Welcome to AWS,

Zaragoza
We’re very happy to have you here!

If you’re relocating (or thinking about relocating) to Zaragoza,

or you’re just curious about the city and our unique AWS
culture, you’ll find lots of useful information in this guide.
Arriving in Zaragoza

Zaragoza is the capital of Spain’s Aragon region, with a population of just over 665,000.
Zaragoza is equidistant from Madrid, Valencia, Bilbao and Toulouse, which gives us access to
a population of 25 million in a 300KM radius.

Zaragoza Airports: AENA is in the Garrapinillos neighbourhood, 10 kilometres from the city
center. aena.mobi/m/en/zaragoza-airport

Transport from the airport: You can take the Bus Line (501) which runs between the airport
and Paseo Maria Agustín in Zaragoza, with stops at PLAZA, Plaza Imperial and the rail, and
bus station. Buses leave the airport every half hour Monday to Friday from 6:15 to 23:15.
Sunday and holidays at 6:15, once an hour from 6:45 to 22:45, and the last bus at 23:15. 

Office address: ZAZ10 Regus office. Atención: David Fernández. Avda. Juan Pablo II, 35
Planta 3 50009, Zaragoza T +34 876 506 160

Getting Around
Zaragoza is connected by motorway with the main cities in central and northern Spain,
including Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, and Bilbao, all of which are located about 300
kilometres (200 miles) from Zaragoza.

Be sure to get yourself the swipe card “Tarjeta BUS” which means you can alternate from
Tram and Bus within the hour. Buying the card at €2 you can top up as you go along but at
a minimum of €5. This offers great savings of 74 cent for each journey and benefits include
using the card for more than one passenger at a time! This card is available to purchase at
most tabaco shops in the city (known as “Estanco(s)”).
Getting around Zaragoza

By bike: Zaragoza is full of bustling bicycle lanes which facilitate non-motorized travel and
help cyclists to avoid running into pedestrians and motor vehicles. There is a convenient
bicycle-hire scheme the ‘bizi zaragoza’ - which consists in the payment of an annual charge.
A 72h pack is also available for bit more than 5 euros.

Taxi: these are not so plentiful like you would encounter in other major cities, but they can
be found easily and also requested by phone in a matter of minutes.

Tram: The Línea 1 tram runs from the North to the South of the city stopping in key areas
including Avenida de César Augusto, Plaza de España and Plaza Aragón. Buy tickets (€1.35)
from machines at stops before boarding. As the city council is focused on the Sustainable
Mobility Plan, the Zaragoza Tram initiative provides the city with a mode of public transport
that is committed to the preservation of the environment, urban landscape and cultural
heritage.

Train: Zaragoza-Delicias is the hub of local transportation in the city. The train service of
Zaragoza is a part of the regional high-speed railway which is operated by RENFE, AVE.
This railway line connects some of the largest cities like Madrid and Barcelona. You can visit
Madrid and Barcelona within a maximum travel time of 90 minutes. The central station is
“Intermodal Zaragoza Delicias Station”, which serves both railway lines and coaches.

Bus: The city has a network of buses, which is controlled by the Urban Buses of Zaragoza
(AUZSA). The network consists of 31 regular lines (two of them circle lines), two scheduled
routes, six shuttle buses (one free), and seven night buses operating on Fridays, Saturdays
and other festivities. Zaragoza also has an interurban bus network operated by Transport
Consortium Zaragoza Area (CTAZ) that operates 17 regular lines. zaragoza.avanzagrupo.com

Source: Wikipedia
Business & leisure

Business hours: Shops in the city open from 9am-8pm (this can vary per store) but there can
be a time of closure between 1pm-5pm.

Shopping: the city offers an abundance of shops, stores, markets and boutiques to cater
to all preferences. You will find traditional stores with local handcrafts to top brand-named
fashion boutiques within walking distance of each other. Starting in Plaza España through
to Plaza Aragon you will see many modern areas such as: Constitucion, Paseo de las Damas,
Paseo de Sagasta and Grand Via. This area hosts many well-known stores like Corte de Ingles,
ample shoe and accessory stores as well as high-end designer boutiques.

