Category: Spain

When I decided to apply for a teaching assistant program in Spain, I knew I wanted more than another vacation. I had already visited Granada and Madrid, but this time I wanted to experience what living in Almería would actually be like. And because Andalucía was the only region where language assistants could choose their placement, I had the opportunity to pick exactly where I wanted to go.

I chose Almería. Not because it was the most popular choice. Actually, quite the opposite. I wanted somewhere that felt authentic, less touristy, and more like a place where I could experience everyday Spanish life. Living in Almería gave me exactly what I had been looking for.

I ended up in a little beach town called Aguadulce, and that decision gave me one of the most impactful years of my life.

Why I Chose Almería

My choice was pretty simple: I wanted to see what else Spain had to offer.

I’d already experienced Granada and Madrid as a visitor, but living somewhere is completely different from passing through for a few days. I wanted to wake up somewhere, go to work, grocery shop, make friends, figure out public transportation, and experience all the little things that come with actually living in another country.

Aguadulce turned out to be a great fit for that.

It was quieter than the major Spanish cities I’d visited, and my studio apartment was in a residential neighborhood filled mostly with families and older residents. I actually appreciated the peacefulness. But then there was something else I hadn’t fully appreciated until I got there: the cost of living.

The United States is inexplicably expensive, and before moving abroad, I’d always lived with my parents or had roommates. Almería was the first place where I could afford to have my own apartment in my 30s! It took a lot of research and communication to find an affordable place, but with some understanding and patience, I was lucky enough to make it happen.

That alone made the experience feel pretty significant.

My Little Walkable Life in Aguadulce

I didn’t have a car while living in Aguadulce, but thankfully, I didn’t really need one.

My school was about a 20-minute walk from my apartment, there were multiple grocery stores nearby, and the beach was literally about five minutes away behind my building. Most of what I needed was within walking distance, so I spent a lot of time on foot. By the time I went back home for the summer, I was probably in the best shape I’d been in for a while. LOL

I hadn’t moved to Spain with the intention of becoming a walking enthusiast, but apparently that’s what happens when your transportation options are your feet and public buses.

What It Was Like Teaching in Almería

I worked at a bilingual primary school with children ages 3–5 and students in 1st through 3rd grade. My classes included English, Science, Art, and Physical Education.

One thing I really enjoyed was having a rotating schedule. Instead of working with the same students and subject every day, I had the opportunity to work with different age groups and subjects throughout the week. The school environment was incredibly welcoming. The teachers were lovely, and the students were adorably eager to learn.

I had already studied Spanish and had experience with the language, but working in a Spanish school gave me a completely different perspective. I wasn’t just learning about Spain anymore, I was participating in everyday life there and quickly became attached to the people around me.

Making Friends as an Adult Abroad

Making friends as an adult can be tricky enough when you’re at home. Moving to another country and trying to build a social life from scratch adds another layer to it.

Thankfully, language assistants have one major advantage: group chats. WhatsApp is king overseas and 100% free!

I joined several different chats where language assistants could connect, make plans, ask questions, and meet people who were going through the same experience. I also connected with local Spaniards, which gave me opportunities to socialize beyond the assistant community.

At one point, I even joined a hiking group. As someone who enjoys being outdoors, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to explore the scenery around me. It’s an Earth sign thing. LOL

Hiking Through Ohanes

One of my favorite hiking-group outings took us to Ohanes, a small town surrounded by beautiful scenery.

Almería is known for its production of olives and olive oil, so there were olive trees everywhere. We spent the day enjoying the scenery, exploring little shops and restaurants, and just taking advantage of a beautiful day outside. It was exactly the kind of experience I had hoped for when I chose Almería.

I wasn’t looking for a packed tourist itinerary. I wanted to discover the smaller places, meet people, and experience what everyday life looked like outside Spain’s major cities.

Ohanes gave me a little bit of that.

The Food, Bars & Port Life I Loved

If you ask me about my favorite restaurant in Aguadulce, there really isn’t much debate. It’s La Piedra, an Argentine restaurant that served some of the most delicious patatas bravas and steak I’ve ever had. I went there so often that eventually the staff started recognizing me. LOL

Naturally, I had to go there for my 34th birthday.

The restaurant was located along a road behind my apartment that had several other restaurants and shops. Keep following that road and you’d eventually reach a small port where boats docked. There were bars and clubs nearby, including Temple Bar, where I went for karaoke, and Mojito, a fun dance club for people of all ages and music types.

My birthday was especially memorable because some of the language assistants I’d become friends with celebrated with me at La Piedra. Afterward, we went back to my apartment to eat the cake one of the girls had made for me. It was delicious! Then we headed back down to the port for darts, karaoke, and dancing.

Not a bad way to turn 34.

The Cultural Adjustments I Didn’t Expect

Living abroad isn’t just about beautiful beaches, new friends, and inexpensive meals. Sometimes the smallest everyday things remind you that you’re living in a completely different culture.

For me, one of the first adjustments was drying clothes on a line. As an American, the idea of not having a clothes dryer genuinely hadn’t crossed my mind before moving abroad. I assumed having a dryer was normal. I was mistaken. LOL

I personally was not a fan of air-drying my clothes, so I eventually decided to spend the money at the nearest lavandería instead. You can take the girl out of the US, but you can’t take the US out of the girl!

Another adjustment was the amount of staring I experienced. In the U.S., staring is generally considered rude, so it didn’t immediately occur to me that it could be perceived differently somewhere else. I didn’t enjoy it, particularly when it came from men. There were even occasions when men followed me around, which was extremely uncomfortable.

Because walking was such a big part of my everyday life, those experiences made me more conscious of my surroundings. It wasn’t something I expected to deal with, and it definitely became part of my adjustment to living abroad.

Spain Runs on a Completely Different Clock

Then there was the issue of time.

I was used to eating dinner around 7 p.m. In Spain, dinner at 10 or 11 p.m. is completely normal. Going out was even more of an adjustment. In the U.S., going to a bar around 10 or 11 p.m. would usually be a perfectly reasonable starting point. In Spain, that could be when people were just starting to get ready. 1 or 1:30 a.m. was a normal starting time for a night out.

I went out maybe three times during my entire time in Almería because I simply could not stay out all night like that. My body said, Ma’am, we’re going home. LOL

A Few More Almería Memories

There were plenty of smaller experiences that made my year memorable.

I had my first Spanish movie-theater experience, for example. I went to see Blanca Nieves (Snow White), and while I didn’t think the movie itself was particularly good, the experience was still interesting. Watching an English-language movie dubbed in Spanish was definitely different from watching it back home.

I also visited the aquarium in nearby Roquetas de Mar. It was small but cute, and they even had a little pool where visitors could touch the stingrays. And finally, there was Mirador Las Sirenas. I went there with some of the teachers from my school, and we watched the sunset together.

Beautiful sunsets became one of those things I never seemed to get tired of while living in Spain.

The Beach Culture Was the Biggest Adjustment

Of course, living five minutes from the beach meant I spent plenty of time around the coast.

One thing that momentarily caught me off guard was Europe’s more relaxed attitude toward nudity at the beach. Seeing topless women and little kids running around without diapers was definitely a culture shock the first time. The shock lasted about 30 seconds and then I got over it. LOL

I wasn’t confident enough to participate myself, but I quickly realized that what felt unusual to me was simply normal for other people. It’s one of those little cultural differences you don’t necessarily think about until you’re standing on a beach experiencing it firsthand.

