r/GoingToSpain

Hey all, I'm going abroad for the summer in a few weeks, spending most of my time in Madrid and then Barcelona.

I was curious: is there a safe way to choose safe routes at night/during the day to get from point A to point B, or is it really just a matter of learning your way around? I have 0 residential knowledge and barely any connections other than my friends here in the U.S.

I've never been abroad in before, and I've been struggling to find information regarding this topic.

Any advice at all is appreciated. Thanks! :D

Hi

I'm 47, from the UK, and live here with my Spanish wife. We will probably move to Spain in a few years, as she wants to go back. By the time we we move, I will have accrued enough years for a full UK state pension, despite only being 50 or so. If I were to work another 10-15 years in Spain, would that also qualify me for a 15 year proportion of whatever the Spanish state pension is, on top of what I will get from the UK Govt?

Just what the title says. Provided that your spanish is at C1(let's face it, B2 is not sufficient language skill to practice medicine, in any country), is it hard to obtain homologacion? How long does it take to recognzise a medical specialty degree(not just medical school) of you are from a EU country? How are the hiring chances?

Also : how hard is it to buy property? I'm talking mortgage and whatnot

Hi everyone! I’m an international student from EU interested in applying to Universidad Europea in Alicante, specifically for a dentistry program taught in English. I’d love to hear honest opinions from current or former students about both the admission process and the overall experience.

A few things I’m curious about:
How difficult or competitive is the admission process for international students?

How good are the internship opportunities? Does the university help students find internships, especially international students?

How is the quality of teaching and the English speaking environment?

This would be my second university, as I’m switching to a career in healthcare, the fees are not a problem. Any experiences, advice, or things you wish you knew before applying would be really appreciated. Thanks!

I'm not asking about beaches or food (i know what i like). Looking specifically for the "I wish someone had told me before I got here" admin and money stuff.

For context: I'm a Polish citizen, originally from Belarus, currently living in Warsaw and working remotely in tech. Spending more time in Spain — Barcelona, Sagaro — for stretches of 1 to 3 months. Considering staying longer this winter, properly registered.

Things that already surprised me:
- Idealista listings that disappear within hours, real flats found through small agencies and word of mouth
- Spanish landlords asking for proof of three times the rent in monthly income
- Bank accounts taking weeks to open without a NIE
- Banks that won't accept incoming wires from non-Spanish accounts on first try

What's the next layer? Things people only learn at month four or five? Bureaucracy traps that look fine until they aren't? Things you'd warn a friend about specifically because they aren't in any "moving to Spain" guide online?

Genuinely trying to make better decisions, not collecting cliches.

I'll be in Cordoba and Granada the next few weeks, and I am looking at going on a few hikes. What are some typical convenient options to pack a meal for a hike that I could likely find in Spain?

For example, I am from Philadelphia and if I was going to hike, I would stop by any number of delis and get a hoagie (aka sub).

Been helping some friends navigate the Barcelona property market recently and realised how much critical information just... isn't surfaced anywhere obvious. Putting this together in case it helps others.

**1. Aluminosis**
Buildings constructed between 1960–1975 may have aluminium cement structural defects. Properties with aluminosis are often unmortgageable. Banks won't tell you upfront. Ask for the ITE (building inspection report) and check explicitly.

**2. The real monthly cost isn't just the mortgage**
Factor in:
- IBI (annual property tax, paid monthly)
- Community fees
- Derrama — one-off levies the community can vote to charge owners for building repairs
- Upcoming energy upgrade mandates (big one coming for older buildings)

**3. Noise at 1am**
Check how many bars and nightclubs are within 500m. Google Maps at 10am looks very different from reality on a Friday night. Barceloneta, parts of Gràcia, Eixample near Urgell — all very different vibes after midnight.

**4. Airbnb density**
High tourist apartment concentration in a building tanks community quality and long-term resale value. Inside Airbnb publishes open data on this — worth checking before you sign anything.

**5. Is the price actually fair?**
INE publishes census-section level price medians. Cross-reference the asking price before negotiating.

**6. Is the neighbourhood going up or down?**
Business licence data from Open Data BCN gives a surprisingly clear signal — new openings vs closures, what types of businesses.

---

I ended up building a tool that pulls all of this together automatically for any Barcelona address if anyone wants to skip the manual research: https://hsproperty-analysis.vercel.app/

Free, no account needed, 5 reports/day. Still beta so feedback genuinely welcome.

Hey everyone! I’m going to be in northern Spain with my wife for a week in June and I’m curious what some must see places are. We’ll be driving from Oviedo to San Sebastián for a week, stopping in a few locations during the trip. I understand we can’t see everything in a week (especially sad we’ll likely miss a lot of the Picos de Europa due to lack of time) but I want to be sure we see/do the coolest things.

