Thinking of visiting Spain? You are not the only one. Spain consistently ranks in the top 3 countries most visited in the world. For a good reason too. From the rich culture and history, the stunning architecture, hopping cities, and magnificent countryside with diverse topography to the stunning coastline beaches and islands, there is plenty to take in.
With many tourists come many mistakes, though. To help you out, we have put together the top 10 tourist mistakes to avoid when visiting Spain.
Read on to stay clear of this list of common faux pas by tourists in Spain.
Spanish culture is well-known for the siesta time, which is a couple of hours of downtime for Spaniards to have lunch and rest before they get back to work.
So, expect small businesses and shops to shut their doors for a couple of hours between the hours of roughly 1 pm to 4 pm. So, if you want to go shopping in Spain, go early in the morning or evening or check store hours online if you can.
Spaniards are very fashion-forward. After all, Spain is home to two of the top global fashion cities in the world - Madrid, and Barcelona. Spaniards love to dress for the occasion and look sharp!
Therefore, be mindful of what you decide to wear to a restaurant or a night out in town. Unlike some other sun destinations, beachwear in Spain should be reserved for just the beach. Go ahead and sport your bikini or Speedos on the stunning beaches in Spain. But be sure to wash up and dress into some smart casual attire like a cocktail dress to attend a dinner, cocktail hour, or a night out in town.
Southern Europeans are known for their relaxed, laissez-faire attitude towards all aspects of life. They take their time to live in the moment and are not overworked and exhausted from efficiency like in North America or the UK.
So, when traveling to Spain, don't expect everything to run precisely on time or for everyone to be right on time at all times.
If you are invited to a party at a Spaniard's, then make it there at least 15 minutes later than the invitation time. Similarly, expect a 15-30 minutes delay in most scheduled events.
Europeans love to have a glass of wine or beer during lunch, and Spaniards are no different. It is a huge part of their culture, so you should embrace it too. Expect to see some day drinking in patios and bistros all over town in Spain.
Spaniards make a decent livable wage in the hospitality and tourism business. The servers there don't have to rely on tips to make a decent living. Therefore, it is not customary to tip in Spain. Sure some loose change or rounding up the bill when paying is appreciated, but by no means are they expected there.
Spain comes alive after dusk, and that includes their dinner timings. So, it is customary there to eat dinner late - say around 8:30/9:00 pm.
So, don't expect dinner hours to be like in North America, around 6 pm. In fact, the 6 pm to 8 pm time slot is mostly for tapas and cocktails at restaurants and bars. So, enjoy some tapas and drinks before settling in a restaurant for dinner around 8:30 pm, and the dinner lasts until 10 or 11 pm.
Perhaps because of the late dinners, breakfasts in Spain, much like in Italy, are light and quick.
Expect an espresso or a coffee and a croissant or just a toast with some tomatoes and olives or jam. Don't expect the big brunch and breakfasts here in Spain.
Spaniards are straightforward people. They may even appear too assertive or direct to some tourists, but that is the way it is, and when in Spain, be like a Spaniard.
If you are planning on visiting the bars and tapas scene, you should only always go into one where it is super busy and bustling with customers. In those bars, you will need almost to push your way into the bar and be confident and direct in ordering drinks and tapas.
Don't feel shy in Spain, as that will make you easy to ignore. So, don't be shy and be bold instead.
Because of the high number of tourists, expect some shady characters and pickpockets in Spain - especially in big cities like Madrid and Barcelona (the Las Ramblas neighborhood is famous for pickpockets). So, keep your valuables and belongings safely tucked away and out of plain sight. This is not necessarily the place to show off your expensive watch or jewelry. That may attract the wrong kind of attention you don't need.
Spaniards are bold and often blunt. They will also reach over and greet you with a kiss often. And if they like something, they will not be shy to compliment you. These may appear rather more forward than Northern Europeans or Americans, but that is how they are, and you need to embrace them to get the full Spanish experience.
So, don't get offended by the Spaniards' ways.
Spain is stunning! Undoubtedly, the country, its people, the culture, the history, the beaches, and the cities will take your breath away.
Keep some of the cultural nuances, and take it all in. Live in the moment and remember you are visiting their country for a reason - so expect things to be different.
Ultimately, you will have the time of your life if you just revel in their high-touch, high-fashion, fashionably-late, flirty, relaxed, laissez-faire culture and their seductive roaring nights and have a wonderful time.
