Whenever someone mentions Spain, you automatically think about football and amazing weather. Sure, that may be true to some extent, you will definitely enjoy numerous beaches. But did you know there is more to Spain than just beaches and summery evenings?
There are several things you should know before traveling to Spain and in this article by Global Broker, we are going to introduce them to you. Tag along.
Do you know any Spanish?
Like most countries around the world, many people speak some English but not everyone is fluent and you may find yourself in a ditch trying to look for a nice restaurant or even a clinic. Thus, learning a few key phrases is very important. For example, you need to know how to ask where is…? (Donde Esta…?). In addition, you may want to know some simple greetings like Hola or Buenos Dias.
Keep in mind, in some regions of Spain people have a second official language like Basque, Galicia, and Catalan. However, everyone speaks Spanish in Spain and you don't necessarily need to learn those extra languages.
Hospitality
As you probably know, Spain is famous for its Tapas culture. What does this mean? Well, this means when you are out in a bar in most cases when you order a drink, your drink will arrive with a small bite to eat. It's mostly olives, potato chips, and whatnot. In some cases, they may even offer you ham, cheese, or whatever you like.
This gesture alone should be enough to tell someone who is traveling to Spain how polite and hospitable people are in Spain.
Fashion
When you first arrive in Spain, whether it's for a few weeks of a holiday or even you are relocating there because bought a property in Spain. You will notice that the Spanish people wear smart and stylish clothes. Thus, you can easily spot someone who is a tourist in Spain simply by looking at their flip-flops and jogging bottoms. We recommend choosing light fabrics so that you can enjoy the heat and still look fabulous.
Eating Time
When you are wondering about the streets and you notice that the shops are closed, that usually means it's lunchtime. People in Spain usually eat lunch between 2 to 3:30 PM and that usually pushes the dinner time quite significantly to 9 PM. So, it’s best if you take snacks in your bag or plan your trips accordingly.
Water
Many people who travel to Europe or have traveled to a few European countries still don't know that tap water is drinkable. Especially in Spain and more specifically Madrid and Barcelona both have very safe tap water to drink. Especially Madrid. If you are planning to visit Madrid we recommend instead of buying mineral water, just bring a reusable water bottle and fill it up from any local stores. It will save you money in the long run and you can spend it elsewhere whilst you are enjoying your vacation in Spain.
Public Transportation
Public transport in Spain is really efficient and fast. Especially the Spanish train system, it is literally ideal for getting between major cities. However, in the south of Spain and small cities, you will have to use buses to get around. Don’t worry they are still as efficient as trains. Keep in mind, the train in Spain is considered to be an expensive public transport compared to other sources. However, a lot of people even tourists prefer it to other means of transportation.
Shopping in Spain
When you are shopping in Spain and you come across closed businesses don’t panic. It isn’t uncommon to find shops closing for a few hours in the afternoon. So, it’s best if you are planning to do a shopping spree don’t do it between 1 – 4 PM.
Many Spanish people enjoy having long lunch breaks especially when the weather is extremely hot. However, in bigger cities such as Madrid and Barcelona large stores and even supermarkets are often open. But we can’t talk with absolute certainty about smaller shops in a village or small cities.
Sundays in Spain
Sundays in Spain are quite remarkable. It is highly unlikely that you will find anything open on a Sunday. Usually, Sundays in Spain are considered to be a family day or getting together with friends. Therefore, if you are planning to visit Spain, it’s best to leave Sunday out of it.
Large and Small Cities of Spain
As you may have probably seen or heard, large Spanish cities are very modern, busy, and filled with people from all around the world. You can spend days and days in large cities and still find something new to do. However, much like any tourist destination, there are many tourist traps to keep an eye out for.
On the other hand, the villages of Spain are very peaceful and they have kept their old traditions. Spain is known for its culture and traditions. So, if you want to see the traditional side of Spain, try spending a night or two in a small village. However, if you are after the culture of Spain that everyone keeps talking about we recommend the larger cities such as Barcelona and Madrid.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are many things to know before going to Spain that we cannot just talk about them in one simple article. Spain is a country of tradition and culture that everyone has to see. In other words, Spain is the Mecca of culture and tradition. In addition, there are a lot of developed properties in Spain that you own and relocate there.