Others

Language
Castilian is the official Spanish language of the State. However, Castilian is not the only Spanish language. At present, there are other Spanish languages, which make up a singularly rich linguistic patrimony.
The Spanish Constitution recognizes the right of the Autonomous Communities to use their own languages.

Public Holidays
• January 1 - New Year's Day
• January 6 - The Epiphany
• May 1 - Labor Day
• August 15 - Feast of the Assumption
• October 12 - Spain's National Day
• November 1 - All Saints' Day
• December 6 - Constitution Day
• December 8 - Feast of the Inmaculate Conception
• December 25 - Christmas Day

Do's and Don'ts
Don't be surprised at how rapidly people speak. We found our Spanish skills are severely tested on many occasions. And don't forget to lisp your z's and internal c's. (For example, Ibiza is pronounced Ee-BEETH-a).

Don't complain about cigarette smoke in bars—be aware you'll either be laughed at or shown the door. And don't expect to find "No Smoking" sections in restaurants, either. There is no such thing in Spain. Spaniards often tell us that people who complain about such things are "afraid of life".

Do carry some small change—you'll need it to use the public bathrooms.

Don't wear shorts in churches; wear them only on beaches and at beach resorts.

Women may be the object of unwanted attention more than in Northern Europe, particularly if they're traveling alone or visiting Andalusia or the southern Mediterranean coast. The best response is no response at all—any attention given is likely to be misinterpreted.

Do try to see the fastest ball game in the world, pelota (jai alai), played mainly in Bilbao and Guernica.

Do be aware that the penalties for drug possession are severe, and convicted offenders can expect jail sentences.

Tipping
Tipping is a great tradition in Spain. While practically all establishments currently include a surcharge for service it is still common to leave something of a tip. This custom, common in bars and restaurants, has extended to hotel porters, theatre ushers and taxi drivers, though in none of these cases is it obligatory nor will anyone recriminate a client for not tipping.

Smoking
Smoking is commonplace amongst men and women in Spain, and do not expect to find many non-smoking areas designated in bars and restaurants. Smoking is also common in fast food restaurants, shops and malls.

You probably won't get a polite answer if you ask someone to stop smoking a cigarette for whatever reason.

For smokers, this will not be a problem, but non-smokers may find this uncomfortable. Cigarettes and cigars are reasonably cheap, and at the moment average about 2€ per packet.

Spanish Time
The time in Spain is officially GMT +1:00 and +2:00 during the summer, along with most of mainland europe.

Perhaps because of the benign climate and the long hours of sunshine in Spain, Spaniards tend to get up later in the morning and stay out later at night than the rest of their European neighbours. Shops and businesses are usually opened from 9 or 9:30 am to 1:30pm and from 4:30 or 5pm to 8 or 8:30pm though it has become more and more common for businesses to stay open through the traditional "siesta" hours.

Business establishments are usually closed for a day and half per week, most often Saturday afternoon and Sunday, while many shops close only on Sunday. In tourist areas, in summer, business hours are often expanded to 10 or 11pm with stores open 7 days a week.

Restaurant hours are quite varied, with the norm being from 1:30 to 3:30pm for lunch and from 8:3' to 11 or 11:30pm for dinner. In summer, these hours are often expanded, with many establishments offering continuous service and still other serving food into the small hours of the night. Bars are usually open all day and close late at night.

In general, the nightlife in Spain is quite intense, and the bars and discotheques stay open long past midnight. In summer, they often stay open past 3 or 4 am. In big cities like Madrid and Barcelona, for example, there are many places that stay open until dawn, even in winter.

If things go wrong?
Emergency number: 112
To contact the emergency services in any EU country, dial 112.
More information about the emergency call number 112.

Loss or theft
Report any theft to the local police. You will need to enclose the police report when making your insurance or compensation claim. Cancel any lost or stolen credit cards immediately. If your passport has been stolen, report it to your country's consulate or embassy as well as to the police.

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