Shopping - Shopping in Spain

Shopping in Spain the majority of Spanish stores are small family run affairs although many more hypermarkets have begun to spring up for shopping in Spain.

The hypermarkets in Spain tend to lie in the rapidly expanding Spanish suburbs, while the older city neighborhoods hold fast to traditional shopping patterns.

The Spanish often don't seem to believe in queuing and people often push and shove their way to the front. Shop assistants will not always serve customers in order; so if it is your turn - speak up! Some foreigners complain that Spanish service people can be surly, but we have found the great majority of them to be friendly and pleasant when shopping in Spain

Shopping hours:
These can vary considerably between region, city, town and type of shop.
Small shops open from between 0830 and 0930 (or earlier for food shops) until between 1300 and 1400 and from around 1700 until between 1930 and 2100, Monday to Friday, then from 0930 until 1400 on Saturdays. In some areas shops are closed on Monday mornings. In south Spain, the siesta lasts from 1330 or 1400 until 1700. Department stores, hypermarkets and many supermarkets are open without a break for a siesta from around 0930 or 1000, until between 2000 and 2200 from Monday to Saturday.

Markets:
You have indoor markets, called mercados, permanent street markets and traveling open-air street markets that move from area to area. Often prices can be 20% lower than in shops and remember to take along your bargaining skills when shopping in Spain.

Markets usually operate from 0900 until 1400 and sell a variety of goods such as: food, flowers, clothes, shoes, crockery, cookware, linen, ceramics, cassettes/CDs, arts and crafts, household wares, carpets, jewelry, etc. Watch out for well name brands though, as they are usually fakes.