Spanish customs

Breakfast
Many people have breakfast in mid-morning in a bar or cafeteria with a coffee and sweet buns. Fresh orange juice is also popular and it is possible to order it in many cafeterias. In a family environment, breakfast normally consists of a cup of coffee, milk or hot chocolate, accompanied with cakes, cereals, toasted bread or buns.

Tapas

Going for ‘tapas’ is one of the most extended customs in Spain. It is as normal as taking a coffee. It is common to go to a bar between breakfast and lunch time, and eat tapas with a glass of beer or wine. Going out for ‘tapas’ consists of going from bar to bar, tasting the different specialties of each place: Calamaries, Serrano ham or Spanish omelette.

Lunch
It is the most important meal of the day in Spain and usually is eaten later than in other European countries: between 13:30 and 16:00 h. Almost all the restaurants offer menus of the day, which are more economic and consist of a first and a second dish, and a dessert.

La cena
Spaniards have supper a lot later when compared to other countries - between 20:00 and 23:00 h., and sometimes even later during summer or weekends .

Commercial schedules
Because of the local climate, the geographic situation and the many of hours of sun in Spain, Spaniards tend to wake up later in the morning, and also go to bed later in the evening, than other Europeans. Stores and businesses usually open at 9:00 or 9:30 until 13:30 or 14:00. Then they close, and normally reopen from 17:00 to 20:00, although nowadays continuous schedules are used more. Many commercial establishments close in the afternoon on Saturdays and the entire day on Sundays, although commercial centres have changed this tendency. In tourist areas, during the summer, these commercial opening times normally are changed to 22:00 or 23:00, seven days a week. Bars usually are open all day and close late at night. In general, nightlife in Spain is very busy, with the discotheques open until 3:00 or 4:00 in many cities. Banking branches open from 8:30 to 14:00, Monday to Saturday, except during the summer months when they close on Saturdays. Some main offices might be open during the afternoon. The opening schedules of pharmacies are established by the School of Pharmacists in each province, but they usually do not vary much from other commercial establishments. Aside from this schedule, a number of pharmacies remain "de guardia" in different zones. All pharmacies have a list of which ones are “de guardia”. .

Ways to salute
In Spain, as a rule, men shake hands (unless they are family, then they salute with two kisses on the cheeks or a hug). Women usually give two kisses among each other, and usually shake hands with men, although if the man and woman know each other, they can also salute with kisses.