A 2021 national order sets design rules for accessible public toilet cabins: a toilet with a side transfer space and grab bars.
Where this applies: Toilet cabins in urbanised public spaces (public streets, parks and squares)
Toilet Index: what to expect from toilets abroad
Spain
What to remember
- Toilet paperIn the Madrid region, flush only toilet paper. The regional government says it dissolves; wipes and other solid waste go in the bin.Where this applies: Comunidad de Madrid; advice from the regional government citing the water utility Canal de Isabel II (November 2024)
- WipesIn Catalonia, do not flush wet wipes, sanitary pads, cotton buds or condoms. Use the bin.Where this applies: Catalonia (Catalan Water Agency); Barcelona's council also advises against flushing wet wipes
- PayingThe operator ONE HUNDRED says its entry fee is usually 0.80 to 1.50 euros per visit. Young children enter free with a parent.Varies by venueWhere this applies: ONE HUNDRED restrooms in Spain (stations and shopping centres); the age limit is not stated on the page
Sources: Comunidad de Madrid (regional government), citing Canal de Isabel II, Agència Catalana de l'Aigua (Generalitat de Catalunya), Ajuntament de Barcelona, ONE HUNDRED Restrooms
Sit or squat
Madrid-Barajas airport says it has accessible toilets in all areas; their locations are on the airport maps.
Where this applies: Madrid-Barajas airport
If you need a seat: No source read states which fixture is usual in ordinary Spanish public toilets, so none is claimed. Accessible public toilet cabins must have a toilet with a transfer space beside it (2021 national order).
Accessible toilets: not covered yet.
Toilet paper
Paper supplied
Information unavailable
Where it goes
In the Madrid region, flush only toilet paper. The regional government says it dissolves; wipes and other solid waste go in the bin.
Where this applies: Comunidad de Madrid; advice from the regional government citing the water utility Canal de Isabel II (November 2024)
In Catalonia, do not flush wet wipes, sanitary pads, cotton buds or condoms. Use the bin.
Where this applies: Catalonia (Catalan Water Agency); Barcelona's council also advises against flushing wet wipes
Wipes labelled flushable still do not break down in time, says the Barcelona metropolitan authority (2023). Do not flush them.
Where this applies: Barcelona metropolitan area (Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona, March 2023)
Water and controls
Aena's 2023 release on Madrid-Barajas toilet upgrades lists touch-free taps, soap and hand dryers. Lights show if a toilet is free or occupied.
Where this applies: Madrid-Barajas airport terminals (February 2023 release)
Fees and access
Madrid's city dataset (updated September 2026) lists its street toilet cabins as free. Access is timed and the door opens automatically.
Where this applies: Madrid city, cabins in the council's dataset of fixed public toilets run with advertising (Clear Channel)
Madrid Atocha and Chamartín stations have paid restrooms: 1 euro at their 2021 and 2022 openings, recoverable as a discount in station shops.
Where this applies: Madrid Puerta de Atocha and Madrid Chamartín stations, restrooms run by ONE HUNDRED (not the whole station)
The operator ONE HUNDRED says its entry fee is usually 0.80 to 1.50 euros per visit. Young children enter free with a parent.
Varies by venueWhere this applies: ONE HUNDRED restrooms in Spain (stations and shopping centres); the age limit is not stated on the page
Barcelona's council publishes a list of its public toilets as open data. The city said in 2017 it had no opening hours to add.
Where this applies: Barcelona city
Where it varies
Madrid-Barajas has toilets adapted for people with ostomies in T1, T2, T4 and the T4 Satellite. Aena's page lists the exact spots.
Where this applies: Madrid-Barajas airport
Madrid-Barajas has family toilets with armchairs for breastfeeding and baby-changing tables.
Where this applies: Madrid-Barajas airport
Madrid's street toilet cabins are built to universal design criteria, so they suit all users.
Where this applies: Madrid city street cabins in the council's dataset
Sources
- Ministerio de Transportes, Movilidad y Agenda Urbana (published in the BOE)Orden TMA/851/2021, accessibility rules for urbanised public spaces (art. 34, toilet cabins)
- Aena (Madrid-Barajas airport)Personas con necesidades especiales / Barrier-free service, Madrid-Barajas
- Comunidad de Madrid (regional government), citing Canal de Isabel IIJuega limpio: encesta las toallitas en la papelera (press release, 19 November 2024)
- Agència Catalana de l'Aigua (Generalitat de Catalunya)Bones pràctiques en sanejament
- Ajuntament de BarcelonaOn llençar: Tovalleta humida (cercador de residus)
- Àrea Metropolitana de BarcelonaFem un bon ús del wc! (30 March 2023)
- Aena (Madrid-Barajas airport)El Aeropuerto Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas reforma y amplía los aseos de sus terminales (21 February 2023)
- Ayuntamiento de Madrid (open data catalogue, listed on datos.gob.es)Aseos públicos fijos con publicidad
- ONE HUNDRED RestroomsMadrid Puerta de Atocha, primera estación de tren de España en instalar los aseos públicos premium One Hundred Restrooms (13 July 2021)
- ONE HUNDRED RestroomsONE HUNDRED Madrid Chamartín and Atocha Cercanías station now open (12 January 2022)
- ONE HUNDRED RestroomsAtención al cliente
- Ajuntament de Barcelona (open data catalogue, listed on datos.gob.es)Lavabos públicos de la ciudad de Barcelona
- Aena (Madrid-Barajas airport)Familias, Madrid-Barajas
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