6 things you shouldn’t do when you’re in Spain but probably do
Yippee, vacation! Spain is calling—a top destination for a relaxing beach holiday, culture, tapas, and fiestas. But hey, even the most beautiful destinations have their pitfalls. Spaniards think tourists on their costas are great fun, but there are a few things you absolutely shouldn’t do during your vacation in this wonderful country. We’ll tell you about the silly blunders you should avoid to make your vacation go as smoothly as possible—for you (and all Spaniards).
In Spain as a tourist? Don’t do this
Spain is always a good choice for a vacation: the sun, the beaches, the tapas, and of course the atmosphere! But even in such a welcoming destination, there are things tourists really shouldn’t do. There are a few habits that simply don’t fit in. Read on and discover the dumbest things you really shouldn’t do (anymore) when you’re in Spain.
1. Eating paella for dinner
No foodie worth their salt skips paella in Spain. But did you think of eating it in the evening? How weird! Paella is eaten in the afternoon, for lunch—although lunchtime probably doesn’t start until you’ve long since returned to your beach lounger. They won’t start a war over this faux pas, but they will sadly shake their heads at such cluelessness. My Spanish friend Pepe compares it to eating stamppot for breakfast. Ugh.
Chorizo in paella? Horrible!
Following on from that: chorizo in paella is really not done. Sure, chorizo is Spanish too, and absolutely delicious. But it doesn’t belong in paella. Just ask Jamie Oliver, because the backlash after he came up with a paella recipe with chorizo was no joke. (It wasn’t the only time he turned an entire nation against him with his revamped recipes either—Jollof, remember?) The whole country was up in arms for weeks. It even led to the founding of Wikipaella, complete with a manifesto. Spaniards will certainly let you cook some rice and throw a bockwurst in it if you want. But if you then call it paella, don’t be surprised if they come after you with a wooden spoon. And we thought Italians were protective of their food culture…
2. Waiting for the waiter to bring the bill
In many countries, it’s customary simply to wait for the waiter to bring your bill. In Spain, however, it’s customary to ask for the bill yourself. So if you’re sitting there waiting and the bill still doesn’t arrive, call out a friendly “La cuenta, por favor” and you’ll see: here it comes. And the best part: prices are much friendlier than in the Netherlands.
3. Drinking Douwe Egberts
Looking for coffee? No problem in Spain. The extensive coffee culture means you can always find a delicious cup. A café con leche with breakfast, a cortado afterward, or a café con hielo to beat the heat, for example. The choice is enormous, so why ask for Douwe Egberts when you’re in Spain?! Extra annoying: pronouncing your request extra loudly and clearly. It doesn’t matter how you ask for it; a Spaniard will never understand.
4. Wanting to eat at six in the evening
We understand that your Dutch stomach starts growling at 18:00 and that you sit down on a terrace full of anticipation, waiting for the waiter to take your order. A refreshing ajo blanco or summery tomato and chickpea salad, delicious! But that waiter isn’t coming, because they’re still taking a siesta. Hungry? You should have eaten between two and four—the perfect time for paella!—and joined the Spaniards. Too bad, so sad; now you’ll have to wait until 22:00. (The reason why they eat dinner so late in Spain is actually very surprising.)
5. Bad table manners!
How you behave outside the home is extremely important to Spaniards. Table manners are therefore drilled into people from an early age. The way foreign tourists eat is often viewed with horror. Those dreadful noises, the battlefield on our plates, and that strange way we hold our cutlery… Better take an etiquette lesson before you board the plane!
6. Thinking sangria is the national pride
Are you 16 and looking for a cheap way to get drunk very quickly? Then sangria is (briefly) your friend. In all other cases, there are more than decent alternatives for an alcoholic refreshment, such as Verdejo—our favorite wine for drinks and snacks. Sangria is truly a tourist trap no Spaniard would touch—with the exception of that 16-year-old.
Read also:
- Locals reveal: these are Valencia’s best tapas bars
- How to reserve a table at the world’s most sought-after restaurants
- This €6.40 sandwich is the best sandwich in all of Spain
