Check-in and check-out times and the right of admission at your property: Spain (Andalusia), Portugal, Italy and Greece (2026)

Updated: 9 November 2026

"What time can I check in?" and "Can I leave my luggage?" are among the questions hotels hear most. Today guests also ask ChatGPT or Google before booking. In some places the law sets a default time; in others, you decide. And the right of admission has limits. This is what we checked in official gazettes and government websites (links at the end). This is not legal advice: where we could not confirm something we say so, and you should check it with your adviser.

Andalusia, hotels: 12:00 to 12:00, unless agreed

Decree-Law 13/2020 on hotels (art. 26) says:

Guests are entitled to the room from 12:00 on the first day until 12:00 on the departure day.
On peak-occupancy dates you may delay handing over the room by up to three hours. Guests may still use common areas from 12:00 on arrival day.
You can agree different times with each guest, but it must be recorded in the admission document.
If a guest stays longer than contracted, unless agreed otherwise, they must pay for an extra day.
If a booking has no deposit, you must hold it until 20:00 on the arrival day (art. 21.9).
The term "hotel day" does not appear in the text. If you advertise check-in at 15:00, we have not confirmed that this counts as an agreement: also put it in the confirmation and admission document, and check with your adviser.

Andalusia, holiday homes: 15:00 to 11:00, unless agreed

Decree 28/2016 (art. 7.4) sets occupancy from 15:00 on the first day until 11:00 on the departure day.

Different times can be agreed with each guest.
If you are not there at arrival or departure, you must arrange key handover in advance. Key boxes may not be fixed to street furniture.
The decree sets no late check-out charge. If you charge one, make it clear and accepted in advance.

Andalusia: right of admission, with limits

The Andalusian Tourism Act 13/2011 (art. 36) says tourist establishments are public. You may make access and stay subject to your house rules, if they are visibly displayed at the entrance and made known to guests.

Hotels: you may only refuse admission or a stay for lack of space, for failing your house rules' admission requirements, or for conduct that causes danger or nuisance (Decree-Law 13/2020, art. 4).
Never on grounds of disability, race, place of origin, sex, age or religion, among others. You may target a preferred audience (for example, adults only) if you advertise it.
House rules are mandatory for hotels, must include admission conditions and be displayed in at least Spanish and English (art. 25).
Holiday homes: access may not be restricted on grounds of birth, race, sex, religion or opinion (Decree 28/2016, art. 2.3). Guests who break the rules of coexistence can be asked to leave within 24 hours (art. 2.5).
In both cases you may ask the police for help to remove guests who break the rules.
Guests, in turn, must vacate the room on the agreed departure date (Act 13/2011, art. 22).

Portugal: no set time in what we read

Tourist developments (Decree-Law 39/2008, text republished in 2009, art. 48): access is free, but you may refuse access or a stay to anyone who disrupts normal operation.
You may reserve services and facilities for staying guests. Operating and access rules must be published.
The text we read sets no check-in or check-out time. Later amendments and local accommodation (alojamento local): we have not confirmed this.

Italy: you cannot refuse service without a legitimate reason

The public security regulation (Royal Decree 635/1940, art. 187) says businesses may not, without a legitimate reason, refuse their services to anyone who asks and pays the price.
A check-out time set by national or regional law (for example Tuscany or Campania): we have not found or confirmed one.

Greece

We found no official source on check-out times or the right of admission for hotels or short-term rentals. We have not confirmed this: ask your accountant or hotel association.

How to publish your times for Google and AI

AI assistants read your website, Google and booking platforms. If each says a different time, the answer may be wrong. Use the same times everywhere:

Website: write the times as visible text, not only in an image.
Structured data: schema.org has checkinTime ("the earliest someone may check into") and checkoutTime ("the latest someone may check out") on LodgingBusiness (and Hotel).
Google Business Profile: edit the profile and open "Hotel details". Google's hotel guide lists check-in and check-out times among the details you can edit. They cannot be changed by spreadsheet upload, and hotels have no business hours (they are open 24 hours).
Booking.com and other platforms: check the times in the extranet. We have not read Booking.com's official help on this point.
Booking confirmation and admission document: the same times, plus the late check-out price if you offer it.
House rules: publish them on your website so AI can quote them.

10-minute check

Write down your check-in and check-out times.
Compare them with your website, Google profile, Booking.com and confirmation email.
In Andalusia, if you use times other than the default, check they appear in the admission document.
Check your house rules are visible and exclude nobody on prohibited grounds.
Decide the price of early check-in and late check-out, and publish it.

How iQuota helps

iQuota does not give legal advice. We publish your property in AI assistants with direct booking and payment at the property, using the details you give us, including your times. We cannot promise how each AI will answer, but we can make sure your details are clear and the same everywhere.

Want an official booking page AI can read and a connector with your real prices, commission-free? The first 30 hotels join free until 30 June 2027.

See the Founding Hotels programme

Frequently asked questions

Is there a mandatory check-out time for hotels in Andalusia?

The rule sets 12:00 (Decree-Law 13/2020, art. 26), but you may agree other times with each guest if they are recorded in the admission document.

Can I charge for late check-out?

In Andalusian hotels, unless agreed otherwise, staying longer than contracted means paying for an extra day (art. 26.2). The clearest option is to publish a late check-out price in advance.

Can I reserve the right of admission?

In Andalusia you can set conditions in your house rules, visible and known to guests, but you may never discriminate on grounds of disability, race, origin, sex, age or religion.

Sources

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