Tourist Information
Communicating
Hurdling the Language Barrier
Telephones
Internet Access
Mail
Transportation
By Car or Public Transportation?
Public Transportation
Map: Public Transportation Routes in Iberia
Taxis
Renting a Car
Map: Spain by Car: Mileage & Time
Driving
Cheap Flights
Resources
Resources from Rick Steves
Maps
Other Guidebooks
Recommended Books and Movies
Holidays and Festivals
Conversions and Climate
Numbers and Stumblers
Metric Conversions
Clothing Sizes
Spain’s Climate
Temperature Conversion: Fahrenheit and Celsius
Spain’s national tourist office in the US will fill brochure requests and answer your general travel questions by email (newyork.information@tourspain.es). Scan their website (www.spain.info) for practical information and sightseeing ideas; you can download many brochures free of charge. If you’re going to Barcelona, also see www.barcelonaturisme.cat.
In Spain your best first stop in a new city is the Turismo, the tourist information office (abbreviated TI in this book). TIs are good places to get a city map and information on public transit (including bus and train schedules), walking tours, special events, and nightlife. Many TIs have information on the entire country or at least the region, so try to pick up maps for destinations you’ll be visiting later in your trip. If you’re arriving in town after the TI closes, call ahead or pick up a map in a neighboring town.
While TIs are eager to book you a room, use their room-finding service only as a last resort. They are unable to give hard opinions on the relative value of one place over another. The accommodations stakes are too high to go potluck through the TI. Even if there’s no “fee,” you’ll save money by going direct with the listings in this book.
Websites for Spain: In addition to the Spanish Tourist Board site (www.spain.info), consider visiting www.mcu.es (museums and historic sites in Spain) and www.renfe.com (train info and schedules).
For Gibraltar: Try the Gibraltar Information Bureau (www.gibraltar.gov.uk, info@gibraltar.gov.uk).
For Morocco: Contact the Moroccan National Tourist Office (from the US, dial 011-212-537-278-300; www.visitmorocco.com).
Spain presents the English-speaking traveler with one of the most formidable language barriers in Western Europe. Many Spanish people—especially those in the tourist trade and in big cities—speak English. Still, many people don’t. Locals visibly brighten when you know and use some key Spanish words (see “Spanish Survival Phrases” on here). Learn the key phrases. Travel with a phrase book, particularly if you want to interact with the Spanish people. You’ll find that doors open more quickly and with more smiles when you can speak a few words of the language.
Smart travelers use the telephone to reserve or reconfirm rooms, get tourist information, reserve restaurants, confirm tour times, or phone home. This section covers dialing instructions, phone cards, and types of phones (for more in-depth information, see www.ricksteves.com/phoning).
How to Dial
Calling from the US to Spain, or vice versa, is simple—once you break the code. The European calling chart later in this chapter will walk you through it.
In Spain, numbers that start with 900 are toll-free; numbers that start with 901 and 902 have per-minute fees (about €0.04-0.07/minute from a landline; more from a mobile). Note that you can’t call Spain’s toll-free numbers from America, nor can you count on reaching America’s toll-free numbers from Spain.
Dialing Domestically Within Spain
The following instructions apply whether you’re dialing from a landline (such as a pay phone or your hotel-room phone) or a Spanish mobile phone.
About half of all European countries use area codes; the other half, including Spain, use a direct-dial system without area codes.
Land lines start with 9, and mobile lines start with 6. All phone numbers in Spain are nine digits (no area codes) that can be dialed direct throughout the country. For example, the number of one of my recommended Madrid hotels is 915-212-941. That’s exactly what you dial, whether you’re calling the hotel from the Madrid train station or from Barcelona.
If you’re dialing within Spain using your US mobile phone, you may need to dial as if it’s a domestic call, or you may need to dial as if you’re calling from the US (see “Dialing Internationally,” next). Try it one way, and if it doesn’t work, try it the other way.
Dialing Internationally to or from Spain
If you want to make an international call, follow these steps:
• Dial the international access code (00 if you’re calling from Europe, 011 from the US or Canada). If you’re dialing from a mobile phone, you can replace the international access code with +, which works regardless of where you’re calling from. (On many mobile phones, you can insert a + by pressing and holding the 0 key.)
• Dial the country code of the country you’re calling (34 for Spain, or 1 for the US or Canada).
• Dial the local number, keeping in mind that calling many countries requires dropping the initial zero of the phone number. (For specifics per country, see the European calling chart in this chapter.)
Calling from the US to Spain: Dial 011 (US access code), 34 (Spain’s country code), then the nine-digit number. For example, if you’re calling the Madrid hotel I mentioned above, you’d dial 011-34-915-212-941.
Calling from any European country to the US: To call my office in Edmonds, Washington, from anywhere in Europe, I dial 00 (Europe’s access code), 1 (US country code), 425 (Edmonds’ area code), and 771-8303.
Mobile Phones
Traveling with a mobile phone is handy and practical. There are two basic options: roaming with your own phone (expensive but easy) or buying and using SIM cards with an unlocked phone (a bit more hassle, but potentially much cheaper).
Roaming with Your US Mobile Phone: This pricier option can be worthwhile if you won’t be making or receiving many calls, don’t want to bother with SIM cards, or want to stay reachable at your US number. Start by calling your mobile-phone service provider to ask whether your phone works in Europe and what the rates are (likely $1.29-1.99 per minute to make or receive calls, and 20-50 cents to send or receive text messages). Tell them to enable international calling on your account, and if you know you’ll be making multiple calls, ask your carrier about any global calling deals to lower the per-minute costs. When you land in Europe, turn on your phone and—bingo!—you have service. Because you’ll pay for receiving calls and texts, be sure your family knows to call only in an emergency. Note that Verizon and Sprint use a different technology than European providers, so their phones are less likely to work abroad; if yours doesn’t, your provider may be able to send you a loaner phone (arrange in advance).
Buying and Using SIM Cards in Europe: If you’re comfortable with mobile-phone technology, will be making lots of calls, and want to save some serious money, consider this very affordable alternative: Carry an unlocked mobile phone, and use it with a European SIM card to get much cheaper rates.
Getting an unlocked phone may be easier than you think. You may already have an old, unused mobile phone in a drawer somewhere. When you got the phone, it was probably “locked” to work only with one company—but if your contract is now up, your provider may be willing to send you a code to unlock it. Just call and ask. Otherwise, you can simply buy an unlocked phone: Search your favorite online shopping site for an “unlocked quad-band phone” before you go, or wait until you get to Europe and buy one at a mobile-phone shop there. Either way, a basic model costs less than $50.
Once in Europe, buy a SIM card—the little chip that inserts into your phone (either under the battery, or in a slot on the side)—to equip the phone with a European number. (Note that smaller “micro-SIM” or “nano-SIM” cards—used in some iPhones—are less widely available.) SIM cards are sold at mobile-phone shops, department-store electronics counters, and some newsstand kiosks for $5–10, and usually include about that much prepaid calling credit (making the card itself virtually free). In most places, buying a SIM card is as easy as buying a pack of gum—and almost as cheap. (In some countries—including Spain—it can take a bit longer, because you have to show your passport and be registered.) Because SIM cards are prepaid, there’s no contract and no commitment (in fact, they expire after just a few months of disuse); I buy one even if I’m in a country for only a few days.
