A Practical Guide to the Way of Life in Spain

Jump right in:

• Pros and cons of living in Spain
• Practical information
• Culture and social etiquette
• Driving in Spain
• Public transport in Spain

Pros and cons of living in Spain

Although moving to the country of churros, paella, and tinto de verano is a dream come true for many expats, weighing the pros and cons of living in Spain is necessary to make an informed decision. One of the downsides is the high unemployment rate, whereas one of the many benefits of living in Spain is the top-notch healthcare system. This following list will break down the rest.

Pros

• **Low cost of living :**even metropolises such as Madrid and Barcelona offer a high quality of life for slightly less money compared to other large European cities like London and Paris. Living well in Spain is generally possible with an annual gross salary of 35,000 to 40,000 EUR (approx. 41,000 to 47,000 USD), depending on the city and lifestyle.

• *Amazing weather all year: even though winters can get cold and rainy, Spain has an overall temperate climate. In some parts of the country, it’s sunny almost all year. Thanks to its favorable climate, especially in Mediterranean regions, Spain offers a wide variety of outdoor activities, ranging from surfing to hiking the spiritual pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.

• Stunning nature & landscapes: the Spanish coastline stretches for approximately 7,905 km (4,912 miles). Spaniards and visitors alike often enjoy Spain’s diverse beaches by sunbathing, swimming, walking along the shore, or practicing a variety of watersports such as surfing, kayaking, or snorkeling.

• Buying property is easy & relatively cheap: non-residents can buy property in Spain, although they must obtain a foreigner identification number (NIE), open a Spanish bank account, and prove the origin of their funds. As Spain was hit hard by the global recession in 2008, property prices went down around 40%. The market is currently facing a structural housing crisis, but certain areas may still offer investment opportunities depending on local demand and supply conditions. If you’re interested in buying a house in Spain, read more in our Housing Guide.

• A good base to explore Europe: flights from Spain to Europe’s top destinations are cheap and very short. If you want to explore Europe, having Spain as your base is your best bet.

• Top-notch healthcare system: Spain’s constitution guarantees the right to health protection and requires public authorities to organize public health services, with free access generally limited to citizens and legal residents. The country’s universal healthcare system is highly rated internationally, especially for its public coverage and citizen satisfaction, although it faces challenges like long waiting lists.

Expats can access the public healthcare system (Sistema Nacional de Salud) through different options, such as working and contributing to social security, joining a special agreement, or presenting proof of legal residency. Read more about Spain’s healthcare system in our Healthcare Guide.

Cons

The economic recession of 2008 hit Spain very hard. A lot of young people lost their jobs, and recent graduates could not find employment for a long time. The Spanish economy has stabilized, and the unemployment rate has decreased to 10.4% as of June 2025. Yet, compared to other European countries, it’s still quite high.

• Language barrier: Spanish is the second most spoken language worldwide and one of the most popular languages to learn. There are a lot of different dialects and accents in Spain alone, and in some areas people speak a completely different language such as Basque, Catalan, or Galician. Even if you’re fluent in Spanish, these cultural nuances can create a barrier. Plus, most of Spain is known for a lack of English-speakers, unless you are in a big city, but even then, it’s not guaranteed.

• Endless bureaucracy: Spaniards like paperwork. For every little thing there’s a document that needs to be filled out, and they’re not very fast when it comes to bureaucracy. If you’re moving from a non-EU/EEA country to Spain, be prepared to run around for a few days registering at a number of different offices, and filling out forms, before actually settling in.

• Slow pace of life: One of the reasons expats are attracted to Spain is the slow pace of life, but this can become off-putting and annoying when you have things to get done. Restaurants open for dinnertime when many expats are getting ready for bed. And, a lot of shops and offices are closed in the afternoon for siesta.

• Everything shuts down in August: for foreigners, it often seems like the whole country goes on vacation in August. Spain slows down so much, it almost stops. A lot of businesses close in the big cities. If you live by the beach, be prepared for the influx of tourists, traffic, and street fiestas.

