Does Barcelona have a siesta?

The siesta - which means a midday or afternoon rest or nap - has become a big part of Spanish culture. Many businesses in Barcelona and other parts of the country still shut down every day so that siestas can take place. If you're planning a trip to Spain, you should prepare yourself for plenty of siestas.



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In a large city like Barcelona, shops tend to close from 2PM to 4PM or a bit longer. But when you are visiting a smaller town in Catalonia, it's not unusual to see their down time starting as early as 1PM and until 5PM.

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Siesta. When in Spain, the main meal is lunch, so it is common that many local shops and small businesses will be closed. That doesn't really mean that we are all taking a “siesta” (nap). Nonetheless, you should expect, especially in small towns, local businesses will be closed: From 1 or 2 pm to 4 or 5 pm.

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Siesta hours in Spain are between 2 and 5 pm, and with differences, they can go down to 1:30 and up to 6 pm. It is not law-enforced that shops must take a siesta, but it is something that everybody does. Some businesses have a 2 hours siesta, and some have a 1 and a half or a 3 hours siesta.

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Siesta. When in Spain, the main meal is lunch, so it is common that many local shops and small businesses will be closed. That doesn't really mean that we are all taking a “siesta” (nap). Nonetheless, you should expect, especially in small towns, local businesses will be closed: From 1 or 2 pm to 4 or 5 pm.

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Siesta. When in Spain, the main meal is lunch, so it is common that many local shops and small businesses will be closed. That doesn't really mean that we are all taking a “siesta” (nap). Nonetheless, you should expect, especially in small towns, local businesses will be closed: From 1 or 2 pm to 4 or 5 pm.

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From 2 p.m. to 5p. m. shops are closed for the famous Spanish siesta. On Saturdays many small shops (i.e. the majority of Estancos) are only open to 2 p.m. Major shopping malls, department stores and supermarkets stay open without a break from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. or in some cases until 10 p.m.

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Tipping in Spain works differently: The customer actually has the option to not leave any tip at all. However, restaurants expect a 10% tip on each bill—although it's not a formal rule, and that percentage is much lower than tipping practices in other countries.

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La Cena (dinner) – And finally… dinnertime. It's widely known that people in Spain like to eat late, and Barcelona is no exception. Around here, some restaurants catering to tourists can open around 6 or 7, but most really tend to get going around 9:00pm.

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Stores. The opening hours for most shops in Barcelona is from Monday to Saturday from 9 am to 1:30 pm and from 5 pm to 8 pm.

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Barcelona's shops traditionally open from Monday to Saturday and are closed on Sundays, except in some of the tourist areas and for a series of Sundays throughout the year. It is usual for shops' shutters and doors to open to customers between 9 am and 10 am and to close midday between 1 pm and 2 pm.

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Have a leisurely lunch, then there is usually something to see, whether a church or museum, or just wander a neighborhood, or yes, go back to your hotel and siesta like the locals. Particularly in Spain where I hear the usual dinner hour is at 9pm or 10pm (a good hour later than even Italy).

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Siestas are common in many cultures, promoting rest and productivity during the day. A short nap can boost alertness, mood, memory, and reduce stress. Keep siestas short, typically around 20 minutes, to avoid grogginess.

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Their day starts at 8:00 am and lunch is at around 2:00 – 3:00 pm. The whole city shuts down then except for tourist sites and everything re-opens at 5:00 pm. Dinner time is also very late, at 10:00 pm and unlike in the United States, they eat a pretty big dinner. Spaniards are also big fans of bread.

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Respect other tenants by keeping noise levels to a minimum, and by avoiding making noise in hallways and common areas. Quiet Hours 10pm-8am: There is a national law in Spain prohibiting noise from 10pm-8am and neighbors will call the police if this is not enforced.

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