Living in Mainland Spain Opened Up Europe

Another advantage of being based in mainland Spain was how easy it felt to explore other parts of Europe. During that year, I traveled to Copenhagen for Christmas and Amsterdam for New Year’s.

Those trips deserve stories of their own, so I’m saving the details for separate posts. But being able to live in Spain while also having opportunities to explore more of Europe was something I really appreciated about the experience.

I wasn’t just living abroad. I was building a lifestyle where travel became much more accessible.

The Hardest Part Was Saying Goodbye

I knew from the beginning that my year in Spain wouldn’t last forever. What I didn’t expect was how difficult leaving would actually be. No one warns you that working with kids will make you fall in love.

By the time my last day at school arrived, I’d become incredibly attached to my students and coworkers. Some of the students didn’t even realize that it was my final day, and when they found out, they cried. Of course, that made me cry too. They drew me pictures and wrote me the sweetest little letters so I’d have something to remember them by.

It was a sad day, but it was also filled with so much love and gratitude. Those kids had become such a meaningful part of my experience, and their reactions reminded me just how much the year had meant to me.

Why Almería Made Me Want to Return to Spain

When I chose Almería, I wasn’t looking for the most popular Spanish destination. I wanted something authentic. I wanted to see what life looked like away from the major tourist cities I’d already visited and that’s exactly what I got.

I lived in a quiet beach town, walked almost everywhere, had my own apartment for the first time, made friends from different countries, worked with Spanish children, joined a hiking group, ate entirely too much at my favorite restaurant, adjusted to Spanish schedules, traveled around Europe, and learned that living abroad comes with just as many awkward cultural adjustments as beautiful moments.

Most importantly, living in Almería was the experience that made me realize I wasn’t finished with Spain. When that school year ended, I knew I wanted to come back. I just didn’t know yet that I’d eventually return for another year and that my next Spanish home would be on an island.

But that’s a story for Gran Canaria.

Turning 35 felt like a pretty good excuse to do something memorable. After spending eight months living and working in Gran Canaria, I knew I hadn’t seen nearly enough of the Canary Islands. So for my 35th birthday this year, I decided to take a Tenerife birthday trip and change that

This trip ended up being the perfect combination of road-trip adventures, beautiful scenery, good friends, wildlife, and plenty of moments where I stopped and thought, Okay…Spain really does this?

Wanting to See More of the Canary Islands

Living in Gran Canaria gave me the chance to experience island life in a way a short vacation never could. But one thing I kept thinking about was how little of the rest of the Canary Islands I’d actually seen. So for my 35th birthday this year, I decided to change that.

Tenerife seemed like the perfect choice. I wanted somewhere I could explore, take plenty of pictures, and experience something completely different from my everyday life in Gran Canaria.

And because apparently turning 35 means renting a car and driving around an island with friends, that’s exactly what I did!

A Reunion With a Familiar Friend

One of the best parts of the trip was getting to see a familiar face again.

I originally met this friend while traveling in Copenhagen, and somehow we kept running into each other in different cities afterward. Turns out it’s a small world after all! LOL

For Tenerife, he and two other friends rented a car, and the four of us made our way around the island from north to south. We stopped constantly for pictures because, honestly, Tenerife made it very difficult to not stop for pictures.

There was something especially fun about experiencing the island with people I already knew while still getting to explore somewhere completely new together.

Puerto de la Cruz

Our first stop was Lago Martiánez in Puerto de la Cruz, an outdoor seawater swimming pool complex right along the coast.

Admission was €7, and it was a pretty great way to kick off the trip. After spending so much time surrounded by the scenery of the Canary Islands, getting to actually enjoy the water felt like the right way to start my Tenerife adventure. Lounging in a chair by the pool on a nice, sunny day with a cold drink was the picture of relaxation. After that, we were officially ready to hit the road.

From there, we continued exploring the northern part of the island, making frequent stops at the miradors whenever something caught our attention.

Garachico

Next up was Garachico. We walked around, grabbed some ice cream, and took pictures while enjoying the scenery. It was one of those stops that didn’t need a complicated itinerary. Sometimes you just need a pretty place, something cold to eat, and enough time to wander around.

But as beautiful as Garachico was, the next stop ended up being one of my favorites.

Masca

If I had to choose one place from the road trip that really stood out, Masca would be it.

The drive itself was an adventure. The roads wound through the mountains, and at one point, fog made it difficult to see much of anything around us. Then we drove through it.

Suddenly, the sunshine came back, and the views opened up again. The trees and mountains were incredible, and there were moments when it genuinely felt like we were above the clouds. We stopped to take pictures and eventually stayed to watch the sunset.

The sky changed into those pink and orange colors that make you wonder how something can look that unreal without being edited. It was the perfect way to start my birthday trip.

Playa de las Américas

After exploring the northern and mountainous parts of Tenerife, we made our way toward the southern part of the island. We stopped in Playa de las Américas, which felt much more touristy than some of the places we’d visited earlier. There were black sand beaches, plenty of people, and lots happening around us.

We grabbed some food before heading to our hostel for the night, Los Amigos Nest Hostel. After a full day of driving, sightseeing, and stopping every five minutes because someone wanted another picture, we were definitely ready to call it a night.

A Funny Visit to the Monkey Park

The next day brought one of the more entertaining stops of the trip: Monkey Park.

We walked through the different exhibits and got to feed the monkeys. There were also guinea pigs, turtles, birds, crocodiles, and other animals to see.

But the funniest part involved one of my friends. One monkey in particular happily took food from everyone else. Then it was his turn. He tried to feed it. The monkey basically said, Absolutely not. He tried again. Still ignored.

At that point, we were all laughing because apparently this monkey had already decided he wasn’t worth the effort. LOL It was definitely one of those random travel moments that you remember long after the trip is over.

Whale & Dolphin Watching in Los Cristianos

After Monkey Park, we headed to Fisherman’s Wharf at the Port of Los Cristianos for a whale and dolphin-watching tour. The tour lasted about two hours, and while tours like these are usually hit or miss when it comes to actually seeing something, we were lucky enough to see multiple whales and dolphins that afternoon.

There’s something completely magical about seeing these animals in the middle of the ocean rather than behind glass or in an enclosed space. Watching these huge creatures move freely through such a massive body of water really makes you feel small!

It was one of those experiences where I didn’t need to do much other than sit there and take it all in.

Mount Teide

For our final day, we headed to Mount Teide National Park.

I want to make one thing clear: I did NOT climb Mount Teide. LOL We explored the area, walked around, and took plenty of pictures.

The landscape immediately reminded me of the American Southwest. The colors and rock formations gave me flashes of places like the Grand Canyon and the desert landscapes I’d seen in the United States.

But then the sun started going down. We stayed to watch the sunset, and the sky turned pink and orange until it looked almost like a painting. By the end of it, the temperature had definitely dropped, and I was feeling the chill. I was also not appropriately dressed for this. LOL

One of my friends had the great idea to stargaze for a bit and adjusted his phone to capture the stars and our silhouettes against the night sky. It was a pretty incredible way to end the trip.

What My Tenerife Birthday Trip Gave Me

Looking back, this Tenerife birthday trip was exactly the kind of experience I wanted for my big day. I wanted something special. What I got was so much more than a night out at a club or a dinner with awkward singing.