Practical information

Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, and located in the southwestern tip of Europe, just above North Africa, Spain is home to 48 million people. The population is diverse, too, with specific regional identities that are still very present in people’s daily lives. Basques, Galicians, and Catalans all stay true to their languages.

• Country name: Kingdom of Spain, Reino de España
• Government type: Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy
• Climate: Spain has a variety of climates, including Mediterranean, oceanic, continental, semi-arid, and mountainous
• Capital: Madrid
• Currency: euro (€, EUR)
• Languages:

Official language: Spanish (Castilian) Other co-official languages: Catalan (and its variant Valencian), Galician (Gallego), Basque (Euskera), and Aranese (Aranés)

• Religions: Spain is officially secular, with freedom of religion guaranteed; Roman Catholicism remains the most practiced religion
• Time zones: UTC+1 (Central European Time) on the mainland and in the autonomous cities; UTC+0 (Western European Time) in the Canary Islands
• Calling code: +34
• Voltage: AC 220 volts, 50 hertz; outlet type C or F
• Recommended vaccinations: routine immunizations
• Member of the European Union, Eurozone, and Schengen Area

Spain operates as a state divided into 17 autonomous communities and two autonomous cities.

Emergency numbers

Ambulance (ambulancia)

• 112
• 061

Firefighters (bomberos)

• 080
• 112

Local police (policía municipal)

• 092

Civil guard (guardia civil)

• 062

National Spanish police (policía nacional)

• 091

Maritime sea rescue (salvamento y seguridad marítima)

• 900 202 202

What are the main public holidays in Spain?

Because of the territorial divisions, Spain has both national and regional public holidays.

These are the Spanish national holidays:

• New Year’s Day, 1 January
• Epiphany, 6 January  (Día de Reyes – officially a national holiday)
• Good Friday (on the Friday before Easter Sunday)
• Labor Day, 1 May
• Assumption Day, 15 August
• Hispanic Day, 12 October (not a national holiday, but it’s declared in all regions)
• Constitution Day, 6 December
• Immaculate Conception Day, 8 December
• Christmas Day, 25 December

Main embassies

There are about 120 embassies in Spain and many more consulates.

USA

• Embajada de los Estados Unidos de América, Calle Serrano 75, 28006 Madrid
• Consulado General de los Estados Unidos de América, Paseo Reina Elisenda de Montcada 23, 08034 Barcelona

Canada

• Embajada del Canadá, Torre Espacio, Paseo de la Castellana 259 D, 28046 Madrid
• Consulado del Canadá, Plaza Catalunya 9 – 1º 2ª, 08002 Barcelona

Australia

• Embajada de Australia Torre Espacio, Paseo de la Castellana 259 D, planta 24, 28046 Madrid
• Consulado Honorario de Australia, Avenida Diagonal 433 bis – 2º 1ª, 08036 Barcelona

Germany

• Consulado General de Alemania, Calle Marina 16-18, planta 30 A, 08005 Barcelona
• Embajada de Alemania, Calle Fortuny 8, 28010 Madrid

Main airports

There are approximately 50 airports in all of Spain.

The main airports are:

• Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas, in Madrid
• Barcelona-El Prat, in Barcelona
• Palma de Mallorca, in Palma de Mallorca
• Málaga-Costa del Sol, in Málaga
• Alicante-Elche, in Alicante
• Gran Canaria, in Gran Canaria

Culture & social etiquette

Clichés of Spanish lifestyle, such as siesta, lively festivals, and restaurants offering dinner until very late into the night, are very much true. However, Spain’s culture and social etiquette has a lot more layers to it than we see at first glance.

**The Spanish language

Spanish is spoken by approximately 500 million native speakers and ranks number 2 worldwide after Chinese, in terms of how many people speak it as their mother tongue. This means that the language barrier may be one of the biggest problems for expats, but, as Spanish is considered to be one of the easier languages to learn, you should give it a try.