When using a SIM card in its home country, it’s free to receive calls and texts, and it’s cheap to make calls—domestic calls average 20-30 cents per minute (though toll lines can be substantially more). Rates are higher if you’re roaming in another country, but as long as you stay within the European Union, these fees are capped (about 30 cents per minute for making calls or 10 cents per minute for receiving calls). Texting is cheap even if roaming in another country. Particularly inexpensive SIM card brands let you call either within Europe or to the US for less than 10 cents per minute.
When purchasing a SIM card, always ask about fees for domestic and international calls, roaming charges, and how to check your credit balance and buy more time. If text or voice prompts are in another language, ask the clerk whether they can be switched to English.
It’s also possible to buy an inexpensive mobile phone in Europe that already comes with a SIM card. While these phones are generally locked to work with just one provider (and therefore can’t be reused on future trips), they may be less hassle than buying an unlocked phone and a SIM card separately.
Mobile-Phone Calling Apps: If you have a smartphone, you can use it to make free or cheap calls in Europe by using a calling app such as Skype or FaceTime when you’re on Wi-Fi; for details, see the next section.
Calling over the Internet
Some things that seem too good to be true...actually are true. If you’re traveling with a smartphone, tablet, or laptop, you can make free calls over the Internet to another wireless device, anywhere in the world, for free. (Or you can pay a few cents to call from your computer or smartphone to a telephone.) The major providers are Skype, Google Talk, and (on Apple devices) FaceTime. You can get online at a Wi-Fi hotspot and use these apps to make calls without ringing up expensive roaming charges (though call quality can be spotty on slow connections). You can make Internet calls even if you’re traveling without your own mobile device: Many European Internet cafés have Skype, as well as microphones and webcams, on their terminals—just log on and chat away.
Landline Telephones
Just like Americans, these days most Europeans make the majority of their calls on mobile phones. But you’ll still encounter landlines in hotel rooms and at pay phones.
Hotel-Room Phones: Calling from your hotel room can be great for local calls and for international calls if you have an international phone card (described later). Otherwise, hotel-room phones can be an almost criminal rip-off for long-distance or international calls. Many hotels charge a fee for local and sometimes even “toll-free” numbers—always ask for the rates before you dial.
Public Pay Phones: Coin-op phones are becoming extinct in Europe. To make calls from public phones, you’ll need a prepaid phone card, described next.
Telephone Cards
There are two types of phone cards: insertable (for pay phones) and international (cheap for overseas calls and usable from any type of phone). A phone card works only in the country where you bought it, so if you have a live card at the end of your trip, give it to another traveler to use—most cards expire three to six months after the first use.
Insertable Phone Cards: These cards, called tarjetas telefónicas, can be used only at pay phones, for either domestic or international calls. They’re sold at post offices and many newsstand kiosks. Spanish pay phones are easy to find but refuse to be rushed. After you “inserta” your “tarjeta” into the phone, wait until the digital display says “Marque número,” and then dial. Dial slowly and deliberately. Push the square R button to get a dial tone for a new call. The phone doesn’t beep to remind you that you’ve left the card in, so don’t forget to remove it when you’re done. The cost of the call is automatically deducted from your card.
International Phone Cards: With these cards, phone calls from Spain to the US can cost less than a nickel a minute. The cards can also be used to make local calls, and they work from any type of phone, including your hotel-room phone or a mobile phone with a European SIM card. To use the card, dial a local or toll-free access number, then enter your scratch-to-reveal PIN code. Some hotels block their phones from accepting these access numbers. (Ask your hotelier about access and rates before you call.)
You can buy an international phone card, called tarjeta telefónica con código, at most kiosks and newsstands, but the best selection is usually at little shops catering to immigrants, who are the leading experts on calling home cheaply. You can also find them at call centers (locutorios). Buy a low denomination in case the card is a dud. Some shops also sell cardless codes, printed right on the receipt.
US Calling Cards: These cards, such as the ones offered by AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint, are a rotten value, and are being phased out. Try any of the options outlined earlier.
Useful Phone Numbers
Emergency Needs
Police: Spain—tel. 091, Morocco—tel. 190
Ambulance or Any Emergency: Spain—tel. 112, Morocco—tel. 150
Embassies and Consulates
US Embassy in Madrid, Spain: Tel. 915-872-240, after-hours emergency tel. 915-872-200 (Calle Serrano 75, http://madrid.usembassy.gov)
US Consulate in Barcelona, Spain: Tel. 932-802-227, after-hours emergency tel. 915-872-200 (Passeig Reina Elisenda 23, http://barcelona.usconsulate.gov)
US Embassy in Gibraltar: Call US Embassy in Madrid
US Consulate General in Casablanca, Morocco: Tel. 0522-267-151, after-hours emergency tel. 0661-131-939 (Boulevard Moulay Youssef 8, http://morocco.usembassy.gov)
Canadian Embassy in Madrid, Spain: Tel. 913-828-400 (Torre Espacio, Paseo de la Castellana 259D, in Torre Espacio skyscraper, www.espana.gc.ca)
Canadian Embassy in Rabat, Morocco: Tel. 0537-687-400 (13 bis Rue Jaâfa-as-Sadik, www.morocco.gc.ca)
Travel Advisories
US Department of State: Tel. 888-407-4747, from outside US tel. 1-202-501-4444, www.travel.state.gov
Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs: Canadian tel. 800-387-3124, from outside Canada tel. 1-613-996-8885, www.travel.gc.ca
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Tel. 800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636), www.cdc.gov/travel
Directory Assistance
In Spain, dial 11811 (€0.40/min) or 11818 (€0.55/call from private numbers, free from phone booths).
Trains
Train (RENFE) Reservation and Information: Tel. 902-320-320, www.renfe.com
Airports
The following airports share a customer-assistance line, toll tel. 902-404-704, and a website, www.aena-aeropuertos.es.
Barcelona: El Prat de Llobregat Airport (BCN)
Madrid: Barajas Airport (MAD)
Sevilla: San Pablo Airport (SVQ)
It’s useful to get online periodically as you travel—to confirm trip plans, check train or bus schedules, get weather forecasts, catch up on email, blog or post photos from your trip, or call folks back home (explained earlier, under “Calling over the Internet”).
Your Mobile Device: The majority of accommodations in Spain offer Wi-Fi, as do many cafés, making it easy for you to get online with your laptop, tablet, or smartphone. Access is often free, but sometimes there’s a fee. At hotels that charge for a certain number of hours, save money by logging in and out of your account on an as-needed basis. You should be able to stretch a two-hour Wi-Fi pass over a stay of a day or two.
Some hotel rooms and Internet cafés have high-speed Internet jacks that you can plug into with an Ethernet cable.