I got winding mountain roads, unexpected stops, sunsets, black sand beaches, monkeys with questionable opinions about my friends, whales and dolphins in the open ocean, and landscapes that looked like they belonged on another planet. I also got to explore another part of Spain with people I genuinely enjoyed being around—which, after spending so much time living abroad, made the experience even better.

After living in Gran Canaria, I already knew the Canary Islands had a way of making everyday life feel a little more beautiful. But seeing Tenerife for the first time reminded me that every island has its own personality, scenery, and surprises. I got to celebrate another year of life by doing something I’ve always loved: going somewhere I’ve never been and seeing what happens.

And if this is what 35 looks like, I’ll take it!

I didn’t go to Gran Canaria for a vacation. I went there to live.

After spending my first year in Spain as an English language assistant in Almería, I applied to renew my contract for another school year. I’d already visited Spain several times since 2017, so choosing Spain again was an easy decision.

There was just one problem: a change in Andalucía meant language assistants could only stay in the region for one year. When it was time to submit my preferences for my second year, I put the Canary Islands at the top of my list. I didn’t specifically choose Gran Canaria. The program placed me there. Yet somehow, it ended up being exactly where I needed to be.

I had been ready to get out of the U.S. for a while and experience something different. By the time I arrived in Gran Canaria, I wasn’t nervous about moving abroad or starting over. This was my second year living in Spain, so I already knew the basics—finding an apartment, figuring out transportation, grocery shopping, meeting people, showing up for the first day of school, and generally figuring out how to make a new place feel normal.

I just didn’t know yet what living in Gran Canaria for eight months would actually feel like.

---

What It Was Like Working With Spanish Children

One of my favorite parts of living in Gran Canaria was working with children. I worked at two bilingual primary schools in the southern part of the island, mainly with children between the ages of 6 and 12. Occasionally, I also worked with younger children between 3 and 5.

Because the schools were bilingual, English was a big priority. My job was largely about getting the kids comfortable actually speaking English, not just memorizing vocabulary or completing worksheets. That meant games, activities, conversations, and plenty of opportunities for them to use English in a way that felt natural.

I also got to bring a little bit of American culture into the classroom. We talked about holidays, traditions, food, sports, music, and everyday life in the U.S. Honestly, I loved it!

There’s something special about watching a child suddenly understand something you’ve been trying to explain. And of course, working with kids also means there were plenty of funny moments that probably wouldn’t happen in an office job.

Teaching English was a big part of my experience living in Gran Canaria, and it gave me a completely different perspective on what everyday life on the island could look like.

---

Why I Didn’t Live in Las Palmas

When people hear “Gran Canaria,” they may immediately think of Las Palmas.

I actually lived in the southern part of the island and stayed much closer to my schools. That was a decision I was very happy with because, after spending the day working, the last thing I wanted to do was spend hours commuting just to get home. I could walk around my town for most of my everyday errands, which made life pretty easy.

Las Palmas was about an hour and fifteen minutes away by bus, while Maspalomas was roughly thirty minutes from where I lived. So while I didn’t make it to Las Palmas constantly, I still had plenty of opportunities to explore and spend time there.

And sometimes staying close to home was exactly what I needed. Not every weekend abroad has to involve an itinerary. Sometimes you work all week, go home, eat something good, watch TV, and enjoy the fact that you’re living in Spain.

---

Making Friends While Living in Gran Canaria

Moving somewhere new is exciting, but let’s be honest: making friends as an adult can be awkward. Thankfully, I wasn’t completely on my own.

There were group chats and other language assistants around the island, and every once in a while we’d meet up in Las Palmas for a girls’ day. We’d grab food and drinks, play games, hang out at the park, and just enjoy each other’s company.

One of the girls I met during that time ended up becoming a real friend. She eventually moved to Atlanta for graduate school, which meant we were able to see each other again after leaving Spain. That thought still makes me laugh a little. You can move halfway across the world and somehow end up making a friend who eventually moves to the same city you’re from.

Maybe the world isn’t quite as big as we think it is!

---

Carnaval in Las Palmas Was Something Else

If there is one thing I will never forget about living in Gran Canaria, it’s Carnaval.

It was honestly otherworldly.

I’ve experienced Mardi Gras in the U.S., so I had something to compare it to, but Carnaval in Las Palmas had its own completely different energy. The streets were packed, businesses closed, roads were shut down, and we even had days off from school because of the celebrations.

And it wasn’t just one big event happening in one place. Different cities around the island had their own celebrations at different times, so Carnaval seemed to keep going.

One of the highlights was seeing Ozuna perform at an outdoor stage that was free to the public.

And when I say packed, I mean PACKED. There were so many people that moving around was practically a group activity. But it was fun!

The only downside to the night was my friend and I discovering that taxis apparently were not going to be running for some reason. So instead of hopping into a cab, we walked almost an hour back to her apartment. Uphill. In the rain.

That was NOT fun. LOL

---

The Food I Kept Going Back For

Living in Gran Canaria definitely taught me something about myself: When I find a restaurant I love, I don’t necessarily need to keep looking for somewhere new. I’ll just go back.

TKO Tacos was one of those places.

Good Mexican food can be really difficult to find in Spain, so when I discovered a place serving €1 tacos, I was sold. I ate there often and pretty much had my order memorized.

My usual combo was the Alambre de Pollo taco, a Cochinada taco, and a Calabacín taco. To drink, I’d go with a guava Jarritos or a margarita. And yes, I realize that’s a very specific order. But when you find something that hits the spot, why mess with it?

I also loved Hatuey Buffet Cubano, where I would usually get carne mechada, yuca, congris rice, and fried plantains. That meal hit the spot every single time. I don’t believe in pretending I tried the entire menu when I clearly found my favorites and stuck with them. LOL

---

The Night My Apartment Flooded

Not every Gran Canaria memory involves beaches and Carnaval. There was also the night my apartment flooded.

It happened after a huge tropical storm. Nothing serious happened to me, but water managed to get under my front door and through my kitchen window. I had thought the window was completely closed, but apparently it wasn’t as secure as I thought. I woke up the next morning to water covering a good portion of the floor. It had even made its way underneath my couch.

Thankfully, there was no carpet, so at least I wasn’t dealing with that particular nightmare. I grabbed my mop and the couple of towels I had, and my neighbor brought over more towels to help. After that, whenever there was heavy rain, I started putting towels along the bottom of the front door.

Was it slightly dramatic? Maybe. Did I care? Absolutely not. Once you’ve woken up to water creeping across your apartment floor, you become a towel-under-the-door kind of person. LOL

---

The People Who Made Gran Canaria Feel Like Home

If I had to choose the biggest surprise from my time in Gran Canaria, it wouldn’t be the beaches or the weather. It would be how genuinely kind people were to me. From the moment I landed, I felt welcomed and supported.

The director from one of my schools picked me up from the airport. My Airbnb host gave me suggestions for places to see. A potential landlord showed me around the town and continued checking in with me even after I decided to rent somewhere else.

When I moved into my apartment, my new neighbors helped me move in and even made me lunch. My landlord also lowered the rent to make it more affordable. At school, the teachers were kind and helpful, and I never felt like I had been dropped into a completely unfamiliar environment without anyone to turn to. Even walking around by myself felt comfortable.

That feeling of being welcomed is something I don’t take for granted.

---

Speaking Spanish While Living in Spain

Moving to Spain wasn’t my first experience with Spanish.

