Spain Travel Guide

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Shopping

Spanish fashion is big worldwide these days, but even in globally renowned stores like Zara you find plenty of clothing lines that don't make it beyond the border. The best cities for shopping are Madrid and Barcelona, but all provincial capitals have a decent range of retail outlets. Prices have risen in recent years but are still cheaper than in much of northern Europe.

All towns have market halls where you can buy fresh produce direct from growers, and many have a rastro (flea market); Madrid's characterful Sunday one is particularly famous.

Catalonian textiles are internationally famous and there are mills throughout the region. Spanish leather goods are prized throughout the world, offering high-fashion originals at reasonable prices. Of note are the suede coats and jackets. In general, all leather goods, particularly those from Andalucía, combine excellent craftsmanship with high-quality design. Fine, handcrafted wooden furniture is one of the outstanding products; Valencia is especially important in this field, and has an annual international furniture fair. Alicante is an important center for toy manufacturing. Shoe manufacturing is also of an especially high quality; the production centers are in Alicante and the Balearics.

Fine rugs and carpets are made in Cáceres, Granada and Murcia. The numerous excellent sherries, wines and spirits produced in Spain make good souvenirs to take home, as do bottles of Spain's excellent olive oil.

Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 1000-1400 and 1700-2000. Supermarkets and department stores tend to open 0930-2100/2200, and may open on Sundays in large cities.

Currency

Euro (EUR; symbol €) = 100 cents (céntimos). Notes are in denominations of €500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of €2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents.

Currency Exchange

Money can be changed in any bank, and at most travel agencies, major hotels and airports.

Credit Cards, Debit Cards, and ATMs

American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard/Cirrus and Visa/Plus are accepted in nearly all ATMs, which are common throughout the country.

Travelers Checks

Traveller's checks are disappearing from use fast, and it's far more convenient to travel with cards these days. Nevertheless, you can still change them in main bank branches and exhange bureau, and they are accepted in major hotels.

Currency Restrictions

There are no restrictions on the import or export of local or foreign currency. However, amounts exceeding €10,000 or equivalent must be declared if traveling from or to a country outside the European Union.

Banking Hours

Generally Mon-Fri 0830-1400. Some branches open Saturdays too, from October to April.

Exchange Rate