Madrid is best known as the capital of Spain, but is also the cultural, the political and the financial center of the country. If you are looking to make a visit, here is what to know before you go.
English is not a given. Since Madrid is a large European city, I naively assumed that English would be prevalent, but I quickly learned it is not. At times it was comical, other times just challenging, but I managed to get by. If you are like me and do not know the language, take the time to learn a few key phrases and have a translation app on hand.
Don't expect warm fuzzies. The people often left a lot to be desired, which I believe at least in part can be attributed to the anti-tourism sentiment in the city. I will own my part in it, and I am sure my woefully inadequate Spanish skills contributed to my experience, and oftentimes the frustration was visible. Even if you only know a few words, I believe trying can go a long way in establishing goodwill.
Safe and sound. While you may not get a neighborly energy from people, I always felt safe in Madrid. Overall, the city has very low instances of violent crime, but it is a large city and petty crime like pickpocketing is common in high trafficked areas. Be mindful of your surroundings and only take what you need when you go out (e.g., leave your passport and large amounts of cash in the hotel safe).
Explore the city with ease. My favorite way to see a place is by lacing up my sneakers and walking around. Lucky for me, Madrid is a walkable city that’s easy to navigate. If you are short on time or unable to walk for long distances, the metro will get you where you need to go fast and at an affordable price. But if you prefer the convenience of rideshare, you can easily get around with Uber or with European apps like FreeNow and Bolt.
Life is on another timetable. It is a late night city, and I mean late. Eating dinner at 11 p.m., or even midnight, is in the realm of norms. With my jet lag and my advancing age, I don't stay up as late as I used to let alone have big meals at that late an hour, but many restaurants don't even open for dinner until 8 or 9 p.m. To adapt to the lifestyle, I started my days later and/or embraced the midday siesta. For those looking to experience a bit of the Madrid nightlife, most cocktail bars close around 3 a.m. while nightclubs do not close until 6 a.m.
Meat is what's for...every meal. The late Doctor Atkins would have loved Madrid. The menus are flush with meat with nary a vegetable in sight. And if there are vegetables they are wrapped in meat. For those who eat seafood, you will find many suitable options, but it might be challenging if you subscribe to a more restrictive diet.
Going cashless is effortless. I find it best to always have some of the local currency on hand, but in Madrid you can easily go cashless. No matter how small the check, I found most places took, or even preferred, credit cards or mobile payments. American Express was also readily accepted almost everywhere I went, which was not the case for everywhere I visited in Europe.
Share your best tips for travling to Madrid in the comments below.
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