I graduated from college with a degree in Spanish, so I already had a pretty good foundation before I moved to Gran Canaria.

But there’s a difference between the Spanish many Americans learn in school and the Spanish spoken in Spain.

Some words, expressions, accents, and pronunciations were different from what I was used to hearing in Latin American Spanish. Every once in a while, I’d hear something and think, Okay…I know Spanish, but what exactly did you just say? LOL

Still, communication was never a major issue. One thing I found especially endearing was how often locals wanted to practice their English with me. I’d be ready to use my Spanish, and sometimes the other person would be just as eager to practice English. So we’d basically meet somewhere in the middle!

---

My Favorite Places Around Gran Canaria

I didn’t spend all eight months constantly sightseeing, but there were a few places around Gran Canaria that really stood out to me.

Maspalomas & Playa del Inglés

Maspalomas was only about thirty minutes away from where I lived by bus, so it was one of the easier places for me to visit. My favorite beach there was Playa del Inglés. In general, I prefer sand beaches compared to pebble beaches (which is what I had closer to me), so I didn’t mind the commute .

The biggest attraction, of course, is the famous nature reserve sand dunes that span over 1000 acres.

The area is very touristy, so I generally preferred staying closer to the beach rather than spending a lot of time shopping or wandering around the restaurant areas. Sometimes I just wanted to sit by the water and enjoy the fact that this was my life for a while.

Puerto de Mogán

Puerto de Mogán was another favorite.

It’s a beautiful little seaside town nicknamed “Little Venice” because of its canals and picturesque waterfront.

I went for the scenery and stayed for the sunset. The weather was perfect, the town was beautiful, and it was one of those days where you don’t need to do much for it to feel memorable.

---

What Living in Gran Canaria Was Really Like

After eight months of living in Gran Canaria, I can honestly say that everyday life felt much more normal than I expected. Of course, I was still living on an island in Spain, so there were beaches, beautiful weather, Carnaval, and plenty of places to explore. But most days weren’t some nonstop vacation.

I had to go to work. I grocery shopped. I cooked. I did laundry. I caught the bus. I dealt with apartment issues. I had lazy weekends when I didn’t feel like going anywhere. But that’s actually one of the things I loved most about living in Gran Canaria. Eventually, the island stopped feeling like somewhere I was visiting and started feeling like somewhere I lived.

I had my favorite restaurants, places I knew how to get to without checking Google Maps, people I could call, routines I recognized, and a neighborhood that felt familiar. That’s the difference between traveling somewhere and actually living there. You stop asking, “What should I see?” and start asking, “What do I feel like doing today?”

For me, that was when Gran Canaria really started to feel like home.

---

Would I Recommend Living in Gran Canaria?

Absolutely! And that’s probably the simplest way I can put it.

I went to Gran Canaria because a program placed me there. I stayed because I was having an amazing experience. I loved working with the children. I loved the weather, the food, Carnaval, the friendships I made, and the feeling of being able to walk around and feel comfortable on my own.

Of course, living abroad isn’t perfect. There were rainy days, long bus rides, apartment problems, homesickness, and the occasional What exactly am I doing here? moment. But that’s part of the experience.

The hardest part was eventually having to say goodbye to the people I’d met and built relationships with. At the same time, I left knowing that goodbye didn’t necessarily mean forever. I can always go back. And honestly, I hope I do.

Gran Canaria Chose Me

I didn’t choose Gran Canaria. I chose Spain. I put the Canary Islands on my preference list. And then a program basically said, Surprise! You’re going to Gran Canaria.

Looking back, I’m incredibly grateful they did.

My eight months there gave me experiences I couldn’t have planned, friendships I didn’t expect, memories I’ll always have, and another reminder that sometimes the best adventures aren’t the ones you carefully plan.

They’re the ones that happen because life makes the decision for you.

When I visited Málaga in February 2025, I expected a few days of exploring another Spanish city (after previous trips to Granada and Madrid), eating good food, and hopefully spending a little time near the Mediterranean.

The Mediterranean part didn’t exactly cooperate. February brought enough rain to ruin my beach plans, but the rest of Málaga more than made up for it.

I stayed in one of the nicest hostels I’ve experienced, ate an unreasonable amount of delicious tapas, made new friends I still talk to today, explored one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks, and took an unforgettable day trip to Caminito del Rey.

Oh, and I got left behind by my tour bus! We’ll get to that…LOL

If you’re considering Málaga solo travel, especially during the quieter winter months, my trip was a pretty good reminder that the experiences you remember most aren’t always the ones you planned.

Staying at TOC Málaga

One of the best decisions I made in Málaga was staying at TOC Málaga.

I’ve stayed in plenty of hostels over the years, and this was easily one of the nicest. It had the kind of atmosphere that made staying in a hostel feel less like choosing the budget option and more like somewhere I genuinely enjoyed coming back to at the end of the day.

But the best part of staying in a hostel wasn’t the building itself. It was the people.

I met several other travelers while there, and what started as those temporary travel friendships—the people you meet over breakfast, while hanging around the hostel, or when somebody asks what you’re doing later—turned into actual friendships. I still talk to some of them today!

That’s one of the things I wish more people understood about traveling solo: solo doesn’t necessarily mean alone. Some of my favorite travel memories have happened because I arrived somewhere by myself and ended up meeting people I never would have encountered otherwise.

Eating My Way Through Casa Lola

If you ask me where to eat in Málaga based on my trip, I already have an answer. Casa Lola. Hands down.

There were so many tapas to try that choosing what to order was half the fun. Add a delicious glass of wine, good company, and that lively Spanish dining atmosphere, and I was very happy.

One thing I love about tapas is that you don’t have to commit to one enormous meal. You can order a few things, share, try something you’ve never had before, realize you need another plate of whatever you just ate, and somehow convince yourself that ordering more food is actually cultural research…because it is. HEHE

Casa Lola became one of those restaurants I associate with the destination itself. When I think about eating in Málaga, that’s the place that immediately comes back to me.

Visiting Málaga Cathedral

Food wasn’t the only thing that impressed me in Málaga.

Málaga Cathedral was another standout.

The cathedral is commonly known as La Manquita, which roughly translates to “the one-armed lady,” a nickname connected to its famously unfinished second tower. Construction began in the 16th century, and the building’s long, complicated history has left it with the distinctive asymmetrical appearance visitors see today.

There’s something fascinating about standing in front of a building that’s been part of a city’s landscape for centuries and is still, technically, unfinished.

Rather than making it less impressive, I think the missing tower makes the cathedral even more memorable.

Travel Britten Tip: Historic buildings are exactly where I like checking the official website before visiting. Restoration work, access areas, opening times, and ticketing can change, especially when you’re dealing with a building that’s hundreds of years old.

When Málaga Beach Weather Says, “Not Today”

Of course, Málaga sits on Spain’s Costa del Sol, so naturally I had visions of spending some time near the beach. But nope! The weather had other plans.

I visited in February, and my trip ended up being rainier than I’d hoped. It wasn’t exactly the weather for stretching out on the sand and enjoying a Mediterranean beach day.

Was I disappointed? A little. But this is also one of those travel expectations I’ve learned to let go of. You can choose the destination, book the flight, plan the itinerary, and pack the clothes. You cannot negotiate with the weather.

Fortunately, Málaga gave me plenty to do without the beach and one particular excursion was about to make the trip much more interesting.

