Spain at a glance
- Typical sits
- City flats with a cat, coastal homes with a dog, fincas with several animals
- Busiest times
- Summer and Christmas, when city hosts travel
- Visas
- EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland: no visa. UK, US, Canada, Australia and many more: no visa for 90 days in any 180
- Car
- Not needed in cities; often needed on the coast and in the countryside
Homes in Spain looking for a sitter
See all →Ibiza, Balearic Islands,Spain
Altea, Valencian Community,Spain
La Orotava, Canary Islands,Spain
Where you’ll find sits
Sits come up all over Spain. These are the kinds you'll see most often.
Barcelona, Madrid and Valencia
Live in a great city instead of passing through it.
Why you’ll love it
- Museums and architecture: the Prado, Gaudí, Valencia's old town
- Tapas bars and late dinners on your doorstep
- A city beach in Valencia, the Retiro park in Madrid
What a sit is usually like
- Pets
- Mostly cats
- Home
- A flat close to the centre
- Getting around
- Metro and walking, no car
- Length
- Often a week or two
Best for: First sits, travellers without a car
The coast
The holiday life, for weeks instead of days.
Why you’ll love it
- Morning swims and long, sunny days
- Fresh fish and evening strolls in the port towns
- Sea views from many homes
What a sit is usually like
- Pets
- Mostly dogs
- Home
- A house or villa with a garden, sometimes a pool
- Getting around
- Depends on the town
- Length
- One to several weeks
Best for: Dog lovers, sea swimmers
Andalusia and the countryside
Real Spanish life, far from the tourist trail.
Why you’ll love it
- Olive groves, mountain views and skies full of stars
- Village fiestas and market days
- Quiet nights and a slower rhythm
What a sit is usually like
- Pets
- Several: dogs, cats, sometimes chickens or goats
- Home
- A finca or a village house
- Getting around
- A car is usually needed
- Length
- Usually weeks
Best for: Experienced sitters, long stays. More work than a city flat
The Canary Islands
Spring weather in January.
Why you’ll love it
- Volcanic landscapes and black-sand beaches
- Hikes above the clouds
- Mild all year, warm right through winter
What a sit is usually like
- Pets
- It varies, so read each listing
- Home
- Houses and flats
- Getting around
- Buses on the bigger islands; many homes need a car
- Length
- Often longer winter sits
Best for: Winter sits, hikers
When to go
What Spain is like through the year, and where it's best. Every listing has its own dates.
Winter
Dec – Feb
In the Canary Islands it can still feel like summer, often 20 °C and more, and sunny days on the Costa del Sol come close. Cities are lively at Christmas. The north and inland can get cold and grey.
Spring
Mar – May
Maybe the loveliest time: green hills, orange blossom in Andalusia and warm days without the summer heat. In Holy Week, before Easter, processions fill the cities.
Summer
Jun – Aug
The most sits, as city hosts go away. Long evenings and the warmest sea. But it's hot, often over 35 °C inland, and the coast is crowded in August.
Autumn
Sep – Nov
The sea stays warm into October while the coast empties out. Grape harvest in September. Rain comes back in October, most of all in the north, and autumn storms on the east coast can be heavy.
What to know before you go
Heat
Summers are hot, inland most of all. Walk dogs early in the morning and late in the evening, and keep pets inside in the middle of the day, with water and shade.
Dogs on beaches
Many beaches don't allow dogs in summer, but plenty of coastal towns have a dog beach. Ask your host where their dog likes to go.
Pine trees
From late winter into spring, keep dogs away from the hairy caterpillars that walk in lines under pine trees: they're harmful to touch. Your host will know which walks to avoid.
Language
You can manage without Spanish, but a few words help. In the cities and on the coast you'll manage in English. In rural Andalusia people may speak only Spanish; a translator app does the job.
Shops
In small towns, shops often close in the afternoon and on Sundays. Plan your shopping, especially on a farm sit, where the nearest shop may be a drive away.
Driving
The listing says whether you need a car and whether the host lends theirs. If your licence isn't from the EU, check whether you also need an International Driving Permit.
Visas
From the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland, you don't need a visa at all. From the UK, the US, Canada, Australia and many other countries, you don't need one for a visit of up to 90 days in any 180. Most others need a Schengen visa.
Spain is in the Schengen area, so days in other Schengen countries count towards the same 90. House sitting is an unpaid exchange, not a job, but border officers decide what counts on the day. Be ready to explain that no money changes hands.
Later, visitors from the UK, the US and other visa-free countries will need ETIAS: a short online form with a small fee, filled in before you travel. The EU hasn't set a start date, so it isn't needed yet. Longer stays need a visa, such as Spain's digital nomad visa.
Rules change. Check the official rules for your passport before you book: the countries that need no visa, the EU's 90-day calculator and the EU's visa rules.
How it works
If you want to travel
- 1
Make a free profile. Bring your reviews from other platforms.
- 2
Apply for a home you like. Send the host a short message.
- 3
Agree the dates and go. Look after the pets and stay for free.
If you have pets
- 1
List your home. Your location, your pets and a few photos.
- 2
Sitters apply. Read their profiles and reviews, chat, and pick the one you like.
- 3
Travel. Your pets stay home and keep their routine.
House sitting in Spain: FAQ
Is it free?
Yes, for both sides. Listing your home, browsing, applying, messaging and matching never cost anything. A few extras are paid — a verified badge, more visibility — but you never need them to find a sit or a sitter.
How do I become a house sitter in Spain with no experience?
Spain is a good place to start, because there are sits of every kind. Build a complete profile first: real photos and an honest bio. If you've stayed with people through other sites, like Airbnb or Couchsurfing, add those profiles as references. Then apply for a short city sit with a cat, and write each application for that listing rather than copying the same text.
Do I need a visa to house sit in Spain?
If you're from the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland, you don't need one. From the UK, the US, Canada, Australia and many other countries, you can stay up to 90 days in any 180 without a visa. Most others need a Schengen visa. See Visas, above.
Do I need a car for a house sit in Spain?
In the cities, no. On the coast and in the countryside, often yes. Each listing says so, and whether the host lends theirs.
I'm on another platform. Can I bring my reviews?
Yes. Add the link to your profile there. Once we've checked it, we show your review count with a link to read the reviews there — and from MindMyHouse, the reviews themselves.
I have a home in Spain. How do I find a sitter?
List it free with the dates you're away, and sitters apply. You can also browse sitter profiles and invite someone yourself. Read their profile, references and reviews, chat in-app, and choose — nobody is assigned to you.
