Barcelona, as all other Spanish cities has a very special way of life, which can be sometimes completely different to some other European countries habits. Given its extraordinary weather conditions, the days in Barcelona are longer. In this section you will find information about the opening hours of the main business and activities in Barcelona as well as the inhabitants dining habits.
Shops & Businesses
Working Days
Monday to Friday, usually from 10am to 2pm and from 5pm to 8pm. There are some exception: main stores in central Barcelona kept open until 21:00 pm and remain open at lunch time.
Saturday
Many shops have the same opening hours on weekdays. Small shops outside the city center are only open in the morning, until 1.30 - 2pm, while shopping malls, department stores and other main shops are open all day.
Sunday
On Sunday everything is closed with very few exceptions, such as some Sundays during Christmas season or the first Sunday on the sales period. Opened on Sundays: Las Rambla stalls and Souvenirs stores; Maremagnum Shopping Mall located in the Port of Barcelona.
Banks
Banks are opening from Monday to Friday from 8.30 to 2.30pm. All banks are closed on weekend.
Working hours
In Spain the normal workday is 8 hours per day. Office hours in Barcelona usually are: from 9:00 to 2pm and from 4pm till 7pm.with variations depending on the company. In July and in August many companies have what is called “intensive working hours”, which means that people start working very early in the morning until about 2pm due to the warm weather to allow people to enjoy the beach and summertime in general.
Meal times
In Barcelona anf in Spain in general, meal time is quite late compared to other European countries.
Breakfast
Usually Spanish people start their day with small first breakfast early in the morning before work. By mid-morning, at around 10:00 or 11:00 people usually have a second meal, typically a sandwich, for example the traditional “bikini” (a toasted sandwich with ham and cheese).
Lunch
The majority of restaurants are open from 1pm, even though the usual time for lunch is about 2-2-30pm. Tradionally, local people of Barcelona order lunch menues on weekdays, the easiest way to get a good meal at a cheap price.
Dinner
Dinner in Barcelona usually starts from 9pm. Some restaurants open at 7pm, but you will not find any local people at that time.
Tapas in Barcelona
Tapas are not only a typical food, they are a very important tradition all over Spain and a way of life.
Traditionally taps consist in several types of local specialities served in small dishes. In Catalonia and Barcelona city tapas are usually served with pa amb toàquet, a bread slices with tomatoe and olive oil.
The most common ones are: tortilla española (Spanish potatoes omelette) esqueixada (cold fish salad) escalivada (grilled vegetables) jamón (cured ham), fried fresh fish, calamari, small prawns and fried baby squids.
Do you want to try the most delicious tapas in a traditional Spanish restaurant? Try one of our food tours and enjoy local delicacies with a local guide.
Going out
You will always find people on the streets of Barcelona, at any time, in any season but summer will always play a special role in the Spanish culture due to the amazing weather conditions. Local people usually go out for drinks from 18:00 or 19:00, after work . Bars and Pubs are closing at 12pm during the week, and at 3.00 in the morning on weekends. Clubs are often closing later.
FAQFrequently asked questions
What are business hours in Spain?
Typical Spanish business hours run Monday to Friday, roughly 9am to 2pm and 4pm to 7pm, with a long midday break. Shops usually open 10am to 2pm and 5pm to 8pm, banks 8:30am to 2:30pm, and almost everything closes on Sundays.
What time is lunch in Barcelona?
Lunch in Barcelona is late by European standards. Restaurants open for lunch from about 1pm, but locals usually eat between 2pm and 4pm, often ordering the good-value weekday menú del día.
What time is dinner in Barcelona?
Dinner in Barcelona typically starts around 9pm and runs until 11pm. Some restaurants open at 7pm for tourists, but you will rarely see locals eating that early.
What time do bars close in Barcelona?
Bars and pubs usually close around midnight on weekdays and about 3am at weekends. Nightclubs stay open much later, often until 5 or 6am.
Do people really take a siesta in Barcelona?
The long afternoon nap is largely a myth in a busy city like Barcelona. What you will notice is the midday break, when many small shops and offices close for a couple of hours before reopening in the late afternoon.
Are shops open on Sundays in Barcelona?
On Sundays almost everything is closed, with few exceptions such as the Las Ramblas stalls, souvenir shops and the Maremagnum shopping mall at the port. Some Sundays during the Christmas season and sales periods are also exceptions.