Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re sharing some of the don’ts of visiting Spain. While many travel blogs will tell you the best things to do on a trip to Spain, we also want to share what you should NOT do on your vacation in Spain!
Don’t Worry About Breaking the Bank
Spain is a very affordable destination for Americans and most Europeans. We have always found the prices for lodging, food, and transportation to be very reasonable. It feels like it’s also affordable for locals, which is becoming a big issue in some other destinations like Lisbon. Spain is the perfect medium: not too cheap that you feel guilty and not so expensive that you feel poor.
Don’t Forget to Brush Up on Your Spanish
Outside of the main tourist areas, don’t expect to hear a lot of English spoken. It’s very helpful to know a little bit of Spanish when you visit Spain. Yes, Spanish in Spain is a bit different from the Spanish spoken in Mexico, but you’ll get by no matter where you learned your Spanish. The locals also really appreciate the effort.
Don’t Expect Hot Sunny Weather Everywhere
Spain is known for being hot and sunny, with beautiful beaches. But what a lot of people don’t know is that the weather in Spain can vary quite a bit from season to season. Madrid can get snow in the winter! You might actually need a winter coat if you visit some parts of Spain in the winter. It’s a great time to avoid the crowds of summer but be prepared with warm clothes.
Don’t Just Visit the Cities of Spain
Madrid and Barcelona are great and well worth the visit, but there are so many other places to explore in Spain. Take some day trips, or stay in a smaller town and visit the larger cities as a day trip. Spain has so many cool destinations; you will absolutely need to visit multiple times to even see all the highlights.
Don’t Miss the Historical Sites
You can have a fabulous vacation just enjoying the beaches and tapas of Spain. But make sure you leave room in your itinerary for some historic sites in Spain. There are Roman ruins and temples, cathedrals, Moorish sites, mosques, and pilgrimage sites along the Camino de Santiago.
Two Week Itinerary for Spain & Portugal
Don’t Be in a Hurry
They live at a slower pace in Spain. Just because the service is slow doesn’t mean it’s not good service. They’re very friendly, so you might chat for a bit before they take your order. So plan ahead and make sure you have plenty of time when dining out. Otherwise, you can mention to your server that you’re in a rush.
Don’t Forget to Pre-Book Sites
Some of the most popular tourist sites in Spain can get very crowded. You really should book your tickets well in advance so you can guarantee your admission. For example, the Alhambra books up two to three weeks in advance. The Sagrada Familia also requires reservations in advance.
If you’re planning day trips, make sure you also pre-book your train tickets. You’ll save money and be guaranteed to get the seat you want.
Don’t Get Small Amounts from the ATM
ATM fees are quite high in Spain, so get all that you need in one transaction so that you don’t have to pay the fees multiple times. And as always, never let the ATM convert your currency. Your bank back home will give you a much better rate.
Also, if you have the option, use ATMs that are indoors, not in a busy place outdoors. This is an easy place to get separated from your new cash.
Don’t Insult the Food or Wine
Spaniards are pretty chill, but if you insult Spanish food or wine, they will take it personally. Even if you’re at a restaurant and they didn’t make the food themselves. If you don’t want something, just pretend you’re full. That’s the only “no” they will understand and honor.
Don’t Worry About Tipping in Spain
Tipping your server in Spain is not expected. If you pay with your credit card, there’s no line to write in a tip. We always leave a little change on the table, maybe 5% of the bill, but it’s not customary to tip in Spain.
Don’t Expect a Big Breakfast
Breakfast isn’t a big meal in Spain. It can even be hard to find places that serve breakfast. If we’re in a hotel instead of an apartment, it’s useful to make sure your hotel serves breakfast so you can fuel up for the day.
Don’t Expect Dinner Before 8 PM
Spain has a very late-night culture. They often don’t eat dinner until well after 8:00 at night, even in families with little kids. A lot of restaurants will close their kitchen between 3 pm and 8 pm. You will be able to get tapas or small bites but plan a big lunch so you are hungry for dinner when the Spaniards eat.
Don’t Fall for Tourist Paella
Paella is something that almost everyone wants to eat when visiting Spain. So you’ll see it everywhere! But you want to get the good paella, not the mass-produced version at the touristy restaurants. Paella takes a long time to make, so an authentic place will have one or two versions each day. The places with a menu board offering a dozen varieties of paella probably have some pre-made portions that they are just going to heat up.
Don’t Think Tapas is Always Free
Tapas are the small plates you get when ordering drinks at a Spanish bar. Often, they are free, but not always. The free tapas are usually simple dishes like mixed nuts or dried fruit. Plan to pay a little bit for your tapas, especially if you are planning to fill up while you drink.
