The Local Spain

Spanish wildfires intrude on holidaying foreign visitors Sun, 26 Jul 2026 15:50:33 +0200 Being indoors as much as possible was not the plan when Chicago attorney Thomas Fawkes, 49, arrived on holiday in Madrid with his wife and son.

LATEST: France and Spain battle 'unpredictable' wildfires as 300,000 evacuated Thu, 23 Jul 2026 08:40:41 +0200 France fought an "unpredictable" wildfire close to Bordeaux on Sunday while Spain warned of "difficult hours" in its own fiery battle, with evacuations from danger zones in both countries mounting to well over 300,000 people.

Will heatwaves push European holidaymakers to 'coolcations'? Sun, 26 Jul 2026 14:18:09 +0200 European holidaymakers worn down by recurrent heatwaves are currently snubbing Mediterranean destinations for northern climes in hopes of cooler temperatures, but it remains to be seen whether it is just a fad or a durable shift in the tourism market.

Spain battles new blaze as 15,000 evacuated in Valencia Sun, 26 Jul 2026 11:39:22 +0200 Spanish firefighters on Sunday battled a new front of fires near the coastal city of Valencia, where at least 15,000 people were evacuated.

As wildfires grip France and Spain, what are the health risks from smoke? Sun, 26 Jul 2026 09:31:39 +0200 What dangers does smoke from wildfires pose? Who is most at risk? Here are some answers to health questions often asked, especially now with large wildfires raging in France and Spain.

Spain fights to 'save lives' as thousands of wildfire evacuees shelter in Madrid Fri, 24 Jul 2026 09:15:32 +0200 Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said Saturday firefighters were working to "save lives" in the blazes raging west of Madrid, as authorities said a separate fire near Valencia killed one person.

LISTED: The tax deductions if you work from home in Spain Tue, 21 Jul 2026 10:42:28 +0200 If you're self-employed in Spain and work from home there are several expenses you can offset against tax. Find out exactly what is allowed in your case.

KEY POINTS: What changes about life in Spain in August 2026 Wed, 22 Jul 2026 09:46:50 +0200 Spain 'closes' for the month, the first total solar eclipse in a century, new AI laws come into effect, more wildfires expected, bottled drinks to cost more at bars, and plenty more - Here's what's happening in August 2026.

Paying for public healthcare in Spain: the pros and cons of the 'convenio especial' Thu, 11 Aug 2022 16:25:37 +0200 If you live in Spain but can't use the public health system as a result of not having social security, there is another way to access public healthcare. Find out if this ‘special agreement’ is right for you or if you're better off getting private healthcare.

Inside Spain: How we learnt the hard way to always update our address Sat, 25 Jul 2026 09:03:00 +0200 In this week’s Inside Spain, The Local’s Alex Dunham warns others about what can happen if you don’t make sure your address is changed with all the official bodies in Spain when you move home.

Twelve Spanish tricks to sleep better during a heatwave Wed, 22 Jul 2026 11:01:15 +0200 Spaniards are used to scorching summers and tropical nights, meaning that they're familiar with many ingenious, unwritten rules for making their homes and bodies cool at night so they can sleep better without the need for air-con.

Americans in Spain: Should I get private healthcare on top of public cover? Fri, 24 Jul 2026 16:37:52 +0200 In this edition of Americans in Spain, we explain what to expect from the Spanish public and private healthcare systems, and speak to Americans already in the country about how they cover their medical needs as efficiently as possible.

'Heart-breaking': Madrid wildfire leaves residents reeling after frantic evacuations Fri, 24 Jul 2026 16:59:43 +0200 The wildfire, fuelled by high temperatures, dry vegetation and strong winds, has forced thousands of people from their homes in communities west of Madrid, leaving residents uncertain whether they will have anything to return to.

Rules, permits and extra costs: Why it's so hard to open a shop in Spain Fri, 24 Jul 2026 11:11:06 +0200 Have you been considering opening a boutique or a grocery store in Spain? A new report from the European Commission shows that Spain remains one of the EU countries where retail businesses face the most difficulties.

Eight cooler places to escape the heat in Spain's Andalusia Thu, 25 Jul 2024 16:33:42 +0200 Summers in Andalusia are by and large suffocating, but there are places in the region where it doesn't generally get as hot - here's one for each Andalusian province.

EU breathes sigh of relief over new Trump tariffs Fri, 24 Jul 2026 10:33:46 +0200 The European Union expressed relief Friday over a new wave of US tariffs imposed by Washington on trading partners, following concerns of possible retaliation to a massive fine Brussels had slapped on US giant Google.

Spain's intense summer heatwaves deter tourists from returning Fri, 24 Jul 2026 10:10:48 +0200 New research has revealed that tourists are 15 percent less likely to return to Spain if they've experienced abnormally hot weather while on vacation.

Captain faces trial over Spanish fishing boat disaster off Canada Fri, 24 Jul 2026 09:33:34 +0200 The captain of a Spanish trawler that sank off Canada in 2022 with 21 deaths will stand trial, as will two executives from the company that operated the vessel, a Spanish court said Thursday.

Spain's ex-PM claims €1.3M jewellery stash was gift from foreign state Thu, 23 Jul 2026 17:01:36 +0200 Former Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, under investigation for corruption, said Thursday that luxury jewellery found by investigators during a search of his office was a gift from a foreign country.

Not just the Camino: Eight memorable multi-day hikes in Spain Thu, 23 Jul 2026 11:55:28 +0200 If you've always wanted to undertake a long-distance hike in Spain, but don't want to do the obvious Camino de Santiago, there are lots of amazing alternatives. Here are eight routes to inspire you, some of them in cooler parts of Spain.