Spain (ES)
Spain is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy of 17 autonomous communities stretching from the sun-scorched Andalusian coast to the Pyrenean peaks, renowned for its passionate flamenco and football culture, world-famous gastronomy from tapas to Michelin-starred restaurants, 300+ days of sunshine on the Costa del Sol and the Balearic Islands, and a relaxed Mediterranean pace of life that consistently ranks it among Europe's most desirable destinations for expats.
Country Profile
Everything you need to know before you arrive.
Spain is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy of 17 autonomous communities stretching from the sun-scorched Andalusian coast to the Pyrenean peaks, renowned for its passionate flamenco and football culture, world-famous gastronomy from tapas to Michelin-starred restaurants, 300+ days of sunshine on the Costa del Sol and the Balearic Islands, and a relaxed Mediterranean pace of life that consistently ranks it among Europe's most desirable destinations for expats. With a Mediterranean climate, universal public healthcare, a Digital Nomad Visa, and the Beckham Law flat-tax regime, it is one of Europe's most attractive destinations for expats seeking a high quality of life at a moderate cost of living.
Climate
March–May: 12–22°C. Warm, sunny, best for travel. Rain in the north (Galicia, Basque Country). Semana Santa processions mid-spring.
June–August: 25–40°C. Very hot and dry inland (Madrid, Seville frequently 40–45°C). Mediterranean coast more humid. Many Spaniards leave cities in August.
September–November: 15–25°C. Gota fría storms possible on the east coast. Warm Indian summer into October.
December–February: 3–15°C inland, 10–18°C on Mediterranean coast. Snow in interior mountains (Sierra Nevada, Pyrenees). Canary Islands stay 18–22°C year-round.
Demographics
Religion
Social Culture & Etiquette
Two kisses on the cheek (starting from the right) between women, and between a man and a woman who know each other. Men shake hands or hug with close friends. Use "usted" (formal you) with older people, authorities and in some formal business settings; "tú" (informal) is the default in most workplaces and all social situations.
Business meetings: arrive on time. Social gatherings: 15–30 minutes late is normal and expected. "La hora española" is real. Dinner invitations at 21:30 typically mean people arrive 22:00–22:30.
Spaniards generally dress well in public, especially in cities — flip-flops and shorts away from the beach mark you out as a tourist. Business wear is smart casual to formal. Cover shoulders and knees when entering churches.
- ✕ Do not joke about the monarchy, the Civil War or Franco casually with strangers — deeply divisive topics.
- ✕ Do not criticise regional identities — Catalans, Basques, Galicians and Valencians take their distinct cultures seriously.
- ✕ Do not mix up "Spanish" and "Castilian" carelessly in Catalonia or the Basque Country.
- ✕ Avoid scheduling important calls during the 14:00–16:00 lunch window — many small businesses and administrative offices close.
- ✕ Do not tip excessively (15–20%); it is unusual and can seem condescending.
- ✓ Meal times run late: breakfast 8–10, lunch 14:00–16:00, dinner 21:00–23:00. Restaurant kitchens open 13:30–16:00 and 20:30–23:30 — arriving at 19:00 for dinner means an empty tourist restaurant.
- ✓ Sunday is family day — long lunches with multiple generations. Most small shops close; big supermarkets open limited hours in some regions.
- ✓ When paying the bill, "pagar a escote" (split evenly) is standard among friends; itemising is seen as stingy.
- ✓ Greet the bar/shop when entering ("Buenos días", "Hola") and say goodbye when leaving ("Hasta luego", "Adiós").
- ✓ Tipping: €1–2 per person at a restaurant, round up for taxis, €1–2 for hotel bellhops. Not obligatory.
🍽️ Traditional Food & Drink
Rice dish from Valencia, originally made with rabbit, chicken and snails. The seafood version (paella de marisco) is the international favourite. Cook over wood fire; the crispy bottom (socarrat) is the prize.
Cured ham from free-range Iberian pigs fed on acorns. Jamón ibérico de bellota is the top grade. Sliced thin by hand; eaten at room temperature with bread.
Potato and egg omelette, sometimes with onion (the great Spanish debate). Served as tapa, breakfast, or main.
Cold tomato soup from Andalusia. Gazpacho is thinner with cucumber and pepper; salmorejo is thicker, Cordoban, topped with hard-boiled egg and jamón.
Boiled octopus from Galicia, served on wooden boards with paprika, olive oil and sea salt over potatoes.
Fried dough sticks dipped in thick hot chocolate. Breakfast or late-night after-clubbing snack. San Ginés in Madrid is the famous chocolatería, open 24h.
Creamy béchamel croquettes filled with jamón, chicken, cod or mushroom. Homemade is always better than frozen.
Spain has the largest vineyard area in the world. Major regions: Rioja (Tempranillo), Ribera del Duero, Priorat, Rueda (Verdejo), Rías Baixas (Albariño). A solid bottle of Rioja Crianza is €5–8 at any supermarket.
Order a caña (small draft beer, ~200ml) for €1.50–3.50 — often comes with a free tapa in Granada, Jaen, León. Major brands: Estrella Galicia, Mahou, Estrella Damm, San Miguel, Cruzcampo, Alhambra.
Sangría is a tourist drink; locals drink tinto de verano (red wine + lemon soda) in summer. Much cheaper and lighter.
Café solo (espresso), café con leche (with milk), cortado (espresso with a splash of milk), manchado (mostly milk). A coffee at a local bar is €1.20–1.80; in tourist cafes €2.50–4.
Red vermouth on tap. The pre-lunch weekend ritual of "ir al vermú" is a strong tradition, especially in Madrid, Barcelona, Zaragoza. Served with an olive and an orange slice.
Valencian cold drink made from tiger nuts. Creamy, nutty, served with far tons (sweet bread). Summer classic.
📍 Tourist Highlights
Antoni Gaudí’s unfinished basilica, under construction since 1882. UNESCO World Heritage. Book tickets online weeks in advance — sellouts are standard.
Moorish palace and fortress complex on the hill above Granada. Strict daily visitor cap; book 2–3 months ahead for high season. Night visits available.
One of the world’s greatest art museums. Velázquez, Goya, El Greco, Bosch, Rubens. Free entry Monday–Saturday 18:00–20:00, Sunday 17:00–19:00.
Ancient pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. Several routes; the Camino Francés (800km) is the most popular. Walked in 30–35 days. Credential (credencial) stamped at refugios.
10th-century mosque with a cathedral built inside after the Reconquista. The double-tiered red-and-white arches are one of the most photographed sights in Spain.
Gaudí’s whimsical hilltop park above Barcelona. Colorful mosaics, the dragon stairway, panoramic city views. Timed tickets required for the monumental zone.
17th-century porticoed square at the heart of old Madrid, ringed by bars and the famous bocadillo de calamares stalls under the arches.
📖 Brief History
Spain’s history spans Phoenician and Roman Hispania, 700+ years of Al-Andalus and the Reconquista completed in 1492, the global Spanish Empire of the 16th–17th centuries, the Bourbon monarchy, the Second Republic, the Civil War (1936–1939) and the Franco dictatorship (1939–1975). Since the 1978 Constitution, Spain has been a parliamentary democracy with substantial devolution to its autonomous communities. Spain joined the European Communities in 1986 and the eurozone in 1999. Modern Spain is a founding member of the Schengen Area and a major NATO contributor, with strong diplomatic and cultural ties across Latin America.