Opening Hours
Spanish opening hours follow the split day rhythm — the siesta is real, and those who want to shop at midday often face closed doors.
Typical Opening Hours
| Type | Morning | Siesta | Afternoon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Shops | 10:00–14:00 | Closed | 17:00–20:30 |
| Supermarkets | 9:00–21:30 (continuous, some until 22:00) | ||
| Shopping Centers | 10:00–22:00 (continuous, also Sundays) | ||
| Banks | 8:30–14:00 | Closed (some Thu afternoons) | |
| Post (Correos) | 8:30–14:30 | Closed (main post continuous) | |
| Pharmacies | 9:30–14:00 | Closed | 17:00–20:30 |
| Museums | 10:00–20:00 (often closed on Mondays) | ||
| Restaurants | 13:30–16:00 | Closed | 20:30–23:30 |
Special Features
- Sunday: Most shops are closed. Supermarkets (except Mercadona) often too. Bakeries open in the morning. Exceptions apply in tourist areas
- August: Many small shops and restaurants close for 2–4 weeks (especially in Madrid, where the heat is unbearable). Signs "Cerrado por vacaciones" (Closed for vacation) are ubiquitous
- Big Cities vs. Villages: In Barcelona and Madrid, the siesta break is increasingly disappearing. In small towns and in the south, it is sacred — between 14 and 17 o'clock everything is dead
💡 Tipp
Plan errands for the morning (10–13:00) or late afternoon (17–20:00). Trying to shop at midday ends in closed doors and frustration — use the time like the Spaniards: eat, rest, live.