Timetable

Andalusia is on Central European Time (CET), or Central European Summer Time (CEST) during the summer months, i.e. Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) +1 in winter and GMT+2 in summer.

Mealtimes tend to be a little later in Spain than in the rest of Europe: breakfast is continental style and is usually eaten between 8am and 10.30am. In restaurants, lunch is served between 1pm and 3.30pm, and dinner from 8.30 to 11pm. In any case, the majority of tourist establishments adapt their opening times to the European norm, and, in practice, it is normal for cafés and bars to offer all-day service, with tapas, combo dishes, baguettes and "raciones" (dishes to share) available at any time.

Opening times for shops is 10am-2pm in the morning and 5-8/9pm in the afternoon. Department stores are open continuously 10am-9/10pm. Shops and shopping centres open on Saturday mornings, although in larger cities it is becoming more and more common to see them open on Saturday afternoons and even on some Sundays and public holidays. It is worth mentioning that bars and nightclubs usually remain open until 3 or 4am at weekends.

Chemists open during normal shopping hours, although in larger cities it is becoming more common to find 24-hour chemists. In any case, outside normal opening times there are specific duty chemists open all night. There are lists showing duty chemists for the night placed in the doorway of all chemists in a town.

Museums and monuments are usually open all day and often close one day during the week, given that they tend to stay open on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

Main Post Offices are usually open non-stop 8.30am-8.30pm Monday-Friday, and 9.30am-2pm on Saturdays, closing on Sundays and public holidays. Opening times for other Post Offices vary according to the type of office and where it is. Stamps can also be purchased in "estancos" (licensed tobacco shops).

In general, public bodies (consulates, embassies, town halls, etc.) are open to the public 8.30/9am-2/3pm, Monday-Friday.