Schedules and public holidays

What’s the time in Spain?

The time zone on the Spanish mainland and the Balearic Islands is Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) + 1 hour in winter and + 2 hours in summer i.e. in winters it is behind India by 3 hrs and 30 minutes and in summers it is behind India by 4 hrs and 30 minutes. On the Canary Islands, it is 1 hour less than the time on the mainland and in the Balearics i.e. in winters it is behind India by 4 hours and 30 minutes and in summers it is behind India by 5 hours and 30 minutes.

Spain changes its time between summer and winter for daylight saving. This means that the last weekend in October the clocks go back 1 hour (at 3am it is 2am) and the last weekend in March they go forward 1 hour (at 2am it is 3am).

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At what time are meals served in Spain?

Breakfast is usually had from eight to half past ten in the morning. Lunch, at restaurants, is served between 13.00 to 15.30 h. Dinner is served from 20.30 to 23.00 h. Many establishments are open continuously throughout the day, especially bars and cafeterias; there you can have "tapas", appetizers, and combo meals. Theatres usually have a single show, which normally starts around 20.00 h. Flamenco Show generally starts between 2200 h - 2300 h. Night time in Spain has a very special meaning, specially from Thursday to Sunday. Pubs, bars, and nightclubs usually stay open until three or four in the morning. In all major cities you can find places that are open until dawn.

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When are the national public holidays in Spain?

Certain dates are public holidays in Spain, and they can be national, regional or local.

The following are the national public holidays for 2012:

• 6 January, the Epiphany.

• 5 April, Maundy Thursday (throughout Spain, except in Catalonia and the Region of Valencia).

• 6 April, Good Friday.

1 May, Labour Day.

• 15 August, the Assumption.

• 12 October, National Holiday of Spain

• 1 November, All Saints Day.

• 6 December, Spanish Constitution Day.

• 8 December, the Immaculate Conception.

25 December, Christmas.

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At what time do shops and businesses open?

The most common working hours for shops are Monday to Saturday, from 9.30 h to 13.30 h, and from 16.30 to 20.00 h. Big shopping centers and department stores open from 10.00 h to 21.00 or 22.00 h uninterruptedly. These big stores open sometimes on Sunday. In coastal cities, in tourism season, shops are usually open passed 22.00 h.

Business and Offices are usually open from Monday to Friday, from 9.00 h to 14.30 h and from 16.35 h to 19.00 h.

Pharmacies open Monday to Friday from 9.30 to 13.30 h, and from 16.30 to 20.00 h. and Saturday from 9.30 to 13.30 h.

At weekends and in closing times there are rolling late-hour schedule, which is published in the newspapers, and is posted at all pharmacies.

In all major cities you can find pharmacies that open 24 hours.

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