My Caminito del Rey Adventure

One of the things I was most excited about was visiting Caminito del Rey.

I booked a guided excursion from Málaga, and before reaching Caminito del Rey, our group made a short stop in the small town of Ardales along the way.

It was a nice little break in the journey. We could get off the bus, walk around for a bit, grab a snack, use the restroom, and stretch our legs before continuing.

Simple enough. Or so I thought.

That Time My Tour Bus Left Without Me

At some point, there was apparently a miscommunication about what time everyone needed to be back at the bus.

I returned to the meeting spot only to discover one tiny problem: My bus was gone! Not running late. Not parked somewhere else.

Gone.

The rest of my tour group was already continuing toward Caminito del Rey while I was still standing in Ardales. This was not part of the itinerary. LOL I had to figure out how to catch up with them, which ultimately meant getting a taxi and taking it the rest of the way to meet my group.

Was this how I planned to arrive at Caminito del Rey? Absolutely not.

Did I make it? I sure did.

And that’s one of those moments when traveling alone really tests you. There’s nobody automatically there to solve the problem for you. You can panic—which, totally fair—or you can figure out what your options are and keep moving.

I found a solution. And, most importantly, I found my tour group!

Travel Britten Tip: On organized excursions, especially ones with intermediate stops, confirm the exact meeting time and meeting point before wandering off. If there’s any confusion, ask twice. I learned that one personally.

Walking the Caminito del Rey

Once I finally reunited with everyone, I could concentrate on the reason I’d booked the excursion in the first place and whoa baby! Caminito del Rey was worth the drama.

The route takes you through an incredible landscape of steep rock walls, gorges, elevated walkways, and views that photographs don’t completely prepare you for.

After the taxi situation, getting onto the trail and finally being able to enjoy where I was felt especially satisfying. There were moments when I just stopped and looked around.

This was exactly the kind of experience I travel for—being somewhere completely different from my everyday surroundings and wondering how a place can possibly look like this.

And Then There Were Mountain Goats

As if the scenery wasn’t enough, we also encountered mountain goats. Adorable mountain goats.

I don’t care how impressive the landscape is. If an animal appears, there’s a very good chance it’s getting some of my attention. Seeing them out there among the mountains was one of those small, unexpected moments that made the excursion even better.

Between the cliffs, walkways, enormous views, and surprise wildlife, Caminito del Rey easily became my favorite excursion from Málaga. The fact that I had to chase my tour group across Andalusia in a taxi first just makes the story better now.

What I’d Know Before Visiting Málaga Solo

Looking back, Málaga was a great example of why I don’t want every solo trip planned down to the minute.

Yes, there are things worth arranging ahead of time, especially an excursion like Caminito del Rey. But some of the best parts of Málaga weren’t items I could have scheduled. I couldn’t have planned the friendships I made at my hostel. I didn’t know Casa Lola would become my favorite place to eat. I definitely didn’t plan on being stranded in Ardales while my tour bus drove away. And I couldn’t control the rain.

For a Málaga trip, I’d give yourself a combination of structure and flexibility. Book the experiences that really matter to you, but leave room for meals that turn into long conversations, people you meet along the way, and weather that forces you to change your plans.

I’d also pack for the actual season rather than the version of southern Spain you have pictured in your head. Costa del Sol does not mean guaranteed beach weather every day of the year. February made sure I understood that.

Is Málaga Good for Solo Travel?

Based on my experience, absolutely!

Málaga gave me something I particularly value as a solo traveler: opportunities to be independent without feeling isolated.

I could explore on my own when I wanted to, socialize at the hostel, go out to eat with people I’d met, and book a group excursion when I wanted a bigger adventure outside the city. And sometimes the friendships you make while traveling last longer than the trip itself.

I think that’s what stands out most when I look back at Málaga. Caminito del Rey was incredible. Casa Lola was delicious. The cathedral was beautiful. But I also left Málaga with people in my life who weren’t there when I arrived.

That’s pretty special.

Málaga Didn’t Go According to Plan but That’s Okay

If I could go back and change one thing about Málaga, I’d obviously tell myself exactly what time that bus was leaving Ardales. Other than that? I’d let the trip unfold pretty much the way it did.

The beach didn’t happen because of the rain. My day trip included an unexpected taxi ride. And some of my favorite memories came from people I hadn’t even met when I landed in Spain.

Málaga wasn’t a perfectly executed itinerary. It was better than that!

It was tapas and wine at Casa Lola. It was making friends in a hostel. It was standing beneath a cathedral that’s been part of Málaga for centuries. It was looking across the enormous landscape at Caminito del Rey and spotting mountain goats along the way. And yes, it was getting left behind by a tour bus and figuring out how to catch it.

Because apparently even when I travel solo, I still have to remind the group not to leave without me. LOL

Some destinations become special because of what you see there. Others become special because of what they represent.

For me, Granada was both.

In 2017, I traveled to Granada on my first solo trip to Spain. I was heading somewhere completely new on my own, and I had no idea that this trip would become the beginning of a much longer relationship with Spain.

Granada gave me history, mountains, incredible architecture, good food, nightlife, a Mediterranean beach day, and one sangria that I’ve been comparing every other sangria to ever since. If you’re considering Granada solo travel, these are the places and experiences that made my first visit so memorable.

It also gave me a few experiences I couldn’t possibly have planned.

Start With the Alhambra

If there’s one place I wouldn’t skip in Granada, it’s the Alhambra.

I had seen pictures before my trip, but they didn’t prepare me for how much detail there is once you’re actually inside. Walking through the complex and the Nasrid Palaces, I kept finding myself stopping to look more closely at the walls, arches, ceilings, and courtyards.

The Arabic inscriptions and intricate decorative patterns were especially fascinating to me.

I’d learned about the centuries of Muslim rule in Spain, but standing somewhere where that history was physically surrounding me made it feel completely different from reading about it. From there, you step outside and remember that you’re in Granada.

The views across the city are gorgeous, and depending on where you’re standing, the Sierra Nevada seems to be waiting in the background.

Travel Britten Tip: The Nasrid Palaces use timed admission, so this is one Granada attraction I wouldn’t leave until the last minute. Check the official Alhambra website for current ticket availability and visitor information before your trip.

Exploring Granada Beyond the Alhambra

The Alhambra may be Granada’s superstar, but I wouldn’t treat the city as somewhere you visit just to see one attraction. Part of what I loved was simply being there.

Granada has the kind of scenery that makes walking around feel like part of the sightseeing. Historic buildings, narrow streets, viewpoints, and glimpses of the Alhambra appear throughout the city.

And then there are those mountains.

Look Up at the Sierra Nevada

One of the things that surprised me most about Granada was just how beautiful the Sierra Nevada looked behind the city. When people imagine southern Spain, snow-covered mountains probably aren’t the first thing that comes to mind but there they were.

That contrast is part of what made Granada so memorable to me. I could spend one part of the trip surrounded by historic architecture with snowy mountains in the distance and another beside the Mediterranean.

Granada gave me a much different introduction to Spain than I had expected and I loved that!

Visit Federico García Lorca’s Granada

Another stop that meant something to me personally was Huerta de San Vicente, the former summer home of Spanish poet and playwright Federico García Lorca and his family. I’d learned about Lorca in school, so visiting somewhere connected to his life gave the experience a different meaning.

