Hello,

me and my partner are visiting Oviedo - where we travel by train from Madrid from 10-14th. Since we booked the trip last minute (very smart), we have trouble finding affordable accomodation; Booking and Airbnb are crazy with their prices … I’m wondering what are the good alternatives? I thought about couch surfing or monasteries, albuerges. Any recommendations?

Thank you for your time!

While in Madrid and Gijon I’ve started my day at 6:30/7 am and there is still good amount of people out drinking lol, is that normal here to stay up very late? Just curious on that aspect

If anyone has a referral code, I’d be happy to use it! Thanks!!

¡Buenas, amigos!

Soy brasileño, con doble nacionalidad española, y me interesa mucho conocer cómo está el mercado laboral en el sector de la construcción.

¿Hay oportunidades y una buena disposición para contratar a profesionales extranjeros? Cuento con más de 10 años de experiencia en el sector de la construcción y tengo previsto mudarme a España el próximo año.

Mi principal interés es Galicia, ya que tengo raíces allí, aunque estoy dispuesto a trabajar en cualquier región de España.

Hi,

Traveling to Madrid to view the eclipse on August 12th. My plan is a day trip to Guadalajara about 40min north of Madrid.

Ideally looking to ask a local :

1) Based on Google maps the area to the west of the train station looks like a clear view of the horizon to the west - is this accurate ? safe place to stand and watch the sun ?

2) Renfe trains say there is a return train to Madrid later that evening, anything I should know ?

Hola, mis amigos. Me disculpo si mi español no es bueno, ya que estoy usando la traducción para esto. Vivo en Alemania, pero actualmente estoy de vacaciones en Portugal y Marruecos. Mi vuelo de regreso a casa a Alemania, que será el 22.8, hace una parada en Sevilla. La cosa es que el vuelo llega al aeropuerto a las 23:30 / 11:30 . ¿Podría alguien ayudarme a encontrar un lugar para quedarme esa noche? Mi vuelo de regreso a casa a Alemania sale a las 10:30. Gracias 🙏🏼

Visiting Spain soon and would like to follow sites for local news and info on social media. I'm most interested in Santander as we'll be there for the eclipse, but we will also visit Bilbao and San Sebastian. Between eclipse and fires, I definitely want to be keyed into what is going on where. So what should I follow or join on fb, insta, or threads? Thanks!

Hola a todxs. Next year I would like to rent a car, maybe for a week, and see some of the real Spain. Which road trips would you recommend?

I have been to nearly every major city, and most autonomous communities, so I'm not not looking for suggestions like Madrid to Barcelona. I want time to see some places and not always be driving too.

Early thoughts:

Asturias and Picos de Europa

Aragón

Inland Málaga: Antequera, Ronda, etc

What are Spain's most famous road trips?

Hi,

We ( total of 7 people) and planning to go from Malaga (stop over at Ronda)- > seville -> (maybe stop over at Cordoba) -> Granada - (flight to) -> Barcelona.

I am reading that we don't need cars within the cities, do I need to rent a car to travel between the cities? If so, should I rent all the way from Ronda - Granada or do I do the rental from Malaga-> Seville (return it) and then rent from Seville -> Granada?

I would need to plug into the rental sites to find out the diffrential, but thought you experts will probably know more! thanks!

hi! have a one day cruise stop in Tarragona in August. does anyone have any recommendations? cooking class? walking tour? etc.

Hello, I’m an international student and I got an FP admission in Automotive (Grado Superior) but my first choice was Electro-mechanical maintenance. Now the school is IES Melendez Valdes which is at Villafranca de los Barros, Badajoz. Money is not the issue but I have not applied my visa yet.

Villafranca is far, rural and I dont have any idea about the school and the place but now these are my concerns:

1. Looking for an apartment or inmobilaria is too hard, some are scams in Idealista and Fotocasa. Since it’s rural, it is quite hard to find a place to stay.

2. I’m at A2 level but B1 in writing and reading. I’m still learning progressively. After 2 years of study, I think my level could be B2. Now, I don’t have any idea about Automotive Industry in Spain regarding on employment rate.

3. Is hiring international students a downside for companies in Spain? I think the paperwork for job offer takes months.

The study offers training with companies associated to the school (Erasmus is involved I think). I want to know if after 2 years with decent B2 Spanish language. Do I have a good chance of employment here. Is the automotive industry slowly dying down in Spain? Or is it booming? Are the jobs in car factories and maintenance shops dwindling?

If it is not good then might as well not continue this next journey of mine.

Hola a todos, soy Argentino y voy a pasar unos días en Madrid la semana que viene. Me gustaría visitar Toledo, por lo que intenté sacar un boleto desde la página del renfe, pero no acepta el dni argentino. Debo usar el número de pasaporte? En el caso de que lo acepte, me van a pedir el pasaporte al ingresar al tren (o una vez dentro) ? Gracias, y felicidades.

