How to Spend a Weekend in Spain: What Families Should Know
Moving your family to Spain comes with many joyful adjustments: the slower pace of life, the sun-soaked afternoons, the sense that time is elastic. But weekends? They’re something altogether different—delightfully so.
If you're used to American weekends packed with errands, youth sports, Costco runs, and early brunches, Spain will require a reset. But it’s a welcome one. Here’s how weekends in Spain differ from the U.S., and how your family can make the most of them.
The Rhythm of a Spanish Weekend
The first thing to understand is that Spain runs on a different tempo. Weekends aren’t about ticking off a to-do list—they’re about presence. The Spanish weekend begins slowly, crescendos with long lunches and family time, and extends luxuriously into Sunday evening.
Saturday Mornings: The Practical Part
While most stores and businesses close early on Saturdays (often by 2:00 p.m.), the morning is a great time for essentials. If you need to visit the local market (mercado), bakery, or farmacia, aim for mid-morning. But don’t expect Target-style efficiency—things are done at a conversational pace. And it’s common to bump into neighbors, so allow for spontaneous chats.
This is also a popular time for extracurriculars: fútbol practice, music lessons, or dance. But compared to the over-scheduled Saturdays in many American suburbs, there's a more relaxed tone. Practices are often held in public parks or local community spaces, and parents linger to talk, have a coffee or enjoy a beer rather than rushing off to the next obligation.
Saturday Market
The Saturday Lunch: A Ritual
Lunch in Spain is the main meal of the day, and on Saturdays it becomes a ritual—often spent at home with extended family, or out at a favorite restaurante with friends. This is the moment to adopt the sobremesa—that long, unhurried conversation after the meal that can last an hour or more. It’s not lazy. It’s intentional.
For newcomers, this is a perfect time to try a menu del día at a neighborhood restaurant—three generous courses for a fraction of what you’d pay in the U.S., often with wine included. If you’ve got young children, bring some coloring supplies or small toys. Most Spaniards don’t bat an eye at kids in restaurants, especially during the lunch hour.
Sobremesa
Saturday Evenings: Paseos and Tapas
Evening plans start late in Spain, even for families. It’s common to go for a paseo—a stroll through the town or along the seaside, depending on where you live. Parks are lively, and many plazas fill with children playing until well past dark in the warmer months.
Dinner is typically lighter and later—think 8:30 or 9:00 p.m., and often involves sharing a few tapas or having a simple meal at home. If you’re dining out, note that restaurants may not open until 8:00 p.m. or later. Adjust bedtimes accordingly (they naturally shift here).
Weekend walks (paseos)
Sunday: Quiet, Sacred, and Slow
Sunday in Spain is unlike anything you’ll find in the U.S.
Most stores are closed, aside from a few panaderías (bakeries) in the morning and gas stations with attached convenience stores. This isn't an inconvenience—it’s an invitation to pause.
Mornings often begin at home with a late breakfast or churros con chocolate. In cities, families dress well and walk to church or gather for a second breakfast at a terrace café. In rural areas, families might head to the countryside for a hike, or a merienda—an afternoon snack or picnic.
Sunday lunch is another long, family-centered affair. Many Spaniards will drive an hour or more to a rural barbecue, or asador, for roasted lamb or paella. It's a day to stay close to your people.
Things That Feel Familiar (and What Doesn't)
Youth sports exist, but aren’t usually the central pillar of the weekend.
Errands are fewer, and not an all-day event—partly due to store hours, partly due to cultural priorities.
Socializing happens with the whole family, not just adults. Kids are welcome almost everywhere.
Sunday is for rest—truly. Americans may feel the urge to “get things done,” but here, doing less is the thing.
How to Structure Your Weekend as a Newcomer Family
Plan ahead for shopping. Grocery stores often close by Saturday night and don’t reopen until Monday.
Adopt a longer lunch. Make it the highlight of your day, not an afterthought.
Explore your neighborhood. Find your local bakery, the plaza where kids gather, the hidden café with excellent tortilla.
Join the paseo. Walk together in the evening—it’s a simple, beautiful ritual.
Say yes to spontaneity. Invited to join someone for lunch? Go. These are the moments when integration begins.
Final Thoughts
Weekends in Spain aren’t just about changing your schedule—they’re about shifting your mindset. Slowness isn’t laziness. Togetherness isn’t optional. And joy is found in the small things: shared meals, open plazas, late-night laughter echoing through narrow streets.
If you let them, Spanish weekends will change you. And your children, too.
Follow @spainlife_com on instagram to learn about what we do with our kids on the weekends!
