Eight essential ways to tackle winter like a true Spaniard
From what to wear to what to order, we've got the tips to help you blend in like a true local as the mercury drops.
Wrap up warm
Photo: Rodin/Flickr
Spaniards are slaves to the seasons and even if the temperature feels warm, will be dressing for winter until at least the end of February. That means hats, scarves, and - if you´re a woman of a certain age - a huge fur coat.
Dunk a churro in some chocolate
Photo: Flickr
Winter must be the only time of year when the deliciously decadent chocolate con churros don´t taste quite as sickly. They are the perfect snack on a cold winter’s day, fortifying you against the chilly weather.
READ MORE: Top ten heartiest tapas to enjoy when it's cold outside
Head to the slopes
Photo: Hourgade/Flickr
Ok, so during Covid times the likelihood is you are confined to your region. But if you are lucky enough to live near the slopes whether that is the Pyrenees, Sierra Nevada or one of the smaller mountain regions where the resorts are open for locals, this season the snow is plentiful. And although restrictions are in place to limit Covid-19 infections this means fewer people on the pistes, barely any queues and all that fresh air can only be a good thing.
READ ALSO: Eight amazing ski resorts in Spain
Don´t under any circumstances plan to go out if it’s raining
Photo: Juan José Aza/Flickr
It rains so seldom in central and southern Spain that it is not uncommon for Spaniards to cancel plans at the first sign of precipitation. If you live in northern Spain, our best advice is to buy a strong, big umbrella.
Don´t order sangria
Photo: AFP
Or the more Spanish equivalent, tinto de verano. “Summer wine” is – as the name suggests – a tipple reserved for the warmer months so don’t look like a clueless tourist and order a beer or wine instead.
Taking a walk? Dress for Antarctica
Photo: mik_p/Flickr
Spaniards are known for dressing appropriately, be it for the season or for the sport. If you are planning on going for a walk in the hills, make sure you take your walking boots and if there is likely to be snow, it is not uncommon for Spaniards to take walking poles and even crampons!
Stay home and watch TV
Still from the series Patria. Photo: HBO
With coronavirus placing some serious curbs on socializing and if you start shivering at even the thought of braving the cold for a low-risk socially distanced meetup on a terraza, then choose instead to stay home and snuggle up under a blanket to binge watch one of the latest Spanish series (and improve your Spanish at the same time!).
Catch up on critically acclaimed Patria on HBO and learn more about the Basque conflict, entertain yourself with the fast-paced La Casa de Papel (Money Heist) on Netflix or immerse yourself in the story of Spain's most powerful Queen, Isabel, with the eponymous series currently available on Amazon Prime.
READ ALSO: The ultimate binge-watch bucket list of Spanish box-sets
Brush up on your weather vocab
Photo: Javier Díaz Barrera/Flickr
Spaniards love to talk about the weather as much as Brits so it's definitely worth brushing up on a few handy weather phrases, then you can moan about the inclement weather as well as any Spaniard.
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Wrap up warm
Photo: Rodin/Flickr
Spaniards are slaves to the seasons and even if the temperature feels warm, will be dressing for winter until at least the end of February. That means hats, scarves, and - if you´re a woman of a certain age - a huge fur coat.
Dunk a churro in some chocolate
Photo: Flickr
Winter must be the only time of year when the deliciously decadent chocolate con churros don´t taste quite as sickly. They are the perfect snack on a cold winter’s day, fortifying you against the chilly weather.
READ MORE: Top ten heartiest tapas to enjoy when it's cold outside
Head to the slopes
Photo: Hourgade/Flickr
Ok, so during Covid times the likelihood is you are confined to your region. But if you are lucky enough to live near the slopes whether that is the Pyrenees, Sierra Nevada or one of the smaller mountain regions where the resorts are open for locals, this season the snow is plentiful. And although restrictions are in place to limit Covid-19 infections this means fewer people on the pistes, barely any queues and all that fresh air can only be a good thing.
READ ALSO: Eight amazing ski resorts in Spain
Don´t under any circumstances plan to go out if it’s raining
Photo: Juan José Aza/Flickr
It rains so seldom in central and southern Spain that it is not uncommon for Spaniards to cancel plans at the first sign of precipitation. If you live in northern Spain, our best advice is to buy a strong, big umbrella.
Don´t order sangria
Photo: AFP
Or the more Spanish equivalent, tinto de verano. “Summer wine” is – as the name suggests – a tipple reserved for the warmer months so don’t look like a clueless tourist and order a beer or wine instead.
Taking a walk? Dress for Antarctica
Photo: mik_p/Flickr
Spaniards are known for dressing appropriately, be it for the season or for the sport. If you are planning on going for a walk in the hills, make sure you take your walking boots and if there is likely to be snow, it is not uncommon for Spaniards to take walking poles and even crampons!
Stay home and watch TV
Still from the series Patria. Photo: HBO
With coronavirus placing some serious curbs on socializing and if you start shivering at even the thought of braving the cold for a low-risk socially distanced meetup on a terraza, then choose instead to stay home and snuggle up under a blanket to binge watch one of the latest Spanish series (and improve your Spanish at the same time!).
Catch up on critically acclaimed Patria on HBO and learn more about the Basque conflict, entertain yourself with the fast-paced La Casa de Papel (Money Heist) on Netflix or immerse yourself in the story of Spain's most powerful Queen, Isabel, with the eponymous series currently available on Amazon Prime.
READ ALSO: The ultimate binge-watch bucket list of Spanish box-sets
Brush up on your weather vocab
Photo: Javier Díaz Barrera/Flickr
Spaniards love to talk about the weather as much as Brits so it's definitely worth brushing up on a few handy weather phrases, then you can moan about the inclement weather as well as any Spaniard.
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