'I'm a Brit living in Spain - tourists' embarrassing habits make me cringe'
James Smith, a British expat who's called Spain home for over a decade, witnesses tourist faux pas daily. He has listed the behaviours that wound him up the most
A Brit in Spain is so embarrassed by the actions of his fellow countryfolk that he regularly pretends he is Canadian.
Spain has long been one of the most popular holiday destinations for British tourists, with millions flocking to its sunny beaches and vibrant cities each year. However, that doesn't mean that everyone is completely au fait with the culture.
James Smith, a British expat who's called Spain home for over a decade, witnesses tourist faux pas daily. As the founder of Learn Spanish with James, a popular online Spanish learning platform, James has spent years immersed in Spanish culture across Spain, Argentina, and Costa Rica. His unique position as both a Brit abroad and a Spanish language expert gives him a front-row seat to some truly cringeworthy tourist behaviour.
“Living here full-time, you see everything. And trust me, some of the things my fellow Brits do make me want to pretend I'm Canadian," James said.
With that insider perspective, James reveals the tourist habits that make locals roll their eyes, and how to avoid becoming ‘that’ British tourist.
1. Refusing to try anything beyond fish and chips
You'll spot them a mile off: the tourists scanning Spanish menus with genuine panic, searching for something that resembles a Sunday roast. According to James, such visitors treat authentic paella like it's radioactive and ask waiters if they can “just do chips instead” when presented with patatas bravas.
“I've watched British tourists in Barcelona walk past incredible tapas bars to queue at an Irish pub serving microwaved lasagne. It's like visiting the Louvre and only looking at the gift shop," he said.
The Spanish take immense pride in their regional cuisines, from Andalusian gazpacho to Basque pintxos. Refusing even to try local dishes isn't just a missed opportunity. It's baffling to locals who consider food central to their culture.
2. Speaking English but MUCH LOUDER
There's an unspoken British belief that volume equals comprehension, James claims. Watch any tourist interaction and you'll witness someone ordering “DOS. BEER. PLEASE".
Spanish culture values a more measured approach to conversation. The loud, boisterous style that might work in a busy London pub can come across as aggressive or disrespectful in a quiet Spanish restaurant where families are enjoying leisurely meals together, James explained.
3. Treating siesta like a personal inconvenience
The traditionally kept hours in Spain and the UK are quite different. The siesta isn't an outdated tradition designed to frustrate holidaymakers, but a practical response to scorching afternoon heat and a valued part of work-life balance.
“I've seen tourists genuinely angry that a bakery won't serve them bread at 3 pm. They act like Spanish business owners are being deliberately awkward, when actually they're just following centuries of sensible tradition," James said.
4. Not dressing to impress
Football shirts, flip-flops, and Union Jack shorts might be acceptable beachwear, but wearing them to dinner at a nice restaurant makes most Spanish diners wince. Spanish people generally dress smartly when going out to eat, even for casual meals.
The contrast becomes particularly stark in cities like Seville or Madrid, where locals might dress up for a simple evening stroll. Meanwhile, British tourists rock up to historic cathedrals in vest tops and beach sandals, a little oblivious to dress codes or cultural expectations, James claims.
5. Getting too drunk
While Spain has a relaxed attitude toward alcohol, the British approach to drinking can be shocking to locals. Spanish people typically enjoy wine or beer with meals, not as a race to unconsciousness. Watching groups of tourists stumble around historic city centres at midday, shouting and causing chaos, reinforces every negative stereotype.
“Spanish drinking culture is social and civilised.Seeing British tourists treat beautiful Spanish cities like giant outdoor nightclubs is genuinely embarrassing," James said.
6. Expecting everyone to speak perfect English
According to James, British tourists often approach Spanish service staff and make no attempt at Spanish, then act frustrated when communication breaks down. A simple “por favour” or “gracias” goes a long way, but visitors sometimes can't be bothered with even basic politeness.
This attitude is particularly grating in smaller towns or rural areas, where locals might speak limited English but are incredibly welcoming to visitors who make even minimal effort with Spanish.
7. Complaining about everything being “too Spanish”
The ultimate tourist paradox: travelling to Spain then moaning that it's not enough like Britain. These visitors complain about late dinner times, unfamiliar food, different TV channels, and locals speaking Spanish among themselves.
“I've heard British tourists genuinely annoyed that Spanish TV isn't in English. They seem to forget they're guests in someone else's country," James concluded.