Study Abroad - Madrid + Travel General Tips

By: Ella Clemens

• Travel within Spain as much as you can! Some of my best trips were throughout the country exploring the food, traditions, and people.
• Start an abroad journal. I wrote about all my travels and experiences while abroad and am so happy I can now look back at them. I also kept all my little museum tickets, metro stubs, and little memorabilia that I put in my journal.
• Make sure you double-check check times of booked flights/trains/buses. Many people including myself accidentally booked the wrong times without thinking about the clock change to military time.
• Use Spanish whenever you can. The locals in Madrid and all throughout Spain will speak Spanish back to you and want to help you. You won’t learn if you don’t try!
• Explore Madrid. This is your home for the next 4 months and you don’t want to walk away knowing nothing about it!
• Register for a metro card. Once you get the physical card you can reload it once a month for €8 and get unlimited use. Do this! The metro and bus system in Madrid is so easy and will be your transportation for your whole time there.
• Go where the locals go. Spend the first few weeks doing the touristy things then try to explore what locals do and where they go. Especially when it comes to nightlife!
• Find good cafes! I am a big cafe person and finding the right place with the perfect environment is no easy task. Try as many as you can and explore the city while you do!
• Download DICE and XCEED. DICE is a great app for looking at concerts all over Europe. XCEED is best for club tickets and happenings in nightlife that week.
• Drink beer and wine. Cocktails are great but in Europe, beer and wine are so much cheaper. There are especially great options in Madrid with sangria, cava, and tinto de verano!
• Try all the tapas!
• Write down your experiences. Restaurants you like, places you went, etc. even if it is just a note. You will not regret it.
• Smaller groups for travel are the best! Big groups can be difficult and complicated.

EXPLORE MADRID