Cultural differences between Spain & the USA

“It’s time to start something new, and trust the magic of new beginnings…”

Inspirational stuff. Yet, how do you trust the magic when you’re full of doubt?

For American citizens considering moving to Spain, the potentially life-changing leap comes with a long list of questions. And top of that list… What's the culture like in Spain, and how easy is it for Americans to adapt? 

As one of Spain’s leading TEFL schools, we’re well-placed to answer this. For over a decade, we’ve been helping Americans settle into life in Spain. 

Here’s our take on the key cultural differences between the USA and Spain.

Work-life balance

The Spanish work to live, instead of living to work. Life in Spain is all about savouring the simple things, from socialising with friends and street festivities to long lunches on outdoor terraces.  

You get a sense of this just by living in Spain as an American. But what does the data say? The OECD Better Life Index compares the wellbeing of populations around the world, based on 11 different factors including work-life balance.

The US ranks 29th out of 41 on the work-life balance index, with a score of 5.2. In comparison, Spain has a score of 8.4, coming in at 4th out of 41.

The index also finds that in the United States, 10% of American employees work very long hours, compared with just 3% in Spain.

Meal times

One of the biggest cultural differences between Spain and the US is the timing of meals. Breakfast is similar, usually around 8:30am. However, unlike the standard American lunch time of around 1pm, the Spanish typically eat lunch between 2pm and 3pm.

Dinner can be even more of a shock to Americans living in Spain… the Spanish typically take their evening meal after 9pm, sometimes even as late as 10:30pm! 

Spain’s curious timezone – a very strange story that’s worth reading – means evenings are longer, making later meal times understandable. Of course, many expats in Spain continue to eat at their preferred time. But if you’re eating out, keep in mind that most restaurants will only serve lunch from around 1pm and dinner from around 8pm.

The ‘siesta’

Ah, the famous Spanish nap! A siesta is a big part of Spanish culture, especially in the south of the country where the afternoon sun is particularly hot.

Traditionally, Spanish people take a few hours after lunch to relax and let their food digest properly. This often means taking a little nap. And with the latest scientific studies proving the various benefits of taking ‘micro naps’, it turns out the Spanish were way ahead of the rest of us!  

However, this key cultural difference between Spain and the US goes beyond the act of napping. Instead, it’s more about everything being closed during the hours of the siesta. Most local establishments shut their doors between 2pm and 5pm, then reopen until 8pm when they close for the day. 

Lots of shops close on Sundays

It’s not just afternoon opening times. Another big difference between Spain and the US is that most places shut down on Sundays. This includes almost all major supermarkets and local shops. The Spanish really value keeping Sundays as the old-fashioned ‘day of rest’. 

Still, venture into Spanish city centres and you’ll find most international department stores open for business on a Sunday. 

Public transportation 

While US cities like New York, Chicago and San Francisco have excellent public transportation systems, there’s definitely more of a focus on high-quality public transportation in big Spanish cities.

While in the States, owning a car is essential if you want freedom to explore your surroundings, people in Spain rely heavily on public transportation, travelling from home to work and exploring the city and beyond. 

Most notably, the bus and metro networks in Madrid and Barcelona are very high quality. Both cities offer reliable, affordable public transportation, making it extremely easy to get around. 

Many Spanish cities, including Barcelona, Madrid and Valencia, are extremely cycle-friendly. They all have a large network of cycle routes, and offer bicycle-sharing systems (Bicing in Barcelona, BiciMAD in Madrid), and Valenbisi in Valencia).

Customer service

Here’s one cultural difference between the US and Spain that takes some getting used to! If you're from the States, you’re most likely used to service with a smile. “Hey there, how can I help you!” “Have a nice day!” and all the other pleasantries that come with most customer service experiences in America.   

In Spain, however, there’s a different vibe.

There’s a lot less focus on customer service standards in Spain, and a more ‘direct’ way of communicating that can be quite a culture shock for Americans. 

That’s not to say that Spanish customer service is uniformly bad. You’ll be served by lots of friendly, attentive people in the country, particularly if you make the effort to learn Spanish. It’s just something that might take time to adjust to.

Tipping

There’s a big difference in the tipping cultures of Spain and the US.

The standard tip in the States is 20%. Anything less is often considered a bad tip. And if you’re dining in a large group, many restaurants will automatically add a tip to your bill.

In Spain, tipping isn’t mandatory. It’s considered more of an unwritten rule that you give a small token of appreciation for good service. Typically this is around 5-10% of the bill. This is because Spanish waiters and waitresses don’t rely on tips as a significant part of their salary.

Attitudes towards children

Most people in the US have a generally positive attitude towards kids. But in Spain, it’s definitely noticeable how much children are valued. Family is central to Spanish life, with the extended family – especially grandparents – playing a big role. 

This doesn’t mean life revolves around children. Instead, they’re included in everyday life in a way that feels natural and unforced. And lots of people say that raising kids in Spain is safer and simpler, with fewer rules and more freedom for children to be themselves. 

Punctuality

The Spanish are famously laid-back. This has many benefits – see work-life balance above. But the flipside of this is that being on time is not a priority.

If you’re meeting a Spanish friend, expect them to be at least five minutes late. And if you’re invited to a party hosted by a local, don’t even consider showing up until at least 15 minutes after the official start time. 

It’s just the way things are in Spain. People are a lot more relaxed about social timekeeping in general. Adjust your expectations and you’ll easily adapt to Spanish culture.

Remember – this only applies to social situations. Constantly being late for work or your TEFL class will not go down well!

Double-kiss greetings

For those of you a little freaked out by overly friendly greetings, this could be the single biggest cultural difference between the US and Spain.

In Spain, giving “dos besitos” – two kisses, one on either cheek – is a standard greeting. This applies to when you meet friends and also strangers for the first time.  

These aren’t actually kisses though. It’s just a case of touching cheeks and making a little ‘kissing’ sound. It may seem a little strange for those who aren’t used to it, but trust us… you’ll get used to it.

Public holidays

In the United States, there are 11 federal holidays a year. Aside from the obvious ones like Christmas, Thanksgiving and Easter, these are tied to national pride, recognising veterans and individuals like Martin Luther King and George Washington.

Spain has 14 public holidays throughout the year, with many dedicated to Catholic saints. While this is only three more than in the US, the big cultural difference is that Spanish often add a puente (bridge) for holidays on a Thursday – an extra day that connects the public holiday with the weekend. 

That’s right. The Spanish love a four-day weekend! How’s that for work-life balance?

Thinking of making the move? Read our in-depth guide on moving to Spain from the US, or contact us at TEFL Iberia to find out more.