Spanish Customs and Traditions You Need To Be Aware Of

Spain has some of the most wonderful customs and traditions, some of which are deeply engrained into the culture from a rich history. But, a lot of tourists don’t have a good grasp of what these are! To help you stay in-the-know and appear a little less touristy so you can live a little more like a native during your visit in Spain, check out these customs and traditions you should be aware of:

1. Tapas and Sangria

If there’s one thing Spain is known for, it’s most definitely the food. When you can find an authentic, genuine Spanish restaurant it will completely change your culinary world! And what’s the one thing every tourist looks for while they’re in Spain? Tapas. Contrary to (somewhat) popular belief, tapa isn’t actually a type of food, it’s the way you eat it. They’re small portions of pretty much anything, but you won’t find the locals ordering a bunch of them in a single restaurant; instead, they’ll bar hop and get different tapas at each place they go.

And the same goes for the sangria! This delicious Spanish staple will definitely be on the menu almost everywhere you go, especially if you join in on the boisterous Spanish night life.

2. Spain’s Nightlife

Spain’s nightlife is unlike anything in the world, especially since it doesn’t even start until well after 10PM! You’ll quickly realize that the locals don’t even start eating their paella and tapas until late at night, so you may want to take part in the siesta (more on that later!) so you can keep going all day and night without missing a beat. The best part of about the nightlife though? There’s something for every age group, no matter your taste! So don’t feel like you need to skip out on the fun, just explore the city and see what you can find!

3. Siesta

We mentioned siesta above, but what exactly is this Spanish tradition and why is it going to be your new favorite thing? The siesta is basically a short, 20-minute nap, and it’s a pretty big deal in Spain. Despite its lively nightlife, Spain is actually a very laid back country with a slower-paced lifestyle. So, you’ll often find businesses closing midday to allow their employees to go home, have lunch and partake in siesta before getting back to the day. It may sound too good to be true, but it is 100% real and one of the best things about Spain! You’ll absolutely love joining the locals on this one to recoup from the previous night’s shenanigans.

4. Tipping

This one may not be as exciting as the other customs and traditions on this life, but if you don’t want to be labeled as a tourist while you’re bar hopping or enjoying some paella, it’s a good point to keep in mind: People in Spain do not tip.

Really, tourists from the United States are the only ones you’ll ever see tipping in Spain, so you don’t need to feel obligated. If you still feel uneasy not leaving something, you can! But, keep in mind that most bartenders won’t actually get to keep the money, and it can become an awkward situation for restaurants where there can be as many as three different people waiting on your table.

Experience Spain as Authentically as Possible

You might notice that this list of Spanish customs and traditions you need to be aware of is focused on helping you live like the locals, which you should definitely attempt to do to get the most out of your visit while you’re there! There’s really nothing better in Spain than being able to join in with the local Spaniards and experience life the way they do, with some delectable tapas and thirst-quenching sangria to keep you up and moving between the siestas and bar hopping into the earliest hours of the morning.