Public Internet Terminals: Many accommodations offer a guest computer in the lobby with Internet access. If you ask politely, smaller places may let you sit at their desk for a few minutes just to check your email. If your hotelier doesn’t have access, ask to be directed to the nearest place to get online. Spanish keyboards are a little different from ours; to type an @ (arroba), try pressing the “Alt Gr” and “2” keys.
Security: Whether you’re accessing the Internet with your own device or at a public terminal, using a shared network or computer comes with increased security risks. If you’re not convinced a connection is secure, avoid accessing sites (such as online banking) that could be vulnerable to fraud.
You can mail one package per day to yourself worth up to $200 duty-free from Europe to the US (mark it “personal purchases”). If you’re sending a gift to someone, mark it “unsolicited gift.” For details, visit www.cbp.gov and search for “Know Before You Go.”
The Spanish postal service works fine, but for quick transatlantic delivery (in either direction), consider services such as DHL (www.dhl.com).
If you’re debating between public transportation and car rental, consider these factors: Cars are best for three or more traveling together (especially families with small kids), those packing heavy, and those scouring the countryside. Trains and buses are best for solo travelers, blitz tourists, city-to-city travelers, and those who don’t want to drive in Europe. Though a car gives you more freedom, trains and buses zip you effortlessly and scenically from city to city, usually dropping you in the center, often near a TI. Cars are an expensive headache in places like Madrid or Barcelona.
Public transportation in Spain is slick, modern, and efficient. The best option is to mix bus and train travel. Always verify schedules before your departure. Don’t leave a station without your next day’s schedule options in hand. To ask for a schedule at an information window, say, “Horario para _______ (fill in name of city), por favor.” (The local TI will sometimes have schedules available for you to take or copy.) To study train schedules in advance, visit Germany’s excellent all-Europe website, www.bahn.com, or Spain’s site, www.renfe.com. Bus schedules are more difficult to track down because routes are operated by different companies; for the names of regional carriers, check the “Connections” section of each destination chapter in this book. You can also try www.movelia.es, a third-party site listing several (but not all) bus companies.
Trains
You can buy a Spain “flexi” railpass that allows travel for a given number of days over a longer period of time, but you’ll pay separately ($10-35) for seat reservations on all trains. Buying individual train tickets in advance or as you go in Spain can be less expensive, and gives you better access to seat reservations (which are limited for railpass holders). Some individual ticket prices already include seat reservations when required (for instance, for fast trains).
If your trip also includes a neighboring country, consider the France-Spain, Portugal-Spain, or Italy-Spain passes (see chart). A Eurail Select Pass lets you travel even farther. Spain also offers a rail-and-drive pass, which gives you the ease of big-city train hops and the flexibility of a car for rural areas such as the Andalusian hill towns. These passes are sold only outside Europe. For specifics, check the railpass chart, contact your travel agent, or see my Guide to Eurail Passes at www.ricksteves.com/rail. Even if you have a railpass, use buses when they’re more convenient and direct than the trains. Remember to reserve ahead for the fast AVE trains and overnight journeys.
RENFE (the acronym for the Spanish national train system) used to mean “Really Exasperating, and Not For Everyone,” but it has moved into the 21st century. For information and reservations, dial RENFE’s national number (toll tel. 902-320-320) from anywhere in Spain, or visit www.renfe.com. For tips on buying tickets, see the sidebar.
Spain categorizes trains this way:
The high-speed train called the AVE (AH-vay, stands for Alta Velocidad Española) whisks travelers between Madrid and Toledo in 30 minutes, Madrid and Sevilla or Barcelona in three hours, and Madrid and Málaga in less than three hours. For decades, Spain’s trains didn’t fit on Europe’s tracks, but AVE trains run on standard European-gauge rails. AVE trains can be priced differently according to their time of departure. Peak hours (punta) are most expensive, followed by llano and valle (quietest and cheapest times). AVE is almost entirely covered by the Eurail Pass (book ahead, a seat reservation fee from Madrid to Sevilla costs Eurailers about $23 in second class; $38 for first class, includes meal). If doing the recommended Sevilla-to-Córdoba day trip by AVE, it’s smart to bring your passport (conductors may ask for identification, especially if you have a railpass).
A related high-speed train, the Alvia, runs on AVE lines but can switch to Iberian track without stopping. On the Madrid-San Sebastián route, for example, it reaches the Basque Country in five hours.
Avant trains are also high-speed—typically about as fast as AVE—but designed for shorter distances. They also tend to be cheaper than AVE, even on the same route. Railpass reservations also cost about half as much for Avant as for AVE. If you’re on a tight budget, compare your options before buying.
The Talgo is fast, air-conditioned, and expensive, and runs on AVE rails. Intercity and Electro trains fall just behind Talgo in speed, comfort, and expense. Rápido, Tranvía, Semidirecto, and Expreso trains are generally slower. Cercanías are commuter trains for big-city workers and small-town tourists. Regional and Correo trains are slow, small-town milk runs. Trains get more expensive as they pick up speed, but all are cheaper per mile than their northern European counterparts. Spain loves to name trains, so you may encounter types of trains not listed here. The names Euromed, Alaris, Altaria, and Arco all indicate faster trains that require reservations. These can cost significantly less than AVE on some routes (for example, on the Córdoba-Sevilla route, AVE costs nearly double Altaria, but they take the same amount of time). Ask about the travel time for each option when buying your tickets.
Salidas means “departures,” and llegadas is “arrivals.” On train schedules, “LMXJVSD” stands for the days of the week in Spanish, starting with Monday. A train that runs “LMXJV-D” doesn’t run on Saturdays. Laborables can mean Monday through Friday or Monday through Saturday.
Overnight Trains: For long trips, I go overnight on the train or I fly (domestic shuttle flights are generally less than $100). Overnight trains (and buses) are usually less expensive and slower than the daytime rides. Most overnight trains have berths and beds that you can rent (not included in the cost of your train ticket or railpass). A sleeping berth (litera) costs extra, with the price depending on the route and type of compartment. Night trains are popular, so it’s smart to reserve in advance, even from home. Travelers with first-class reservations are entitled to use comfortable “Intercity” lounges in train stations in Spain’s major cities.
Hotel Trains: The term Trenhotel (“Hotel Train”) usually means fancy and expensive. The pricey overnight Trenhotel between Madrid and Lisbon is called the Lusitania (approximate prices: first class-$200, including a bed in a double compartment; second class-$120 in a quad; about $55 or more for a sleeper if you have a railpass, additional cost for singles or a shower in your compartment; advance-purchase deals available at stations and www.renfe.com). Unfortunately, no other rail option exists between these two capital cities. You can save money by taking a bus, or save time by taking a plane. Trenhotel prices are at least as high between other major cities, such as Barcelona-Valencia or Barcelona-Madrid.
High-priced international Trenhotels used to connect Paris with Spain but were discontinued in 2013. To travel overnight to Paris, you can take a train trip that involves a transfer near the Spanish border (at Cerbère on the eastern side). You’ll connect to a normal night train with $35 sleeping berths (literas/couchettes) on one leg of the trip. This plan is time-consuming, and may take two days of a flexipass. Consider flying instead to save time (see “Cheap Flights,” later).
