My experience after three months of living in Barcelona

When I moved to Barcelona for my internship, I expected to see the classic Spanish siesta everywhere: closed shops, quiet streets in the afternoon, and people heading home for a midday nap. It is one of those cultural images that everyone seems to know.

After living here for three months and experiencing daily life in a busy, international city, I have realised that the reality is quite different. The siesta is not a simple tradition that everyone follows, and many aspects of it do not reflect modern urban life. Here is what I have learned.

Myth: Everyone in Spain takes a nap in the afternoon

Reality: In large cities like Barcelona, this is mostly not true.

The traditional siesta still exists in some smaller towns and rural areas, but in Barcelona, you rarely see people going home to sleep in the middle of the day. Most companies operate on a continuous work schedule, including the office where I work. Life in the city moves quickly and follows a routine that feels very similar to other major European hubs.

What does remain is the longer lunch break, which people often use for eating, socialising, or simply taking a short pause from work. This is usually not a nap, but rather a cultural preference for enjoying lunch without rushing.

Myth: Everything shuts down for hours every afternoon

Reality: Most of Barcelona continues operating as normal.

Before arriving, I imagined shops closing at two in the afternoon and reopening in the early evening. The truth is that most businesses in central Barcelona stay open all day. Supermarkets, cafés, offices, and retail stores operate with continuous hours. Only some smaller, family-owned shops may close for a short period in the afternoon, but this is the exception rather than the rule.

Myth: The siesta makes Spanish daily life very relaxed

Reality: People in Barcelona work long hours, just on a different schedule.

One of the biggest surprises for me was how late the Spanish day runs. It is common for people to finish work between six and seven in the evening and have dinner around nine or later. Everything simply starts and ends later, which historically made the longer afternoon break more practical, especially because of the heat.

Today, however, the siesta is more of a cultural symbol than a daily habit for most city residents. The relaxed feeling of Barcelona comes more from the social atmosphere and lifestyle, not from taking naps in the afternoon.

So does the siesta still exist?

Yes, but not in the way many visitors imagine.

The idea of the siesta remains part of Spanish culture, but in big cities, it has transformed into shorter breaks or simply flexible lunch hours. Some people do take a quick power nap, but it is far from the widespread national routine that many people picture.

What I have learned after three months

Living in Barcelona has shown me how cultural myths often contain a hint of truth, yet do not always reflect daily life. The siesta is still recognised, but it has adapted to modern work structures and the pace of a large, international city.

Even though the traditional midday pause is no longer a standard practice, I can understand why it became part of the culture. Taking a moment in the afternoon to reset and recharge would sometimes be a welcome addition to a busy workday. For now, I simply appreciate observing how the rhythm of Barcelona blends tradition with a contemporary lifestyle.