Flights from Dusseldorf to Spain from 42EUR*

Flights to Spain from Düsseldorf

From Düsseldorf, Vueling flies direct to 21 destinations in Spain. Barcelona is about 2 and a half hours away, and from there the Mediterranean, Andalusia, the islands and the Atlantic north are all within easy reach.

Spain can feel like several countries rolled into one, and where you go shapes the trip far more than when. Distances are short. A weekend is enough for one city, and a week lets you string together two or three.

What documents you need to travel to Spain

Spain and Germany are both in the European Union and the Schengen Area, so German and other EU citizens only need a valid national ID card or passport, with no visa.

Check it has not expired before you book: an out-of-date document is one of the most common reasons for being refused boarding. The European Health Insurance Card covers public healthcare during your stay, so it is worth taking with you. If you travel on a passport from a non-EU country, check your situation on the travel documents page before confirming.

What to know when you land in Spain

From the airport into town. The main gateways are well connected, so there is no need to book a transfer. In Barcelona, metro line 9 Sud and the Aerobús reach the centre in under half an hour. In Madrid, the metro and Cercanías commuter trains link the terminals with Atocha. In Malaga, the commuter train serves the city centre and the Costa del Sol, while in Palma the shuttle bus covers the 8 km to the old town.

Mealtimes. This is the biggest change from Germany. Lunch in Spain runs from 14:00 to 16:00 and dinner starts at 21:00, with many kitchens closed before then. Dinner at 18:00 simply does not happen, so on day one it is easier to adjust your plans than to fight them.

High-speed rail. Madrid and Barcelona are about 2 and a half hours apart by train, and lines run from Madrid to Seville, Malaga and Valencia. Stations sit right in the city centres, and punctuality stands up well even by German standards.

Climate by region. The north, from Galicia to the Basque Country, is damp and green all year round, not so different from the Rhineland. The interior has summers above 40°C and cold winters. The Mediterranean coast, Andalusia and the islands get sunshine for most of the year.

Spain uses the euro, and sockets are type C and F, at 230V. Spanish (Castilian) is the official language, with co-official languages in Catalonia, the Basque Country and Galicia.

What to do in Spain

City breaks: Barcelona and Madrid

Barcelona combines the Sagrada Familia, Park Güell and the Gothic Quarter with a beach inside the city, plus neighbourhoods with a character of their own, such as El Born and Poblenou. Madrid packs the Prado, the Reina Sofía and the Thyssen within a 10-minute walk of each other, with Malasaña and Lavapiés for the evening.

The south: Seville, Granada and Malaga

Seville means the Real Alcázar, the Giralda, flamenco and courtyards lined with orange trees. It is at its best in spring or autumn, when the heat eases off. Granada has the Alhambra and the Generalife, and Malaga has the Picasso Museum, the Alcazaba and the Costa del Sol.

The islands

Palma de Mallorca pairs a Gothic cathedral and historic old town with the coves and mountain villages of the Serra de Tramuntana, a World Heritage Site. Ibiza brings the nightlife, while Tenerife and Gran Canaria work in the depths of winter, with Mount Teide as the landmark.

The green north

This is the part of Spain whose climate comes closest to Germany’s: Atlantic, damp and green, with a concentration of acclaimed restaurants that is hard to match. Bilbao has the Guggenheim and the pintxos of the Casco Viejo, and Santiago de Compostela marks the end of the Camino with a cathedral listed as a World Heritage Site.

Luggage for your flight to Spain

What you can bring depends on the fare you choose when booking. The simplest fare includes a personal item that fits under the seat in front, and from there you can add cabin or checked luggage.

A city weekend works fine with cabin luggage. A group trip, a family holiday or anything longer than a week usually calls for checked bags. Deciding while you book saves surprises at the check-in desk. See the current conditions in Vueling’s luggage policy.