I moved to Spain not long ago, and a friend of mine recently had to be hospitalized. I bought some fruit and went to visit, only to find out at the hospital entrance that visiting hours in Spain are strictly enforced—I almost got turned away. This is quite different from what I was used to back home, where visiting hours are often more flexible. I figured this information could be useful for others, so I took some time to compile the visiting policies for major public hospitals in several regions to save you from making a wasted trip like I almost did.
It’s important to note that the rules can vary significantly between each autonomous community and even each hospital. Generally, public hospitals have stricter visiting hours than private ones. Furthermore, ICU visiting hours are completely different from those for general wards; they are typically limited to once or twice a day for about 30 minutes each time, with strict limits on the number of visitors, much like the regulations surrounding waiting times for medical care in Spain. The safest bet is to always confirm the specific times with the patient or their family before you go.
Visiting Hours Reference by Autonomous Community
Below is a general guide I’ve compiled based on official hospital websites and community information. These times are subject to change, especially on public holidays. You can use this as a reference, similar to how you would for follow-up appointments in Spain, but always defer to the hospital’s current regulations.
Community of Madrid
Hospitals in Madrid generally have quite fixed visiting hours. For major hospitals like Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón and Hospital Universitario La Paz, visiting hours for general wards are typically from the afternoon into the evening. ICU visits are extremely strict, usually scheduled once around midday and once in the evening, with only 1-2 people allowed per visit.
Catalonia
In Barcelona, hospitals like Hospital Clínic de Barcelona and Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron also concentrate their visiting hours in the afternoon. They place a strong emphasis on maintaining a quiet environment for patients, so there are limits on the number of visitors, usually recommending a maximum of two people at a time. While some specific departments, such as maternity wards, might have more flexible policies for close family, mirroring the variability in Spanish hospital opening hours, the rules for general visitors remain strict.
I’ve created a simple table below for a quick overview of the general time frames. Again, please remember, this is just a general reference!
| Region / City | General Ward Visiting Hours | ICU/UVI Visiting Hours |
|---|
| Madrid | 13:00 - 21:00 | 13:00 - 13:30 / 19:00 - 19:30 |
| Barcelona | 13:00 - 20:30 | 12:30 - 13:00 / 19:30 - 20:00 |
| Valencia | 15:00 - 21:00 | 13:00 - 13:30 / 20:00 - 20:30 |
| Andalusia | 16:00 - 20:00 | 12:00 - 12:30 / 18:00 - 18:30 |
Spanish hospitals place great importance on the patient’s resting environment, which is why there are numerous visiting regulations. When visiting, try to speak softly, switch your phone to silent mode, and avoid bringing strongly scented flowers or food. I hope this post helps anyone who needs it, and feel free to add information about other hospitals you know to help us improve this “Hospital Visit Guide” together!
