Discover when businesses open in Andalucia and the generic opening hours in Spain
Most businesses have agreed on the same opening hour in whole Spain and, in particular, in Andalusia. Although some of them may vary depending on the single business, here you can find a general guide about the opening hours in Spain.
Note that the majority of companies, alongside banks and offices, remain closed on Sunday.
Which is the time of Spain?
The Spanish peninsula and the Balearic Islands have GMT (Greenwich Mean Time zone) + 1 hour in winter and 2 hours in summer (just like Occidental Europe). The Canary Islands have one hour less than the Spanish peninsula.
Major businesses’ opening hours in Spain
Banks:
- From Monday to Friday, from 8.30 am to 2 pm
Post offices:
- From Monday to Friday, from 8.30 am to 2.30 pm
- Saturday, from 9.30 am to 1 pm
Pharmacies:
- From Monday to Saturday, from 9.30 am to 1.30 pm, and from 4.30 pm to 8 pm
- Some pharmacies stay open 24/7
- Moreover, some pharmacies provide night-time and weekend services. The names of these are usually displayed on every pharmacy’s front door.
Restaurants and tapas bar:
- From Tuesday to Sunday, from 1 pm to 4 pm, and from 8 pm to midnight
- Usually, they close one day per week, usually on Monday, as weekly rest
Small shops:
- From Monday to Saturday, from 9/10 am to 2 pm, and from 5 pm to 8/9 pm
- Some shops close on Saturday afternoon
Large supermarkets, shopping centres, shop chains:
- From Monday to Saturday, from 9/10 am to 9/10 pm
- Some of the shopping malls also stay open on Sunday
- Some supermarkets usually open on Sunday in July and August, but only in coastal areas
Night-time bars:
- Usually from sunset until dawn, especially from Thursday to Sunday
- Liven up around midnight until 2/4am, closing at 5/6am.
- In the city centre of the main towns, bars that are not labelled as “discos” close around 3 am.
Meal hours in Spain
In Spain, and in particular in Andalusia, meals have the following hours:
- Breakfast, usually from 8 am to 10 am
- Lunch, usually from 1 pm to 3.30 pm
- Dinner, usually from 8.30 pm to 11 pm
However, most restaurants and bars, in particular, those located in tourist areas, stay open throughout the day, to provide meals for both tourists and Spaniards.
Siesta time in Spain
The so-known siesta is a half-an-hour long “nap”, which one usually takes after lunch. Its origins came from the period of the Spanish Civil War when it was common for Spaniards to have two jobs. They used to eat at home, and have a little nap to regain strengths before going to work once more.
Once the Civil War ended, this tradition remained, until nowadays. In fact, the siesta is now instituted in the southern Spain and Andalusia’s lifestyle. During the siesta, people have the possibility to relax and sleep, and during the hot Andalusian summer, to shelter from the temperatures that may be extremely high in southern Spain.
Thanks to this list of the most common opening hours in Spain, you will know exactly what and when you can enjoy your stay in Andalucia.
Did you find this article to be interesting? Do you want to know something more specific about the opening hours in Spain? Tell us in the comments!
