Hourly habits

Mealtimes

In Barcelona, like the rest of Spain, it is normal to eat later than in other European countries. Breakfast, the first real meal of the day, is usually eaten between 9am and 11am and generally lighter than in the rest of Europe, similar to what hotels call a "continental breakfast" (orange juice, coffee and croissant). Lunch is between 2 and 3pm while dinner starts between 9 and 10pm. Nevertheless, restaurants adapt to working hours, so you can have lunch from 1 to 3pm, while dinner might be served from 9 to around 11.30pm. It is also worth pointing out there are restaurants where you can eat at any time of the day.

Working hours

The working day normally starts between 8 and 9am, breaking off around 1.30 or 2pm. Work starts again between 3 and 4pm, finishing around 6 or 7.30pm..

Shop opening times

Barcelona shops open between 9 and 10am, closing for lunch between 1.30 and 2pm. They open again between 4 and 5pm and do not close until 8 or 8.30pm. However, it should be pointed out that the big shopping centres do not close at midday. Some shops and all the big department stores open on Saturday afternoon, while everywhere is closed on Sunday, except those Sundays when shops are allowed to open.

Entertainment times

• Theatres and cinemas

  
  

  On working days, cinemas usually have four sessions between 4 and 10pm. At weekends, some have matinees starting at 11.30 or 12 midday, as well as late night sessions, starting around 12.30 or 1 in the morning. Theatres do one performance a day, usually between 9 and 10.30pm on working days or 6 and 7pm on Sundays. Some theatres offer two performances, especially on Saturdays, the first at 6 or 7pm and the second at 9 or 10pm.

• Discos and music bars

  
  

  Pubs and music bars are generally open from 6.30pm to 2.30am, while discos are open to about 5.am.

Social habits of Barcelona people

Although more and more Barcelonians prefer to go out on working days, Friday and Saturday are the days with the most nightlife. The night might start off with a meal in a restaurant, carry on with visit to a theatre or a concert and end up in a disco, music bar, jazz club or somewhere like that.

On Saturday afternoon and evening the city centre shops are very busy and the huge number of bars and cafes in that part of town provide a good place to recover from the bustle of the day.

Sunday morning is time for a stroll. In Barcelona it is not as typical as in other Spanish cities to go for tapas but it is common to go for a drink at one of the cafe terrace tables, on sunny days, or inside, if the weather is not suitable. On the other hand, many Barcelonians like to go away for the weekend.