1. In winter it’s colder at home than outside ️

A Spanish paradox you don’t really understand until your first January. When it’s +12–+15 °C outside, your apartment can feel noticeably colder – 14–16 °C indoors is considered normal.

The reason is simple: the vast majority of homes don’t have central heating. Concrete loses heat quickly, and humidity makes the cold feel even sharper.

How do locals deal with it?

Woollen pyjamas, blankets, hot water bottles. Newcomers tend to switch on heaters or air conditioners more often – and immediately get acquainted with Spanish electricity bills.

Another issue is mould, which appears in poorly heated and poorly ventilated homes.

2. Rentals and the “okupas” problem

The rental market in coastal regions is overheated. Demand is high, prices are rising, and landlords have become noticeably more cautious.

One of the reasons is legislation that strongly protects tenants. In extreme cases this leads to the “ocupas” problem – illegal occupation of property. Evictions can drag on for months and involve significant legal costs.

The conclusion is simple: the location, the building, the security system and thorough document checks are not a formality, but a necessity.

3. Healthcare: calm, slow and… “it’s a virus”

Public healthcare in Spain is free and high-quality, but strictly regulated. To use it, you must register and have a social security number.

What most often surprises newcomers:

Waiting time to see a GP – from one to three weeks;

A very minimalist approach to prescriptions and tests;

The universal phrase: “Es un virus, descanse” – “it’s a virus, get some rest.”

For those used to quick tests and detailed diagnostics, private health insurance is almost always necessary – on average €40–70 per month. It’s not a luxury, but a comfort factor.

4. Work: language matters more than your diploma

Without Spanish, it’s very difficult to find stable employment – even with solid experience and education. Especially outside the big cities. On the coast, the job market is dominated by:

Tourism,

Services,

Retail.

Another local feature: in Spain, personal recommendations are often more important than a perfect CV. Many vacancies are never advertised at all – they’re filled “through connections”.

5. Summer is not always about pleasure

Three hundred sunny days a year sounds like a dream. But July and August, especially in Alicante and the southern Costa Blanca, are a real test of endurance.

Temperatures easily rise above +40 °C, humidity intensifies the heat, and daily life adapts to the climate:

You get things done before 11 a.m., then comes an enforced midday break. Activity returns towards the evening.

During this period the sea is warm, sometimes too warm – 27 °C and above, without the usual refreshing effect.

6. Food as a ritual, not an “on-demand” service

Spaniards don’t eat on the go. For them, food is a social process, a conversation, a pause. In practice this means:

The waiter may come to your table after 10–15 minutes – and that’s normal.

Restaurants close after lunch and reopen only for dinner around 20:00–21:00;

Supermarkets stock plenty of processed foods, and for real flavour people go to local markets (mercados).

You can get used to it, but at first the surprise is guaranteed.

7. Trust matters more than instructions

Spain still runs on personal recommendations. Many things are decided by people, not platforms. Need a good doctor, contractor or school? Ask your neighbour.

That’s why it’s so important to:

Step out of your own “bubble”,

Take part in neighbourhood life,

Communicate, even if your language skills are far from perfect.

A down-to-earth conclusion:

Spain isn’t difficult – it’s just different.

It requires patience, flexibility and a willingness to accept a rhythm that doesn’t always match what you’re used to. But if you stop fighting local logic and give yourself time to adapt, you’ll fall in love with this country.

EspanaTour experts always advise clients to treat relocation as a conscious life decision. This approach helps avoid disappointment and lets you feel not like a guest, but like a local.