Castro-Urdiales is a coastal town with a remarkable historical ensemble dominated by medieval buildings. The town features a gothic church, Santa Maria de la Asuncion, and the fortress-lighthouse of Santa Ana on a rocky promontory. The old harbor, with colorful fishing boats and arched bridges, showcases the interplay of maritime power and gothic architecture. Streets lined with historic houses and narrow alleys lead visitors through centuries of urban development. Monumentality of the structures, combined with open sea vistas, gives the town a unique visual strength and timeless atmosphere.
Castro-Urdiales
- Currency
- Euro (EUR, €). Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in cities and tourist areas. ATMs are abundant; most charge €2–7 per foreign card withdrawal. Some shops request ID before accepting a credit card. €500 banknotes are not accepted in most shops.
- Language
- Spanish (Castilian) is official and universally spoken. Catalan, Basque and Galician are co-official in their regions. English is common in cities and tourist areas but not reliable outside them.
- Power plug
- Europlug (Type C) and Schuko (Type F) sockets; 230 V, 50 Hz
- Visa
- Schengen area: EU, EEA and Swiss nationals enter on national ID card or passport. Many non-EU nationalities have 90-day visa-free access. Non-EEA citizens staying longer than 90 days require an advance visa.
- Time zone
- Europe/Madrid (UTC+01:00 winter time, UTC+02:00 summer time from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October). Canary Islands are one hour behind mainland Spain.
- Tap water
- Safe to drink. It comes from mountain sources and is not heavily chlorinated.
- Tipping
- Not mandatory or customary. In restaurants: not expected for simple meals or basic establishments; 5–10% in mid-range or upscale venues if service was exceptional. Always pay cash to the server, not on card. Taxi drivers and hotel staff may appreciate small tips in upscale settings but it is not expected.
- Emergency
- 112