Don’t Just Drink Sangria
Sangria is a traditional Spanish drink that is very popular among visitors to Spain. But don’t limit yourself to only Sangria. Locals will drink it occasionally, but there are so many other options. Not to mention, any discount sangria is probably made with way too much sugar and cheap wine. Avoid the headaches in the morning by avoiding discount sangria at a tourist spot.
A few things you might want to try include:
- Local beers are widely available; ask your waiter or bartender what’s good. Cruzcampo is a popular one in Andalusia. Beer is often served in very small servings; that is so it doesn’t get warm.
- Tinto de Verano is like a mix of Sprite and red wine.
- Rebujito is a popular cocktail around Seville, made with sweet wine and 7Up.
- Cava is a delicious sparkling wine
One thing you should not drink in Spain is the cup of chocolate that comes with your churros. It’s for dipping, not drinking! It’s very thick and served super hot, so don’t let your kids drink it, or at least wait until it cools down.
Don’t Forget to Ask for Menu del Dia
A lot of restaurants in Spain have a special lunch menu at really great prices. With dinner being so late in Spain, it’s a good idea to have a big lunch for your main meal of the day. If you like what’s on the special, you’ll save a lot of money doing this.
Don’t Plan to Shop on Sundays
In Spain, a lot of businesses still close on Sunday. If you have shopping you need to do, make sure you take care of it before Sunday or you might be out of luck, aside from convenience stores.
Some stores have siesta between 2 and 4. That’s a good time to rest at your hotel.
Don’t Fall For These Scams in Spain
Unfortunately, as with many tourist destinations, there are a lot of scams aimed at tourists in Spain. Oftentimes, it’s not even the locals scamming you because they want the tourists to keep coming back. With a few precautions, you can avoid most of these tourist scams in Spain.
- When you are ordering Jamon Iberico, make sure you pay attention to the price. Sometimes, it’s priced by weight, and other times it is priced by the planet. It’s not so much a scam, but just something to look out for.
- Know the difference between tapas and raciones. Raciones are a larger and more expensive serving size compared to tapas which are usually quite small. Make sure you order the one you want and pay attention to the price difference.
- Any restaurant near a major tourist site will be a scam in both price and quality of food. Walk a few blocks away from the site and you’ll find tastier food at a better price.
- Pickpockets are plentiful, especially in the bigger cities. Any place with lots of tourists in a crowded area is a target for pickpockets. Barcelona is often referred to as the pickpocket capital of the world, so keep your belongings close!
- Likewise, don’t leave your phone or your wallet on the table at a restaurant. It’s too easy to walk by and swipe. Keep your belongings secure where they aren’t easily reached by anyone passing by.
- The distraction scam is something we’ve mentioned many times. Somebody might point out some bird poop or mustard on your jacket and offer to help clean it up. The point is to distract you so their partner can steal from you.
- We’ve also heard of vacation rental scams where a fake apartment is posted for rent. If you stick to reputable sites like Airbnb, Booking, VRBO, etc, you don’t have to worry so much. And timeshare sales are just as scammy in Spain as they are everywhere else in the world. Do your research.
- “Free gifts” are another common scam in Spain. If someone tries to give you something, even if it’s just a little sprig of herbs or flowers, do not accept it. They’ll say it’s free, but then they will expect some money in return. Just say “no gracias” and move on. If you have kids with you, they may try to hand things directly to your kids, so make sure they know ahead of time not to accept gifts from strangers.
- Fake designer bags are plentiful in the cities. You might be ok with a knockoff; just don’t ever believe you’re getting the real deal from a blanket on the sidewalk.
- Shell games and other street games that you are invited to participate in are usually scams. They might let your kids win, but you’re destined to lose your money.
- Even the beggars you see on the street might be part of a larger organized group. There are social systems in place to help them, and the Spanish government recommends that you do not give money to beggars.
- We’ve also seen beggars posing as stranded tourists. You can give them all your money to “get back home” and you’ll see them in the same place the next year. Even Mark has been taken by this scam in Seville!
- Petitions are another scam; unless you are from Spain, your signature doesn’t count. This likely falls under the distraction scams. Just keep walking, no matter how much they pull at your heartstrings to support their cause.
Don’t Let the Lines Confuse You
Spaniards aren’t the most organized when it comes to queuing up. There may not even be a line, but those waiting know where they are in order. They just know who they are behind and keep an eye on that person. So don’t cut the line, and don’t be afraid to ask where the line ends.
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Don’t think that Spain isn’t for everybody. There really are so many different things to do in Spain, that almost any type of traveler will love it. From beautiful beaches to historic cities and everything in between, it’s impossible not to fall in love with Spain. And remember, in Spain, it’s “Hasta Luego” not “Adios” when you leave!
Want more tips for traveling in Spain? Check out these blog posts: