6 min read
What to do if you get sick while travelling in Spain
Getting sick away from home is stressful: you don’t know the system, you may not speak the language, and a holiday clock is ticking. The good news is that most common travel illnesses in Spain can be sorted quickly — often without setting foot in a clinic. Here is how to think it through, step by step.
First, decide how urgent it is
Before anything else, rule out an emergency. Chest pain, difficulty breathing, neurological symptoms (sudden weakness, confusion, trouble speaking), a serious head injury or a severe allergic reaction all mean one thing: call 112 or go to the nearest A&E immediately. For everything else — fevers, infections, stomach upsets, a flare-up of a known condition — you usually have time to choose the calmest, fastest route.
For common problems, start online
For routine illness, an online consultation is typically the quickest way to be seen. Instead of losing half a day in a crowded waiting room, you book a slot — often the same day — speak to a doctor by video or WhatsApp, and get a treatment plan, prescription or certificate by email. It is ideal for respiratory and urinary infections, skin, eye or ear complaints, migraines and prescription renewals.
- No waiting room, no travel across an unfamiliar city.
- A consultation in your own language, so nothing is lost in translation.
- A prescription valid in any Spanish pharmacy when one is needed.
How treatment and prescriptions work
If the doctor prescribes medication, in Spain this is done privately through REMPE, the official electronic prescription system. You receive a PDF with a code that any pharmacy scans directly — no paper, no clinic visit. If you need to justify missed work or travel, a private sick note or medical certificate can usually be issued the same day where clinically justified.
When you still need to be seen in person
Online care has limits, and a good doctor will be honest about them. If your symptoms are severe, not improving, or need a physical examination — or if a safe assessment simply isn’t possible on screen — you’ll be told clearly and pointed to the right in-person care. That safety net is part of the service, not a failure of it.