Is it rude to be late in Spain?

Punctuality is not highly important in Spain. People can arrive half an hour late to a social function with no questions raised. If someone turns up late and apologises, people are likely to respond with something like “no pasa nada” – meaning “It's not that important”.



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Other habits to avoid when dining in Spain is to not place your elbows on the table, do not slurp your food or burp in public. All these actions are considered bad etiquette in Spain. For example, slurping your noodles in places like Japan may be acceptable. But in Spain, it is rude to do this.

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Spain has a dysfunctional time system that deprives everyone in Spain of an hour of sleep every day. In addition, Spanish workers typically work 11-hour days, from 9am to 8pm. With dinner at 9pm and a couple of hours of TV, they tend not to get to bed before midnight.

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  • Do not talk about religion. The Spanish have a strong sense of religious pride.
  • Do not expect dinner in the evening to be any time before 9pm.
  • Do not plan anything for a Tuesday 13th as this is seen as an unlucky date.


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It's very common in Spain to see gatherings of people enjoying a drink and chatting and laughing together in the bars from about 10 in the evening, and then on until the small hours of the morning.

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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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The Spanish also go to sleep later than their European neighbours. According to Eurostat, Spaniards go to bed, on average, at midnight, compared to Germans at 10pm, the French at 10.30pm and Italians at 11pm.

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In Spain, tipping is entirely optional and it's not very common. You may see people leaving small change at cafés and bars and, eventually, someone tipping at a nice expensive restaurant. But most of the time, you won't see anyone other than tourists leaving a tip.

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Forbidden names Most would think choosing a name for a newborn is one of the fundamental rights of a parent, but in Spain, it is forbidden to call a child Cain, Judas or Lenin.

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Bullfighting, the most controversial of Spanish traditions, is a mixed blessing for Spain. Many tourists are very curious to see it and view it as a fascinating insight into Spanish culture, but it is also a stain on the country's reputation for others.

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