The first weeks in a new country are full of small questions. Where is the cheap supermarket? Why is everything closed on Sunday? Who do I call to get the electricity switched on? Here are the answers that save the most time.
Supermarkets
Every country has its discounters, its mid-range chains and its premium food halls, and the price gap between them can be large. Local markets are often the best value for fruit, vegetables and fish.
| Country | Budget | Mid-range | Premium | Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | Lidl, Aldi | Mercadona, Carrefour, Covirán | El Corte Inglés | Large supermarkets usually close on Sundays and public holidays except on a set number of authorised dates and in designated tourist areas; smaller shops have more freedom. |
| Portugal | Lidl, Aldi | Continente, Pingo Doce, Auchan | El Corte Inglés | Shops may open on Sundays and most supermarkets do. |
| France | Lidl, Aldi | E.Leclerc, Carrefour, Intermarché, Auchan, Super U | Monoprix, La Grande Épicerie de Paris, Biocoop | Food shops, including supermarkets, may open on Sunday mornings until 1pm. Shops in designated tourist zones can open all day, but most of France closes on Sunday afternoons. |
| Italy | Eurospin, Lidl, MD, Aldi, Penny | Conad, Coop, Carrefour, Despar, Pam | Esselunga, Eataly, NaturaSì | Shops are allowed to open on Sundays; many city supermarkets do, while elsewhere Sunday opening is often mornings only. Most shops close on public holidays. |
| Switzerland | Aldi Suisse, Lidl, Denner | Migros, Coop, Volg | Globus, Manor Food | Most shops close on Sundays; shops at large stations and airports and petrol-station shops are the main exceptions. Geneva also allows two Sunday openings a year plus 31 December. |
| Monaco | – | Carrefour (hypermarket, Fontvieille), Carrefour Market (La Condamine) | – | Carrefour in Fontvieille opens on Sundays from 9:00 to 19:00 and the markets open every day; many residents also shop in nearby France. |
| Croatia | Lidl, Kaufland | Konzum, Tommy, Plodine, Spar, Studenac | – | Shops close on Sundays and public holidays, but each retailer may choose 16 Sundays a year to open. Shops at stations, airports, ports, petrol stations, hospitals, hotels, marinas and campsites are exempt, and online orders are allowed. |
| Greece | Lidl | Sklavenitis, My Market, Masoutis, Kritikos, Galaxias | AB Vassilopoulos, Thanopoulos | Most shops and supermarkets close on Sundays, except in designated tourist areas and on a few Sundays a year. |
| Cyprus | Lidl | Alphamega, Sklavenitis, Metro | – | Sunday opening varies by area and season, so check local store hours; several chains also deliver. |
| United Kingdom | Aldi, Lidl, Iceland | Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrisons, Co-op | Waitrose, M&S Food | In England and Wales large stores (over 280 m²) may open for only six hours on Sundays, between 10am and 6pm, and must close on Easter Sunday and Christmas Day; smaller shops can open longer, and Scotland has no restrictions. |
| United Arab Emirates | Lulu | Carrefour, Choithrams | Spinneys | Supermarkets open seven days a week, including Sundays. |
| United States | Aldi, Walmart | Publix, Sedano's, Target | Whole Foods Market, The Fresh Market | No Sunday trading restrictions: supermarkets open every day. |
| Turkey | BİM, A101, ŞOK | Migros, CarrefourSA | Macrocenter | Supermarkets and shopping centres open seven days a week. |
Sunday and holidays
Sunday rules vary more than anything else. Switzerland, Croatia and Greece close most shops on Sundays; France allows food shops to open on Sunday mornings; Spain limits large stores to set Sundays outside tourist areas; Portugal, Italy, the UAE, Turkey and the US open most supermarkets every day. England lets large stores open for six hours on Sundays. Shops at main stations and airports are usually the exception.
Utilities: electricity, water, gas
- Renting: the lease says whether bills are included or in your name. If in your name, you usually transfer the existing contract with the meter reading on move-in day, using the supply point number on a previous bill.
- Buying: transfer every contract at completion, and photograph the meters with the seller.
- Choose a tariff: in liberalised markets (Spain, Portugal, Italy, the UK) you choose a supplier; compare fixed and variable prices.
- Water is usually supplied by the town or a municipal company and billed every one or two months.
Internet and phone
Ask the agent or landlord whether the building has fibre before you sign. Installation takes from a few days to a few weeks. For your phone, an eSIM from a local operator works on day one; contracts usually need a local ID or tax number and a bank account.
Banking
You will need a local account for rent, direct debits and salary. Bring your passport, the local tax number, proof of address (or your lease) and proof of income. Many banks open non-resident accounts, often with higher fees, which you can switch to a resident account after registration.
Within the EU and the single euro payments area (SEPA), a company may not refuse a payment just because your IBAN is from another member country, so an account from another euro country often works for bills while you wait.
Health care
Register with the public system or start private insurance as soon as you are resident: Switzerland requires basic insurance within three months of arrival. EU citizens moving for work usually join the local system through their employer; pensioners can transfer cover with an S1 form. Find a doctor and the nearest pharmacy in your first week.
Rubbish, recycling and noise
Bins, recycling colours and collection days differ by town, and some places fine households for getting it wrong. Switzerland charges for rubbish through official bags or stickers. Ask the neighbours or the town hall. Quiet hours (often from 10pm and on Sundays) are taken seriously in Switzerland and in many apartment buildings everywhere.
Getting around
Most cities have monthly public transport passes that pay for themselves quickly. Check whether your driving licence can be exchanged and by when: the deadline is often six months to a year after you become resident.
This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules change; check the details with a local professional before you sign or pay anything.