Moving to Madrid? Start here.

NIE and TIE in Madrid: the Spanish you'll need at your appointment

The paperwork is in Spanish and so is the person behind the desk. Here's what the words mean and what to say.

3 min read

Empadronamiento in Madrid, explained (with the Spanish to say it)

Registering your address sounds dull. It unlocks your health card, school places and more — and it's one of your first appointments.

3 min read

How to order at a bar in Spain: drinks, tapas and paying like a local

Spanish bars run on a few short phrases and some unwritten rules. Learn both and you'll never feel like a tourist at the counter.

3 min read

The menú del día: how Spain's set lunch works (and how to order it)

Three courses, bread and a drink at a fixed price, on any weekday. It's the best-value meal in Spain — once you know the routine.

3 min read

Riding the Madrid metro: tips for newcomers and the Spanish you'll need

Madrid's metro is fast, clean and easy — once you can read the signs. Here's how it works and what to say when you're lost.

3 min read

At the pharmacy or the doctor in Spain: what to say when you're ill

Feeling ill in a new language is the worst. Learn the system and a handful of phrases now, while you feel fine.

3 min read

Tú or usted? How people in Spain really address each other

Textbooks make usted sound essential. In Spain you'll use tú almost all day — here's when to switch.

3 min read

Starting a job in Spain: the Spanish for your first week at work

Your contract may be in English, but coffee, lunch and the corridor chat aren't. Here's how Spanish offices work and what to say.

3 min read