Buses
Spain’s bus system is confusing (www.movelia.es is a good place to begin researching schedules and carriers). There are a number of different bus companies (though usually clustered within one building), sometimes running buses to the same destinations and using the same transfer points. If you have to transfer, make sure to look for a bus with the same name/logo as the company you bought the ticket from. The larger stations have a consolidated information desk with all the schedules. In smaller stations, check the destinations and schedules posted on each office window. (If your connection requires a transfer to another company’s bus in a different city, don’t count on getting help from the originating clerk to figure out the onward connection.) Bus service on holidays, Saturdays, and especially Sundays can be less frequent.
If you arrive in a city by bus and plan to leave by bus, stick around the station upon your arrival to check your departure options and buy a ticket in advance if necessary (and possible). If you’re downtown, need a ticket, and the bus station isn’t central, save time by asking at the tourist office about travel agencies that sell bus tickets.
You can (and most likely will be required to) stow your luggage under the bus. Your ticket comes with an assigned seat; if the bus is full, you should take that seat, but if it’s uncrowded, most people just sit where they like. For longer rides, give some thought to which side of the bus will get the most sun, and sit on the opposite side, even if the bus is air-conditioned and has curtains. Your ride likely will come with a soundtrack: taped Spanish pop music, radio, or sometimes videos. If you prefer silence, bring earplugs. Buses are non-smoking.
Drivers and station personnel rarely speak English. Buses generally lack WCs, but they stop every two hours or so for a break (usually 15 minutes, but can be up to 30). Drivers announce how long the stop will be, but if in doubt, ask the driver, “How many minutes here?” (“¿Cuántos minutos aquí?”) so you know if you have time to get out. Listen for the bus horn as a final call before departure. Bus stations have WCs (rarely with toilet paper) and cafés that offer quick and slightly overpriced food.
Most taxis are reliable and cheap. Drivers generally respond kindly to the request, “How much is it to _______, more or less?” (“¿Cuánto cuesta a _______, más o menos?”). Spanish taxis have extra supplements (for luggage, nighttime, Sundays, train/bus-station or airport pickup, and so on). Rounding up the fare (maximum of 10 percent) is adequate for a tip. City rides cost €4-6. Keep a map in your hand so the cabbie knows (or thinks) you know where you’re going. Big cities have plenty of taxis. In many cases, couples travel by cab for little more than the cost of two bus or subway tickets.
If you’re renting a car in Spain, bring your driver’s license. You’re also required to have an International Driving Permit—an official translation of your driver’s license (sold at your local AAA office for $15 plus the cost of two passport-type photos; see www.aaa.com). While that’s the letter of the law, I’ve often rented cars in Spain without having this permit. If all goes well, you’ll likely never be asked to show the permit—but it’s a must if you end up dealing with the police.
Rental companies require you to be at least 21 years old and to have held your license for one year. Drivers under the age of 25 may incur a young-driver surcharge, and some rental companies do not rent to anyone 75 or older. If you’re considered too young or old, look into leasing (covered later), which has less stringent age restrictions.
Research car rentals before you go. It’s cheaper to arrange most car rentals from the US. Call several companies and look online to compare rates, or arrange a rental through your hometown travel agent.
Most of the major US rental agencies (including Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, and Thrifty) have offices throughout Europe. Also consider the two major Europe-based agencies, Europcar and Sixt. It can be cheaper to use a consolidator, such as Auto Europe (www.autoeurope.com) or Europe by Car (www.ebctravel.com), which compares rates at several companies to get you the best deal. However, my readers have reported problems with consolidators ranging from misinformation to unexpected fees; because you’re going through a middleman, it can be more challenging to resolve disputes that might arise with the rental agency.
Regardless of the car-rental company you choose, always read the fine print carefully for add-on charges—such as one-way drop-off fees, airport surcharges, or mandatory insurance policies—that aren’t included in the “total price.” You may need to query rental agents pointedly to find out your actual cost.
For the best deal, rent by the week with unlimited mileage. To save money on fuel, ask for a diesel car. I normally rent the smallest, least-expensive model with a stick shift (generally much cheaper than an automatic). Almost all rentals are manual by default, so if you need an automatic, request one in advance; be aware that these cars are usually larger models and not as maneuverable on narrow, winding roads (such as in Andalucía’s hill towns).
For a one-week rental, allow roughly $250-450. Allow extra for insurance, fuel, tolls, and parking. For trips of three weeks or more, look into leasing (described later); you’ll save money on insurance and taxes.
You can sometimes get a GPS unit with your rental car or leased vehicle for an additional fee (around $15/day; be sure it’s set to English and has all the maps you need before you drive off). Or, if you have a portable GPS device at home, consider taking it with you to Europe (buy and upload European maps before your trip). GPS apps are also available for smartphones, but downloading maps in Europe could lead to an exorbitant data-roaming bill (for more details, see the sidebar on here).
Compare pickup costs (downtown can be less expensive than the airport) and explore drop-off options. Always check the hours of the location you choose: Many rental offices close from midday Saturday until Monday morning and, in smaller towns, at lunchtime.
When selecting a location, don’t trust the agency’s description of “downtown” or “city center.” In some cases, a “downtown” branch can be on the outskirts of the city—a long, costly taxi ride from the center. Before choosing, plug the addresses into a mapping website. You may find that the “train station” location is handier. But returning a car at a big-city train station or downtown agency can be tricky; get precise details on the drop-off location and hours, and allow ample time to find it.
When you pick up the rental car, check it thoroughly and make sure any damage is noted on your rental agreement. Find out how your car’s lights, turn signals, wipers, and fuel cap function, and know what kind of fuel the car takes. When you return the car, make sure the agent verifies its condition with you.
Car Insurance Options
When you rent a car, you are liable for a very high deductible, sometimes equal to the entire value of the car. Limit your financial risk with one of these three options: Buy Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) coverage from the car-rental company, get coverage through your credit card (free, if your card automatically includes zero-deductible coverage), or buy coverage through Travel Guard.
CDW includes a very high deductible (typically $1,000-1,500). Though each rental company has its own variation, basic CDW costs $15-35 a day (figure roughly 30 percent extra) and reduces your liability, but does not eliminate it. When you pick up the car, you’ll be offered the chance to “buy down” the basic deductible to zero (for an additional $10-30/day; this is sometimes called “super CDW”).
If you opt for credit-card coverage, there’s a catch. You’ll technically have to decline all coverage offered by the car-rental company, which means they can place a hold on your card (which can be up to the full value of the car). In case of damage, it can be time-consuming to resolve the charges with your credit-card company. Before you decide on this option, quiz your credit-card company about how it works.
Finally, you can buy collision insurance from Travel Guard ($9/day plus a one-time $3 service fee covers you for up to $35,000, $250 deductible, tel. 800-826-4919, www.travelguard.com). It’s valid everywhere in Europe except the Republic of Ireland, and some Italian car-rental companies refuse to honor it. Note that various states differ on which products and policies are available to their residents—check with Travel Guard before you rent your car.
For more on car-rental insurance, see www.ricksteves.com/cdw.
