 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. |
