Customs and Culture
Madrid people, you will find the vast majority to be very friendly, open and approachable, some things to look out for when waking in the streets of Madrid.
The people in Madrid are very sociable and do not spend a lot of time at home. The bars and cafes are full of people talking and having fun. There are many different types of bars and restaurants in Madrid, theme bars, traditional Spanish bars and all kinds of restaurants.
Don’t be surprised if people greet you with a kiss on the cheek, this is the normal and of course, a very nice way to greet people, a typically Spanish greeting, offered not just in Madrid, but in all of Spain.
Family life in Spain is considered very important, to the families themselves, if you go to a restaurant, café or bar, you will most likely see many families with young children, many of them staying until late at night.
Photos of Madrid
You will also find that your own “personal space” will virtually disappear when you take to the streets of Madrid, the people there will not think twice about almost bumping into you from any or all directions, be assured though, it’s very normal for them to do this and they have no problem with it, so do not be offended, there is no mal-intent, it’s just their way of doing things, and it can even be quite fun, you just never know who you are going to bump into.
Spanish food is really delicious, with “Tortilla de Patata”, (Spanish Potato omelette), “Calamares”, (Squid), “El Jamon”, (Cured ham), “Cocido Madrelleño”, (A kind of Soup of vegetables, and meat, all in one, or separate), “Gambas”, (Prawns) and all kinds of seafood, meat and vegetables on offer.
A typical “Menu del Dia”, (day menu) will cost anything from 9 – 14€ typically and will consist of a starter dish for example soup, followed by the main dish, followed by a sweet. Bread and first drink are usually included in the menu. Lunch usually starts around 2pm – 3pm in Madrid, so be prepared to wait a little normal than using for your lunch.
The nightlife in Madrid is one of the best in Europe. The night generally starts fairly late with clubs starting to be busy at around 2 or 3am, the nightclub are again open till late in the morning with people dancing and having a good time until 6 or 8am. If you want to experience the nightlife like a true madrileño you should finish the night with “churros con chocolate", (Similar to doughnuts, not so sweet though, with chocolate sauce to dip in), before catching the metro home.
In August life in Madrid is very different. Many madrileños go on holiday to the islands or the Spanish beaches. In August you will be able to enjoy Madrid without the normal hustle and bustle of the big city.
