Shopping hours and public holidays in Spain

Overview

Shop opening hours in Spain aren't set by a single national rule — each Autonomous Community decides how many Sundays and public holidays shops can open each year, and individual shop owners set their own hours within the weekly limits.

Requirements

• Applies to anyone shopping in Spain — good to understand early to avoid arriving at a closed shop

Step-by-step process

• Learn that the national baseline requires shops to be open at least 90 hours per week across normal weekdays, which shop owners schedule freely
• Check your region's specific list of authorised Sunday/holiday opening dates — most regions permit somewhere between around 10 and 16 such dates per year, though this varies
• Note that certain categories — bakeries, pharmacies, press kiosks, florists, petrol stations and small local shops below a certain size — have full freedom to open any day, regardless of the regional calendar
• Check specific stores' hours directly for exceptions, especially around Christmas and local festival periods, when temporary extended hours are common

Required documents

• None — this is informational

Common mistakes

• Assuming Sunday opening rules are the same nationwide — they differ meaningfully by Autonomous Community
• Not checking whether a specific date is one of your region's authorised opening Sundays before planning a Sunday shopping trip

Practical tips

• Large tourist zones in some cities have special designated 'zonas de gran afluencia turística' with extended and Sunday hours year-round, regardless of the regional calendar
• Small independent shops, bakeries and pharmacies are reliable options on Sundays and holidays, even where large stores are closed

How Tuchati can help

If you're not sure which Sundays are open for shopping in your region this year, Tuchati can check the current authorised dates for you.