Eating out in Spain is often cheap and meals are substantial rather than gourmet. One of the best ways to sample Spanish food is to try tapas (snacks), which are served at any time of day in local bars. These range from cheese and olives to squid or meat delicacies and are priced accordingly, often complimentary in Andalucia. In the Basque Country they are known as pinxos.

Things to know: Restaurants and cafes have table service. Cocktail lounges have table and/or counter service. There are no licensing hours.

National specialities:
• Seafood: cod vizcaina or cod pil-pil (Basque provinces); angulas, tasty baby eels (Aguinaga); shellfish and hake à la Gallega (Galicia); lobster Catalan (Catalonia); fresh anchovies (Andalucía).
• Paella based on meat or seafood (Eastern and southern provinces).
• Butifarra sausage stewed with beans (Catalonia).
• Roast meats: lamb, beef, veal and suckling pig (Castile).
• Gazpacho, a delicious cold vegetable soup (Andalucía).

National drinks:
• Sherry: there are four main types: fino (very pale and very dry), amontillado (dry, richer in body and darker in colour), oloroso (medium, full-bodied, fragrant and golden) and dulce (sweet).
• Wine: Rioja, Ribera del Duero and Navarra are among the choice producers of red wine, while the biggest denomination is that of Valdepeñas. Galicia is tops for white wine, while Catalonia produces Perelada and Cava (sparkling wine).
• Spanish brandy: Carlos I, Osborne and Fundador.
• Bottled water: many brands including Lanjarón and Font Vella.

Legal drinking age: 18.

Tipping: Some restaurants include service in the bill. Tipping is discretionary - up to 10% in city and resort restaurants; none, or small change in bars, smaller restaurants and family-run establishments.

Spaniards often start the evening with el paseo, a leisurely stroll through the main streets. A cafe terrace is an excellent vantage point to observe this tradition, or enjoy street theatre in the larger cities. The atmosphere is especially vibrant at fiesta time, or when the local football team has won, when celebrations are marked by a cacophony of car horns, firecrackers and a sea of flags and team regalia. Tapas bars offer delicious snacks in a relaxed, enjoyable setting and it is fun to try out several bars in one night. The nightclubs of Ibiza, Barcelona and Madrid have attracted the attention of the international media, but the variety on offer caters for most tastes. Things work up to la marcha (good fun) relatively late and it is possible to literally dance until dawn. Flamenco (Andalucia, especially Seville) or other regional dancing displays provide an alternative for those who prefer to watch dancing.

Serious shoppers will be able to indulge their weaknesses in Madrid, Barcelona and some major cities and resorts, though elsewhere retailing lags behind northern European countries. In general, shoppers can find items of high quality, not only in the cities, but in the small towns as well, at prices much lower than in the UK. In Madrid, the Rastro Market is recommended, particularly on Sundays. Half of the market takes place in the open air and half in more permanent galleries, and it has a character all of its own.

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 centre for toy manufacturing. Shoe manufacturing is also of an especially high quality; the production centres 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 0930-1330 and 1630-2000. However, most commercial stores and malls stay open from 1000-2100/2200.