Other practical information for Spain

Luggage and equipment to bring

Depending on the time of year and the region, the equipment you need can vary greatly. From spring to autumn, on the coasts and inland, light clothing will be perfectly suitable, though you should also bring a light sweater for cool evenings in some places and especially to counter the effects of air conditioning. Plan for slightly warmer clothing if you intend to go mountain climbing. In winter, the climate remains mild on the coast, and mid-season outfits are generally sufficient (along with the usual light sweater, of course). In the mountains or inland, however, bring warmer clothes like you would in France, as well as rain protection. And of course, don’t forget that the sun beats down hard in Spain almost all year round.

Communications

Phone

International dialing code: (00 +) 34.

Internet

As in the rest of Europe, the internet is well developed, and Wi-Fi is increasingly available in many hotels, bars, restaurants, and other public places.

Postal services

Time difference

Local time: Heure : 1922.

Mainland Spain, like France (or Gibraltar and Andorra), is on UTC+1 with summer/winter time changes. Therefore, there is no time difference between the two countries. However, there is one hour more than in neighboring Portugal, which is on UTC.

Electricity

230 V (50 Hz) with "French" plugs (officially type F), which will require an adapter for North American plugs.

Opening hours

Generally, shop opening hours are from Monday to Saturday, 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM and 4:30 PM to 8:00 PM or 9:00 PM/10:00 PM for large shopping centers, which may also be open on Sundays. On the coast, during the season, these hours can be more flexible, especially in the evening.

Laundromats

Local tourist offices

All towns or tourist areas have at least one tourist office open during the season, with multilingual staff. Note that these tourist offices generally only cover their province, and it is often not possible to obtain information about other parts of the country there.

Weights and measures

Spain uses the metric and decimal system, like France.