Public holidays 2020:

New Year’s Day - 1st January
Epiphany - 6th January
Maudy Thursday - 9th April
Good Friday - 10th April
Easter Sunday - 12th April
Diada de Sant Jordi - 23rd April
Labour Day Spain - 1st May
Assumption of Mary - 15th August
Dia de la Hispanidad* - 12th October
All Saints Day - 1st November
Constitution Day - 6th December
Feast of the Immaculate Conception - 8th December
Christmas Day - 25th December
St. Stephens Day - 26th December

*Dia de la Hispanidad: this is one of the most celebrated holidays in Zaragoza and attracts
thousands of people for celebrations to the city.
Things to do in Zaragoza

Parque del Agua Luis Buñuel: Best on a sunny day (but careful with the heat!). An area
of 120 hectares, especially ideal to go with kids, as it has a “Multiadventure Park”, also
suitable for adults. In this area, it is possible to practice rafting or kayaking, and if you
prefer to have a sunbath, there is an artificial beach. - soydezaragoza.es/parque-agua-
zaragoza

Travel the Ebro river in canoe: The Ebro river is the second longest river in the Iberian
Peninsula after the Tagus, and also second biggest by discharge volume and by drainage
area after the Douro. It is also the longest river running entirely within Spain. Organized by
the company Ebronautas, you will leave in a group trip to enjoy the city, the architecture
and nature, from a different perspective. It is a wonderful way to do some sport and have a
good time being outdoors (I did this myself!)

Basilica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar: Also known as “El Pilar”, this basilica is the most
emblematic symbol of Zaragoza and one of the most important baroque buildings in Spain.

La Seo/Catedral del Salvador: A wonderful building with a mix of styles, from romantic
(12th Century) to baroque (18th Century) and full of art pieces from different historical
moments.

La Aljaferia: The beautiful legacy of the Arabic culture, built during the 11th Century
under the rule of Al-Muqtadir. After “La Reconquista” (Spanish for “reconquest”), it became
a military barrack that suffered serious damage after the wars that occurred for several
centuries after. Inside the palace, you can appreciate the horseshoe arches, the Troubadour
tower, the Golden Room, the mosque and the Santa Isabel courtyard, a typical garden area
of the Muslim Taifa palaces.
Local entertainment

For local family entertainment the River Aquarium is the best place to spend a day. With
stunning beauty and the tranquil atmosphere, you will enjoy a collection of bright fishes and
estimate a perfect decoration of a reptile house. They even let you purchase special feed for
fish in their store to feed the inhabitants!

Another top family destination is the Parque de atracciones de Zaragoza, which is one of
the greatest amusement’s destinations in the city. The parkland features playing grounds for
kids of all ages as well as the deserving lounge areas for adults.

For relaxing dining, the El pequeno café del Rock is the place to spend an evening with
friends in an easy atmosphere.

Another exciting destination is the Laser Space Club where you can play laser tag or at club
Pettum Trampolines, you can feel like a kid again and spend your leisure time jumping on
trampolines.

With music playing a key part in Spanish culture, the Quiosco de La Musica Rotunda is
another spot in Zaragoza where you can enjoy impromptu music concerts. It is located in the
beautiful Parque Grande José Antonio Labordeta, where you can also go for a walk.

For the night owls, Zaragoza is a city that has the most bars and clubs per capita in the whole
of Spain! Finding somewhere to go in the evenings for some lively atmosphere couldn’t be
easier.
Food & drink

Dining
In Zaragoza, soups, hearty stews, casseroles, roasted or barbecued meats, legumes and
fresh vegetables form a large part of the diet here. The Spanish love their cheeses, and
“Zaragozanos” are certainly no exception. Cheeses from here are made from cow’s, goat’s
and sheep’s milk and can be found fresh or cured. You can even taste some of the famous
cheeses like the Tronchon. Cervantes mentions this cheese in the novel Don Quijote.

Local Specialities:
• Ternasco: succulent milk-fed baby lamb, usually roasted, or barbecued.
• Pollo al Chilindron: chicken roasted in a tomato, pepper and onion sauce.
• Escabeche de pollo (chicken), conejo (rabbit) or perdiz (partridge): meat, or sometimes
fish cooked in oil and vinegar, with various spices and vegetables.
• Roasted suckling pig.
• Migas: lightly pan-fried bread crumbs with onion, garlic and chorizo, served with grapes.
Many varieties. If you want to try this in Zaragoza, visit “La Migueria”.
• Ajoarriero: cod with eggs, garlic and potato.
• Cured meats: longaniza (pork sausage), chorizo (pork cured sausage), morcillas (blood
sausage, black pudding style, with rice and pine nuts), Jamon de Teruel (cured ham, one
of the jewels of Spain, together with Jamon de Bellota and Jamon Iberico).

Sweets:
• Guirlaches: nougat made with almonds, honey and sugar.
• Melocoton/Peras con vino: peaches or pears in wine.

Wine:
• Cariñena
• Campo de Borja
• Somantano
• Calatayud
Culture & etiquette tips

Socialising: Like in any other city in Spain, socialising is part of the culture. Terraces bloom
when the good weather arrives, and parks fill with plenty of people…
Tipping: tipping is not mandatory nor a strong tradition in Spain. It really will be up to you
to give or to keep it, without judgement.