Foreigners are not guaranteed to find English-speaking locals in Spain. Do your best to learn the language and, whenever handling formalities, bring a Spanish-speaking friend along, or try to learn some of the basic terms in advance.

The importance of family

Spaniards place a lot of importance on family. It’s not a celebration if there are not at least three generations present and an extended gathering of relatives. Although, in big cities, these traditions are slowly fading, the elderly in Spain are very respected and it’s common to care for older relatives in the family home.

The imbalance of gender roles

Gender roles in Spain are becoming more balanced, especially in bigger cities, where modern life and modern views are taking over. Still, the gender pay gap continues to exist, and women often earn less than men across various sectors.

The impact of religion

Spain is predominantly Catholic, with around 55% of Spaniards identifying as Roman Catholics. However, only about 17% of the population regularly practices their religion or attends religious services. The country is famous for its spiritual pilgrimage route to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. In fact, Spain is home to some of the greatest religious architecture in the world, such as the Cathedral of Cordoba, which used to be a mosque. There are also the cathedrals of Seville, Toledo, Burgos, and the famous Sagrada Familia church in Barcelona.

If you want to visit a religious institution, be mindful of showing respect by making sure your shoulders and knees are properly covered. Because of the religious background of the country, it’s important to keep in mind that some areas of Spain are more conservative than others.

Greetings & the concept of personal space

Greeting someone in Spain could be awkward for non-locals. Giving a kiss on each cheek, starting with the left, is a common way of greeting women, especially in informal or social settings. A handshake is standard in formal situations, but locals may still go for the two kisses, depending on the context. Men greet other men with a handshake, or, if they are more familiar, with an embrace or a pat on the back.

If you like to keep your distance from other people, you will need to adjust your concept of personal space. In Spain, physical contact during conversation is accepted and not considered to be an invasion of personal space.

Why are many grown-up children still living at home?

As a consequence of the 2008 economic recession, it’s common for people to still live with their parents well into their thirties. Be sensitive and self-aware when approaching the subject, as expressing surprise could make a local in this situation feel uncomfortable.

The controversy around La Siesta

The popular Spanish mid-day nap, siesta, is controversial. Siestas made their way into business hours in some parts of the country, with shops or services coming to a complete standstill between 14:00 and 17:00. It was originally introduced to avoid the strong midday heat, but these hours no longer reflect the modern and competitive business culture in the big cities such as Barcelona and Madrid. In some situations, mentioning the siesta could be taken as an implication of laziness.

However, Spaniards do tend to eat much later in the day in comparison to other countries. Lunch is typically around 14:00, and having dinner after 21:00 is common. Because there is a lot of importance placed on meals, eating lunch at your desk or on the metro is usually frowned upon. Spanish people like to take a few hours off during lunch time to spend time resting, socializing, and eating before returning to work or school.

The correct way to tip

Tipping is common, although not always expected. People generally give a tip if they considered the service good. Tips in Spain also tend to be on the low side. Although tipping is voluntary and not expected, it’s common to round up the bill or leave a 5–10% tip in restaurants as a gesture of appreciation.

The heavy cloud of smoke

Smoking remains relatively common in Spain, with approximately one in four adults smoking on a daily basis. Although smoking indoors in public places has been banned for years, it’s still permitted in many outdoor settings, such as café terraces or sidewalks.

While the overall number of smokers has been steadily declining, Spain still ranks among the EU countries with the highest percentage of daily smokers. As a visitor, you may notice that smoking in public outdoor areas is more accepted than in some other countries.

The elasticity of punctuality

Spaniards are typically relaxed when it comes to being on time. A short delay, typically between five and fifteen minutes, is often tolerated in social situations and not considered rude. Don’t be offended if your new friends keep you waiting. However, in a business environment, being late is considered very unprofessional.