Leasing
For trips of three weeks or more, consider leasing (which automatically includes zero-deductible collision and theft insurance). By technically buying and then selling back the car, you save lots of money on tax and insurance. Leasing provides you a brand-new car with unlimited mileage and a 24-hour emergency assistance program. You can lease for as little as 21 days and as long as six months. Car leases must be arranged from the US. One of many companies offering affordable lease packages is Europe by Car (US tel. 800-223-1516, www.ebctravel.com).
Driving in rural Spain is great—traffic is sparse and roads are generally good. But a car is a pain in big cities such as Madrid. Drive defensively. If you’re involved in an accident, you will be in for a monumental headache.
Good maps are available and inexpensive throughout Spain. In smaller towns, following signs to centro ciudad will get you to the heart of things.
Freeways and Tolls: Spain’s freeways come with tolls, but save huge amounts of time. Each toll road (autopista de peaje) has its own pricing structure, so tolls vary (for example, Madrid-Toledo: €2.20; Málaga-Gibraltar: €13.15). Near some major cities, you must prepay for each stretch of road you drive; on other routes, you take a ticket where you enter the freeway, and pay when you exit. Payment can be made in cash or by credit or debit card (credit-card-only lanes are labeled “vias automáticas”).
Because road numbers can be puzzling and inconsistent, be ready to navigate by city and town names. On freeways, navigate by direction (norte, oeste, sur, este). Mileage signs are in kilometers (see here for conversion formula into miles).
Road Rules: Seatbelts are required by law. Children under 12 must ride in the back seat, and children up to age 3 must have a child seat. You must put on a reflective safety vest any time you get out of your car on the side of a highway or unlit road (most rental-car companies provide one, but check when you pick up the car). Those who use eyeglasses are required by law to have a spare pair in the car. It is illegal to talk on a cell phone while driving (unless using a fully hands-free system).
Drivers must turn on headlights during daylight hours if visibility is poor. Spain does not allow a right turn at a red light. For more on road rules, ask your car-rental company, or check the US State Department website (www.travel.state.gov, click on “International Travel,” then specify “Spain” and “Traffic Safety and Road Conditions”).
Traffic Cops: Watch for traffic radars and expect to be stopped for a routine check by the police (be sure your car-insurance form is up-to-date). Small towns come with speed traps and corruption. Tickets, especially for foreigners, are issued and paid for on the spot. Insist on a receipt (recibo), so the money is less likely to end up in the cop’s pocket.
Fuel: Gas and diesel prices are controlled and the same everywhere—about $7 a gallon for gas, less for diesel (gas is priced by the liter in Spain). Unleaded gas (gasolina sin plomo) is either normal or super. Note that diesel is called diesel or gasóleo—pay attention when filling your tank.
Theft: Choose parking places carefully. Stow valuables in the trunk during the day and leave nothing worth stealing in the car overnight. While you should avoid parking lots with twinkly asphalt, thieves break car windows anywhere, even at stoplights. If your car’s a hatchback, take the trunk cover off at night so thieves can look in without breaking in. Try to make your car look locally owned by hiding the “tourist-owned” rental-company decals and putting a local newspaper in your front or back window. Parking attendants all over Spain holler, “Nada en el coche” (“Nothing in the car”). And they mean it. Ask your hotelier for advice on parking. In cities you can park safely but expensively in guarded lots.
If you’re considering a train ride that’s more than five hours long, a flight may save you both time and money. When comparing your options, factor in the time it takes to get to the airport and how early you’ll need to arrive to check in.
The best comparison search engine for both international and intra-European flights is www.kayak.com. For inexpensive flights within Europe, try www.skyscanner.com or www.hipmunk.com. If you’re not sure who flies to your destination, check its airport’s website for a list of carriers.
For flights within Spain and around Europe, try the national carriers Vueling (www.vueling.com), Air Europa (www.aireuropa.com), or Iberia (www.iberia.com). Other well-known cheapo airlines include easyJet (www.easyjet.com) and RyanAir (www.ryanair.com).
Be aware of the potential drawbacks of flying on the cheap: nonrefundable and nonchangeable tickets, minimal or nonexistent customer service, treks to airports far outside town, and stingy baggage allowances with steep overage fees. If you’re traveling with lots of luggage, a cheap flight can quickly become a bad deal. To avoid unpleasant surprises, read the small print before you book.
Rick Steves’ Spain 2014 is one of many books in my series on European travel, which includes country guidebooks, city guidebooks (Barcelona, Rome, Florence, Paris, London, etc.), Snapshot Guides (excerpted chapters from my country guides), Pocket Guides (full-color little books on big cities), and my budget-travel skills handbook, Rick Steves’ Europe Through the Back Door. Most of my titles are available as ebooks. My phrase books—for Spanish, Italian, French, German, and Portuguese—are practical and budget-oriented. My other books include Europe 101 (a crash course on art and history designed for travelers); Mediterranean Cruise Ports and Northern European Cruise Ports (how to make the most of your time in port), and Travel as a Political Act (a travelogue sprinkled with tips for bringing home a global perspective). A more complete list of my titles appears near the end of this book.
Video: My public television series, Rick Steves’ Europe, covers European destinations in 100 shows, with 10 episodes on Spain. To watch episodes, visit www.hulu.com; for scripts and local airtimes, see www.ricksteves.com/tv.
Audio: My weekly public radio show, Travel with Rick Steves, features interviews with travel experts from around the world. All of this audio content is available for free at Rick Steves Audio Europe, an extensive online library organized by destination. Choose whatever interests you, and download it via the Rick Steves Audio Europe smartphone app, www.ricksteves.com/audioeurope, iTunes, or Google Play.
The black-and-white maps in this book, designed by David Hoerlein, are concise and simple. The maps are intended to help you locate recommended places and get to TIs, where you can pick up more in-depth maps of cities or regions (usually free). Better maps are available—and cheaper than in the US—throughout Spain at newsstands, bookstores, and gas stations. Before you buy a map, look at it to be sure it has the level of detail you want. Drivers will want to pick up a good, detailed map in Europe (I’d recommend a 1:200,000- or 1:300,000-scale map).
If you’re like most travelers, this book is all you need. But if you’re heading beyond my recommended destinations, $40 for extra maps and books can be money well spent. If you’ll be spending a lot of time in Barcelona, consider Rick Steves’ Barcelona.
The following books are worthwhile, though most are not updated annually; check the publication date before you buy. Lonely Planet’s guide to Spain is well researched, with good maps and hotel recommendations for low- to moderate-budget travelers. The similar Rough Guide to Spain is hip and insightful, written by British researchers. Students and vagabonds like the highly opinionated Let’s Go: Spain & Portugal, updated by Harvard students. Let’s Go is best for backpackers who stay at hostels, use railpasses, and dive into the youth and nightlife scene.
The Eyewitness series has about a dozen editions covering Spain, including Barcelona, Madrid, and Sevilla/Andalucía. They’re extremely popular for great, easy-to-grasp graphics and photos, but the written content in Eyewitness is relatively skimpy, and the books weigh a ton. I simply borrow them for a minute from other travelers at certain sights to make sure I’m aware of that place’s highlights. Time Out travel guides provide good, detailed coverage of Madrid, Barcelona, and Andalucía, particularly on arts and entertainment.