Language: A lot of Spanish people speak English, but if you are trying to learn the local
language, it is very much appreciated. Learn a couple of Spanish sentences: here a good link
with common expressions and phrases.

Asking for help:

• Disculpa, ¿me puede ayudar? > Excuse me, can you help me? *Use this when you need to
ask something in a place, like directions, for example. You can add por favor (please)
• ¿Alguien me puede ayudar? > Can someone help me?

Smoking: Since 2 January 2011, smoking has been restricted in every indoor public place,
including restaurants, bars and cafes. Hotels may designate up to 30% of rooms for smoking,
mental hospitals, jails and old people’s residences may have public rooms where workers
cannot enter. Outdoor smoking is also prohibited at childcare facilities, in children’s play
parks and around schools and hospital facilities.

Punctuality: Be on time for the appointments. This is a very important sign of respect.
Health & Safety

As Zaragoza is not one of the larger cities in Spain it certainly ensures that it is less attractive
for thieves, which means that it is unlikely that you will be a victim to petty crime. However,
you should always be careful and watch out for pick pocketing or bag snatching. Be smart,
look after your belongings and be aware of your surroundings. Should something unfortunate
happen then see some numbers below which can help:

Emergencies: 112
National Police: 091
Civil Guard: 062
Local Police: 092
Zaragoza Police: 976 711 400
Fire: 080

Hospitals in Zaragoza
Quirónsalud Zaragoza Hospital has spent over 50 years providing expert and personalised
health care of the highest level. Spain boasts one of the World’s top healthcare systems and
should you need to visit then be sure to bring your EHIC (European Health Insurance Card).
As a resident, you can receive Free State healthcate but you need to apply for your local
residency permit with the municipality. Spain has a big expat and tourist population, so there
are plenty of English-speaking doctors available.

There are common expat-friendly health insurance providers that will cover hospital costs
and treatment in Spain: Allianz Care, Cigna Global and Globality Health.

Forms that you will need to have prepared in such an event that you need to use the Spanish
healthcare system include:
• Form E121
• Form E106
• Form E111 (EHIC)
• Private Health Insurance documentation if applicable
Tax, pay & finances
Pay: The first step before you can open a bank account or get a tax-ID is to register with the
city.

The Spanish Tax Year runs from January to December. It is divided into two parts: National
and Regional Tax. Each figure is the same but some regions can vary.

Currently the Spanish income tax rates are as follows:

• Spanish income tax for incomes up to €12,450: 19%
• Spanish income tax for incomes ranging from €12,451 to €20,200: 24%
• Spanish income tax for incomes ranging from €20,201 to €35,200: 30%
• Spanish income tax for incomes ranging from €35,201 to €60,000: 37%
• Spanish income tax for incomes over €60,000: 45%

Always check with the local Comunidades Autonomas before making any assumption about
the regional rate.

Tax Deductions: A basic personal allowance for everyone under the age of 65 is set at
€5,550, or €6,700 from age 65, and €8,100 from age 75.

If you have children under 25 living with you, you can claim an additional allowance of:
• €2,400 for the first child
• €2,700 for the second
• €4,000 for the third
• €4,500 for the fourth
• Additional allowance of €2,800 for each child under three years

If you have a parent or grandparent living with you and your total income is less than €8,000,
you can claim an allowance of €1,150 if they are over 65 and €2,550 if they are over 75.

Other deductions include:

• payments into the Spanish social security system;
• pension contributions;
• the costs of buying and renovating your main home;
• charitable donations

Married couples tax allowance: (declaracion conjunta) €3,400 for the second taxpayer, in
addition to a general allowance of €5,550 granted to the first taxpayer. Source: Expatica.com
Tax, pay & finances
Cost of Living
There are three levels of VAT (value-added tax) or Impuesto sobre el Valor Añadido (IVA) in
Spain:
• General: 21% on goods and services.
• Reducido: 10% on passenger transport, toll roads, amateur sporting events, exhibitions,
health products, non-basic foods, rubbish collection, pest control and wastewater
treatment.
• Superreducido: 4% on essential foods, medicine, books and newspapers.

Banking
Spain has a well-established financial sector, which means there is a very wide range of
different banks and account products to choose from.

When opening a bank account you will need the following:

• NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjero) or TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Entranjera).
This is your ID number, which is issued in Spain to non-Spanish residents. This is the most
important document for a foreign citizen. It is usually obtained at the Police or Foreigner
Offices in Spain, but it can most likely be requested through the Spanish Consulate of
your territory demarcation. Total cost is approx. 10€ and here the LINK.
• Completed application form
• Opening deposit (value is dependent on the bank)
• Valid Passport and Tax Identification number from your home country
• Proof of residential address such as a bill or official letter.
• Some banks may require proof of employment.

