Going-out guide
Nightclub minimum age in Spain: 18+, 21+ and what ID to bring
In short
- In Spain the general rule is that you must be over 18 to get into a nightclub during its normal hours: alcohol is served there, and selling it to minors is banned throughout the country.
- Many venues ask for more: 20+, 21+ or even 23+. That’s not the law but a venue admission condition, which must be announced.
- The age can change from party to party: the same nightclub may run an 18+ night and a 21+ night.
- Under-18s can only go to sessions specifically for them, without alcohol and in the afternoon or early evening, where their region’s rules allow it.
- Always bring an original ID with a photo: your passport or, for EU citizens, your national ID card; residents can use their NIE/TIE or Spanish DNI.
- Photos and photocopies of your ID don’t count. Using someone else’s ID can be a criminal offence.
- Every venue page and every party on this website shows the minimum age the venue asks for.
What is the minimum age to get into a nightclub in Spain?
There’s no single national law: access to nightclubs and party venues is regulated by each autonomous region through its rules on public entertainment and on preventing alcohol use by minors. But they all agree on the essentials: under-18s can’t get into a nightclub during its normal hours, because alcohol is sold there, and selling or serving it to minors is banned throughout Spain.
Above that legal minimum, each venue can set a higher age as an admission condition. These conditions must be objective, the same for everyone and, in most regions, displayed on a sign at the entrance and where tickets are sold.
What counts is your age on the day of the party: if you turn 18 or 21 that very day, you can get in, as long as your ID proves it.
Ages at a glance
| Age | What it means | Where you’ll see it |
|---|---|---|
| 18+ | The legal minimum at night. | Most nightclubs and parties. |
| 20+, 21+, 23+ | A venue condition, above the legal minimum. | Upmarket venues, weekends and special parties. |
| Under-18s | Only at dedicated sessions, without alcohol and early in the evening. | Where the regional rules allow it. |
18+ nightclubs
This is the most common age. At an 18+ venue anyone over 18 who meets the other conditions (dress code, capacity, ticket or guest list) gets in. At the door you’ll be asked for ID even if you look older: the staff are responsible for keeping minors out and the venue risks fines if it lets them in.
An 18+ venue doesn’t mean every one of its parties is: some special nights raise the age. Always check the age for the specific party.
18+ nightclubs:
21+ nightclubs (and other ages above 18)
Many nightclubs ask for 20+, 21+ or 23+, especially at weekends and at upmarket venues. The law doesn’t require it: it’s the venue’s own admission condition, used to aim for a slightly older crowd.
- It applies to everyone equally, and you’ll be asked for ID to prove it.
- Having a ticket won’t save you: if you’re under the age, the venue can refuse you entry. Check the age before you buy.
21+ nightclubs:
What about under-18s?
A minor can’t get into a nightclub during its normal hours. What several autonomous regions do allow are sessions specifically for minors (sometimes called light sessions, matinées or afternoon parties), with conditions like these:
- No alcohol: alcoholic drinks and their advertising are removed.
- Their own minimum age, usually from 14.
- Afternoon or early-evening hours, finishing early (in Extremadura, for example, at 23:30) and not running into the adult session.
The exact conditions, and even whether they’re allowed, depend on each region. If you’re organising or looking for one of these sessions, check your region’s rules or ask the venue.
What ID to bring
At the door you’ll be asked for an original, valid ID with a photo. These are accepted:
- Passport: the safest option if you’re visiting from outside Spain.
- National ID card, if you’re from the European Union.
- NIE or TIE, if you’re a foreign resident in Spain.
- Spanish DNI, as a card or on your phone with the MiDNI app: since 2 April 2026 the phone version is as valid as the physical card and businesses, private ones included, must accept it. The app generates a QR code that the venue scans.
- Driving licence with a photo: most venues accept it, but not all. If you can, bring your passport or ID card.
What doesn’t count
- Photos or photocopies of your ID or passport.
- Expired IDs or ones too damaged to read.
- Someone else’s ID: besides not getting you in, using another person’s identity or a forged document can be a criminal offence.
How not to be left outside because of your age
- Check the party’s age, not just the venue’s. On this website you’ll find it in the details on each venue page and on each party’s page.
- Check it before you buy your ticket. If you’re under the age, the venue can refuse you even if you’ve paid.
- Make sure the whole group meets it. If one of you is underage, the group usually ends up at another venue.
- Always bring your ID, even if you look older: everyone gets asked.
- With a digital ID on your phone, keep it charged and have the app installed and activated before you go out.
Frequently asked questions
The questions people ask most
How old do you have to be to get into a nightclub in Spain?
As a general rule, 18: minors can’t get into a nightclub during its normal hours, because alcohol is served there. Many venues also ask for 20+, 21+ or 23+ as an admission condition.
What does 21+ mean at a nightclub?
That the venue or the party only admits people aged 21 or over. The law doesn’t require it: it’s the venue’s admission condition, the same for everyone, and you’ll be asked for ID to prove it.
Can an under-18 get into a nightclub in Spain?
Not during normal hours. Some autonomous regions allow sessions specifically for minors, usually from age 14, without alcohol and in the afternoon or early evening. The conditions depend on each region.
What ID do I need as a tourist?
Your original passport, or your national ID card if you’re from the European Union. A driving licence is accepted at most venues but not all. Photos and photocopies don’t count.
Can I get in with a photo of my ID?
No. Photos and photocopies aren’t accepted as proof of age. You need the original, valid document: passport, EU ID card, NIE or TIE, Spanish DNI (physical or in the MiDNI app) or driving licence.
Can I get in if I turn 18 on the day?
Yes. What counts is your age on the day of the party, as long as your ID proves it.
Will I get my money back if I’m refused entry because of my age?
It depends on the ticket conditions. If the minimum age was announced and you were under it, usually not. Check the party’s age before you buy.