The popular skinny Michelin Green Guides to Spain are excellent, especially if you’re driving. They’re known for their city and sightseeing maps, dry but concise and helpful information on major sights, and good cultural and historical background. English editions, covering most of the regions you’ll want to visit, are sold in Spain.
I like Cadogan guides for their well-presented background information and coverage of cultural issues. Their recommendations suit upscale travelers. Older travelers enjoy Frommer’s Spain guides, even though these, like the Fodor’s guides, ignore alternatives that enable travelers to save money by dirtying their fingers in the local culture. The encyclopedic Blue Guides are dry as the plains in Spain, but just right for arty and scholarly types.
If you’ll be traveling to neighboring countries, consider Rick Steves’ Portugal and Rick Steves’ France.
Spain is overwhelmingly rich in history, art, and culture. To learn more about Spain’s past and present, check out a few of these books or films.
Nonfiction
Spain has undergone incredible changes since the death of Franco in 1975 and the end of his nearly four-decade dictatorship. The New Spaniards (Hooper) is a survey of all aspects of modern Spain, including its politics, economy, demographics, education, religion, and popular culture.
For a sympathetic cultural history of the Basque people, their language, and contributions from Roman times to the present, read The Basque History of the World (Kurlansky).
George Orwell traded his press pass for a uniform, fought against Franco’s Fascists in the Spanish Civil War of 1936-1939, and then wrote an account of his experiences in his gripping Homage to Catalonia. The Battle for Spain (Beevor) re-creates the political climate during the civil war.
James Michener traveled to Spain for several decades, and his tribute, Iberia, describes how Spain’s dark history created a contradictory and passionately beautiful land.
Hemingway shows his journalistic side in two books on bullfighting: Death in the Afternoon and The Dangerous Summer.
How Muslims, Jews, and Christians created a culture of tolerance in medieval Spain is vividly brought to life in The Ornament of the World (Menocal).
Travelers’ Tales: Spain (McCauley) offers dozens of essays about Spain and its people from numerous authors.
Penelope Casas has written many popular books on the food of Spain, including tapas, paella, and regional cooking. Her Discovering Spain: An Uncommon Guide blends references to history, culture, and food with travel information. For deciphering menus in restaurants, foodies like The Marling Menu-Master for Spain.
The nature of pilgrimage is explored along the famous Camino de Santiago trail in northern Spain in Following the Milky Way (Aviva) and On Pilgrimage (Lash).
The eccentricities of village life in the mountains south of Granada are lovingly detailed in a British expat’s 1920s experiences in South from Granada (Brenan). A contemporary family’s adjustments to living in the same region are described in Driving Over Lemons: An Optimist in Spain (Stewart) and the author’s later books.
Two cultural histories focus on the city of Barcelona and the Catalan psyche: Homage to Barcelona (Toibin) and Barcelona (Hughes).
Fiction
Fans of classic literature will want to read Cervantes’ Don Quixote. Another classic, Irving’s Tales of the Alhambra, weaves fact, mythical tales, and descriptions of Granada and its beautiful Moorish castle complex—the Alhambra—during the author’s 19th-century visit.
Hemingway fans will enjoy The Sun Also Rises; this story of expats living in post-WWI France and Spain introduced many readers to bullfighting. Hemingway’s For Whom the Bell Tolls, a tale of idealism and harsh reality, is set against the complexity of the civil war.
That ugly period of Spanish history is also the subject of The Carpenter’s Pencil (Rivas), an unsentimental tale of an imprisoned revolutionary haunted by his past.
The brutality and intolerance of the dark years of the Spanish Inquisition are illuminated in Winstein’s The Heretic, with Sevilla as the backdrop. The Last Jew (Gordon) is one man’s story of survival in Inquisition-era Spain. Stories from Spain (Barlow and Stivers) relates well-known Spanish legends that chronicle nearly 1,000 years of Spanish history.
The 2005 best-selling thriller The Shadow of the Wind (Zafón) takes place in 1950s Barcelona; sequels include The Angel’s Game and The Prisoner of Heaven. Robert Wilson’s popular police thrillers, including The Blind Man of Seville, are set in Spain and Portugal.
Films
In The Mystery of Picasso (1956), Picasso is filmed painting from behind a transparent canvas, allowing a unique look at his creative process.
Peter O’Toole and Sophia Loren star in the musical version of Don Quixote, Man of La Mancha (1972).
In the first of Carlos Saura’s flamenco dance trilogy, Blood Wedding (1981), he adapts Federico García Lorca’s play about a wedding imposed on a bride in love with another man. Carmen (1983) shows a Spanish cast rehearsing the well-known French novel and opera. El Amor Brujo (1986) is a ghostly love story.
L’auberge Espagnole (2002) tells the story of the loves and lives of European students sharing an apartment in Barcelona.
In Barcelona (1994), two Americans in Spain try to navigate the Spanish singles scene and the ensuing culture clash.
The Spanish film Open Your Eyes (1997) inspired the 2001 Tom Cruise thriller Vanilla Sky, where a car accident sets off an intricate series of events.
Woody Allen’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008) stars Javier Bardem as a macho Spanish artist romancing two American women, when suddenly his stormy ex-wife (Penélope Cruz, in an Oscar-winning role) re-enters his life.
Pedro Almodóvar’s piquant films about relationships in the post-Franco era have garnered piles of international awards. Spanish actors Bardem, Cruz, and Antonio Banderas have starred in his films. Almodóvar’s best-known films include Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (1988), All About My Mother (1999), Talk to Her (2002), Volver (2006), Broken Embraces (2009), The Skin I Live In (2011), and I’m So Excited (2013).
This list includes selected festivals in Spain, plus national holidays observed throughout the country. Many sights and banks close on national holidays—keep this in mind when planning your itinerary. Before planning a trip around a festival, verify its dates by checking the festival’s website or TI sites (www.spain.info).
In 2014, be prepared for big crowds during these holiday periods: Holy Week (Semana Santa) and Easter weekend, especially in Sevilla; April Fair in Sevilla; the San Isidro festival in Madrid; Labor Day; Dos de Mayo, Madrid; Ascension; Pentecost weekend; Assumption weekend; Spanish National Day; Constitution Day, followed closely by the Feast of the Immaculate Conception—both the previous and following weekends may be busy; and Christmas and New Year’s. Look out for any local holiday that falls on a Tuesday or Thursday—the Spanish will often take Monday or Friday off as well to have a four-day weekend.