I already enjoy museums, but travel makes history and literature feel more tangible to me. Someone you’ve previously encountered through a book or classroom suddenly becomes connected to an actual house, neighborhood and city.

For anyone interested in literature, history, or Spanish culture, Lorca’s connection to Granada adds another layer to exploring the city.

Have the Sangria—But Maybe Don’t Start With the Best One LOL

One of the first things I did in Granada was go to La Bella y la Bestia and order a sangria. This turned out to be a mistake. Not because it was bad but because it was too good.

It was the best sangria I had during the entire trip, which meant every sangria afterward was competing with the first one. None of them won. LOL I honestly wish I’d saved it for the end.

This was back in 2017, so I’m definitely not telling you to build your current Granada itinerary around a restaurant I visited years ago. But that sangria has somehow survived in my memory alongside palaces, mountains and beaches, which I think says everything that needs to be said about it.

Leave Room for an Unexpected Night Out

One of my favorite Granada stories had nothing to do with my itinerary. I simply randomly ran into a friend from college.

In Spain.

While traveling solo. What are the chances?

We ended up going to a dance club together, which obviously wasn’t something I’d planned when I started organizing my trip.

Experiences like that are one of the reasons I’ve learned not to schedule every minute when I travel. Planning is important, especially when you’re traveling alone, but some of the best stories happen in the spaces you didn’t plan.

Granada gave me one of those.

Take a Day Trip to Almuñécar

If you want to trade Granada’s historic streets and mountain scenery for the Mediterranean for a day, Almuñécar makes a great change of pace.

I went there with my college friend for a beach day, and suddenly my first trip to Spain looked completely different.

There was rocky coastline, blue Mediterranean water and seafood. I tried swordfish for the first time, and it was pretty good!

But apparently the beach also came with entertainment. At one point, a random dog walked over to us carrying a tennis ball. He dropped it. That was it. No introduction. No discussion. We had apparently been selected for fetch duty. LOL Naturally, we accepted our assignment.

It’s such a tiny memory compared with visiting somewhere like the Alhambra, but it’s also one of the stories I still remember from the trip. That’s travel for ya!

What I’d Know Before Visiting Granada

My trip happened in 2017, so I wouldn’t want someone planning Granada today to rely solely on what things were like when I visited.

The biggest thing I’d plan ahead now is the Alhambra. Entry to the Nasrid Palaces is timed, and availability can be limited. Buy through the official Alhambra ticketing system and check current visitor information before you go rather than relying on an old blog post—including this one—for changing ticket details.

I’d also bring comfortable shoes. Granada is a city you’ll want to explore on foot, and between sightseeing and wandering around historic areas, this isn’t the trip for discovering that your cute shoes become instruments of torture after three hours. I’ve learned that particular travel lesson the hard way.

Give yourself enough time for Granada beyond the Alhambra, too. The palace complex deserves its place at the top of the list, but I would have missed a lot of what I enjoyed about Granada if I’d treated the city as nothing more than a stop for its most famous attraction.

And if you have enough time, consider getting out of the city for a day. My Almuñécar trip gave me a completely different view of southern Spain without taking away from my time exploring Granada.

Is Granada Worth Visiting?

For me, easily.

Granada managed to fit an incredible amount into one trip: the Alhambra and Nasrid Palaces, Islamic architecture, Federico García Lorca, the Sierra Nevada, food and sangria, nightlife, and a Mediterranean beach day.

But that’s not the only reason I remember it.

I remember randomly finding a college friend thousands of miles from home. I remember the dog who decided I was going to play fetch whether I’d planned to or not. I remember that first sangria and I remember standing in Granada realizing that traveling somewhere alone didn’t mean the experience had to feel lonely.

The Trip That Started Something Bigger

I didn’t know it in 2017, but Granada wasn’t going to be my only experience in Spain.

Years later, I would return and experience a completely different side of the country in Madrid. More trips would take me to other parts of Spain, each one giving me another reason to come back.

But Granada was first.

It was my first solo trip to Spain, my first introduction to Andalucía, and the place where so many of my earliest memories of the country began. Maybe that’s why Granada still stands out.

Somewhere between the Alhambra, snowy mountains, Mediterranean coast, dancing, sangria, and one very demanding dog with a tennis ball, I fell for it.

And my Spain adventures were only getting started.

After three visits, my Barcelona solo travel experiences have started to blend into one big collection of Gothic streets, Gaudí architecture, harbor views, cheap tacos, hostel stays, unexpected reunions, and even a couple of nights sleeping at the airport.

Barcelona wasn’t my first experience in Spain—that honor belongs to Granada—and it wasn’t my last. But there’s clearly something about this city that keeps pulling me back.

Sleeping at Barcelona Airport to Save Money

We might as well start with one of the less glamorous realities of budget travel.

On two separate trips, I had overnight flights that arrived in Barcelona with only a few hours before my next flight. Paying for a hotel or hostel, traveling into the city, sleeping for a couple of hours, and then turning around and heading straight back to the airport just didn’t make financial sense.

So I slept at the airport. Or at least I attempted to sleep. LOL

The airport was absolutely freezing, and those bright terminal lights aren’t exactly designed to create a relaxing bedtime atmosphere. Eventually, I managed to find a snug little corner that was somewhat darker than everywhere else and settled in for the night.

Was it luxurious? Absolutely not. Did it save me the cost of a room for a few hours of sleep? Sure did.

I wouldn’t necessarily recommend planning your Barcelona vacation around airport sleepovers, but budget travel sometimes involves deciding which comforts you’re willing to give up so you can spend your money somewhere else.

And apparently, I’ve made that particular decision twice!

Where I’ve Stayed in Barcelona

Fortunately, I haven’t spent every night in Barcelona sleeping in an airport terminal.

Across my visits, I’ve stayed at several different properties, including TOC Barcelona, Catalonia Hotels & Resorts, and Safestay Hostel. Staying in both hostels and hotels has given me some flexibility depending on my budget and the type of trip I was taking.

For solo travelers especially, I think it’s worth looking beyond the nightly price when choosing where to stay. Location, access to public transportation, reviews, and how easily you can get around the city can make a cheaper accommodation a much better—or much worse—deal.

Getting Lost in the Gothic Quarter

One of my favorite things to do in Barcelona doesn’t require an admission ticket at all: walk.

I loved exploring the Gothic Quarter, with its narrow streets, old buildings, little squares, and the feeling that you never quite know what you’ll find around the next corner. Barcelona’s official tourism site describes the neighborhood as the historic Roman and medieval core of the city, and Barcelona Cathedral sits right in the middle of it.

I also spent time walking along La Rambla. It’s touristy, yes, but it’s one of those Barcelona places I still think is worth experiencing at least once. The pedestrian boulevard stretches about 1.2 kilometers through the city and connects with sights like the Boqueria Market, Liceu, and the Columbus Monument near the waterfront.

Sometimes my favorite travel memories aren’t elaborate tours. They’re simply wandering around with nowhere particularly urgent to be.

Seeing Barcelona Cathedral

While wandering through the Gothic Quarter, I also stopped to see Barcelona Cathedral.

Barcelona has no shortage of impressive churches, and this one can sometimes get overshadowed by a certain very famous basilica elsewhere in the city. But seeing the cathedral surrounded by the old streets of the Gothic Quarter was still worth the stop.

And speaking of that other church…

Finally Seeing the Sagrada Família

Of course, there was one Barcelona attraction I absolutely had to see. The Sagrada Família.

