Pharmacies
Pharmacies are located all about the city, denoted by green crosses. Most ailments can be cured by over-the-counter medications. Just tell the pharmacist what you have, and he or she will give you what you need. Be sure to read the instructions, since the dosages may be different than what you're used to.
Grocery Stores
The major grocery chains in Salamanca are Carrefour and El Árbol.
Carrefour Express - This store is located close to the Plaza Mayor and carries a wide variety of food, household, and personal items. The food available at this grocery store is everything from fresh fruit and vegtables, meat, poultry, and seafood, boxed and canned foods and beverages, all reasonably priced. You can find typical Spanish food here. They have chorizo, cured ham, flan, and Spanish tortilla. As well as the spice saffron, which is grown in Spain. They offer the widest variety out of all of the grocery stores. There is also a larger Carrefour located closer to the outside of the city. This is very similar to Walmart.
El Árbol - This gocery store chain is found at many locations throughout Salamanca. They will have any of the main food and beverage needs you are looking for. They are very convinent due to the number of locations, which are more often found in the afueras, where more people live. They also have very good prices on their items.
Often with lunch the Spanish will have a baguette. This bread they pick up daily at the store and is always baked fresh. Fruit or yogurt usually follows the meal.
Internet Cafés
Internet cafés are generally denoted by the @ symbol. Rates vary, but the general fare is around 1€ an hour. Some cafés require you to pay ahead for a specific amount of time, others you can pay after using the computers and only pay for the time you've used.
General Shopping
For most general shopping, your best bet is Calle Toro, the right-most street off the Plaza Mayor when you stand facing the Clock. For young women's fashion, some good stores are Zara, Pimkie, and H&M. For young men's fashion, H&M, Cortefiel, and Massimo Dutti. H&M is the least expensive of these stores, and is comprable to an Old Navy.
There is also a mall-like establishment just outside the city, called El Tormes. The easiest way to get there is to catch the bus from Gran Vía. It's generally called 'El Centro Comercial'. There are a multitude of shops there, and with generally lower prices than the specialized shops in the city.
For non-clothing needs, the shops here tend to be more specialized than in the United States. Anything ending in-ería is probably a shop, and you can tell what they sell by what it's called. For example, a carnicería sells carne, or meat, and a panadería sells pan, or bread.
Bike Rental
Renting a bike is very easy and quite reasonably-priced. There are several benefits to having a bike. The first is the time that can be saved in commuting from home to school and school to home, especially if you take a siesta. Most Spainards take a siesta, which means they will have a couple hours to have lunch and go home to have a refreshing break. Also, it is easy to ride for longer distances to explore more of the city. Salamanca is a fairly bike-friendly city. Riding in the flow of traffic might take some getting used to, but having a bike could be a good investment.
Trains
If you are thinking of traveling during your stay in Salamanca, the train is an easy means of transportation. It runs almost anywhere you could want to go. The price of a train ticket is also economical, which can fit into almost any student's budget. Surprisingly, the train station also has a movie theater, stores that sell clothing and souviniers, as well as places to eat.
Buses
The bus is another option for transportation throughout Spain and other countries. Bear in mind that even though to go by bus can be cheaper than to go by train, it can be time consuming. There may also be limitations on bus routes and schedules, depending on where you want to go.
The city buses also run promptly on schedule, between every 10 and 30 minutes, depending on the route. If you plan on taking the bus a lot, a wise choice would be to purchase a bus pass at the transportation office, located at the top of Gran Vía near the post office.
Banks and ATMs
Salamanca is definately not lacking in banks and ATMs. Some major bank chains are Caja Madrid, Caja Duero, and Banco de Santander, which are located (with many others) along Calle Toro and Calle Zamora. The hours are usually standard for banks, but keep in mind that they are closed for siesta.
ATMs or cajeros are conveniently scattered everywhere you look. Cajeros that are labeled with a "24" are available to widthdrawl money 24 hours a day. BBVA and Telebanco are two of the more proliferous cajeros.
Doctor and Hospital
If you need to see a doctor, you will need to make an appointment. He or she will give you a prescription for medicine and that can be filled at any pharamacy.
Extra Notes
There is a main ring of shops and services clustered around the Plaza Mayor. There's a saying in Salamanca that all streets lead to the Plaza Mayor. The ground level of the plaza is mainly shops and cafés, and the three floors above are apartments and hostels. These rooms are some of the most expensive in Salamanca, but get cheaper as you travel further from the plaza. The high value placed on being able to walk to work, school, and any other daily chores most clearly signifies the pedestrian orientation of the city.
The service culture in Salamanca is definitely geared toward pedestrians, as many the main shopping streets like Calles Toro and Zamora are pedestrian-only (except for the occasional delivery truck). It is easier to get around on foot than in a car, especially if you're only stepping out for groceries or some afternoon shopping. Drivers generally respect the crosswalks, and when you walk you don't need to try and find a parking place, which are few and far between.