| Jan 1 |
New Year’s Day |
| Jan 6 |
Epiphany |
| Early Feb |
La Candelaria (religious festival), Madrid |
| Feb 28 |
Day of Andalucía (some closures), Andalucía |
| April 13-20 |
Holy Week |
| April 20 |
Easter |
| April 21 |
Easter Monday |
| April 29-May 4 |
Feria de Abril (April fair), Sevilla |
| May 1 |
Labor Day (closures) |
| May 2 |
Dos de Mayo, Madrid |
| Mid-May |
Feria del Caballo (horse pageantry), Jerez |
| May 15 |
San Isidro (religious festival); also bullfights and zarzuelas all month long), Madrid |
| May 29 |
Ascension |
| Late May-Early June |
La Patum (religious festival), Berga (near Barcelona) |
| June 7-9 |
Pentecost weekend |
| June 19 |
Corpus Christi |
| June 24 |
Festival of St. John the Baptist (bonfires and fireworks) |
| June-July |
International Festival of Music and Dance, Granada |
| July 6-14 |
Running of the Bulls (Fiesta de San Fermín), Pamplona |
| July 25 |
Feast Day of St. James, Santiago de Compostela |
| Aug |
Gràcia Festival, Barcelona |
| Mid-Aug |
Verbena de la Paloma (folk festival), Madrid |
| Aug 15 |
Assumption of Mary (religious festival) |
| Aug 21-27 |
Festival of St. Bartholomew, Sitges (major festivities on Aug 23-24) |
| Sept |
Autumn Festival (flamenco, bullfights), Jerez |
| Sept 23 |
Festival of St. Tecla, Sitges |
| Late Sept |
La Mercé (parade), Barcelona |
| Late Sept |
Feria de San Miguel (bullfights), Sevilla |
| Late Sept |
Little San Fermín (concerts, parades), |
| (last weekend) |
Pamplona |
| Oct 12 |
Spanish National Day |
| Late Oct-Nov |
International Jazz Festival, Madrid |
| Nov 1 |
All Saints’ Day |
| Nov 9 |
Virgen de la Almudena, Madrid |
| Dec 6 |
Constitution Day |
| Dec 8 |
Feast of the Immaculate Conception |
| Dec 13 |
Feast of Santa Lucía |
| Dec 25 |
Christmas |
| Dec 31 |
New Year’s Eve |
• Europeans write a few of their numbers differently than we do. 1 = 
, 4 = 
, 7 = 
.
• In Europe, dates appear as day/month/year, so Christmas is 25/12/14.
• Commas are decimal points and decimals are commas. A dollar and a half is $1,50, and there are 5.280 feet in a mile.
• When counting with fingers, start with your thumb. If you hold up your first finger to request one item, you’ll probably get two.
• What Americans call the second floor of a building is the first floor in Europe.
• On escalators and moving sidewalks, Europeans keep the left “lane” open for passing. Keep to the right.
A kilogram is 2.2 pounds, and l liter is about a quart, or almost four to a gallon. A kilometer is six-tenths of a mile. I figure kilometers to miles by cutting the kilometers in half and adding back 10 percent of the original (120 km: 60 + 12 = 72 miles, 300 km: 150 + 30 = 180 miles).
1 foot = 0.3 meter
1 yard = 0.9 meter
1 mile = 1.6 kilometers
1 centimeter = 0.4 inch
1 meter = 39.4 inches
1 kilometer = 0.62 mile
1 square yard = 0.8 square meter
1 square mile = 2.6 square kilometers
1 ounce = 28 grams
1 quart = 0.95 liter
1 kilogram = 2.2 pounds
32°F = 0°C
When shopping for clothing, use these US-to-European comparisons as general guidelines (but note that no conversion is perfect).
• Women’s dresses and blouses: Add 30 (US size 10 = European size 40)
• Men’s suits and jackets: Add 10 (US size 40 regular = European size 50)
• Men’s shirts: Multiply by 2 and add about 8 (US size 15 collar = European size 38)
• Women’s shoes: Add about 30 (US size 8 = European size 38-39)
• Men’s shoes: Add 32-34 (US size 9 = European size 41; US size 11 = European size 45)
First line, average daily high; second line, average daily low; third line, average days without rain. For more detailed weather statistics for destinations in this book (as well as the rest of the world), check www.wunderground.com.
Europe takes its temperature using the Celsius scale, while we opt for Fahrenheit. For a rough conversion from Celsius to Fahrenheit, double the number and add 30. For weather, remember that 28°C is 82°F—perfect. For health, 37°C is just right.
Pronunciation Guide for Place Names
For Spanish names, emphasize the bolded syllable and pronounce “h” as a guttural sound. The few French names (from the Basque Country) have equally stressed syllables.
| Spanish |
Pronunciation |
| Algeciras |
ahl-heh-thee-rahs |
| Andalucía |
ahn-dah-loo-see-ah |
| Arcos de la Frontera |
ar-kohs day lah frohn-teh-rah |
| Atapuerca |
ah-tah-pwehr-kah |
| Ávila |
ah-vee-lah |
| Barcelona |
bar-theh-loh-nah |
| Bayonne |
bai-yuhn |
| Biarritz |
bee-ah-ritz |
| Bilbao |
bil-bow |
| Burgos |
boor-gohs |
| Cadaqués |
kah-dah-kehs |
| Cantabria |
kahn-tah-bree-ah |
| Catalunya |
kah-tah-loon-yah |
| Ciudad Rodrigo |
thee-oo-dahd roh-dree-goh |
| Comillas |
koh-mee-yahs |
| Córdoba |
kor-doh-bah |
| El Escorial |
ehl ehs-kor-ee-ahl |
| Figueres |
feeg-yehr-ehs |
| Frigiliana |
free-hee-lee-ah-nah |
| Fuenterrabía |
fwehn-teh-rah-bee-ah |
| Galicia |
gah-lee-thee-ah |
| Gibraltar |
hee-brahl-tar |
| Granada |
grah-nah-dah |
| Grazalema |
grah-zah-lay-mah |
| Guernica |
gehr-nee-kah |
| Hendaye |
hehn-day |
| Hondarribia |
hohn-dah-ree-bee-ah |
| Jerez |
heh-reth |
| La Mancha |
lah mahn-chah |
| Laguardia |
lah-gwar-dee-ah |
| León |
lay-ohn |
| Lequeitio |
leh-kay-tee-oh |
| Logroño |
loh-grohn-yoh |
| Madrid |
mah-dreed |
| Marbella |
mar-bay-yah |
| Montserrat |
mohnt-seh-raht |
| Nerja |
nehr-hah |
| O Cebreiro |
oh theh-bray-roh |
| Orreaga |
oh-ray-ah-gah |
| Pamplona |
pahm-ploh-nah |
| Picos de Europa |
pee-kohs day yoo-roh-pah |
| Potes |
poh-tays |
| Rioja |
ree-oh-hah |
| Roncesvalles |
rohn-thes-va-yes |
| Ronda |
rohn-dah |
| Salamanca |
sah-lah-mahn-kah |
| St. Jean-Pied-de-Port |
san zhahn-pee-ay-duh-por |
| St. Jean-de-Luz |
san zhahn-duh-looz |
| San Sebastián |
sahn seh-bah-stee-ahn |
| Santiago de Compostela |
sahn-tee-ah-goh day kohm-poh-steh-lah |
| Santillana del Mar |
sahn-tee-yah-nah del mar |
| Segovia |
seh-goh-vee-ah |
| Sevilla |
seh-vee-yah |
| Sitges |
seet-juhz |
| Tangier |
Tánger (tahn-hair) in Spanish, Tanja (tahn-zhah) in Arabic |
| Tarifa |
tah-ree-fah |
| Toledo |
toh-lay-doh |
| Vejer de la Frontera |
vay-hehr day lah frohn-teh-rah |
| Zahara |
tha-ah-rah |
Spanish Survival Phrases
Spanish has a guttural sound similar to the J in Baja California. In the phonetics, the symbol for this clearing-your-throat sound is the italicized h.