I’d seen pictures of it plenty of times, but pictures don’t really prepare you for just how massive it feels when you’re standing there looking up at it.

One of the things I loved was how easy it was to reach by Metro. You can take either the L2 or L5 to the Sagrada Família station, and suddenly you’re basically standing in front of one of the most recognizable buildings in the world.

Even surrounded by construction cranes during my visits, I thought it was beautiful.

I was traveling on a budget, so I didn’t pay to go inside. That means I can’t tell you whether the interior is worth the admission price from personal experience. What I can tell you is that I spent plenty of time staring at the exterior. Gaudí definitely wasn’t into boring buildings.

If you want to visit the interior now, tickets are sold online through the official Sagrada Família website.

Experiencing Gaudí’s Barcelona on a Budget

Sagrada Família is only the beginning when it comes to Antoni Gaudí’s influence on Barcelona.

His architecture and artwork appear throughout the city, and I came across several of his famous creations while exploring. Unfortunately, my budget and my sightseeing wish list weren’t always on speaking terms.

So I admired quite a bit from the outside. Would I like to return someday with a dedicated Gaudí budget? Absolutely!

One place in particular taught me an important lesson.

My Park Güell Mistake

Park Güell was high on my list of places I wanted to see (Thank you, Cheetah Girls!).

What I didn’t realize beforehand was that the part containing many of Gaudí’s famous works required admission. I also wasn’t prepared for the journey uphill. My fault for not doing more research!

So imagine me making my way toward Park Güell thinking I was simply going to stroll into this beautiful Barcelona park, only to discover that 1) I should have researched the ticket situation and 2) there were much smarter ways of getting there than what I was doing.

Lesson learned.

And this is one Barcelona mistake you don’t have to repeat. As of September 2026, general admission is €18, with timed tourist entry. The official transportation information also says that from the Lesseps and Vallcarca Metro stations, the walk is around 20 minutes and recommends routes with escalators; buses H6 and D40 can leave you about a 10-minute walk away.

In other words: research before you start climbing. Your legs will thank you.

Seeing Barcelona From the Water

One experience I really enjoyed was taking a boat trip around Barcelona’s harbor.

After spending so much time exploring the city on foot, it was nice to see Barcelona from a completely different perspective—and, admittedly, to sit down for a while.

There’s something about seeing a coastal city from the water that changes how you look at it. The buildings, skyline, harbor, and Mediterranean setting all make a little more sense when you’re looking back toward the city instead of standing in the middle of it.

Visiting Tibidabo

Another place that caught my attention was Tibidabo.

After seeing it perched above Barcelona from different parts of the city, I knew I had to make my way up there. And honestly, the views alone were worth it. Between the church, the amusement park, and Barcelona stretching out below, it felt like seeing the city from a completely different angle.

Finding €1 Tacos at Los Güeros

Now for something equally important: food. One of my favorite finds was Los Güeros Taquería and its famous €1 tacos.

Barcelona isn’t necessarily the cheapest city I’ve visited, so finding inexpensive food that I actually wanted to go back for was a win. And honestly, when you’re traveling on a budget and someone tells you there are delicious €1 tacos nearby, that’s not simply a restaurant recommendation.

That’s important financial information.

Drinks and Neon at Moon Café

My favorite bar find in Barcelona was Moon Café, a cute gay bar with neon décor and really good drinks.

It was colorful, fun, and exactly the kind of place I enjoy discovering when I travel. Major attractions are great, but places like this often end up giving a city some personality in my memories.

Sagrada Família might be the picture everyone recognizes. But neon lights and a yummy cocktail can make the vacation album too.

Running Into the Same Friend…Again

And then there’s one of my favorite recurring travel stories. During one of my Barcelona visits, I ran into a friend I’d originally met in Copenhagen. This wouldn’t be quite as funny if this were the only time we’d unexpectedly crossed paths in another city.

It isn’t.

Somehow, I’ve managed to run into this same friend multiple times in different places. At this point, I’m starting to think Europe is significantly smaller than the maps suggest.

One of my favorite things about traveling has been meeting people I never would have encountered otherwise. Even better is realizing that sometimes those friendships don’t stay confined to the place where they started.

What Three Trips to Barcelona Taught Me

After three visits, I still don’t feel like I’ve “finished” Barcelona.

There are things I haven’t done. I haven’t explored the inside of Sagrada Família. I still want the full Cheetah Girls Park Güell experience (IYKYK!). There are also more Gaudí buildings I’d love to see properly.

But I don’t think you have to check off every famous attraction to have experienced a city.

My Barcelona memories are a mixture of the big things and the small ones: staring up at Sagrada Família, wandering through the Gothic Quarter, seeing the city from the harbor, discovering murals, drinking cocktails under neon lights, eating cheap tacos, running into an old travel friend and curling up in an airport corner because I refused to pay for a hotel room I was only going to use for a few hours.

Twice.

*A Note About Overtourism in Barcelona*

I love Barcelona. I’ve visited three times, and the fact that I’ve returned says plenty about how I feel about the city. But loving a destination also means being honest about the impact tourism can have on the people who actually live there.

In recent years, Barcelona has become one of the most visible examples of Europe’s struggle with overtourism. Residents have raised concerns about crowded neighborhoods, rising housing costs, and the number of homes being used as short-term tourist rentals. Those frustrations have also led to highly publicized anti-tourism demonstrations.

That doesn’t mean every Barcelona resident is against tourism. The reality is more complicated. Tourism is an important part of the city’s economy, while many residents also believe the volume and type of tourism need to be managed differently. Barcelona itself has been taking steps to address those concerns, including plans to phase out licenses for thousands of tourist apartments by 2028.

As a visitor, I don’t think the answer is to stop traveling to Barcelona. I think it’s to remember that Barcelona isn’t an amusement park—it is somebody’s home.

That can mean staying in legal accommodations, supporting locally owned businesses, respecting residential neighborhoods, using public spaces responsibly, and remembering that the goal isn’t just to get everything you can out of a destination. It’s also to leave it as a place where the people who live there can continue to enjoy their own city.

Is Barcelona Good for Solo Travel?

Based on my own experiences, Barcelona is a city I’d return to as a solo traveler. There’s plenty to explore independently, public transportation makes major sights accessible, and you don’t need to fill every day with expensive attractions to enjoy being there.

If you’re planning your own solo trip, I’d budget for the paid attractions that matter most to you instead of feeling like you need to buy admission to everything. Leave some time for simply walking, too. Barcelona is one of those cities where wandering around can become part of the itinerary.

Staying Safe From Pickpockets in Barcelona

Barcelona has always felt comfortable for me to explore on my own, but pickpocketing is something travelers should take seriously. Like in many heavily visited cities, crowded streets, tourist attractions and public transportation are places where you want to pay extra attention to your belongings.

I usually keep my bag zipped and close to my body, and I don’t leave my phone sitting on a table or somewhere that’s easy to grab. A crossbody bag worn toward the front is a good option in crowded areas, and avoid keeping your phone or wallet in an easy-to-reach back pocket. On the Metro, around major attractions, and anywhere you’re surrounded by people, simply being aware of what’s happening around you can go a long way.

I wouldn’t let the possibility of pickpocketing scare me away from Barcelona, but I also wouldn’t ignore it. Enjoy the city, just don’t make your belongings easy to walk away with. For more safety tips, click here.

