When Spanish shops open and close, midday gaps and regional rules

Key rules

• Midday break: Small independent shops close between about 14:00 and 17:00, so do their errands in the morning or late afternoon.
• Chains and malls: Supermarkets, department stores and malls generally stay open through midday.
• Sundays: Most shops are closed on Sundays, and each region sets how many Sundays shops may open.
• Check locally: Each shop sets its own hours, so look at the door sign or online listing.

The short version

Small independent shops close in the middle of the day. Chains, supermarkets and malls mostly do not. Sunday opening depends on your region, and most shops are shut.

Small independent shops

Small independent shops usually open from about 9:30 to 14:00, close for a midday break, and reopen from about 17:00 until 20:00 or 20:30, Monday to Friday. This covers clothes shops, hardware shops, shoe shops and greengrocers.

Watch for these variations:

• Many shops open on Saturday mornings only and close on Sundays.
• Some shops close on Monday mornings or one weekday afternoon.
• In big cities and tourist areas, many shops now open all day without a break (horario continuo).
• Hours are set by each shop, so check the sign on the door or the shop's online listing.

Why they close at midday

The Spanish day runs later than in much of Europe. Lunch (la comida) is the main meal, eaten about 14:00 to 15:30. Dinner is about 21:00 to 22:00. Family-run shops grew up with owners going home for lunch and a rest (a siesta), then reopening in the late afternoon.

Hot summers, especially in the south, strengthen the habit. The siesta is less common in cities today, but the split day lasts in small shops. Offices, chains and malls increasingly run all day.

Chains, supermarkets and malls

Supermarket chains usually open Monday to Saturday from about 9:00 to 21:00 or 22:00 with no midday break, and most are closed on Sundays. Mercadona, for example, closes around 21:00 and is shut on Sundays.

Large department stores and shopping centres open about 10:00 to 22:00, Monday to Saturday, with no break. If you need something between 14:00 and 17:00, this is where to go.

Sunday shopping depends on your region

Sunday trading is set region by region. Each region decides how many Sundays and holidays shops may open, and each publishes a yearly calendar.

• Madrid, Valencia and Murcia are largely liberalised, with more open Sundays.
• Catalonia, the Basque Country, Navarra, Asturias and Galicia are stricter, often allowing only about 8 to 10 open Sundays or holidays a year.
• Tourist zones can have wider opening.

Where Sunday opening is allowed, malls and department stores typically open 10:00 to 21:00 or 22:00. The supermarkets that open on Sundays are mainly small-format shops (under 300 m², such as Dia or Carrefour Express in some areas), foreign-owned convenience stores, and large stores in tourist zones or Madrid. Check your local store listing and your region's calendar for the year. Towns can also have their own local holidays.

How the midday break varies

• Small towns and the south have the longest break. Some shops reopen only in the evening.
• In the north (Basque Country, Asturias, Cantabria, Galicia) and in Catalonia, the day starts a little earlier and the break is shorter.
• Small towns often close on Saturday afternoons as well as Sundays.
• Many small businesses close for part of August.

Plan your day

Do small-shop errands in the morning, before 14:00. Use the late afternoon as a second window. Leave anything you need at lunchtime for a chain or mall. Buy food on Saturday if you will be in a region with few open Sundays. The FAQ below covers August, Saturdays and Sunday-opening stores.

Frequently asked questions

Do small shops close for the whole of August?

Many small businesses close for part or all of August, so do not count on a local shop being open then. Tourist areas often do the opposite and open longer in summer. Check the sign on the door before you make a trip.

Are small shops open on Saturday afternoons?

Many small shops open on Saturday mornings only, and small towns often close on Saturday afternoon and Sunday. In the south, shops may close earlier on Saturday. If you need something from a small shop, go in the morning.

Which big stores open on Sundays?

Malls and department stores open on Sundays only in regions or tourist zones that allow it, usually from 10:00 to 21:00 or 22:00. Small-format supermarkets under 300 m², foreign-owned convenience stores and large stores in tourist zones or Madrid are the most likely to open. Each region sets its own calendar of open Sundays, so look up the local store listing.

Is the midday break the same in the north as in the south?

No, the break is shorter in the north and in Catalonia, and longest in the south and in small towns. In the Basque Country, Asturias, Cantabria and Galicia the day starts somewhat earlier. In the south, some shops close in the hot afternoon and open again in the evening.