Time Difference
Spain is on Central European Standard Time, which is an hour ahead of GMT.
Money
Credit cards are accepted almost everywhere although it’s always good to have cash to hand to pay for things like taxis. ATMs are widely present, even in small towns. Banks are open generally from Monday to Friday, from 08:00 to 14:00.
Electricity and Plugs
230 volts; plug types C & F are used so make sure you take an adapter for any UK appliances.
Local Amenities
The shops are usually open from 9:00 to 14:00 and 17:00 to 20:00, Monday to Saturday. Only the department stores practice the day continues.
Media
Since the death of Franco in 1975 and freedom of the press being protected in the Constitution in 1978, the Spanish media has undergone a radical change. There are many newspapers that sit on each side of the political spectrum, as well as a more complex axis of nationalist (particularly in Catalonia and the Basque country) vs. constitutionalist media, making for a fascinating dichotomy. The Spanish also have a voracious appetite for tabloid gossip and there are a significant number of publications dedicated to this.
Post
Post offices can be found everywhere and open from 08:00 to 18:00 in big cities. In small towns, they close from 14:00 to 17:00.
Phone
To phone Spain from the UK, append 00 34 to the front of the number you’re dialling (removing the first zero from the number you’re dialling). To call the UK from Spain, use 00 44 before dialling the number (again, without the first zero).
Internet & Mobile Coverage
WiFi is widely available (and mostly free) in hotels, restaurants, cafes and airports. Mobile coverage is pretty good throughout, except in some areas of the mountains of northern and central Spain.
Currency
EUR
