The Do’s and Don’ts of Life in Spain (From My Experience!)

Moving to Spain has been one of the most exciting experiences of my life, but it definitely came with a few moments where I realised things are done a little differently here. Some I picked up quickly, and others I learned through slightly awkward trial and error.

One thing I learned very quickly is that greetings are a big deal. In Spain, it’s completely normal to greet people with two kisses on the cheek. It feels natural after a while, but at the beginning it can be a bit stressful trying to get the timing right. The key thing is to commit to the two kisses. If you hesitate or go in for just one, there’s a high chance you’ll both panic and end up going the same way, which can get awkward very quickly….. Let’s just say it has happened.

Another thing that took some getting used to is meal times. In the UK, I was so used to having lunch around 12 and then a big dinner at about 6pm. Here, everything runs much later. I actually start my lunch break at 1pm, and I’ll watch all the kids in the comedor sit down to what feels like a full three course meal in the middle of the day. Meanwhile I’m still adjusting to the idea that lunch is the main event and dinner doesn’t happen until much later in the evening. At first I was starving by 7pm, but now I’m slowly getting used to it.

Something else that confused me at the beginning is the concept of “afternoon”. In my head, afternoon means maybe 2pm or 3pm, definitely not evening. But in Spain, you might hear someone say “afternoon” and it could easily be 8pm. It took me a while to realise that time works a little differently here, and now I’ve just learned to go with it rather than question it.

There are also some small food habits that I didn’t realise were a thing until I got here. I remember being at a friend’s house and being served tortilla and, without thinking, I confidently picked up my knife and fork and started cutting into it like I was on MasterChef. I looked up and just knew. No one said anything, but I could feel the judgment in the room. It was a silent, cultural “what are you doing?” moment. I quickly switched tactics and ever since then I’ve learned my lesson. In Spain, tortilla is a fork-only situation.

And then there’s the Spanish bureaucracy. This is something I really wasn’t prepared for. If you’re planning to move to Spain, just know that things can take time, sometimes a lot of time. Processes can feel long-winded, appointments can be hard to get, and you might find yourself going back and forth with paperwork more than once. It definitely tests your patience. My biggest piece of advice is to stay organised, bring multiple copies of everything, and try not to stress too much if things don’t happen quickly. They will get sorted in the end, just not always as fast as you’d expect and INLAES will be there to help you every step of the way too.

One of the best things you can do when you move here is just embrace everything. Say yes to plans, try new foods, get involved in local traditions, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. People are generally really welcoming, and they appreciate the effort even if you get things slightly wrong. At the same time, don’t expect everything to run exactly like it does back home.

Things can feel a little more relaxed, especially when it comes to time and organisation. Instead of getting frustrated, it’s much easier to just lean into it and enjoy the slower pace of life. And finally, don’t worry if you feel a bit out of place at the beginning. That’s completely normal. Whether it’s greeting people, understanding meal times, dealing with paperwork, or figuring out what “afternoon” actually means, it all becomes easier with time. Looking back, those little confusing moments are actually some of my favourites. They make the experience more real, more memorable, and definitely more entertaining.