10 Things I Hate About Living in Spain
Lucía shares ten personal frustrations about living in Spain, from midday shop closures to living costs.
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Siesta Time:Closed Sundays:Late Arrivals:Cold Houses in the South:Loudness:Taxes and Cost of Living:Sexism:Bullfighting:Kissing Greetings:Public Amenities:Conclusion:¡Hola, amigos! If you’ve been following my adventures, you know how much I adore living in Spain. But life here has frustrations too. Here are ten things that bother me in my own experience; they do not describe every town or every person in Spain.
Siesta Time:
Where I live, some smaller shops close for part of the afternoon. Opening hours vary, but those breaks can be inconvenient when I need to run errands.
Closed Sundays:
Many smaller shops near me close on Sundays, so I try to plan errands in advance. Hours vary by city, season, and type of business.
Late Arrivals:
Some social gatherings I attend start later than the stated time. For appointments and travel, though, I still check the expected time rather than assume everyone will be late.
Cold Houses in the South:
Surprisingly, houses in the south can get chilly in winter due to poor insulation. It’s a stark contrast to the scorching summers where you dare not venture outside until dusk.
Loudness:
In some busy cafés and public spaces, conversations can be loud. I enjoy the energy at times, but it can make concentrating difficult.
Taxes and Cost of Living:
The price of paradise comes with a hefty tax bill. High taxes and rising living costs can pinch your wallet.
Sexism:
Unsolicited comments towards women can make public spaces uncomfortable. It’s a societal issue that needs addressing.
Bullfighting:
The tradition of bullfighting is a divisive topic. For many, it’s a cruel spectacle that tarnishes Spain’s image.
Kissing Greetings:
The tradition of kissing greetings can be exhausting, especially when meeting new people. A simple handshake would suffice, thank you!
Public Amenities:
Finding clean public toilets can be a challenge. It’s best to plan your bathroom breaks ahead of time.
Living in Spain has its quirks and challenges, but it’s still the best place for me.
Conclusion:
Living in Spain is a beautiful journey filled with ups and downs. Despite the challenges, the vibrant culture and lifestyle make it all worthwhile. To watch Lucía’s full account, check out “10 Things I Hate about Living in Spain” for more insights. ¡Hasta pronto!
Edited English reading companion
This companion follows the complete substantive narration of Lucía’s English-language video, published in December 2023, including its Spanish greetings and on-screen phrase. It is an English reading transcript, with punctuation and minor grammar cleaned up. Her frustrations, humor and personal preferences remain her own; they are not descriptions of every place or person in Spain. Labelled editorial notes clarify factual generalizations and time-sensitive information.
- 0:00 — Introduction
- 0:24 — Siesta time
- 0:58 — Closed on Sundays
- 1:29 — Late arrivals
- 2:00 — Cold houses and summer heat
- 2:37 — Loudness and the free study guide
- 3:02 — Taxes and cost of living
- 3:33 — Sexism
- 4:05 — Bullfighting
- 4:29 — Kissing greetings
- 5:16 — Public amenities
- 6:00 — Closing thoughts
0:00 — Introduction
Ten things I hate about living in Spain. ¡Hola, amigos! In a past video, I talked about things I love about living in Spain. Well, it’s not all fiestas. Today I’m uncovering ten shocking truths about life in Spain that nobody talks about. Trust me, you should hear every last one of these. These are the things I hate about living in Spain!
0:24 — Siesta time
The siesta time. While a midday break sounds great, from 3 to 5 p.m. you’re expected to keep noise levels down. It’s not so fun when you’re trying to get things done. At home, my mum and sister take a siesta every day, and if I make any noise, they will kill me. Really. Such a hard life!
Small businesses also usually close from 2 to 5 or 6 p.m. to respect this rest time. If you need something during those hours, you’re doomed. But there are options: big shops or supermarkets usually don’t close.
0:58 — Closed on Sundays
Another thing I hate is that, on Sundays, almost everything shuts down apart from services such as restaurants, bars, cinemas and the bowling place. You also wait longer between public transport services. Remember, if you need to shop or run errands, do it before Sunday.
In big cities such as Madrid, it’s more common to see shops open. Some people try not to shop on Sundays as a kind of protest because they want employees to be able to rest, as people do in other jobs.
Accuracy note — Opening hours vary: These are the routines Lucía encounters, rather than nationwide closing hours or a rule that everybody takes a siesta. Sunday trading depends on regional calendars and the type and location of the business, and some businesses have freedom to open every day. Check the actual shop and transport timetable for your trip. Sources: Ministry of Commerce: shop opening hours.
1:29 — Late arrivals
Late arrivals. Punctuality “shines by its absence,” as we say in Spain. If you’re someone who values being on time, brace yourself. In my experience, arriving late is more the norm than the exception. If you’re invited to a party at a friend’s house—or anywhere—you might be the first to arrive if you’re on time. Maybe 20 or 30 minutes later is better. Or even an hour, two hours…
On-screen Spanish: La puntualidad brilla por su ausencia.
Accuracy note — The idiom and the joke: A natural English translation is “Punctuality is conspicuous by its absence.” The video’s “shines by its absence” is a literal rendering, rather than the usual English idiom. Brillar por su ausencia means to be absent or lacking. Lucía’s advice about arriving late is a humorous observation about social gatherings, not a rule for appointments, work or transport. Sources: RAE: brillar por su ausencia.
2:00 — Cold houses and summer heat
Heading south for warmth? Surprisingly, houses here can be quite cold in winter if they lack proper insulation. They are prepared to stay cool in summer. In the video, I mention temperatures reaching 45°C, or 113°F, on the hottest days. That’s another unpleasant thing: it is very hot in summer in central and southern Spain.
