Spain from A to Z

Further information at www.mapama.gob.es/en/

which are available at estancos (tobacconists). Letters, faxes and telegrams: You can send letters and postcards from anywhere in Spain. Postage stamps can be purchased at estancos (tobacconists). Mailboxes are located in the street, at railway stations and at airports. If you want to send a package, fax or telegram, or transfer money, you must go to the post office. Further information at www.correos.es TIPPING All restaurants in Spain include a regular service charge in their prices. Nevertheless, it is common, although there is no obligation, to leave a tip at bars, pubs, restaurants and hotels and in taxis, the value of which depends on the guest’s enjoyment, but is generally 5-10% of the total amount. ACCOMMODATION Spain also has a wide variety of accommodation options, including hotels, apartments, country inns, castles or campsites. There’s something for everyone. www.spain.info/en/ Mediterranean climate). With more than 3,000 hours of sunshine per year, Spain is one of the warmest countries in Europe. Particularly in the Canary Islands, the temperatures are mild (an average annual temperature of 22°C on the coasts) and without significant seasonal fluctuations. climatic differences. On the coast of Cantabria in northern Spain, it is seldom warmer than 25°C. Here the climate is damp and cool with mild winters and summers. In the higher regions such as the Pyrenees, Sierra Nevada, Central Cordillera, Iberian and Cantabrian Mountains, there is a harsher climate with frequent snowfall from the beginning of winter to early spring. www.tiempo.com The geographical diversity of Spain creates many different WEATHER & CLIMATE Spain is characterised by dry summers and winters with mild temperatures (temperate

Balearic Islands and Ceuta and Melilla, the clocks run on Central European Time. The Canary Islands are on CET-1.

RELIGION The Spanish Constitution guarantees freedom of religion. The majority of the population belongs to the Catholic faith. There are also Muslims, Jews, Protestants and Hindus who have their own places of worship. LEARNING SPANISH More than 470 million people around the world speak Spanish. Learning the language of Cervantes is best done while you are there. At the same time, you will discover a lively and modern country with countless artistic and cultural treasures, which will fascinate you from the very LANGUAGE The official language is Spanish (Castilian, Castellano). Several Autonomous Regions in Spain are bilingual and use their local language as a second official language: Galician in Galicia, Basque in the Basque Country, Valencian in Valencia and various forms of Catalan in Catalonia and in the Balearic Islands. VOLTAGE All electrical appliances work with 220 V AC, 50 HZ. The sockets correspond to the European model with round contact pins. Free Wi-Fi is available in Spain in many cafés, restaurants, kiosks, airports, bus stations, shopping centres and hotels. Sometimes it is necessary to ask for the password. Telephones: • For calls from abroad to Spain: Dial the International Access Code (normally 00) then 34 and the 9-digit number. • For calls from Spain to abroad: Dial 00, then the country code and then the phone number. • For calls within Spain: Dial the 9-digit number without any prefixes. • Public telephone booths work with coins or telephone cards, TELECOMMUNICATIONS Internet: moment you arrive. www.spain.info/en/

CUSTOMS Alcohol and Tobacco

Carrying tobacco and alcoholic products when traveling from one EU country to another is permitted provided they are intended for personal use and not for resale. According to EU law, the following amounts are allowed for personal use: • 800 cigarettes, 400 cigarillos, 200 cigars or 1 kg of tobacco • 10 litres of spirits, 20 litres of If you do not exceed these amounts, you do not have to pay excise duty in the EU country you are travelling to. Travellers under the age of 17 are not permitted to carry any alcohol or tobacco products. Within the EU, there is no duty-free shopping for travellers. Cash As of January 1, 2002, the euro (€) is the official currency in Spain, as in almost all countries of the European Union. One euro is divided into one hundred eurocents. • There are eight different coins: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents and 1 and 2 euro. • There are seven notes with the following values: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euro. Cashless payment with credit cards is widespread in Spain. If you carry cash in the amount of EUR 10,000 or more or the equivalent monetary value in another currency for travel within the EU, you must ask the customs authorities of all countries (exit, entry and transit countries) if this amount is to be reported. If you carry cash in the amount of EUR 10,000 or more (or the corresponding monetary value in another currency) when you enter or leave the EU, you must report this amount to the customs office. www.europa.eu fortified wine, 90 litres of wine (60 litres of sparkling wine) or 110 litres of beer

OTHER PRACTICAL ADVICE www.spain.info/en/

TIME ZONES On the Spanish mainland, the