Spain: Practical information

Eating Out

Rules For Eating Out: Timings: 13:30 to 16:00 and 20:30 to 23:00, except in tourist areas where the restaurants open much earlier.
The Spanish menu consists of an initial course (rice, pasta, dry vegetables, mixed salad), a second course (fish or meat) and a dessert (rarely cheese). The prices are usually listed without VAT. Bread is billed separately.

Food Specialties: Traditional Spanish cuisine has a country base with distinct regional specialties.

Fried squids, gazpacho and tapas.

Caldereta: Lamb stew: Shepherd's dish. It is an adaptable dish allowing all types of local ingredients like wine, potatoes, tomatoes, onions, red and green peppers and garlic to be added. In the old recipes of Extremadure, the cooking juice is thickened with dried bread-crumbs, lamb liver and almonds, mixed up with a meat stock to make a sort of dough.

Paëlla: typical saffron rice-based Spanish dish accompanied with seafood and meat or poultry.

Churros: In Spain, the churros are part of the popular tradition. The dough is generally molded in a decorating tube with a star-shaped nozzle to make arm-length strips. Once they are fried, they are stacked and sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon in cascade. They are eaten with hot and thick chocolate (Spain has obtained a waiver from the EU to be able to continue making chocolate containing a thickening agent).
Drinks: The quality of the numerous Spanish wines is constantly improving.
The main labels of quality are: Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Priorat, Toro, Ribeiro, Rias Baixas, Albarino, etc. Catalogne prepares large quantities of a Champagne method sparkling wine labeled « cava ». The Andalusian cherries are known for their variety: fino, oloroso, amontillado, manzanilla, Pedro Ximenez. There are special spirits: anisette, Pacharan and fruit liqueur. Asturias produce cider and Pays Basque du Txacoli (white wine).
Dietary Restrictions: Rabbit, horse meat and snails are eaten only in some regions of Spain. It is rare to eat raw shellfish.
Table Manners: Continental table manners are followed. What is considered « good » table manners is not common in the average Spanish homes.

Getting Around

Means of Transport Recommended in Town

Urban transport services: Urban Transports of Seville
Find an Itinerary: Find a schedule to Madrid
Taxi services: Spaintaxireservations

Transportation From Airport to City Centre:

Airport	Distance	Taxi	Bus	Train	Car Rental
Madrid - Barajas (MAD)	13 km / 8 miles	EUR 17-23 / 20-30 min	EUR 1.10	EUR 2	Available
Barcelona - El Prat (BCN)	13 km / 8 miles	EUR 13-50 / 25-35 min	EUR 2.80 / 30-40 min	EUR 2.40	Available

Means of Transport Recommended in the Rest of the Country

Train reservation services: RENFE (Entire Spanish territory)
FGC (Catalonia)
FGV (Valencia)
Euskotren (Basque Country)

Major airlines

Name	Type	Domestic Flights	International Flights
Iberia	Major	yes	Yes
Air Europa	Major	yes	Yes
Spanair	low cost	yes	Yes
Vueling	low cost	yes	Yes

You Can Consult The EU Air Safety List. Look Also at the rating of the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Travelling By Yourself

Car rental agencies: Europcar
Avis
Hertz
Atesa
Easycar (low cost)
Real-time traffic conditions: Director General of Traffic (in Spanish)

Time and Time Difference

Current Local Time: It is %T:%M %A In Madrid
Summer Time: Summer time from March to October.

Map of the Time Zone

Time zone

Climate

Type of Climate: Spain has a varied climate depending on the regions. It is mostly oceanic climate in the north, Mediterranean not to say dry climate in the south and a continental climate in the rest of the country. The seasons are more distinct in the heart of the country. Average temperatures in Madrid are 8°C in January and 27°C in June and in Barcelona 9°C in January and 20°C in June. The best time to visit Spain is from mid-May to mid-October.
Hotel reservation websites: Spanish meteorology agency

Average Annual Temperatures and Rainfall

Climate

Electrical Standards and Measurement Systems

System of Measurement Used: Metric system
Unit of Measurement of Temperature: Degree Celsius (°C)

Use our service Measurement Converter.

Electricity
Voltage: 230 V
Frequency: 50Hz
Type of Electric Socket: Type C and F.
Type of Telephone Socket: RJ-11
DVD Zoning: Zone 2

Paying

Domestic Currency: Euro
ISO Code: EUR
To Obtain Domestic Currency: The easiest is to directly withdraw money from the ATMs. There are many of them easily accessible in the airports, downtown and in all areas.
Possible Means of Payment: All credit cards are easily accepted in the hotels, restaurants (except the very small ones and the bars) and businesses, except American Express. Taxis which accept credit card payment are rare. It is not possible to pay by checks other than certified checks. The Spanish have the habit of paying by cash; it is common to see people with wads of bills. If you want to pay by credit card, you will be asked to show an identity card.

To Find a Cash Machine Where You Need, Use the ATM locator

Speaking

Official Language: Castilian (Spanish)
Other Languages Spoken: Some regions use their regional language for conducting business (Euskera, Catalan, Galician, Valencian). Other minor regional languages can be used: Bable, Aragonese, Aranese, Extremaduran.
Business Language: Spanish.
English is rarely used but it is developing.

Emergency Numbers

Fire Department	080
Guardia Civil (Regional police)	062
National Police	091
Civilian welfare (including medical emergencies)	112
Medical emergencies (in Catalonia)	061

Communications

Telephone Codes: To Make a Call From Spain, Dial 00
To Make a Call to in Spain, Dial +34
Mobile Telephone Standards: GSM
National Mobile Phone Operators: Movistar, Orange (formerly Amena), Vodafone, as well as other virtual operators.

Availability of Internet

Internet Suffix: .es
National Internet Access Providers: Telefonica, Orange, Jazztel, Ono, Yacom, Arrakis, Al-pi (Catalonia), Euskaltel (Basque Country), R (Galicia).

Any Comment About This Content? Report It to Us.