Spain Local Customs

Local Customs

Love to party? You'll be in good company. Hardly a day goes by without one town or another celebrating a fiesta. This epitomises the Spaniards love of food, drink and entertainment, whether enjoying tapas and fine wine in Madrid, Seville or Barcelona or the Basque Country equivalent, pintxos, over cider in the north. Feel immediately at ease with the laid-back pace of life.

Tipping is a matter of choice as the law requires menu prices to include a service charge, but most people will leave something if they're satisfied with the assistance given. 5% fine and 10% generous.

The predominant religion is Roman Catholic 72%, with none 20% and other 8%. Religious festivals, Easter and Christmas are very important and tolerance to all religions should be observed.

Spaniards in general are very patriotic about both their country and/or the region in which they live, they rarely eat or drink in the street, and appearing drunk in public is generally frowned upon. The drinking age in Spain is 18, and people under this age are forbidden to drink and buy alcoholic drinks, although enforcement in tourist and clubbing areas can be lax.