| English |
Spanish |
Pronunciation |
| Good day. |
Buenos días. |
bway-nohs dee-ahs |
| Do you speak English? |
¿Habla Usted inglés? |
ah-blah oo-stehd een-glays |
| Yes. / No. |
Sí. / No. |
see / noh |
| I (don’t) understand. |
(No) comprendo. |
(noh) kohm-prehn-doh |
| Please. |
Por favor. |
por fah-bor |
| Thank you. |
Gracias. |
grah-thee-ahs |
| I’m sorry. |
Lo siento. |
loh see-ehn-toh |
| Excuse me. |
Perdóneme. |
pehr-doh-nay-may |
| (No) problem. |
(No) problema. |
(noh) proh-blay-mah |
| Good. |
Bueno. |
bway-noh |
| Goodbye. |
Adiós. |
ah-dee-ohs |
| one / two |
uno / dos |
oo-noh / dohs |
| three / four |
tres / cuatro |
trays / kwah-troh |
| five / six |
cinco / seis |
theen-koh / says |
| seven / eight |
siete / ocho |
see-eh-tay / oh-choh |
| nine / ten |
nueve / diez |
nway-bay / dee-ayth |
| How much is it? |
¿Cuánto cuesta? |
kwahn-toh kway-stah |
| Write it? |
¿Me lo escribe? |
may loh ay-skree-bay |
| Is it free? |
¿Es gratis? |
ays grah-tees |
| Is it included? |
¿Está incluido? |
ay-stah een-kloo-ee-doh |
| Where can I buy / find...? |
¿Dónde puedo comprar / encontrar...? |
dohn-day pway-doh kohm-prar / ayn-kohn-trar |
| I’d like / We’d like... |
Quiero / Queremos... |
kee-ehr-oh / kehr-ay-mohs |
| ...a room. |
...una habitación. |
oo-nah ah-bee-tah-thee-ohn |
| ...a ticket to ___. |
...un billete para ___. |
oon bee-yeh-tay pah-rah ___ |
| Is it possible? |
¿Es posible? |
ays poh-see-blay |
| Where is...? |
¿Dónde está...? |
dohn-day ay-stah |
| ...the train station |
...la estación de trenes |
lah ay-stah-thee-ohn day tray-nays |
| ...the bus station |
...la estación de autobuses |
lah ay-stah-thee-ohn day ow-toh-boo-says |
| ...the tourist information office |
...la oficina de turismo |
lah oh-fee-thee-nah day too-rees-moh |
| Where are the toilets? |
¿Dónde están los servicios? |
dohn-day ay-stahn lohs sehr-bee-thee-ohs |
| men |
hombres, caballeros |
ohm-brays, kah-bah-yay-rohs |
| women |
mujeres, damas |
moo-heh-rays, dah-mahs |
| left / right |
izquierda / derecha |
eeth-kee-ehr-dah / day-ray-chah |
| straight |
derecho |
day-ray-choh |
| When do you open / close? |
¿A qué hora abren / cierran? |
ah kay oh-rah ah-brehn / thee-ay-rahn |
| At what time? |
¿A qué hora? |
ah kay oh-rah |
| Just a moment. |
Un momento. |
oon moh-mehn-toh |
| now / soon / later |
ahora / pronto / más tarde |
ah-oh-rah / prohn-toh / mahs tar-day |
| today / tomorrow |
hoy / mañana |
oy / mahn-yah-nah |
In a Spanish Restaurant
| English |
Spanish |
Pronunciation |
| I’d like / We’d like... |
Quiero / Queremos... |
kee-ehr-oh / kehr-ay-mohs |
| ...to reserve... |
...reservar... |
ray-sehr-bar |
| ...a table for one / two. |
...una mesa para uno / dos. |
oo-nah may-sah pah-rah oo-noh / dohs |
| Non-smoking. |
No fumador. |
noh foo-mah-dohr |
| Is this table free? |
¿Está esta mesa libre? |
ay-stah ay-stah may-sah lee-bray |
| The menu (in English), please. |
La carta (en inglés), por favor. |
lah kar-tah (ayn een-glays) por fah-bor |
| service (not) included |
servicio (no) incluido |
sehr-bee-thee-oh (noh) een-kloo-ee-doh |
| cover charge |
precio de entrada |
pray-thee-oh day ayn-trah-dah |
| to go |
para llevar |
pah-rah yay-bar |
| with / without |
con / sin |
kohn / seen |
| and / or |
y / o |
ee / oh |
| menu (of the day) |
menú (del día) |
may-noo (dayl dee-ah) |
| specialty of the house |
especialidad de la casa |
ay-spay-thee-ah-lee-dahd day lah kah-sah |
| tourist menu |
menú turístico |
meh-noo too-ree-stee-koh |
| combination plate |
plato combinado |
plah-toh kohm-bee-nah-doh |
| appetizers |
tapas |
tah-pahs |
| bread |
pan |
pahn |
| cheese |
queso |
kay-soh |
| sandwich |
bocadillo |
boh-kah-dee-yoh |
| soup |
sopa |
soh-pah |
| salad |
ensalada |
ayn-sah-lah-dah |
| meat |
carne |
kar-nay |
| poultry |
aves |
ah-bays |
| fish |
pescado |
pay-skah-doh |
| seafood |
marisco |
mah-ree-skoh |
| fruit |
fruta |
froo-tah |
| vegetables |
verduras |
behr-doo-rahs |
| dessert |
postres |
poh-strays |
| tap water |
agua del grifo |
ah-gwah dayl gree-foh |
| mineral water |
agua mineral |
ah-gwah mee-nay-rahl |
| milk |
leche |
lay-chay |
| (orange) juice |
zumo (de naranja) |
thoo-moh (day nah-rahn-hah) |
| coffee |
café |
kah-feh |
| tea |
té |
tay |
| wine |
vino |
bee-noh |
| red / white |
tinto / blanco |
teen-toh / blahn-koh |
| glass / bottle |
vaso / botella |
bah-soh / boh-tay-yah |
| beer |
cerveza |
thehr-bay-thah |
| Cheers! |
¡Salud! |
sah-lood |
| More. / Another. |
Más. / Otro. |
mahs / oh-troh |
| The same. |
El mismo. |
ehl mees-moh |
| The bill, please. |
La cuenta, por favor. |
lah kwayn-tah por fah-bor |
| tip |
propina |
proh-pee-nah |
| Delicious! |
¡Delicioso! |
day-lee-thee-oh-soh |
For hundreds more pages of survival phrases for your trip to Spain, check out Rick Steves’ Spanish Phrase Book.
5 shirts: long- & short-sleeve