SPAIN Things to Know

MADRID,  Spain’s central capital, is a city of elegant boulevards and expansive, manicured parks such as the Buen Retiro.

It’s renowned for its rich repositories of European art, including the Prado Museum’s works by Goya, Velázquez and other Spanish masters. The heart of old Hapsburg Madrid is the portico-lined Plaza Mayor, and nearby is the baroque Royal Palace and Armory, displaying historic weaponry.

Food Costs Madrid:

• Breakfast – €4
• Lunch – €7
• Dinner– 30-50 MAD
• A pint of domestic beer in Madrid typically costs between €2.50 and €5.00. 
• Glass of wine – €2.32 to €5
  
  MADRID Each of its eclectic neighborhoods has its own distinct charm: You’ll find hipster vibes in Malasaña, where quaint shops make way for club crowds after dark; upscale eats and top-tier boutiques in Salamanca; and steep, maze-like streets lined with authentic restaurants and great people-watching in Lavapies. And don’t miss Madrid’s popular landmarks. A few favorites: The great bear statue in the central Puerta del Sol, the Reina Sofia and Prado museums, and Plaza Mayor. Finish things off with 10 p.m. tapas (it’s how the locals do it), then hit the bars and clubs if that’s your thing.
   

SEVILLE, Spain Originally founded as a Roman city and now home to three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Seville is front-loaded with historic charm.

Food Costs Seville:

• Restaurant, Inexpensive – €10 – €25
• Restaurant, Mid-range – €30 – €60
• A pint of domestic beer in Madrid typically costs between €1.20 and €4.00.

  
  SEVILLE  (Mistakes tourist make

• Ordering Sangria and Paella. … Paella, only in Valencia.   Sangria, People actually drink tinto de verano while out for a drink. Tinto de verano means “summer wine” and it is a delicious drink made of red wine of lemon, very very refreshing. So, sure, if you are really craving Sangria, go ahead, but if you want to have the local experience, tinto de verano is the way to go.
• Missing on tapas bars by only going to restaurants. … The bars here offer a vast array of delicious dishes in the form of tapas, small plates to be shared among everyone
• Trying to eat too early. … dinner starts at 8.30 and restaurants and bars usually start to fill up around 9! Don’t even try to order food at 7.30, you will be told that La cocina esta cerrada, which means “the kitchen is closed” 
• Not having cash on hand at all times. …  the transition to a cashless society hasn’t really gained momentum in Spain yet! 
• Not being careful at street crossings and walking on the bike lane. …  be also careful about bike lanes! Seville has over a 100 km of bike lanes, while most of these are colored green not all of them are, in the city center they’re usually delimited by little round metal markers which are not so easy to spot.  2/2/25