Guides available
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Auckland, New Zealand
- Bangalore, India
- Bangkok, Thailand
- Barcelona, Spain
- Beijing, China
- Berlin, Germany
- Brussels, Belgium
- Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Cape Town, South Africa
- Chicago, USA
- Delhi, India
- Dubai, UAE
- Hanoi, Vietnam
- Hong Kong, China
- Houston, USA
- London, United Kingdom
- Los Angeles, USA
- Madrid, Spain
- Melbourne, Australia
- Moscow, Russia
- Mumbai, India
- New York City, USA
- Paris, France
- Shanghai, China
- Singapore, Singapore
- Sydney, Australia
- Tokyo, Japan
- Toronto, Canada
- Vancouver, Canada
Spain
Madrid
So you’ve decided to relocate to Madrid, Spain. Good choice!
- Edition: 1st
- Last updated: 9th January 2010
- Author: Justine Bayod Espoz
Why Madrid?
The Spanish capital is a lively and beautiful city that many expatriates call home. Although Madrid is as cosmopolitan a city as New York or London, starting your new life there can be challenging.
This guide is especially designed for expats who want to make moving to Madrid as smooth a transition as possible. We’ll review every aspect of relocating to Spain’s largest city, from visas to accommodation to entertainment. Not only will the guide inform you about how to prepare for your move, but it will also share the ins and outs of the city you’ll soon be calling home.
Madrid is a city experiencing constant growth and has an increasingly multicultural population. A large immigrant population has made Madrid the most culturally diverse city in Spain, which is reflected in the city’s many shops, restaurants and cultural events.
If you’re ready to embrace a new culture and discover one of Europe’s greatest cities, take the time to study this guide. By the time you’ve finished you’ll know what to expect and be ready for any eventuality, and you’ll be well on your way to becoming an official Madrileño.
The Expat Info Desk guide to Madrid contains everything you need to know about living in Madrid and covers the following areas-
1) Living legally in Madrid
The Spanish are famous for their mind-numbingly tedious bureaucracy, so as a new expat in Madrid you’ll probably find yourself waiting in seemingly endless lines, filling out an infinite amount of paperwork and making lots of calls. The EID guide to Madrid contains everything you need to know about visas, taxes, residency and other legal requirements and offers practical advice on how you can ensure that you have all the correct paperwork. Starting out on the right foot will make your relocation all the more positive, and moving to Madrid will be a decision you’ll never regret.
2) Setting up home in Madrid
The EID guide too Madrid contains full and complete local knowledge of Madrid, its various residential areas and property laws. Whether you are attracted by the historic districts, the upscale city neighborhoods like Barrio de Salamanca and Arguelles, or are looking for somewhere less upmarket but more laid-back, the Expat Info Desk guide can help you to find the right accommodation that meets your needs.
3) Navigating the infrastructure
The EID guide to Madrid contains comprehensive and Practical advice on how to approach the long list of tasks that need fulfilling when you first move abroad. From setting up utilties, phone providers and internet connections, through to finding your way around, buying a car and using public transport. You can rest assured that everything you need to know about Madrid is contained in this one, easy to use guide.
4) Having fun in Madrid
Our guide to Madrid contains comprehensive details of the many forms of entertainment Madrid has to offer. We share crucial information where to see theatre, opera and cinema, and learn about the typical cuisine of the city, as well as pointing you in the right direction for meeting like-minded individuals and building your social network.
5) Staying safe and healthy in Madrid
Madrid is mostly a safe city although it shares the same social problems as other cities of its size. The EID guide to Madrid contains crucial safety advice and tips that can help you avoid any potentially dangerous or inconvenient situations. We also provide useful contact details and locations for healthcare and medical facilities throughout the city so that you can be assured that you have all the information you need available at your fingertips.
6) Blending in
The Spanish always appreciate foreigners who are interested in their culture and who are willing to make the effort to assimilate to a noticeable extent and truly live the Spanish lifestyle. The EID guide to Madrid contains everything you need to know about the Spanish culture, traditions, beliefs and religions. By being prepared in advance you can quickly assimilate into this amazing city and feel less like an outsider.
7) Reality bites
If you’re considering relocating to Madrid you need very different information than that available in standard travel guides. The EID guide to this Spanish city contains real and accurate information that is based upon one expats true experiences of living in the city. Make sure that you are equipped to deal with the challenges of moving!
Your only expat guide to Madrid; Feel at home abroad – Fast!
About the guide author
Justine Bayod Espoz Justine Bayod Espoz is a native of Chicago, Illinois (USA) who moved to Madrid, Spain in March 2005 to work as a cultural journalist and Spanish/English translator. Born to a Chilean father and a Spanish mother, Justine visited Spain many times throughout her childhood, but it wasn’t until her junior year abroad with the Tufts-Skidmore in Madrid program that she fell in love with the Spanish capital. Ever since that year, she knew that there was nowhere else she’d rather live.
Justine has BA’s in Spanish and English Literature from Smith College. She began her career in journalism and editing as a journalist for Hot English Magazine while studying in Spain. Following her graduation from Smith, she became the Editor of BeTuitive Publishing, an e-marketing company in Chicago. Upon moving to Madrid, she became the Editor-in-Chief of MAP Magazine, a position that she left to begin her own bilingual content creation agency ToritoMedia. Justine has published articles about Spanish culture in online and print magazines around the world, including Art Monthly Australia, Dance Europe, Dance International and Dance Magazine, to name a few.
Features
Sample guide
If you'd like to read 4 sample chapters from this guide please enter your email address in the form below. You'll then be emailed a link to view the sample guide.
four top tips
- 01Start learning Spanish and have at least a basic comprehension before arriving in the country, it will get you off to the best start.
- 02Give yourself enough time to adapt to your new city. Leave sufficient time to perform the required administration before starting work.
- 03Expect to spend a bare bones minimum of 1000 Euros per month, but if you want to live somewhat comfortably, plan on spending twice that amount.
- 04Make the effort to strike up relationships with Spaniards, and don’t be afraid to be the one who suggests getting together for coffee or a night
Useful links
- http://www.in-madrid.com
Regularly updated concert information, restaurant guides, nightlife listings and big parties in Madrid, all in English. - http://www.retratoiberico.com/galeria/gallery…
Photogallery containing a large range of photos of the city Madrid. - http://www.gomadrid.com
An intereractive Madrid Street Map that uses advanced Google Maps technology to show a detailed city map of Spain's capital. - http://www.metromadrid.es
Site containing information about the metro schedules together with a plan of the underground in Madrid. - http://nadyamadrid.blogspot.com
Regularly updated blog that contains narrative about a British expatriate living in Madrid.
Interesting fact
Madrid has the second largest metro network in Europe, consisting of about 12 metro lines and more than 200 metro stations.
Currently we only accept payments in Pounds Sterling (£).
