There is so much that I didn’t realize about the culture and everyday life of Spain (especially Madrid) that I would have loved knowing ahead of time, so I compiled a list of things that I would’ve wanted to know before I came! I’m two weeks into my tirp so far and this is what I’ve learned! I hope this is helpful for anyone wanting to travel to Spain, especially Madrid!
– Everyone tells you to get European plug-in adapters, which I 100% recommend as well, BUT there were so many girls who went to plug in their blow-dryers and straightening irons and had them blow out within 30 seconds of using them. I would do research on plugs that will take much higher voltage if you plan on bringing any hair tools. I ended up just not using my hair tools and let my hair stay natural and dry on its own.
– The Metro truly will be your best friend. It’s how we have gotten to all of our excursions and what we use if it’s too hot to walk because the trains are all air-conditioned which is AMAZING. The Metro runs from 6am to 1am everyday, so even if you’re out late, you can take the Metro instead of waiting for an Uber.
– On the topic of air conditioning, it really is extremely hit or miss. If you are traveling in the summertime, just expect to be mildly warm most of the time. I am living in the dorms, which have AC units, but there are other students who live with host families that might not have air conditioning in their homes, which could be uncomfortable the first couple nights.
– If you’re not taking the Metro, walking is probably you’re next best option! I downloaded the app CityMapper, along with all of my friends, and we have been using it to not only figure out how to walk places, but also how to navigate the Metro. It’s way better than Google or Apple Maps!
– Public restrooms are very difficult to find once you leave your living area. Make sure that you use the restroom the moment you leave your house/dorm or when you see one while you’re out!
– Potable water in Madrid! All of the water in Madrid is drinkable, which means shower water, sink water, and tap water is all the same! Most people in my group including myself order “agua de grifo” which means tap water or water from the sink, so we don’t have to pay for a bottle of water. It’s different in each city of Spain, though, so be careful!
– Tinto de Verano is what you should order instead of Sangria! The drinking age is 18 in Spain, so if you ever want to try one of their signature drinks, I recommend getting a Tinto de Verano with lemon!
– People will speak to you in Spanish first, so try to have a couple phrases ready if you are not going to Spain to study Spanish! However, you should not be nervous at all if you don’t know how to say something and need to speak English, as everyone that I have met is able to speak English quite well!
– Dinner starts late, everywhere. At the dorms, dinner starts at 8:30pm, and a lot of local restaurants and bars will close an hour or so before 8, so plan accordingly if you want to eat an earlier dinner and look up the hours online! That also means stocking your room with snacks in case you can’t make it to dinner some nights. I packed goldfish in my carryon bag from home and it is a lifesaver when I get hungry before dinner.
– The siesta time is a real thing! Stores will be closed from 2-4:30ish everyday to have lunch or take their siesta break, so plan accordingly if you want to go shopping somewhere other than the major tourist locations like Puerta del Sol, etc.
– Salad dressing is not as diverse as it is back home! The salad at the dorms only has olive oil and vinegar, which is still yummy, just different!
– Lots of kids have small cameras to take photos, and I brought mine along too! It has been great to use instead of draining the battery on my phone taking pictures, so I definitely recommend because all of us have been putting ours to good use.
– Bring a luggage scale! I have bought so many new things already that I know my weight will definitely be right at the 50 pound mark, so being able to weigh my bag before I get to the airport is going to save me so much stress!
– I have been using my Capital One Credit Card for all of my purchases because there was no foreign transaction fee! I feel like it is necessary to have a card that you can use without the worry of foreign transaction fees, because it’s a lot safer for me to just tap my phone and pay with card instead of pulling cash out of my bag and then counting it out in front of others.
– Definitely make sure you bring cash with you, in the form of euros! I brought around 150 in euros and plan to use it all up before I come home because there is a fee to reconvert those euros back into dollars.
That’s all for now! Can’t wait to see what the rest of my trip has in store for me!