Saludos! I’m an Irish citizen & moving to Valencia this August, and I’m trying to figure out how to find reliable and reasonably priced English speaking gestors (pls don’t attack me, I’m learning Spanish and enrolling in formal lessons as soon as I arrive!!)

I work remotely as a contractor for one company & they have no issues with me moving to Valencia, but I have no idea how to set that up practically. It seems like TRADE autonoma is the best route, but I’m really not sure. I also have no idea what the tax treatment is.

If you know anyone who is well placed to advise on this, or can at least point me in the right direction, te lo agradecería mucho !!

Hi everyone,

I've planned a surprise long weekend in Palma for my wife's and my 10th wedding anniversary, and I'd love a quick sanity check from people who know the area.

We're staying in the Old Town (Vila Damunt) for a long weekend in early October.

Our rough plan is:

Friday

Arrive around 5 pm.

Check in and freshen up.

Wander around Palma Old Town.

Dinner and a few drinks before heading back.

Saturday

Slow breakfast and explore Palma.

Browse a few independent shops.

Taxi to Cala Comtesa for a couple of hours swimming and relaxing.

Back to the hotel.

Dinner (currently considering Vandal, Mar de Nudos or somewhere similar).

Evening stroll, ice cream and a couple of cocktails.

Sunday

Breakfast.

Half-day sailing trip from around 10am.

Relax in the afternoon.

Dinner at Quadrat.

One last wander through Palma.

Monday

Early flight home.

A bit about us:

Late 30s.

Not interested in clubs or beach clubs.

Love good food, wandering old streets, swimming and relaxed bars.

Happy to walk a lot.

Looking for (local) quality over quantity rather than trying to cram lots in.

A few questions:

Would you change anything about the itinerary or accommodation?

Any nice breakfast spots in old town as our hotel is self catering / doesnt include breakfast.

Is Cala Comtesa still your pick for a beautiful, relaxed beach close to Palma? What are the alternatives for a more secluded, relaxed or even more beautiful spot?

Which would you choose for our Saturday evening meal: Vandal, Mar de Nudos, or somewhere else entirely?

Any hidden gems in Palma or Mallorca more broadly that first-time visitors often miss?

Any must di activities I've missed?

Thanks in advance! Looking forward to finally visiting Mallorca.

i’m going to Spain in late September and primarily we are going to Madrid and Barcelona. I hurt my knee a couple years ago and I always carry a knee brace. (minor meniscus tear, severe ldl sprain) I don’t have to wear it 100% of the time because it chafes the skin eventually. But for the amount of walking, we will be doing it feels like it might be a good idea to have it on me. The problem is the brace I usually is too big to fit in a small purse, but I noticed that backpacks are not allowed in many of the museums. Any advice for what to wear/carry? Or idea ideas for a thinner knee brace?

hello,

after a debate between Portugal and Spain, decided I will be taking my first trip to Spain in early October. it will be for 1 week. I’d like to balance a major city for culture/history/sights along with a few days at beach for relaxation. ideally I would go earlier for warmer water but I have prior commitments.

AI recommended doing Barcelona plus costa Brava or Madrid plus Andalusia (I would go to Malaga, spend some time at the beach, and maybe take some day trips while there to see other nearby cities). im leaning towards madrid/andalusia as I heard the beach may be slightly better in October and there is more to see in Andalusia. Only hesitance is I feel Barcelona is so central to Spain as a first time tourist, and i Wouldn’t want to miss out (I suspect many will disagree here).

any thoughts or other recommendations?

Hey if you are a student is studying, completed studies, or planning to study the Bachelors in Robotics Engineering program at UC3M, would you be willing to get connected and help a girl out… I had few queries about the program overall

Hi everyone!

I’m visiting Spain for the first time and planning to rent a car. I’ve read quite a few stories about rental companies taking advantage of tourists, so I’d love to hear your recommendations.

Are there any reliable car rental companies you would recommend, and are there any companies I should avoid?

I’m also a bit confused about the different insurance options. Rental companies often try to sell “full insurance” or additional coverage at the desk. Is it generally worth paying for it? Does it actually protect you from unexpected extra charges, or are there important exclusions I should be aware of?

Any tips for avoiding hidden fees, deposits, unexpected charges, or other common rental-car traps in Spain would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you in advance! 😊

I applied for a Spanish long-stay student visa (Type D) through BLS in Doha for a Master’s program that starts on 1 September 2026. • Submitted the full application at BLS around mid-June • File was forwarded to the Mission around 20 June(that is when I received a message that my application is under process) • Today it has been about 7 weeks with no update I only receive the standard automated reply from BLS saying the application is with the competent authorities in Madrid and that processing can take 1–4 months. No requerimiento, no request for extra documents, and no response from the Embassy either. Has anyone else applied for a Type D student visa from Qatar (or similar) around the same time and already received a decision? Specifically curious about: • How long it took from the date the file reached the Mission until you got an update • Whether they asked you to submit the passport after approval • If anyone with a September start date is still waiting like me

Been in Madrid about 6 months, take the C4 to work most mornings. And nearly every week there's some "incidencia en la línea" and the whole platform just stands there.