Driving in Spain

If you’re planning on driving in Spain, there are a few rules you should know in advance.

How to get a Spanish driver’s license

The driving age in Spain is 18. Even if you already have a valid driver’s license from another country, you must be at least 18 years old to drive in Spain. If it is your first time obtaining a driver’s license, you need to pass a theoretical exam and a practical exam in Spain, both of which are regulated by the Dirección Generale de Tráfico (DGT). New drivers should register at a driver’s school of their choice. They usually handle the paperwork with the authorities, send you for a medical exam to obtain a psychophysical certificate, and help prepare you for both the theoretical and practical tests.

Driving in Spain with a foreign license

If you have a non-European driver’s license, you can use it in Spain for up to 90 days if you’re visiting as a tourist. If you become a resident, your foreign license will remain valid for a maximum of six months from the date you obtain residency. After that period, you’re required to obtain a Spanish driver’s license.

Depending on your country of origin, this can be done either through a direct exchange or by completing the Spanish licensing process. Spain has bilateral agreements with some countries that allow a straightforward exchange of foreign licenses. If your country is not among them, you’ll need to pass both the theoretical and practical driving exams in Spain.

It’s also possible to use an International Driving Permit (IDP) alongside your foreign license, but only as a temporary solution. The IDP is not valid on its own and does not replace the legal obligation to obtain a Spanish license if you become a resident.

How to exchange your license for a Spanish license

In general, you’ll need an appointment, or cita previa at the DGT (Dirección General del Tráfico), to renew or validate your license. You can request an appointment online through the DGT website by selecting your province and the type of procedure (license exchange), or by calling 060.

In some provinces, especially those with high demand, wait times for a cita previa can vary from a few weeks to several months. If you do not handle this formality in advance, you may find yourself with an expired license in the country. Some authorities may be benevolent with expired licenses if you prove that you are waiting for a cita previa, but others may still fine you.

Exchanging your driver’s license as an EU citizen

If you’re an EU national, your driver’s license is valid in Spain as long as it remains in force and has not been withdrawn. If you establish residency in Spain and your license has a limited validity period, you’ll need to exchange it after two years. You can do this at any Provincial Traffic Department, provided you have made the cita previa and have the following documents:

• official application form for EU/EEA citizens
• duly completed talón-foto, which can be obtained at the Traffic Department, (Jefaturas Provinciales de Tráfico)
• your ID, passport, or NIE
• your national driver’s license (provided it is still valid): the original and a copy
• a recent photograph (32x26 mm)

There is a fee of 30 EUR (34 USD), which you can pay either through the DGT website or in cash at financial institutions (model form 791).

If you have a UK driver’s license, you’re no longer classified as an EU/EEA citizen since Brexit. As of March 2023, a bilateral agreement allows UK license holders to exchange their permit for a Spanish one without taking a driving test, within six months of establishing residency.

Exchanging your driver’s license as a non-EU citizen

As a non-EU national, your driver’s license is only valid in Spain for six months after obtaining legal residence. Whether you can exchange your driver’s license for a Spanish one or need to take the practical exam will depend on whether your country has a bilateral exchange agreement with Spain.

Check with your consulate or the DGT website to know which conditions apply to you. You can exchange your existing driver’s license at any Provincial Traffic Department. You’ll need to bring the following documents:

• official application form for non-EU/EEA citizens

• duly completed talón-foto, which can be obtained at the Traffic Department, or downloaded online from the DGT website

• ID or passport

• authorization of residency

• original driver’s license

• medical fitness report issued at a Driver Recognition Center

• written declaration:

• that you do not have another driving license issued in Spain or the EU

• that you are not deprived of the right to drive

• a recent photograph (32x26 mm)

You’ll also need to pay a fee of 28.87 EUR (approx. 35 USD) if no driving tests are required, or 94 EUR (approx. 110 USD) if tests are required. If you need to take the practical exam, each attempt costs an additional 44.58 EUR (approx. 52 USD).

