Kingdom of Navarre. Land of diversity

What number should I call in the case of an emergency?
The freephone number 112.

Where should I go in the case of illness?
Any health centre or, in the case of an emergency, the Accident and Emergency section (?Urgencias?) of hospitals.

Where can I buy medication?
At Pharmacies, which are usually identified by a green cross outside the shop.

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What is the weather like in Navarre?
Navarre?s geographical diversity means it has a varied climate depending on where you are at any given time. In the north-east, the influence of the nearby Bay of Biscay gives rise to mild winters and summers whose temperatures rarely exceed 25º C. In the north-east, the Pyrenees mean frequent snow in the more rugged areas and summers are likewise mild. The further you go to the south of the region, the more extreme the temperatures, with very hard winters, frequently going below 0º C and reaching as high as 35 or 40 degrees in July and August.

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What currency is used?
The EURO, which is divided into 100 cents.
There are eight different coins: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents and 1 and 2 euros.
There are six different notes: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euros.

Where can I change money?
In any bank or savings bank, whose usual hours of opening are Monday to Saturday, 8.30 am ? 2 pm, except in summer when they close on Saturdays. Most hotels and travel agencies also offer an exchange service.

Methods of payment
The norm for small purchases is to pay in cash, but credit cards are widely accepted in almost every establishment. The cards accepted are usually shown on the door of the shop. Travellers? cheques, together with a passport, are also generally accepted in most hotels, restaurants and shops.

Is tipping obligatory?
No, service charges are included. However, tipping is customary in bars, restaurants, hotels and taxis, and the amount depends on the generosity of the customer, although you do not have to worry about percentages.

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What are the usual timings and opening hours?
Meals: usually, breakfast is from 8 am ? 10 am, lunch from 1 pm ? 2.30 pm and dinner from 8.30 pm ? 11 pm. Two to three hours before lunch and dinner you can get pinchos and tapas in bars and cafés.
Shops: usual shopping hours are from Monday to Saturday, 10 am ? 1.30 pm and 4.30 pm ? 8 pm. Large stores and shopping centres tend to open all day long, from 10 am to 9 pm or 10 pm, and even open on some public holidays.
Cinemas: screenings usually start around 5 pm and go on till 10.30 pm (when the last screening starts).
Theatres: there tends to be a single performance around 8 pm. Nightlife. Most nightlife can be found from Thursday to Sunday in the pubs, bar and discos of Pamplona, which are generally open till 3 or 4 in the morning, and even through to dawn on Saturday nights.

When are Navarre?s public holidays?
Whether local or regional, most public holidays include full programmes of events which in many cases combine religious tradition with all the fun of local festivities. All shops are generally closed with the exception of bakeries and newsagents, which are open until midday.

Invariable public holidays are:

• 1 January, New Year´s Day.
• 6 January, Epiphany.
• Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Monday.
• 1 May, Labour Day.
• 7 July, the San Fermín fiesta (only a public holiday in Pamplona)
• 15 August, Assumption of the Virgin Mary.
• 12 October, Virgin of Pilar.
• 1 November, All Saints? Day
• 29 November, Festival of San Saturnino, the patron saint of Pamplona (every town has a public holiday on its patron saint?s day).
• 3 December, St. Francis Xavier Day, the Patron Saint of Navarre.
• 6 December, Constitution Day.
• 8 December, Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
• 25 December, Christmas Day.

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How can I send a letter, telegram or fax?
To send a letter you can buy stamps at an ?estanco? (where cigarettes are sold) and post them in the yellow mailboxes on the streets, or go to a Post Office (Oficina de Correos) where you can also send postal orders, packages, telegrams and faxes.

How do I call to and from Navarre?

• If you?re calling Navarre from another country, dial the exit code of the country of origin then 34 (Spain), then the telephone number in Navarre (9 figures).
• If you?re calling another country from Navarre, dial 00 (Spanish exit code), then the code of the country you are calling followed by the telephone number.
• Telephone boxes: these operate with coins or cards which you can buy at the ?estancos?. If you are calling within Spain, the number you dial should always have 9 digits.

How do I use my mobile phone in Navarre?
Spain uses GSM technology which is not compatible with certain countries, such as the United States and Japan. If your system?s technology is compatible with ours, you should contact your operator to make sure you can use your phone in Spain (some operators need to activate the international service). Once you are in Navarre, you should use your phone as if it were a Spanish one, dialling 00 (Spanish exit code) then the code of the country you are calling followed by the telephone number.

How can I get on the Internet and check my email?
There are numerous establishments, especially in Pamplona, where you can find this service. Ask for information at the Tourist Offices.

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Can you drink the tap water?
Tap water, which comes mainly from Pyrenean springs, is drinkable throughout Navarre.

What language is spoken in Navarre?
Spanish is the official language in all the territory and Basque is official in the north-western part of Navarre. It is common to find administrative documents, road signage and place names in the two languages.

What religion is practised in Navarre?
Freedom of worship is guaranteed by the Spanish Constitution, although most of the population is Catholic.

Which metric system is used?
The International System of Units (SI) is used and governs all weights, measures and distances, the most frequent references being the gram and the kilo for weights and the centimetre, metre and kilometre for measurements and distances.

How do electrical appliances work?
On 220 volts AC - 50 HZ and electrical sockets use the European system of two round prongs.

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