11 Things I wish I knew before visiting Spain

This past month I was fortunate to take a week long vacation to Spain. 7 days is the perfect amount of time to visit Madrid and Barcelona and hit all the “must-sees”. Below are the things I wish I knew before I got to Spain.

1. The Madrid Airport is not the most efficient airport…We arrived at the Madrid airport on a Saturday afternoon and the airport appeared quiet and easy to navigate. Fast forward a week and we arrived to check in to fly back to the US and let’s just say things did not go as smoothly. Allowing your self more than enough time is crucial at this airport. Once we checked in (which took an hour) and went through security we noticed our flight was out of terminal A (a 25 minute/1 mile walk). Without any transportation to various terminals (a few walking sidewalks) but quite the trek with all your luggage. Pro tip: try finding a different airport, or plan your route prior to arrival.

2. Always Always Always book tours at least a MONTH in advance If you know you must see the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona or the Royal Palace in Madrid book these tours at least a month or two ahead of time. Having failed to book these in advance we had to scramble last minute and find EXTREMELY expensive private tours just to get us into these sites. Luckily, we were able to find something last minute but let me tell you sometimes thats not possible and you don’t want to be heart broken!

3. Find a luggage locker close to your Airbnb-More often than not you will have to check out of your accommodations long before your next flight or train ride. If staying somewhere like an Airbnb or hostel you won’t be able to store your luggage. Services like Locker Barcelona allow you to pay a small fee ($11 USD for a large locker that fits up to 5 carry-on suitcases or 2 large suitcases) to store your luggage all day long. A small price to pay to be able to explore baggage free! During off-season they are open from 9am-9pm and during the summer even longer!

4. Brush up on your Spanish-This may seem VERY obvious but I thought I would mention it anyways. While everyone is very friendly and willing to help, I suggest picking up basic phrases for ordering food and asking for the check.

5. You will have to ask for the bill-If you want to pay you must ask for the check-Fortunately, all it takes to ask for the bill in Spain is four little words in Spanish – “la cuenta, por favor”. Even if you don’t speak Spanish, you’ll want to remember this phrase, since it’ll be your key to wrapping up a meal and moving on with your day!

6. Use the MyTaxi app-While there is no Uber or Lyft in Spain there is MyTaxi which is practically the same thing! The only downside of using MyTaxi is that you have to wait for the car you ordered vs. just picking up a cab randomly while standing on the side of the road. One of the HUGE benefits however, is that you can pay with the app. If you run low on Euros swipe the app at the end of your ride and your good to go.

7. Be prepared to adjust your eating schedule-This one is a big adjustment, but if you understand it it will help you plan your days better. Spaniards don’t eat a huge breakfast (typically just a pastry and a coffee) so plan on having a lighter breakfast or eating at the hotel if you want a big breakfast. Lunch typically starts around 2pm while dinner starts closer to 9pm. Lunch is typically the bigger meal, while dinner usually consists of a few tapas, washed down with a glass of wine. Following this tip is extremely important so that you aren’t dining alone or worse many restaurants may not even be open yet! There are also two major markets in Madrid (San Miguel Market) and the Mercado de La Boqueria in Barcelona. If you need a snack between meals be sure to check out these spots!

8. Tip if you want-Tipping in Spain isn’t essential, though is often greatly appreciated. If service is good I’d usually offer a tip of 10% and above but do check before you double tip! Some restaurants automatically add a service charge (i.e. a tip) upon your bill that can be harder to spot.

9. Use Google maps with caution-Make sure to set up your phone with an international plan before leaving the US. You will be doing a lot of walking (think 12+ miles a day ) and will definitely need Google Maps. We noticed when using Google maps in a busy city like Madrid or Barcelona the GPS can’t always recognize where you are or what street you may be headed towards. My best tip for using Google maps would be to put in your destination and start walking you’ll quickly realize if you are walking in the correct direction.

10. Stay alert-Pickpocketing is a major issue in both Madrid and Barcelona. If wearing a backpack you should wear it in front of you when visiting some of the more touristy areas. I would recommend a cross-body bag that you can easily put your hand over when walking through crowded streets.

11. Check ahead of time for Holidays and Festivals-Not realizing it, my mom and I arrived in Spain during Easter weekend. We also arrived in Barcelona, when they were having their version of Valentine’s day, where everyone in Barcelona was out on the street purchasing gifts for their S/O. There are pros and cons to arriving during a holiday weekend. Pros-there will be parades and the city will be extremely lively. Cons-There will be people EVERYWHERE and tourist attractions will have different operating hours. Check out this website for holidays and festivals during your visit.

Did I miss anything? Have any additional tips for visiting Spain? Let me know in the comments section!

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