Is the siesta real? The midday break and split day (jornada partida)

Terms used

• Jornada partida — The jornada partida is a split workday with a long midday break, usually for lunch, before work resumes.
• Jornada continua — The jornada continua is a workday in one block with no long midday break, so it ends earlier.
• Registro de jornada — The registro de jornada is the daily record of working hours that companies must keep for each employee.
• Farmacias de guardia — The farmacias de guardia are on-duty pharmacies that stay open when other pharmacies are closed.

Key rules

• Siesta: Most people do not nap daily; the siesta is better seen as a long lunch.
• Closures: Midday closing is mainly small shops in smaller towns and the south, while chains and supermarkets stay open all day.
• Work schedules: The split day is still the most common office and commerce schedule, and continuous days are growing.
• Weekly maximum: The 40-hour weekly maximum is still in force, since the 37.5-hour bill did not pass.

Opening hours vary by town and region, and working-time rules may change, so check locally and with the Ministry of Labour.

Is the siesta real?

Mostly no. Only a minority of people in Spain nap every day. More people nap now and then, at weekends, in summer or in retirement. Most workers have no time for it. Think of the siesta as a long lunch and a quiet early afternoon, not a nap. Napping is more common among older people, in rural areas and in the south.

What actually closes at midday

It depends on the type of business and the place.

• Small independent shops, boutiques and some professional offices: these often close from about 13:30–14:00 to 16:30–17:00. They reopen until about 20:00–20:30. This is most common in smaller towns and in the south.
• Banks and public offices: they open in the morning and are usually closed to the public in the afternoon.
• Department stores, shopping centres, supermarkets and chains: they stay open all day, usually from 9:00 or 10:00 to 21:00 or 22:00.
• Bars and restaurants: they serve lunch, but some close in mid-afternoon between lunch and dinner.
• Pharmacies: they often close at midday. On-duty pharmacies (farmacias de guardia) stay open.
• Tourist areas: they stay open all day.

Big cities have far less midday closing than small towns. Do your errands in the morning, and check opening hours locally for anything you need in the afternoon.

Split day and continuous day

Spanish employees work one of two schedules.

• Jornada partida (split day): a break of one to two hours or more for lunch, then work resumes. It is still the most common schedule for full-time office and commerce staff. It is common in retail, small business, hospitality and private offices.
• Jornada continua (continuous day): one block of work with a short break. It has grown and is a substantial minority. It is common in public administration, industrial shift work and schools. Many firms also use it in summer.

Which one you get depends on your sector, company size and collective agreement. Check it in your contract before you accept a job.

Working-time reform

The plan to cut the legal maximum week from 40 to 37.5 hours did not become law. Parliament voted the bill down in September 2025. The 40-hour weekly maximum still applies, although many collective agreements set lower hours.

Companies must already keep a daily record of working hours (registro de jornada). A separate plan for mandatory digital time recording has been drafted, but its approval is unsettled. Check the Ministry of Labour for any new bill or decree.

Frequently asked questions

Will the shops be closed when I need them in the afternoon?

It depends on the kind of shop: small independent shops often close for a midday break, but big stores stay open. Small shops and boutiques usually close from about 13:30 or 14:00 to 16:30 or 17:00, then reopen until about 20:00 or 20:30. Supermarkets, shopping centres and chains usually stay open all day, and tourist areas do too.

Are banks and pharmacies open in the afternoon?

Banks and public offices are usually open to the public only in the morning. Pharmacies often close at midday, but an on-duty pharmacy (farmacia de guardia) stays open. Run these errands in the morning, and look for the on-duty list if you need medicine in the afternoon.

Is Spain going to move to a 37.5-hour working week?

No, the 37.5-hour week did not become law, so the 40-hour weekly maximum still applies. Parliament voted the bill down in September 2025. Many collective agreements set shorter hours, and companies must already keep a daily record of working hours.

Do most people in Spain work a split day or a continuous day?

The split day (jornada partida) is still the most common schedule for full-time office and shop staff, with a one to two hour lunch break. Continuous days (jornada continua) are common in public administration, schools and industry, and many firms use them in summer. Ask your employer or check your collective agreement to see which one applies to you.