August In Spain: What Will Be Open And What Will Be Closed?

August is holiday season in Spain: city centres seem to be empty as many people close their shops and offices so that they can escape the sweltering city head and spend time in the slightly cooler coastal or mountainous parts of the country instead.

But is it true that all businesses close completely for the whole month? And which businesses can you expect to be closed or open? Here's everything you need to know:

Who Will Leave Spain’s Cities This Summer?

Before the covid pandemic, as many of 80% of city residents would leave the city during the months of August. This figure dropped considerably during and after the pandemic but is now rising considerably again.

As a tourist in a big Spanish city in August you would be forgiven for thinking there is no one Spanish left! As the locals leave, they are often replaced by tourists.

According to Madrid-based business management consultant Grant Thornton, 18% of Spanish businesses close in August. That’s almost 1 in 5 businesses closed which frankly seems unimaginable to residents of other countries such as the UK and the U.S.

So how can these Spanish businesses take the risk of closing for such a long period of time? This is because business turnover drops dramatically during August anyway. For some businesses it simply isn’t worth opening as a result.

It’s also worth remembering that taking time away from work is an important part of Spanish culture, and that many Spaniards will take extra time off as well as their 30 days paid holidays, especially during the sweltering heat of summer.

What Will Be Open And What Will Be Closed In August 2024?

If you’re visiting Spain this summer then the whys and wherefores of the summer closures are probably less interesting than knowing what will actually be closed! We can’t give you a comprehensive list of businesses but we can say that a good rule of thumb is that  larger business and chains or franchises will stay open, while smaller independent ones may close.

Businesses in locations that are popular with tourists are also more likely to stay open than those in areas with lower tourist footfall, because of the money that tourists bring to Spain with them. You're more likely to experience closures in in-land towns and cities than in coastal ones.

Will The Businesses That Stay Open Reduce Their Hours?

The simple answer to this question is yes! You’re likely to find that businesses that don’t close in August will operate reduced hours or close an extra day or two during the week. Some companies implement what’s known as jornada intensiva or intensive work days. This is when they work uninterrupted, without a break for lunch, but get to leave work early.  This means typically these businesses would operate from 8am to 3pm or from 8:30am to 3:30pm during the summer. This tends to apply more to office workers than to retail environments though.

How Do August Closures Impact Tourists?

As a general rule the August closures shouldn’t have too big of an impact on tourists in Spain. The main tourist attractions such as restaurants, museums, activities and of course hotels will remain open throughout the whole month.

If you’re heading off the beaten path and visiting a smaller town or village then you may find some of the shops in the area are closed. Some museums in small towns may also have reduced operating hours too.

How Do August Closures Impact Residents?

You’re more likely to be impacted by the closures in Spain if you’re living in the country. It can be incredibly frustrating to be living in one of the country’s big cities and find that the stores you need are closed. You might not be able to grab a coffee from your favourite neighbourhood cafe, and even smaller pharmacies may close too.

Admin, home renovations, and other bureaucracy can be incredibly frustrating and difficult during the month of August, so try and complete these tasks before the summer season starts or in September when normality resumes.

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