Eid al-Fitr

📣 Traveler notes

Spain is renowned for its vibrant culture, friendly people, and diverse historical sites, boasting the second-largest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites after Italy. The country is generally welcoming and known for its relaxed lifestyle and cuisine.

• New Year's Eve (Nochevieja) involves the tradition of eating 12 grapes as the clock strikes midnight at Puerta del Sol in Madrid.
• The start of the new year is signaled by 'Las Campanadas,' a traditional sequence of chimes broadcast live on national TV.
• Following the final chimes, a fireworks display marks the beginning of the new year.
• In social settings, expect physical greetings like cheek kisses and tactile gestures (e.g., patting the back), which are signs of closeness. Guests should bring slippers for indoor use, as walking barefoot is considered unsanitary. Punctuality is appreciated, though arriving up to ten minutes late is generally acceptable. When accepting offers of food or drink, it is considered polite to initially refuse before accepting.