Greetings and everyday manners
You will know what to say, how close to stand and how to behave in the first encounters that shape how neighbours, shopkeepers and acquaintances see you.
Day-to-day manners in Spain are the first thing you notice when you arrive. This topic covers how to greet people, how to address them, and how to behave around them in shops, lifts, queues and public spaces. It also covers how direct people are, how close they stand, what to wear, and where…
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Two kisses, a handshake or nothing: how to greet people in Spain
How to greet people in Spain: when to give two kisses, when to shake hands, and what to do when you are unsure. For newcomers meeting friends, neighbours, colleagues and strangers.
Formal or informal 'you' (tú or usted) in Spain
In Spain, tú is the normal way to say "you" in most daily situations. This page shows when to keep usted instead, such as with older people and officials, and how to handle don/doña and your building's portero. It is for anyone new to Spain.
Saying hello in lifts, shops and waiting rooms
Spaniards greet aloud when they enter a shop, bar, waiting room or lift, and say goodbye when they leave. This page gives the short phrases to use, and when to use each, for anyone new to everyday life in Spain.
Why Spaniards sound blunt and loud, and what it really means
Spanish conversation is louder, more overlapping, more direct and more personal than many newcomers expect. This page explains what that usually means, how to tell it from real anger, and how to adjust your own style.
Personal space and touch in Spain
Explains why people in Spain often stand close, touch your arm and look at you openly, and how to read it. For newcomers who may find this surprising, with advice on stepping back politely when you want to.
How the unwritten queue works (¿quién es el último?)
In many Spanish shops, markets and waiting rooms nobody stands in a visible line. This page shows newcomers how to join the queue by asking who is last, hold your place, and react politely if someone jumps ahead of you.
Dealing with shop and bar staff without seeming rude
How to get a waiter's attention, handle chat and queues at small shops, and start in Spanish or English without seeming rude. For newcomers using bars, cafés and neighbourhood shops in Spain.
What to wear day to day so you don't stand out
How to dress for errands, town, churches and beach towns in Spain: neat casual is the norm, swimwear belongs on the beach, and churches expect modest clothing. For anyone new to Spain who wants to blend in.
Where you can and cannot smoke or vape in Spain
Explains where smoking and vaping are banned across Spain, where rules differ by region or town, and how neighbours can react. It is for newcomers who smoke or vape and want to avoid fines and disputes.
Spain's social norms: real rules versus myths
Shows which Spanish social norms are close to universal, which are flexible, and which clichés about siesta, kissing and lateness are myths. For newcomers who want to fit in without worrying about the wrong things.
About this topic
It is for anyone thinking about moving to Spain, planning a move or already living there. You will learn what to say, how close to stand and how to behave in the first encounters that shape how neighbours, shopkeepers and acquaintances see you.
Start with "Spain's social norms: real rules versus myths". It separates the habits that really matter from clichés about siesta, kissing and lateness. After that, the most useful pages are "Two kisses, a handshake or nothing: how to greet people in Spain" and "Saying hello in lifts, shops and waiting rooms". Pick the others as the situations come up.
Key rules
- Kiss greeting: Friends and acquaintances greet with two kisses, starting on the right cheek, while men with men usually shake hands.
- Unwritten queue: In shops without a visible line, ask "¿Quién es el último?" when you arrive and follow that person.
- Indoor smoking: Smoking is banned in enclosed public places and workplaces across Spain, including bars, restaurants, shops and public transport.
- Men with men: Men usually shake hands, or hug if they are close, rather than kiss.
- Greet first: Say hola or buenas out loud when you enter a shop, bar, waiting room or lift.
- Buenas: Plain buenas is safe at any time of day if you are unsure.
Greetings and everyday manners: questions that cross several articles
Can I walk around town in swimwear or topless in Spain?
No national law bans it, but many town councils ban swimwear or going bare-chested away from the beach and fine you, often around 100 to 500 euros. Toplessness on beaches is generally tolerated. Read "What to wear day to day so you don't stand out" for dress norms, and ask the town hall about the local ordinance.
Do the same rules apply to vaping as to smoking in public places?
Not always: vaping is banned nationally in health, education and children's facilities and on public transport, but elsewhere indoors it depends on the region. Several regions ban it in the same places as tobacco. Read "Where you can and cannot smoke or vape in Spain" for the detail, and "Spain's social norms: real rules versus myths" for what people actually expect.
Can I smoke on a terrace, on the beach or in a park?
There is no general national ban on terraces, beaches or parks, but many regions and towns ban smoking on some or all beaches, and fines can reach 2,000 euros. Terraces are usually allowed to permit smoking, though some places limit it. Read "Where you can and cannot smoke or vape in Spain", and check the rule in the town you are in.
Do I have to give two kisses to everyone I meet?
No, two kisses on the right cheek first are for friends and acquaintances in social settings, while men with men usually shake hands. In shops and offices a spoken greeting is enough.
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