Public telephones are either coin or card (tarjetas telefónicas) operated. Telephone cards can be purchased in post offices, newsagents and kiosks or tobacco stores (estancos) that have the sign Tabacos outside. Cabins and other phones have been adapted to take the euro currency but you're best off buying a phone card (from a kiosko or tabac ) of €6 or €12. Phoning within Spain is cheaper after 6pm and all weekend for metropolitan and inter-provincial calls.

For international calls there are several calling card companies that operate using pre-paid cards and these cost significantly less than calling using coins. International rates are slightly cheaper between midnight and 8am; the reduced rates apply all day on Saturday and Sunday.

The telephone system in Spain is dominated by the formerly state-owned Telefónica, which also operates public phone sites (locutorios) where you pay the attendant at the end of your call. Spanish public phones work well and have instructions in English. If you can't find one, many bars also have pay phones you can use.

With regard to cellphones, Spain uses GSM 900/1800 mobile phones (teléfono movil) a system which is compatible with the rest of Europe, but not with North America or Japan.

Phones

The internet

Media

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