Driving rules in Spain

Here is what you should know about the rules of driving in Spain:

• You drive on the right side and overtake on the left side.
• Seatbelts are compulsory and should be worn by everyone in the vehicle.
• Helmets are compulsory on motorbikes, mopeds, bicycles, and trikes/quads.
• You must carry two warning triangles or a V16 emergency light and at least one high-visibility reflective vest in the vehicle at all times. These are required in case of an accident or breakdown.
• Using a mobile phone while driving is forbidden unless using a hands-free system.
• The maximum blood alcohol level is 0.5 g/l (0.25 mg/l in exhaled air) for general drivers, and 0.3 g/l (0.15 mg/l) for novice and professional drivers.
• Parking on a public street is not always permitted or free, with many cities having regulated parking areas subject to payment. These are identified by signs and parking meters.
• BUS-VAO lanes are generally reserved for high-occupancy vehicles (with at least two occupants), buses, motorcycles, taxis, vehicles with environmental labels (CERO or ECO), and those transporting individuals with reduced mobility. Rules may vary by city and signage.

Speed limits are the following:

• 120 km/h on dual carriageways and motorways
• 90 km/h on conventional roads, or 80 km/h if there is no physical separation between directions of travel
• 50 km/h in residential areas
• 30 km/h or even 20 km/h in certain urban zones with high pedestrian activity or single-lane roads

Driving a rental car

If you rent a car in Spain, you need to be aware of the following:

• You must be at least 21 years old to rent a car, although some companies allow rentals from age 18 with restrictions and additional fees.
• Many rental companies require having at least one or two years of driving experience.
• Spain is one of the few countries that accept debit cards or cash as a form of payment for rental cars.
• You will need to show your valid driver’s license and ID.

You won’t have trouble finding a car rental service as there are many throughout the country. Just search for alquiler de coches near you.

Public transport in Spain

In general, driving in Spain’s big cities comes with a lot of traffic. Madrid’s traffic jams can start as early as 05:00. Because of this, opting for public transport may be a wise idea.

How is Spain’s public transport system?

There are many options to choose from when it comes to public transport in Spain. A good network of trains connects the entire country, with high-speed trains (AVE) connecting many regions in less than three hours. Many long-haul train routes make up the country’s railways, along with the Cercanías (the name given to the commuter rail systems of Spain’s major metropolitan areas), which connects nearby cities.

The National Train Network is operated by RENFE, the public company responsible for managing passenger and freight rail transport in Spain. You can find train itineraries and timetables on their website, as well as some car services.

Most cities are also equipped with either metros or trams. In cities such as Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, or Valencia, you can find both.

A network of buses operated by private companies covers many cities, most of which are owned by Alsa. You can find bus lines in places that aren’t covered by metros or railways, which ensure transport to more remote parts of the country.

You can also use taxis or similar services, including traditional taxis and ride-hailing apps such as Uber, Cabify, and FREENOW, which operate mainly in large cities like Madrid and Barcelona.

What are the costs of public transport?

Public transport in Spain is generally quite affordable. Prices may vary by autonomous region, but, in general, expect to pay around:

In Madrid and Barcelona, the 10-trip ticket offers significant discounts compared to single tickets. In Madrid, it’s valid for Metro, EMT (urban buses), and ML1 (tram). In Barcelona, the T-Casual pass offers up to 40% savings and can be shared with others. These multi-trip passes are usually valid for 30 days from first use.

Monthly metro passes typically range from 10 EUR (approx. 12 USD) for youth under 26 in Madrid to 79 EUR (approx. 90 USD) for extended zones. For adults aged 26–64, the standard monthly fare for Zone A in Madrid is 32.70 EUR (approx. 40 USD). In other cities, prices vary depending on the number of zones covered.

Most public transport systems require a city-specific travel card to load monthly or multi-trip passes. Additional discounts may be available for seniors, young people, and people with disabilities, depending on the city or region.