An opportunity to go shopping in Spain simply cannot be passed up. If you have the time it's a great way to spend the day, making sure to include some well-earned coffee breaks in between.

Spain has mostly small-family run shops and stores, and plenty of markets, however lately many supermarkets and hypermarkets have emerged. The more traditional-type stores are found in the older city neighbourhoods while the larger department stores and hypermarkets appear in the suburbs further away from the cities.

Things aren't generally as orderly here and you might not always see people queuing but nonetheless, service is friendly and shop assistants will usually go out of their way to help you.

Opening hours will vary depending on the city or region one is in but in general, stores will open around 9:30 or 10 am (grocery shops and bakeries will usually open about an hour earlier) and remain open until 2 pm. They usually reopen at around 4:40 pm or 5 pm to 8 pm. Department stores, super and hypermarkets tend to stay open all day through. Markets, including open air markets selling fresh produce, such as fish, vegetables, game, flowers and antiques, among many other items, usually open on specific days of the week in the mornings, until around 2 pm.

On Sundays most shops are closed, except for the newspaper stands and kiosks and panaderias (bread bakeries) and pastelerias (bakeries selling only sweet pastries and cakes).

In tourist and holiday resort areas shops will generally remain open over lunchtime and will probably be open on weekends.

In Spain people tend to use cash or credit cards when it comes to paying. It is not a good idea to try paying with checks as most shops will not accept them.

The basic monetary unit was formerly the peseta, but as part of Spain 's commitment to the European single currency it adopted Euro notes and coins as from January 1, 2002 .

Banking Hours: Monday-Thursday 8:30 am-4:30 pm , Friday 8:30 am-2 pm , Saturday 8:30 am-1 pm .

All kinds of things, both local and international, can be found here in Spain, particularly in the big cities. The best products to buy in Spain are the handcrafted items, including pottery, paintings and sculpture, ceramics, embroidery, knotted rugs, handmade shawls, handmade furniture, guitars and ornamental combs and fans. Spanish leather goods, including horse riding saddles, purses, shoes, boots, wallets, belts are also highly recommended.

Specific regional items to keep in mind:

• In Galicia keep an eye out for Spanish porcelain, called Lladro and decorative basketwork.
• Madrid is an ideal place to look for antiques and North African goods imported from Algeria and Morocco.
• Hints of Arabian influence are found in Aragón's blue and white ceramic tiles.
• If you are interested in the traditional Spanish art of flamenco, Andalucia is the place to go. Traditional dresses, embroidery and textile goods abound here and quality is good.
• When it comes to pleasing the palate, regional specialties include the local hams, cheeses and sausages, as well as the wines and liqueurs. Try the cider and cheese in Asturias, the ham in Salamanca and of course, the world famous Rioja wines.

The list of items and goods to look out for is endless and as varied as the Spanish landscape. Every region has its typical crafts and products, reflecting the local charm in unique ways.