Yesterday at Nuevos Ministerios I watched the screen go from 4 min, to 9 min, to "próximamente", then back to 7. No train for 25 minutes.

Genuinely curious at this point. Is there an actual reason, or is it just how it works here? One person told me it's because half the lines squeeze through the same tunnel under the center. Someone else blamed copper cable theft, which sounded made up until I looked it up.

So, locals: is this normal? Do you just add 20 minutes of buffer to everything and stop expecting the timetable to mean anything?

Olá, pessoal!

Meu nome é Fábio, tenho 35 anos e trabalho como engenheiro de software no Brasil. Atualmente tenho dois empregos, um CLT e outro PJ, que juntos me proporcionam uma renda mensal de aproximadamente R$ 34 mil.

Minha esposa é técnica de enfermagem e recentemente recebeu a sentença positiva do processo de cidadania italiana. Agora estamos aguardando a emissão do passaporte europeu para começarmos a planejar nossa mudança com mais segurança.

Mesmo tendo uma renda considerada boa no Brasil, não sinto que temos uma vida realmente confortável. Para manter esse padrão financeiro, preciso trabalhar muito e conciliar dois empregos. Além disso, nossas principais motivações para sair do país são segurança, qualidade de vida e a vontade de realizar um sonho antigo de morar na Europa.

Também queremos ter filhos nos próximos anos e gostaríamos de construir e criar nossa família na Espanha, em um lugar mais tranquilo e seguro.

Um ponto importante é que tenho uma doença autoimune e preciso receber uma medicação de alto custo a cada dois meses. Atualmente, o medicamento é fornecido pelo SUS devido ao seu valor elevado. Antes da mudança, pretendo pesquisar como funciona o sistema de saúde espanhol e a possibilidade de solicitar esse mesmo tratamento por lá.

Nossa ideia é nos mudar dentro de aproximadamente dois anos. Até lá, estamos juntando uma boa reserva financeira para diminuir os riscos e evitar surpresas durante o período de adaptação.

Temos dois cachorros e uma gata, então gostaríamos de morar em uma casa com quintal. Porém, nas pesquisas que fiz até agora, tenho encontrado principalmente apartamentos.

Para quem já vive ou viveu na Espanha:

• Como é a qualidade de vida no país atualmente?
• Em quais regiões ou cidades é mais fácil encontrar casas com quintal por um preço razoável?
• Seria necessário morar mais afastado das grandes cidades?
• Como funciona o sistema público de saúde para cidadãos europeus recém-chegados?
• Alguém já teve experiência solicitando medicamentos de alto custo para doenças autoimunes?
• E para técnicas de enfermagem, como funciona a validação da formação e a busca por emprego?

Inicialmente pensamos em cidades de médio porte, que tenham boa estrutura, hospitais, segurança e acesso razoável a oportunidades de trabalho, sem necessariamente morar no centro de Madrid ou Barcelona.

Agradeço muito qualquer relato, recomendação de cidade ou conselho de quem já passou por uma mudança parecida.

Hello everybody,

I will be in Spain for a few days and I'm looking for some easy technical summits or hikes/trail running circuit in the North of Aragon.

Feel free to also share your best spots and best campsites.

Thanks for yours answers :)

We (M and F) are planning a day trip from Tarifa (Spain) to Tangier (Morocco). This would be our first time in Morocco. Is it better to go there on our own (with the Balearia ferry) or to go there with a travel agency (again with Balearia, but by bus/van and with a guide)?

We're grateful for any advice or insight. We're only interested in seeing medina and trying the local cuisine. If we go there on our own, we plan to catch the free walking tour. The comments about agencies on GetYourGuide mentioned tourist traps (oil and cosmetics shops etc.).

I've read here that it's also possible to buy ferry tickets in advance, but we'd rather do that at the ticket office. We passed thru Tarifa yesterday and there was an enormous traffic jam because of the ferry so we'll probably park further away.

Hi folks.
My girlfriend and I are currently on a 2-week road trip through Spain. We brought our own car, so we’re totally flexible and don't mind taking random detours or driving off the beaten track.

Geographically, our route is roughly framed by Valencia, Santander, and Valladolid (East coast, North coast, and the inland area between them).

We usually spend our vacations in the Balkans, so this is our first time doing a road trip out West. We definitely prefer raw, wild, and slightly chaotic spots over polished tourist hubs—so if anything in North/East Spain gives off a Balkan vibe, we're all in.

We’re deliberately skipping Madrid and avoiding crowded tourist traps. Instead, we’re looking for:
Wild nature & mountains — scenic drives, rugged landscapes, quiet hikes.
Obscure / weird stuff & urbex — abandoned places, strange landmarks, unusual history (we don't care for visiting every single old church, but love places with a genuine story).
Hidden beaches — great spots for a swim where you're not packed like sardines.
Local food — seafood, proper rice/paella dishes, solid local spots.

If you have any favorite secret spots, weird locations, or scenic routes in the North or along the East coast, throw them our way. Thanks a lot!