Travelling to Spain is an opportunity to enjoy new food, explore different cities and make lasting memories. However, diarrhoea while travelling can quickly disrupt your plans. Whether you are visiting Barcelona for a few days, enjoying a beach holiday or travelling around the country, digestive symptoms can leave you wondering what to do next.
Travellers diarrhoea is a common travel-related illness, usually involving loose or watery stools, abdominal cramps and sometimes nausea or vomiting. It can occur after consuming contaminated food or water, but not every episode of diarrhoea is caused by an infection.
If you experience diarrhoea on holiday in Spain, the most important priorities are to replace lost fluids, eat according to what you can tolerate and recognise symptoms that require medical attention. Most uncomplicated episodes improve within a few days, but the appropriate approach depends on their severity, duration and underlying cause.
This guide explains the causes of diarrhoea, what to eat if you have diarrhoea, how to manage symptoms while travelling and when professional diarrhoea treatment may be appropriate.
* Medical note: This article provides general health information and does not replace an individual medical assessment. Children, older adults, pregnant people and those with significant medical conditions may need earlier medical advice.
Need medical advice for diarrhoea while travelling?
Speak with a qualified doctor about your symptoms and get personalised medical advice on hydration, treatment and when further medical attention may be needed.
Same-day appointments available online, at your hotel, at home or at our clinic in Barcelona.
Get Medical Advice TodayCauses of diarrhoea
Understanding the causes of diarrhoea can help you decide how to manage it and whether you need medical attention.
Food and water contamination
The most common cause of travellers diarrhoea is consuming food or drinks contaminated with microorganisms. These may include bacteria, viruses or parasites. Contamination can occur during food preparation, storage or handling, or through inadequate hygiene.
Although Spain has established food-safety and sanitation systems, foodborne infections can occur anywhere. Travellers may also experience diarrhoea after eating unfamiliar foods, consuming food that has been stored improperly or encountering a microorganism to which their body has not previously been exposed.
Viral gastroenteritis
Viruses can cause sudden diarrhoea, vomiting, nausea and abdominal discomfort. Viral gastroenteritis can spread through contaminated food, water or close contact with an infected person.
Bacterial or parasitic infections
Bacteria such as Campylobacter, Salmonella and certain strains of Escherichia coli can cause diarrhoea. Some parasites may also produce symptoms, particularly when diarrhoea persists after travel.
The cause cannot always be identified from symptoms alone. If diarrhoea is prolonged, severe or accompanied by other concerning symptoms, a clinician may recommend further assessment or stool testing.
Other possible causes
Not all diarrhoea is infectious. Other possibilities include:
- Changes in diet, such as eating more fatty, spicy or unfamiliar foods.
- Food intolerances, including sensitivity to lactose or certain sweeteners.
- Stress or anxiety, which can affect bowel movements.
- Medication side effects, including some antibiotics.
- Underlying digestive conditions, particularly when symptoms are recurrent or persistent.
If you regularly experience diarrhoea while travelling, it is worth discussing the pattern with a healthcare professional rather than assuming every episode is travellers diarrhoea.
What to eat if you have diarrhoea
One of the most common questions travellers ask is: what to eat if you have diarrhoea?
The main goal is to maintain hydration and eat foods that you can tolerate. You do not necessarily need to stop eating, and there is no requirement to follow an extremely restrictive diet.
Foods that may be easier to tolerate
When your appetite returns, consider small portions of simple, easily digestible foods, such as:
- White rice or plain pasta.
- Toast, bread or crackers.
- Boiled potatoes.
- Plain soup or broth.
- Cooked vegetables.
- Small portions of lean chicken or fish, if tolerated.
Eat slowly and choose smaller, more frequent meals rather than forcing yourself to eat a large portion.
What to drink
Hydration is the most important part of managing diarrhoea. Drink water regularly, and consider an oral rehydration solution if you are losing substantial amounts of fluid, particularly through frequent watery stools or vomiting.
Oral rehydration solutions contain a balanced combination of water, salts and glucose to help replace lost fluids and electrolytes. Follow the preparation instructions on the product and use safe drinking water.
Foods and drinks to limit temporarily
Some foods and drinks may worsen symptoms or be harder to tolerate. Depending on your individual response, consider avoiding or reducing:
- Fatty or fried foods.
- Very spicy meals.
- Large amounts of caffeine.
- Very sugary drinks.
- Milk or dairy products if they seem to worsen symptoms.
- Large meals.
You do not need to avoid every food on this list permanently. As symptoms improve, gradually return to your usual diet.
Need medical advice for diarrhoea while travelling?
Speak with a qualified doctor about your symptoms and get personalised medical advice on hydration, treatment and when further medical attention may be needed.