In the south, we don’t go out during the day—it’s dangerous. We only go out from 8 or 9 p.m., when it gets a little cooler. Of course, you can go out during the day, but you have to be careful, for example when going to the swimming pool.
Accuracy note — Extreme heat and everyday routines: 45°C equals 113°F; such temperatures can occur during extreme heat, but they are not a normal daily maximum throughout southern Spain. AEMET documented some places in Andalucía exceeding 45°C during the August 2023 heatwave. Lucía’s evening routine is personal: the Ministry of Health recommends reducing physical activity during the hottest central hours and following local heat-risk information, rather than a universal rule that it is safe only after 8 or 9 p.m. Sources: AEMET: summer 2023 heat, Ministry of Health: 2026 heat prevention.
2:37 — Loudness and the free study guide
Many conversations here aren’t just chats; they’re more like public announcements! Sometimes it’s fun because you hear funny stories or interesting gossip. But if you want to relax or concentrate on your own things, this is a con for sure.
By the way, My Daily Spanish has a free study guide with a step-by-step process to help you learn Spanish faster. You can download it for free using the link in the video description.
3:02 — Taxes and cost of living
Your wallet might feel the pinch too. I think taxes in Spain are high, and in the video I connect them with healthcare, education and other public services. I describe healthcare and education as “free”. It also feels quite expensive to be a freelancer; what you have to pay compared with other countries feels exorbitant to me.
Accuracy note — Public services and “free”: Public funding is not the same as unconditional free access to every healthcare service or educational course. Healthcare coverage depends on the person’s circumstances and eligibility. Basic education is compulsory and free, normally from ages 6 to 16; that does not make all higher education or all related costs free. Sources: Health-system law, articles 3 and 3 ter, Education law, articles 3–4.
In the past few years, rents have become very expensive compared with the money we make working in Spain. Although buying a house is cheaper than in other places, lately mortgage rates have been getting higher.
Accuracy note — The date of the financial comments: This is Lucía’s perspective in a December 2023 recording, not a current price comparison or forecast. Taxes, self-employed contributions, rents, house prices and mortgage rates depend on the date and individual circumstances; these comparisons do not establish that Spain is always dearer or cheaper than another country. Banco de España publishes updated mortgage reference-rate tables. Sources: Banco de España: mortgage reference rates.
3:33 — Sexism
Okay, before I share the thing I hate most about Spain, let’s talk about sexism. Some nasty cisgender heterosexual men make unsolicited comments towards women, causing discomfort and a feeling of unease when walking in some areas, especially at night. Sometimes it’s a whistle; other times they honk a car horn to catch your attention. It’s really disrespectful and disgusting. It gives you a scare because you don’t expect it. I want to think, and hope, that the new generation of men is changing this. Please!
4:05 — Bullfighting
Bullfighting. I hate this tradition. I hate that many people see animals as things that don’t suffer, or whose lives have no value. It is killing and making a show out of it. To me, it looks like a prehistoric assassination. In the video, I say it has been banned in some places, and I hope it is banned throughout the country soon. I hate that people associate Spain with bullfights. For me, and for many Spaniards, this is not our culture.
Accuracy note — Opinion and legal status: Lucía’s opposition and wish for a ban are her personal position. Spain’s law nevertheless recognizes tauromachy as protected cultural heritage. Restrictions and actual events vary, and a historical ban is not necessarily still legally in force: the Constitutional Court annulled Catalonia’s 2010 prohibition of bullfights in 2016. The fact that a place does not hold bullfights is not, by itself, proof of a current legal ban. Sources: Law 18/2013, cultural-heritage status, Constitutional Court judgment 177/2016.
4:29 — Kissing greetings
Kissing. In Spain, when a man greets another man, he will shake hands or just give him a pat. A woman greeting another woman gives two kisses on the cheeks, and a woman greeting a man does too. I am done kissing! My lips hurt. This feels kind of sexist to me as well. I prefer a handshake or a pat.
Accuracy note — A custom, not a requirement: Two cheek kisses are a common social greeting, but the video’s gender pattern is not an absolute rule for everyone. The relationship and occasion matter; handshakes are more common in formal or professional settings. Lucía’s preference for a handshake is part of her personal experience. Sources: Official Spain tourism: greetings.
I hug friends, but when I meet new people, it always seems to be kissing, which is a little uncomfortable. It takes longer, and you have to get very close to people you don’t know. I don’t really like it. When I have the chance, I offer my hand for a handshake. Who knows where that hand has been either—but you can wash your hands easily later!
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5:16 — Public amenities
Lastly, the scarcity and condition of public toilets can be a real challenge. Usually what you have to do is enter a bar and order something so you can use the restroom. If you just ask kindly whether you can use the toilets, they will probably let you in. In my experience, toilets can be dirty and may lack toilet paper, so bringing some tissues is a great idea.
My advice is to go to the bathroom before you leave home or your hotel, then use the bathrooms in the restaurant or bar where you have lunch or dinner. If you need to go before that, I usually use the bathrooms in El Corte Inglés, a famous department store, or go inside McDonald’s and hope the restroom door is open. These are places I try, rather than a guarantee that every location’s toilets will be open to non-customers.
6:00 — Closing thoughts
There you have it: the not-so-rosy side of living in Spain. It is a beautiful country with a lot to offer, but like anywhere else it has its quirks and challenges. Anyway, I still think it is the best place to live for me. You can see why in my video about what I love about Spain.
If you have experienced any of this or have more to add, please let us know in the comments below the video. I think you’ll also like the other video suggested on screen—you should watch it. Subscribe if you haven’t already. ¡Hasta pronto!
