Here are ten things to know before traveling to Spain to help you understand the country’s history and distinguish fact from fiction. However, make sure you travel safely before you depart for Spain.

Late-night meals are popular

All over the country, Spaniards eat dinner at 9 p.m. or even later; lunch is typically at 2 p.m. You’ll need to change your eating schedule when you go because most restaurants don’t open or start serving food until at least 8 p.m. or later. Don’t worry, tapas is usually available all day long, so you won’t go hungry.

During the siesta, the vast majority of people do not sleep

Contrary to popular belief, the siesta is not a feature of Spanish culture that the rest of the world finds admirable. Between 2 and 4 p.m., the majority of stores and businesses close, but this does not mean that people go to bed. For lunch and to spend time with their families, they typically go back home. Some people may be “allowed” to sleep if they are young children or elderly people. The Spaniards are back at work when the shops reopen, working until 8 or 9 p.m., which means that the majority of people here also put in much longer hours.

Not everything begins on time

Even though everything will begin on time, if you’ve planned a get-together with friends or received an invitation to a party, don’t be shocked if you’re the first person there. Pack your patience in your suitcase with your swimsuit in case you have to wait for events to begin.

The public transit system is excellent

Public transportation is not late in Spain, despite the fact that many things are. Buses and trains almost always arrive on time. Public transportation is incredibly inexpensive compared to other nations, like the United Kingdom, and you can travel long distances without breaking the bank. Spain’s fast train, the AVE, enables you to traverse the entire nation in record time. It takes just one hour and forty minutes to get from Valencia to Madrid on a high-speed train, and it takes 2.5 hours to get from Madrid to Malaga.

Spanish is not the only official language in Spain

The Spanish speak a variety of languages and will appreciate it if you learn a few phrases in their native tongue before you travel. Catalan is a language that is widely spoken in Catalonia and is used on almost all menus and signs. Valencia and the Balearic Islands both recognize different Catalan dialects as official languages. The Basque language is spoken in the Basque Country in northern Spain, and the Portuguese-influenced Galician language is spoken in Galicia.

You could attend a festival every day of the year in Spain because there are so many of them

There are so many festivals that it can be challenging to keep track of them all, according to some, Spain is the festival capital of the world. It’s likely that at least one festival will fall during your trip to Spain. The best Spanish festivals include La Mercè in Barcelona, Seville’s Feria de Abril, and Las Fallas in Valencia.

August is not the ideal month to travel

August is not a good month to travel to Spain, despite the fact that it is the middle of the summer vacation period and when most families travel. As most of Spain vacations to the beach or to summer homes in the countryside in August, many businesses, including restaurants and cafes, close. The country’s major tourist attractions will remain open, but if you want to experience it more locally, pick a different month. Without a doubt, Spain’s hottest month is August. Walking and sightseeing are challenging in cities like Granada, Seville, and Cordoba where temperatures routinely exceed 40 degrees Celsius.