alicante: phase 3
Valencia: phase 3
Malaga: phase 3
Granada: phase 3
Seville: phase 3
Canary Islands: phase 3
Balearic Islands: phase 3
Barcelona: phase 2
Madrid: phase 2
At Sonneil, we hope this post has helped you and, above all, we hope to see you soon!
The good life is still better in Spain.
