Whether it's eating times, business hours, being waited on, or even the length of the day, here are some things you should know about Spanish timing.

It isn’t common to be eating meals at “typical” times. In fact, it’s quite common to not eat lunch until at least 2 p.m., and most times you won’t eat dinner until after 8 p.m. But don’t fret—go for some drinks and tapas at any local spot to hold you over until mealtime.

Business hours are very different. There is typically a break in the middle of the day where you should plan on searching a bit before finding an open store or restaurant. From about 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. many businesses are closed for “siesta.”

When going anywhere, whether it be for food, tapas, or even just drinks, you can expect to be there for a while. Many guests relax and hang out, and servers will not bring you the check unless you ask.

Did you know that Spain is in the wrong time zone? Spain’s Generalissimo Francisco Franco moved Spain’s time zone up an hour to be aligned with Nazi Germany after meeting Adolf Hitler in the 1940s. Now, with sunrise at 6:45 a.m. and sunset at 9:30 p.m., Spain averages about 15 hours of sunlight a day.

Another fun thing to know is if you plan on visiting Spain in August, you might want to check that things are open! August is essentially a month-long Sunday here in Spain, meaning many restaurants and bars may be closed. This is a time when many businesses take off three weeks for vacation. While you may still be able to grab tapas or drinks in August, it may take longer to find the right place.

Spain truly is a one-of-a-kind place—and if you're thinking about coming here, do it.

Check out our other Spain travel tips here.