Where and when to shop

It is for anyone thinking about moving to Spain, planning the move, or already settled in and finding their feet.

Start with "Which shops to use in Spain for clothes, home goods and electronics". It shows you which type of shop or chain to use for each purchase, and the other pages build on it.

Key rules

• VAT refund minimum: Visitors living outside the EU can claim a VAT refund on purchases of more than 90.15 euros per invoice, if the goods leave the EU within 3 months of the month of purchase.
• IVA rates: IVA is 21% on most goods such as clothing and electronics, 10% on the reduced rate and 4% on basic foods and books; the Canary Islands use a different tax.
• Legal guarantee: Goods bought from a shop carry a legal guarantee of 3 years for new goods, and at least 1 year for second-hand goods from a trader.
• Online returns: Online and distance purchases have a 14-day withdrawal right without giving a reason.
• Private sale defects: Private sales have no shop-style guarantee, but you can act on a hidden defect within six months of delivery.
• Discount reference price: Any advertised price reduction must show the prior price, which is the lowest price applied to the product in the previous 30 days.

Where and when to shop: the whole process, step by step

• Check Sunday and holiday opening before you plan a trip (Sunday and public holiday shopping hours by region): Before you head out on a Sunday or public holiday

• Match each purchase to the right kind of shop (Which shops to use in Spain; Specialist shops): Before you buy

• Plan big buys around the sales (Sales seasons, Black Friday and judging a real discount): winter rebajas start around 7 January, summer rebajas around 1 July: Winter rebajas run from around 7 January into February; summer rebajas from around 1 July through August

• Watch for Black Friday offers, which many shops start in early November: Early November, with Black Friday on 27 November 2026 and Cyber Monday after it

• Check the advertised discount against the prior price, the lowest price in the previous 30 days: Before you pay for any discounted item

• Ask for your receipt and keep it, and use shop manners such as waiting your turno (Unwritten shop manners): At the till, every time you buy

• If you buy from a private seller, check the item on delivery and act on hidden defects (the second-hand buying and selling article): Within six months of delivery

• Return or exchange a non-faulty item under the shop's own policy; online purchases have a 14-day withdrawal right: Shop policies are typically 15 to 30 days; online, within 14 days

• If you live outside the EU, ask the shop for a tax-free form (Prices, VAT (IVA) and tax-free refunds when shopping): At the till, for purchases of more than 90.15 euros per invoice

• Validate the tax-free form at the customs kiosk, then collect your refund: Before checking in bags, and within 3 months of the month of purchase

Documents you may need

• Your passport — Prices, VAT (IVA) and tax-free refunds when shopping

• A tax-free form — Prices, VAT (IVA) and tax-free refunds when shopping

• Full invoice — Unwritten shop manners: queues (turno), greetings, bags and receipts, Prices, VAT (IVA) and tax-free refunds when shopping

• Ticket or simple receipt — Unwritten shop manners: queues (turno), greetings, bags and receipts

• Gift receipt — Unwritten shop manners: queues (turno), greetings, bags and receipts

Where and when to shop: questions that cross several articles

Can I shop on Sundays and public holidays in Spain?

Yes, many small shops under 300 m² of sales area, bakeries, press shops, convenience stores and shops in tourist zones can open freely, while larger shops follow their region's calendar. Read Sunday and public holiday shopping hours by region for your area. Which shops to use in Spain helps you pick the type of shop that suits your errand.

Are the dates of the rebajas fixed by law?

No, the dates of the rebajas are not fixed by law, because each retailer chooses when and how long to run its sales. Winter sales usually start around 7 January and summer sales around 1 July. Read Sales seasons, Black Friday and judging a real discount, and Sunday and public holiday shopping hours by region to see which big shops open on peak weekends.

Do I have the same rights when I buy something on sale?

Yes, goods bought on sale carry the same legal guarantee as full-price goods, 3 years for new goods, but there is no legal right to return non-faulty items from a physical shop. Read Sales seasons, Black Friday and judging a real discount for the guarantee, and Unwritten shop manners for receipts and returns.