Same-day appointments available online, at your hotel, at home or at our clinic in Barcelona.
Get Medical Advice TodayHow to stop diarrhoea while travelling
If you are asking how to stop diarrhoea or how to get rid of diarrhoea during a holiday, it is important to distinguish between reducing symptoms and treating the underlying cause.
1. Replace lost fluids
Drink regularly throughout the day. If you have frequent watery stools, oral rehydration solution may be more useful than water alone because it also replaces electrolytes.
Signs of dehydration can include:
- Excessive thirst.
- Dry mouth.
- Dizziness or light-headedness.
- Passing less urine than usual.
- Dark urine.
- Unusual tiredness.
If you cannot keep fluids down or develop significant signs of dehydration, seek medical advice promptly.
2. Rest and adjust your plans
Your body may need time to recover. Rest, avoid strenuous activity and consider postponing long journeys or excursions until symptoms improve. If you are travelling with others, careful handwashing can help reduce the risk of spreading an infectious illness.
3. Consider symptom-relief medication
Some adults may benefit from an over-the-counter anti-diarrhoeal medicine such as loperamide, particularly when diarrhoea is interfering with travel. However, it is not suitable for every situation.
Do not use loperamide as a substitute for medical assessment if you have bloody diarrhoea, a high fever or severe abdominal pain. Ask a pharmacist or doctor for advice if you are unsure whether it is appropriate.
How long does diarrhoea last?
How long does diarrhoea last? Most uncomplicated episodes of acute diarrhoea improve within a few days. However, the duration varies depending on the cause, the person’s health and whether complications develop.
Seek medical advice if diarrhoea is severe, lasts longer than expected, is getting worse or continues after returning home. Persistent diarrhoea—particularly symptoms lasting two weeks or more—may require investigation for causes such as parasitic infection or other gastrointestinal conditions.
Diarrhoea treatment
The appropriate diarrhoea treatment depends on the symptoms and their cause. For many travellers, treatment begins with hydration, rest and monitoring. A medical assessment may be necessary when symptoms are moderate, severe or persistent.
When medical treatment may be needed
A doctor may assess:
- How long the diarrhoea has lasted.
- How frequently you are passing stools.
- Whether there is blood or mucus.
- Whether you have fever or significant abdominal pain.
- Whether you can drink and urinate normally.
- Recent food, travel and medication history.
- Any relevant medical conditions or risk factors.
Depending on the situation, treatment may include oral rehydration, symptom-relief medication, laboratory testing or prescription medication. Antibiotics are reserved for selected cases, rather than being a routine solution for every episode of travellers diarrhoea.
When to seek urgent medical attention
Do not wait for a routine appointment if you experience:
- Blood in your stool.
- Severe or worsening abdominal pain.
- High fever or significant systemic symptoms.
- Persistent vomiting that prevents you from drinking.
- Signs of significant dehydration.
- Severe diarrhoea that is incapacitating.
- Symptoms in a young child, frail older adult or someone with a significant underlying medical condition.
If symptoms are severe or you feel seriously unwell, seek urgent medical care.
Contact Medical Care Barcelona
If you are experiencing travellers diarrhoea in Spain and need medical advice, Medical Care Barcelona can help you understand the next steps.
Our medical service is designed to support international patients, tourists and residents who need access to healthcare in Barcelona. If diarrhoea is interfering with your holiday, a medical consultation can help assess your symptoms, identify warning signs and determine whether further treatment or testing is appropriate.
Whether you are staying in a hotel, visiting Barcelona or looking for an English-speaking doctor, you can contact Medical Care Barcelona to discuss your situation and choose the most convenient option.
You can arrange an online consultation through our online doctor Barcelona service or request a home doctor appointment Barcelona at your hotel or home.
Do not let digestive symptoms leave you unsure about what to do. Contact Medical Care Barcelona for professional medical guidance.
Diarrhoea while travelling can be uncomfortable and disruptive, but most uncomplicated episodes improve with appropriate hydration, rest and supportive care. Knowing what to eat if you have diarrhoea, how to manage symptoms and how long diarrhoea lasts can help you make informed decisions during your holiday.
If symptoms are severe, persistent or accompanied by warning signs, professional medical assessment is important. And if you need medical advice during your stay in Barcelona, Medical Care Barcelona is available to help you navigate your healthcare options.
Need medical advice for diarrhoea while travelling?
Speak with a qualified doctor about your symptoms and get personalised medical advice on hydration, treatment and when further medical attention may be needed.
Same-day appointments available online, at your hotel, at home or at our clinic in Barcelona.
Get Medical Advice Today
