Most hotels and restaurants and many commercial establishments also accept the most popular international credit cards and travellers cheques. Perhaps because of the benign climate and the long hours of sunshine in Spain, Spaniards tend to get up later in the morning and stay out later at night than the rest of their European neighbours. Business establishments are usually closed for a day and half per week, most often Saturday afternoon and Sunday, while many shops close only on Sunday. In tourist areas, in summer, business hours are often expanded to 10 or 11pm with stores open 7 days a week. In summer, these hours are often expanded, with many establishments offering continuous service and still other serving food into the small hours of the night.
Bars are usually open all day and close late at night.
In general, the nightlife in Spain is quite intense, and the bars and discotheques stay open long past midnight. In summer, they often stay open past 3 or 4 am. In big cities like Madrid and Barcelona, for example, there are many places that stay open until dawn, even in winter. This list is also printed in the daily newspapers. Some branch offices are open in the afternoon.