So summer 2021 I was fortunate enough to get a scholarship to do a summer study abroad program at Universidad Nebrija in Madrid. As someone who's traveled very little in life, I was in equal parts thrilled and scared out of my mind but I knew it would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to sharpen my language skills while living out my hot girl summer (if you know you know). 

However, the catch was… there was still a pandemic going on and everything was up in the air. I tried to read blog posts and recommendations for my trip but ultimately most of those posts were written years ago so some of the information was outdated and didn’t really help as much I needed it to.

TOP 10 TIPS FOR BEFORE YOU GO

So to save you the heartache and stress, I'm going to share everything you need to know before studying abroad in Spain for 2022 and beyond. Now stick with me, it’s gonna be a long one:

1. Get a phone plan ASAP: Roaming data costs an arm and a leg and most American phone plans are trash in other countries so I would recommend getting a prepaid sim card as you get there or you can buy one before. I got a monthly plan for about $20 euros from Orange that was absolutely amazing because I never ran out of data and I used it all the time. My friends who got other plans started running out of data about halfway through our trip.  

2. Get a metro pass ASAP: I made the mistake of not setting up my appointment to get my metro card and then I ended up having to get a 7 day MetroCard which was a huge mistake because of the number of times it took me to refill it, I easily paid 3x the cost of a monthly pass. It's kind of a hassle but its the easiest way to get around and you won’t regret having it immediatly. Order your metro card here. 

3. Bring weather versatile clothing: Everything I read before my trip said Spain was too hot to handle in the summer. That was a big ole scam. I got to Spain at the end of May through July and there were a few extremely chilly days where it was unbearable to not have a jacket and I wasn't prepared because I packed only summer clothes. So if you're going to Spain I would recommend you go through in a few layered pieces because while the weather is predictable most of the time you still have some curveball days.

4. Bring your passport EVERYWHERE: Something I didn't know to expect in Spain was that you need your passport for everything from getting a phone plan, getting a metro pass, etc. There were a few times I thought I could just show a copy of my passport on my phone and that didn't work so for reference just bring your passport everywhere because you will need it. Just be sure to safeguard it!  

5. Be ready for long meals: Europe, in general, is just very laid back around meal times and meals often take up 2-3 hours. Coming from an America where we have a fast-food culture, it might take a while to adapt to but it's actually really nice at the time just make sure to allot the right amount of time for eating because the establishment will not move faster to suit you.

6. Bring a secure bag/backpack: Pickpocketing in Spain is a big thing. While generally, Spain is extremely safe, pickpocketing is one of the things that tourists need to look out for. Make sure you have a bag with Zips and locks and that your valuables are properly stored, especially do not store anything in pockets that you aren't willing to lose. I personally didn't experience pickpocketing because I was warned beforehand but I knew a few people who did. 

7. Remember your European adapters: Europe has different charging outlets than the US and your US electronics will not work if you don't get the right adapter. You can get a universal adapter that can be used in multiple countries but remember to get multiple! I brought one and then realized that I had to take turns charging my phone, watch, and laptop. 

8. Bring cash: I brought about $400 euros in cash and ran out in the blink of an eye. While you can use cards in most establishments, there are places I went where their card machine isn't working or it wouldn't accept my card type. Also if you choose to travel to smaller cities like Toledo and Segovia not all of them have a card reader so If I were to have a do-over I would just bring plenty of cash and rely mostly on that.

9. Stay with a host family if you can: If you're studying abroad I can't recommend staying with a host family enough. I have yet to meet a student who didn't love their host family experience. Not only is it great for your language skills but it also helps with a lot of the logistics of moving to another country. Things like figuring out where to buy things, getting your laundry done are so much easier with a host family and it will allow you to focus on having fun and learning without having to worry. 

10. Create a Realistic Budget: I saved my biggest tip for last! Please please create a budget for your trip and don't be like me. I spent twice as much as I had planned to in Spain simply because I didn't create a plan beforehand of what I needed to get and how much I planned to spend on food and excursion. I just knew that I had a certain amount and that was my “budget” however it's super easy to get caught up when you're somewhere new and want to spend on every little experience.

    You can still get a lot out of the city on a budget if you plan it right. I would recommend mapping out the best restaurants and their average prices, also not always eating out but grabbing some staples like croissants and other snacks.

    Also, buy a ticket in advance of places you want to go so you have an idea of how it will be before you get there. Spending on the fly ended up costing me way more and while I enjoyed the spontaneity, my bank account did not. It is super common for students to overspend during studying abroad but it is possible to avoid it! 

CULTURE SHOCK

Now those are the tips I wanted to share but I also wanted to share with you some common culture shock moments that I experienced while there (and of course not all of these are applicable to everyone)

• Spanish people have fewer boundaries when it comes to personal space than Americans (in most cities). My friends and I noticed that while on the train and at restaurants and even just walking people aren't afraid to stand close to you or casually touch other people. Of Course, this wasn't in an inappropriate way but coming from a major city (Atlanta) I was used to giving people I don't know lots of space but in Spain, it wasn't like that at all.

• Breakfast time is basically lunch in Spain. Most Spanish people eat a very light breakfast that consists of fruit or some type of pastry in the morning and don’t eat their first full meal until lunchtime. This was a huge adjustment for me and the students in my program as most things started early in the morning and by midday, we were about ready to give up. 

• Wine is SUPER CHEAP and Spaniards drink it like water 

Siestas for the most part aren't a thing, while napping is common and encouraged, the whole idea of a city-wide mid-day nap unfortunately was not my experience

RECOMMENDATIONS

Now time for recommendations! Here are some of the best places I went to: 

Barcelona: 

• The Sagrada Familia! Absolutely breathtaking and if it's the only thing you see on your trip it would have been worth it. Pro tips: Get your tickets online, the lines are always massive 

• The Italian Sports Bar. My friends and I found this sports bar and it was the best food we had while in Barcelona! They make authentic Italian food and it was delicious 

• Park Guille, If you're a cheetah girls fan I would highly recommend. It's a must-see! It also has amazing views of the whole city. 

Note: Barcelona is basically on a hill (why has no one ever mentioned this??) So I would NOT recommend walking from excursion to excursion, especially to Park Guille. Find a taxi and save yourself the hassle. 

Madrid: 

I spent most of my time in Madrid so I have plenty of recs

• 100 montaditos : For the cheap drinks and tapas 

• Tiki Tacos : Seriously the best tacos I've ever had. I still dream about them 

• Mad Mad Vegan: I found this restaurant on my last day which is horrible because it’s the BEST vegan burger i’ve ever had. I had their mad Nashville burger and it was amazing. Even if you aren’t vegan it is definitely worth the try.

• Bar Cielo: A rooftop bar with AMAZING VIEWS (only about $15 euros to enter). They also have great drinks and food but it's a little overpriced in my opinion. 

• Bocadillos : They have a few of these scattered around Madrid and their signature is Bocadillos de calamares so if you haven't tried it, this is the place. They also have great tortilla de patatas  

• Cafe Federal: Super central locations and great pastries! 

So there you have it! Everything you need to know before going to Spain. The highlight of my trip was getting to see the gorgeous Spanish architect and learning the ins and outs of what it's like to live in a European city. I truly had the most amazing time and I'm sure that you will too! 

Do you have any more questions about what it's like to travel to Spain? Let me know in the comments below, I would love to hear from you!