Spanish Opening Hours Explained
If you’ve been in Spain for more than a few days, you’ve probably had this moment:
You walk somewhere.
Google says it’s open.
It’s not.
This guide explains Spanish opening hours, what’s predictable, what isn’t, and how to stop wasting energy fighting it.
No theory.
Just how daily life actually works.
Why opening hours feel confusing in Spain
Spain does not run on one universal schedule.
Opening hours depend on:
The type of business
The city and neighborhood
Whether it’s a small local shop or a chain
The day of the week
And sometimes, honestly, the owner
There is no national rule saying shops must open or close at a specific time.
That’s why this feels chaotic at first.
The big idea
Spain works in time blocks, not straight through.
The traditional rhythm looks like this:
Morning opening
Midday slowdown or closure
Evening reopening
Later nights
Not everything still closes mid-day, but many places do, especially smaller, locally owned ones.
Once you see the pattern, it stops feeling random.
Typical opening hours, by category
These are patterns, not guarantees.
Small local shops
- Midday foot traffic is low
- Staff go home to eat
- They reopen when streets fill again
- Many don’t reopen on Sundays
- Saturday afternoons vary
- Google hours are often wrong
Supermarkets
- Open straight through the day
- Monday to Saturday
- Some open Sundays (region-dependent)
Cafés & bars
- Often open early (8:00–9:00)
- Busy mornings
- Some close mid-afternoon
- Many reopen in the evening
- Open later
- Stay open late
- Kitchen hours matter more than door hours
Restaurants
Government offices
- Closed afternoons
- Closed weekends
- Appointments often required (cita previa)
Sundays & holidays
- Many small shops are closed
- Big supermarkets may be open (region-dependent)
- Bars and restaurants are usually open
- Everything slows down
- Even supermarkets may close
- Hours can change with little notice
Appointments (cita previa)
- Slots often release early morning
- Some systems refresh overnight
- Checking late afternoon rarely helps
Pharmacies
- Rotating 24/7 coverage (farmacia de guardia)
- Check any pharmacy door for the on-duty list
Handwritten signs
- Often more accurate than Google
- Temporary closures
- Vacation notices
- “Volvemos a las 17:00”
Not all neighborhoods run on the same clock
This gets overlooked.
Tourist areas stay open later
Residential neighborhoods close earlier
Student areas run late
Business districts empty out in the evening
If you move neighborhoods and things suddenly feel “off”, it’s not you.
It’s the area.
Common problems, and calm fixes
“Google says it’s open, but it’s closed”
Very common.
Fix:
Check recent reviews
Look for photos of posted hours
Go earlier in the day if it matters
“I keep missing offices”
You’re not bad at bureaucracy.
Fix:
Aim for early morning
Assume afternoons won’t work
Book appointments as soon as slots open
Sources & transparency
This article is based on:
Lived experience in Spain
Regional commercial regulations
Official city and national guidance
Key references:
Comunidad de Madrid commercial hours:
https://www.comunidad.madrid/servicios/consumo/horarios-comerciales
Madrid city services:
https://www.madrid.es
National administration portal:
https://administracion.gob.es
Madrid holiday calendar:
https://www.comunidad.madrid/servicios/empleo/calendario-laboral
Madrid pharmacists association:
https://www.cofm.es
Opening hours vary by city, neighborhood, season, and owner.
If something differs where you live, that’s normal.
A calm way to think about it
Spanish opening hours aren’t broken.
They’re built around:
Long lunches
Late evenings
Clear boundaries between work and rest
Once you stop fighting the schedule and start working with it, daily life gets easier.
And one day, without noticing when it happened,
you’ll be the one saying:
“They probably open again at five.”