Barcelona, I’ll Probably See You Again

Granada was where my relationship with Spain began. Madrid gave me rooftop views, flamenco, and unexpected adventures. Málaga gave me tapas, new friends, Caminito del Rey and a tour bus that left without me. LOL

Barcelona apparently decided one visit wasn’t enough.

Three trips later, I still have things I want to see and experiences I’ve missed. Maybe that’s exactly why I keep coming back.

My first trip to Spain took me to Granada, but a few years later, I found myself back in the country—this time in Madrid. And Madrid gave me a completely different version of Spain.

Granada had felt intimate, historic, and almost magical. Madrid was bigger, busier, louder, and full of energy. There were rooftop views, a professional photoshoot, flamenco, late nights, and one very confusing encounter with Madrid’s public transportation system.

Basically, Madrid kept me on my toes.

If you’re planning a Madrid solo travel adventure, here’s what stood out from my trip and why Spain’s capital is a city I’d happily explore again.

Accidentally Staying Near the Santiago Bernabéu

Sometimes you carefully research the neighborhood you’re staying in…and sometimes you book an Airbnb and discover later that you’re staying near one of the most famous football stadiums in the world. Oops!

My Airbnb was close to Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, home of Real Madrid. I hadn’t intentionally chosen the area because of the stadium, and at first it didn’t really affect my plans.

Until game day.

I was trying to get around the city and couldn’t understand why the bus I was waiting for wasn’t showing up like I expected. I watched my phone as the arrival times kept changing, and still no bus. Eventually, an older gentleman explained what was going on. There was a Real Madrid match. Suddenly, everything made a lot more sense. LOL

It became one of those little travel moments that reminds you that a city isn’t operating around your itinerary. Madrid had plans of its own that day.

Today, Santiago Bernabéu is served by Metro Line 10 as well as numerous bus routes, and Madrid’s tourism office notes that stadium operations change on match days.

Travel Britten Tip: If you’re staying near a major stadium or event venue, check the local event calendar before heading out. Even if you’re not attending, a big event can affect how you get around.

Turning Madrid Into My Own Photoshoot

One of my favorite things I did in Madrid was something I hadn’t really done on my previous trips: I booked a professional photoshoot through Airbnb Experiences.

As a solo traveler, getting good pictures of yourself can be a struggle. You either become very comfortable with a tripod, master the timer on your phone, or hand your camera to a stranger and hope for the best.

So having someone else take the pictures for once? Absolutely worth it.

We shot around central Madrid, including Plaza Mayor and Plaza del Callao. Instead of rushing between landmarks trying to check things off a list, I got to slow down, walk around the city, and actually pay attention to my surroundings.

Plaza Mayor was especially beautiful. It’s right in Madrid’s historic center and is one of those places where just walking through the square feels like part of the experience and because I was traveling alone, the photos became something else too: proof that you don’t need to wait for someone else to take the trip or to actually be in the pictures from it.

Finding Money Heist in Plaza del Callao

One of the stops during my photoshoot was Plaza del Callao. If you’re a Money Heist (La Casa de Papel) fan, this one is fun.

Callao was actually used as a filming location for the series. Madrid Film Office lists Plaza del Callao among the show’s official Madrid locations, and the square is where the famous scene involving thousands of €50 notes raining down was filmed.

It was actually the photographer’s idea to check out this location! Even if you didn’t visit specifically because of a movie or television show, suddenly realizing, Wait…I’ve seen this before, gives the place another layer.

Callao also sits right off Gran Vía, one of Madrid’s most recognizable streets, surrounded by shops, theaters, cinemas, restaurants, and some seriously impressive architecture.

Seeing Madrid From the Rooftops

Madrid looks good from street level. But Madrid from a rooftop? Even better.

I joined a rooftop bar crawl (also courtesy of Airbnb Experiences), which turned out to be such a fun way to experience the city. Instead of spending the entire evening in one place, we moved around, had drinks, met people, and got to see Madrid from above.

For a solo traveler, activities like this can also solve one of the trickier parts of traveling alone: figuring out what to do at night.

You can absolutely go to a bar alone, but sometimes it’s nice to have a built-in group. A walking tour, food tour, bar crawl, or other small-group experience gives you the chance to meet people without having to awkwardly walk up to strangers and announce, “Hello, I need vacation friends.”

Although, to be fair, that might work too!

Experiencing Flamenco in Madrid

One experience I knew I wanted in Spain was flamenco.

In Madrid, I went to an Essential Flamenco performance at Tablao Torero, an intimate cave-live venue, and the setting made the whole experience even better. The acoustics, the music, the movement—it felt completely different from watching a performance on a large stage.

Madrid has a long flamenco tradition, with performances ranging from larger theaters to smaller tablaos and intimate venues throughout the city.

What I remember most wasn’t one particular song or dance. It was how powerful everything felt when you’re sitting close enough to hear the dancers’ feet hitting the floor. Some travel experiences are difficult to appreciate until you’re actually there.

For me, flamenco was one of them.

Madrid at Night Was Half the Fun

One thing Madrid made very clear: this is not a city that shuts down early.

Between the rooftop crawl, flamenco, busy streets, and simply wandering around central Madrid, some of my favorite memories happened after the sightseeing portion of the day was technically over. That’s something I’ve learned to appreciate more about traveling. Not every memorable experience needs to have a ticket, monument, or famous landmark attached to it.

Sometimes it’s just being out in a city you don’t live in, realizing it’s late, looking around and thinking: I’m really here. Madrid gave me quite a few of those moments.

What I’d Know Before Visiting Madrid Solo

If I were planning another solo trip to Madrid, I’d leave plenty of room between the things I had to do and the things I could discover once I got there.

Central Madrid is particularly good for exploring on foot. Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol, Callao, and Gran Vía are all within the broader central area, making it easy to combine several sights without spending the entire day moving between opposite sides of the city. Madrid also has an extensive Metro system for longer distances.

I’d also check whether any major football matches, festivals, demonstrations, or other large events are happening during the trip. My Bernabéu experience taught me that lesson. LOL

For evenings, I wouldn’t automatically stay in simply because I was traveling alone. A group experience can be a great middle ground when you want to enjoy Madrid’s nightlife but don’t necessarily want to navigate it completely by yourself.

And finally, I’d schedule less. Madrid has enough going on that you don’t need to manufacture every minute of your itinerary.

Is Madrid Good for Solo Travel?

Based on my experience, yes.

What I particularly liked was having options. I could spend part of the day wandering around on my own, book an experience when I wanted company, sit somewhere and people-watch, take photos, go sightseeing, or join a group at night.

That flexibility matters when you’re traveling solo.

You don’t have to choose between spending the entire trip alone or attaching yourself to a tour group for five days. You can do both! Independence when you want it and company when you don’t.

That’s one of the things I love most about solo travel in general.

Granada Started It. Madrid Kept It Going.

My first solo trip to Spain began in Granada, and that city will always have a special place in my travel memories.

Madrid was different.

There was no Alhambra overlooking the city or Sierra Nevada framing the background. Instead, Madrid gave me crowded plazas, rooftop views, flamenco, football-day confusion, professional photos, late nights, and another reminder that I genuinely enjoy figuring out a new city on my own.

Granada was where I first fell for Spain. Madrid made me want to keep coming back.

And as it turned out, I wasn’t finished with Spain yet…