How easily can you travel between Spain and home?

Key rules

• Long-haul: Madrid has the widest range of direct long-haul routes, and Barcelona is next; regional airports mostly need a connection for intercontinental trips.
• Seasonal routes: Beach airports have far fewer routes in winter, so check your route for the months you will travel.
• Peak fares: Fares often rise to several times the off-peak level in July, August, Christmas, Easter and school holidays.
• Time difference: The UK and Ireland are 1 hour behind Spain, and the US East Coast is 6 hours behind.

Start with the airport nearest to where you would live

Madrid and Barcelona are the safest bet for frequent trips home. Smaller airports can be excellent for Europe and weak for anywhere farther.

Madrid has direct flights to most European capitals and major cities. It also flies to North Africa (Casablanca, Algiers, Tunis, Cairo) and the Middle East (Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Tel Aviv). Its Latin American network is very large (Mexico City, Bogotá, Buenos Aires, São Paulo, Lima, Santiago and more). In North America it serves New York, Miami, Boston, Chicago, Washington, Los Angeles and Toronto. It has some Asia routes too (Tokyo, Seoul, Shanghai).

Barcelona has a very wide European network, plus North America (New York, Boston, Miami, Los Angeles, Toronto and others), the Middle East and a few Asia routes. It has fewer Latin American routes than Madrid.

Málaga, Alicante, Palma, Valencia, Seville and the Canary airports have large European networks, especially to the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, the Nordics, France and Ireland. Low-cost airlines carry most of this traffic. Málaga and Alicante are the best served, with year-round UK and Irish links. Valencia and Seville are mostly year-round to major European cities, with some long-haul gaps.

Smaller regional airports often have only a few routes, and some are seasonal.

Intercontinental flights from regional airports are few. If home is outside Europe, expect to connect through Madrid or Barcelona, which adds time and a possible extra ticket.

Routes change by season and airline, so check airline timetables for your exact route before you commit to a town.

Seasonal routes

Sun-and-beach airports (Málaga, Alicante, Palma, Ibiza, Menorca) have many more routes in summer than in winter. The Canaries are strongest in winter. If you plan to visit home in the off-season, check that a direct flight runs in those months.

Typical flight times

• UK and Ireland: about 2 to 3 hours
• France, Germany and the Netherlands: about 2 to 3 hours
• The Nordics: about 3.5 to 4 hours
• US East Coast: about 8 hours
• Mexico: about 11 hours
• Buenos Aires: about 12 to 13 hours

Times vary by route and wind.

Time difference

Mainland Spain is on UTC+1, and UTC+2 in summer. The Canary Islands are one hour behind mainland Spain.

Compared with mainland Spain:

• UK, Ireland and Portugal: 1 hour behind
• Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands: the same time
• Finland and Greece: 1 hour ahead
• US East Coast: 6 hours behind
• US West Coast: 9 hours behind
• Argentina: 4 to 5 hours behind
• Mexico City: 7 to 8 hours behind

For a few weeks a year the gap shifts by an hour, because daylight saving dates differ outside Europe. Within Europe a call to family is easy. To the Americas, you will mostly talk in your evening and their morning or afternoon.

What fares look like

Fares depend on where you start, how early you book, the airline type and the season.

• Within Europe on low-cost airlines: returns are usually cheapest from autumn to spring outside holidays. They rise sharply in July and August, at Christmas and Easter, and in school holiday weeks, often to several times the off-peak level.
• From the US and Canada: returns are usually cheapest in late autumn and winter outside holidays. They are highest in summer and December.
• From Latin America: fares peak at Christmas and in summer.

If your family will visit you, they face the same peaks. Plan guest visits outside them if you want to keep costs down.

Check current fares on airline sites and comparison tools before deciding.

How to judge it

Ask four questions about your shortlist of towns:

1. Which airport is within easy reach?
2. Is there a direct flight home all year, or only in summer?
3. What does a return cost in the months you would actually travel?
4. Can you comfortably speak to home during your working day?

The questions below cover common worries.

Frequently asked questions

Can I fly long-haul from a regional Spanish airport?

Usually not directly, because regional airports have few intercontinental flights. Most travellers connect through Madrid or Barcelona, which have the widest long-haul networks. Madrid is stronger for Latin America, while Barcelona has more European routes and fewer Latin American ones.

Are flights from sun-and-beach airports seasonal?

Yes, airports such as Palma, Ibiza and Menorca have many more routes in summer than in winter. Málaga and Alicante keep year-round links to the UK and Ireland, and the Canaries are busiest in winter.

When are return flights to Spain most expensive?

Fares rise sharply in July and August, at Christmas, at Easter and in school holiday weeks, often to several times the off-peak level. Within Europe they are usually lowest from autumn to spring outside holidays.

What is the time difference between Spain and my home country?

The UK, Ireland and Portugal are 1 hour behind mainland Spain, and Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands are on the same time. The US East Coast is 6 hours behind and the West Coast 9 hours behind. Argentina is 4 to 5 hours behind and Mexico City 7 to 8 hours behind. The Canary Islands are 1 hour behind mainland Spain.

How long is the direct flight from Spain to the US East Coast?

A direct flight to the US East Coast takes about 8 hours. Mexico is about 11 hours and Buenos Aires about 12 to 13 hours. Within Europe, the UK, Ireland, France, Germany and the Netherlands are about 2 to 3 hours, and the Nordics about 3.5 to 4 hours.