Types of accounts:
• Cuenta corriente (current account) – basic everyday account
• Cuenta de ahorros (savings account) – this account generates interest on your money
• Cuenta de depósito (deposit account) – a savings account with fewer options to withdraw
funds easily
• Cuenta nomina (salary account) – this is where your employer pays your salary into

Monthly fees: Due to the wide range of banks available, there can be a variance in the monthly
fee charged so shop around! Fees can be up to €6 a month, which adds up over time.

Major Spanish banks are:

• Banco Santander (one of the largest Spanish retail banks)
• BBVA
• CaixaBank
• Banco de Sabadell
• Ibercaja
• ING
• Barclays
• N26 (online banking)
At a glance benefits

Health insurance: Amazon has partnered with es Adeslas to offer a group private medical
and dental insurance plan. Es Adeslas is the leading provider in the Spanish private medical
insurance market. “Es Adeslas Completa” offers 100% medical coverage throughout Spain
allowing you to choose any specialist or medical centre from the es Adeslas Medical Network.

The main benefits covered are:

• Primary care medicine and pediatrics
• Specialist care
• Pre- and post-natal care
• Diagnostic tests, including high-technology tests
• Hospitalization
• Emergencies, outpatient and inpatient

Our plan also includes dental coverage, known as “Adeslas Dental” which provides some free
services such as dental cleaning, consultations, and dental x-rays.

Life and Disability Insurance: Amazon automatically covers employees in the group life
and disability insurance policy along with the cost of the premium. This benefit is taxable
and will be reported to your payroll for taxation purposes for which you will be responsible.
This coverage begins on your first day of hire and the policy is currently insured with Generali.

Retirement Plan: Amazon will help you prepare for your retirement by making contributions
to your retirement savings through the retirement plan provided by Nationale Nederlanden.
You benefit from your own contributions, you will receive contributions from Amazon, and
you will also benefit from tax relief.

Transport Reimbursement: You can choose between a monthly fixed amount of

transportation allowance of 30€ or a parking space.
At a glance benefits

Employee Assistance Program

This program provides to all employees and their beneficiaries free, confidential support,
resources, and referrals by phone 7 days a week and 24 hours a day at no cost:
• Legal support and resources
• Financial information and resources
• Emotional support by phone and 1:1 physical sessions
• Employee Discount

You will be entitled to a 10% discount on Amazon.es up to 100 € of goods purchased. The
discount applies only on products sold and shipped by Amazon.

Paid Vacation and special leave

You will have 25 working days of vacation per year.

Sick indemnity and parental leave

Sick leave is paid at 100%. Amazon will also provide you with additional 4 weeks of parental
leave paid by the company on top of the government offering.

Emigration support and paperwork

Amazon usually provides emigration support and paperwork assistance to the employees
relocating from other countries. That would include working visas and NIE (Spanish
identification number for foreigners that will serve you as an ID).

You will need NIE to open a bank account, rent a flat or to manage your tax contribution.
Renting in Zaragoza

When comparing larger Spanish cities such as Madrid and Barcelona, Zaragoza’s renting costs
are much more affordable and at a much higher standard. The average monthly rental rate
for a whole flat is around 560 Euros per month; but obviously, the price varies depending on
how many people you live with.

Spanish properties are typically advertised with a monthly rent and a living space in square
metres. The advert should also indicate whether the property is furnished or not. Furnished
properties can be either comprehensive, including kitchen items, or very basic. If you view the
property while the previous tenant is present, make sure you are clear about which furniture
is staying.

Property deposits are usually one-month’s rent before you move in. In Spain, a tenancy
agreement (contrato de arrendamiento) is valid whether verbal or written. To break a
contract, the lessee must give at least 30 days’ notice before the end date.

Documents you need to bring with you:

• Evidence of employment or ability to pay the rent
• Tax Identification Number
• Passport or ID
• Personal references

Rental agencies:
• Inmopiso
• Ebrolife
• Gaia Inmobiliaria Rural

Popular renting websites:

• Idealista.com
• fotocasa.es
• enalquiler.com
More to explore
We hope we’ve been able to give you insights that will help you adapt to the local
environment!

If you want to continue learning and be curious, here are some additional links to dive
deeper into the local culture in Zaragoza:
expatica.com
tripadvisor.ie/Travel-g187448-s202/Zaragoza:Spain:Culture
whatzaragoza.com/culture-arts
inspirock.com/spain/cultural-activities-in-zaragoza
whatzaragoza.com

To learn more about AWS culture:

Diversity & Inclusion
Affinity Groups
AWS Careers on Youtube
AWS Career Site
AWS on LinkedIn
@hereataws Instagram

Lauren, David, Javier & Ernesto.