We’re late 20s and enjoy food, wine/cider, beaches, and outdoors things (though she doesn’t like hiking much). From browsing this subreddit, I see a lot of fun activities to do but wanted to know what your best locations would be. Here’s where I’m looking for specific recommendations:
- cider house or winery
- beaches/beach towns
- cave cheese
- any local food
- Mountain View’s
- historical towns/buildings

Here are specifics I’ve heard we should visit, please let me know if they’re worth a stop:
- Ribadesalla
- Ruta de Cares (I understand this is a full day hike, are there any shorter ones that are recommended?)
- Quesería main
- Llanes
- Playa de Oyambre
- Mirador del acantilado de Bolao
- Playa de Berria
- Gaztelugatxeko Doniene
- Zarautz Beach

As a side question: I know there’s some great surfing in the area, is there any chance conditions would be good enough to surf in June?

I’m currently working in a Spanish company under an HQP permit. I’m now changing jobs, and my new company applied for a new HQP permit for my transfer on May 20th.

As far as I understand, once the new permit is approved, I will need to renew/change my current TIE card, even though it is physically valid until 2028, because it is linked to my current employer’s sponsorship.

The problem is that I have a trip to the USA planned from June 18th to June 28th, and unfortunately it is impossible for me to cancel it. I assume that my new permit may be approved before I leave Spain, but I probably will not have enough time to obtain the new TIE card before my trip.

Also, I will continue working for my current company until June 30th because of my notice period.

Based on this situation, I would really appreciate if anyone could share their experience or knowledge regarding the following questions:

- Could there be any issue at the airline check-in desk if I travel with my current TIE card showing validity until 2028, even if it may no longer be valid in the Spanish immigration system after the new permit approval? Does TAP Air Portugal usually verify TIE validity directly in the system?

- Could there be any issue when entering Portugal with:
- my current TIE card (valid until 2028 physically), and
- the approval resolution of the new HQP permit?

- Does my current TIE become invalid immediately after the approval of the new HQP permit, or does it remain valid until the end of my notice period with my current employer?

This situation is really important and stressful for me because cancelling the trip is unfortunately not an option.

Thank you very much in advance for any help or shared experiences.

Hi / Holà

Friends and I are planning a week in Barcelona this summer. I've studied Spanish (Castilian) in secondary school and according to a Colombian friend, I'm speaking the language decently. She said I'd do just fine alone in Madrid. But since we're going to Barcelona, will people speak Castilian or Catalan? Sorry if the question looks silly, I just want to know if I need to learn some Catalan before we go or if Castilian is fine.

Hi! Im travelling to Madrid. My plane lands at Terminal 1 around 10:30 PM. What is the easiest way to get to the city center? Preferably not by taxi, since I’m traveling on a budget. Also, I’m traveling alone, so I would like it to be safe as well. Is it easy to find my way around? Please help me!

I want to visit Spain with a friend. We are both males in our late twenties, and we’d like to enjoy the beach, good food, and partying. We’ve been to different Spanish cities before, but now we want to try Málaga or Valencia for the first time. What do you recommend?

I will be traveling with my 13yr old daughter to Madrid over the summer. I have been to Spain before but it’s her first time to any European country. After a discussion in another forum, here is my revised itinerary of places to visit. My plan is to make Madrid base and try to enjoy as much as possible with day trips. Also not interested in visiting Barcelona.

Once I have the itinerary finalized then I will be planning on what to do per day. Below is my revised itinerary. Any feedback or suggestions are welcomed. Thank you

7/11
Miami/Madrid
7/12
Madrid (settle in)
7/13
Madrid
7/14
Toledo (Day Trip)
7/15
Segovia (Day Trip)
7/16
Madrid
7/17
El Escorial (Day Trip)
7/18
Avila (Day Trip)
7/19
Madrid
7/20
Alcalá de Henares (Day Trip)
7/21
Salamanca (Day Trip)
7/22
Madrid
7/23
Aranjuez (Day Trip)
7/24
Madrid
7/25
Departure

I've seen quite a few people come to Spain expecting one thing and finding another, so I'm leaving here some things I usually tell friends when they come to visit.

First, don't try to see everything in one trip. Spain changes a lot from north to south. Seville, Barcelona, Bilbao, Valencia... each place has its own pace. If you go in a hurry, in the end everything gets mixed up and you don't enjoy anything.

The schedule thing is also quite surprising. Having dinner at 6 in the afternoon here isn't very common, and many kitchens don't open early like in other countries. It's not bad or good, just different, but better to know it so you don't go without eating at the most random moment.

In summer, especially July and August, the south can be quite tough because of the heat. A lot of people underestimate this and end up making plans at midday when the most logical thing is to move early or in the afternoon.

About food, don't just stick to the very touristy areas. A small bar with a daily menu is usually much more authentic and cheaper than any place with photos on the door.

In big cities like Barcelona or Madrid, watch out for pickpockets in very crowded areas. It's not to scare you, but you should be a little careful, especially on public transport and in tourist spots.

If you talk to locals, not everyone is going to switch to English automatically, especially in small towns. I sometimes end up helping travelers who get a bit lost, and in those situations I've seen that having real-time translation tools helps a lot. Even I, when I'm abroad or with people who don't speak Spanish, use something like the Timekettle New T1 so the conversation flows without stopping every 10 seconds.

And last tip, don't obsess over "seeing it all". Spain is more enjoyed sitting on a terrace, eating something simple and letting the day go slow.

I also want to book a photographer that can follow us the entire day and take pics on the day of the proposal

can you help with places and spots please?

EDIT: not skipping Granda turns out I'm an idiot

Hi everyone!

I don't know whether I just need to vent or I'm looking for actual help.im drained at this point and I don't really have anyone else to talk to...

I moved to Spain over 6 months ago. I foolishly trusted someone who promised us work (we had legitimately sent our CVs through etc.) I was told to come over on a tourist visa and while I'm here convert that tourist visa to residency, apparently the company my husband was supposed to work for had already applied for his work permit.

We were even given a deadline to be in Spain as many of the workers were retiring and they could not afford to slow down the work flow.

It was all a lie and while we were accommodated we had to figure out food and transport for ourselves. There was no actual public transport near us so we relied heavily on taxis. We would work on a finca and not get paid for any work done so our savings ran out pretty quickly as we had to get my daughter to school everyday.

This also meant that we are in the country irregularly! Aside from not getting paid for work done, we were verbally and emotionally abused. We were told not to tell people about our irregular status, not to ask for help from any charities such as Cruz Roja or Caritas. We were told how to eat, how to dress, how to talk, we were made to feel like barbarians coming into civilization.

Now we are in a position to apply for our regularization via the new approved mass regularization law passed recently. Over the last few months our families back home have helped us tremendously with money for groceries and transport and with our police clearance which costs us over €750.

We, now, need to pay for translation services and we do not have the money for it. Some traductors are charging €70 per page while others are €0.10 per word. And with all our documents, the figures are adding up.

We have tried getting some informal work but with no luck, we have tried reaching out to Caritas without any luck. We're afraid that after the hearing on Friday, the regularization process will be suspended and we will be living in Spain without food, money or anything really.

We don't even have the funds to return home.

When we left home, we sold all of our belongings and came to Spain with a suitcase each and the clothes on our back. I have 4 t-shirts, a pair of jeans and a pair of tights. I am not even allowed to wash my clothes regularly as the person we live with complains about it. I feel so drained, so depressed and the worst part is that Spain is such a beautiful country, from the actual land to the people to the traditions to the lifestyle.

We can't even enjoy the little we have here because we are constantly stressed about our situation and how to get out of it.

Again, I'm not sure if I'm asking for advice, help or just to vent but ja.

Thank you for reading

EDIT: Thank you to everyone who read or commented. I do respect everyone's opinion regardless of what they think of me.

I have found that some comments are affecting me more than I thought it would mentally. This is part of putting yourself out there and I understand that. However, I'm not in a position where I can cry in a corner. I have to be strong to power through the next few weeks.

That being said, I've asked the mods to close commenting on this post. I'm not sure when it will be done and I will not be on Reddit at all.

Thank you all for taking the time to read and respond.

Hi everyone. I'm traveling to Spain from June 10th-20th. I'm traveling with a passport that expires September 28th, 2026. I know there's a general law that requires 3-months, but is it still possible to travel with a passport that expires that soon? I'm asking because, if not, I'd likely have to do an expedited renewal which I would only like to do as a last resort since it costs a lot. Thank you!

Hi everyone,

I am visiting Barcelona for the second time and am wondering if you could suggest some day trips around the city that I can get to using public transport? I will be there for 5 days, not keen to fly anywhere.

I have done most of the touristy things last time I went to Barcelona, and I'm not much of a big city girl but am visiting some friends there, hence I'm having Barcelona as my base.

For context, last year I did Madrid, Toledo, Segovia, Seville, Cordoba, Mallorca and Barcelona.

Thank you kindly :)

I’ve been to Seville, Cordoba, Granada, and Ronda before. What other day trips can I do from Seville?

I’ve heard of Cadiz but I am not impressed with what I’ve seen online.