Moving to Madrid: Everything I Wish I Knew Before Arriving
A practical, honest guide to relocating to Madrid — from finding your first apartment to getting your NIE and opening a Spanish bank account.
Moving to Madrid is one of the best decisions I've made. It's also one of the most bureaucratically exhausting experiences I've ever survived.
This guide is everything I wish someone had handed me when I landed at Barajas with two suitcases and a lot of hope.
The First 30 Days: What Actually Matters
1. Get your NIE as soon as possible
The NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjero) is your foreign identification number. Without it, you cannot:
- Open a bank account
- Sign a rental contract
- Get a Spanish phone plan
- Basically function as an adult
Book your appointment at sede.administracionespublicales.gob.es the moment your flights are booked. Waiting lists can be 4–8 weeks.
Pro tip: Bring 3 copies of every document. They will ask for copies of copies.
2. Find temporary housing first
Don't try to sign a permanent apartment lease before you're here. The Spanish rental market requires you to be present, and many landlords won't communicate seriously with remote applicants.
Use these platforms for your first month:
- Spotahome — best for furnished rooms and short-term
- Idealista — the main Spanish property platform
- Badi — good for finding room shares with locals
3. Open a bank account
Revolut or Wise will carry you through the first few weeks before you have your NIE. After you get your NIE, open a local Spanish account — BBVA and Bankinter both have decent English-language service.
Neighborhoods Worth Knowing
Madrid's neighborhoods are distinct enough that where you live genuinely shapes your experience.
Malasaña — young, creative, slightly hipster. Great if you're 25–35 and want nightlife and independent coffee shops.
Lavapiés — multicultural, bohemian, cheap(er). The most genuinely diverse neighborhood in Madrid.
Chamberí — residential, quieter, more Spanish families. Good if you want to actually practice Spanish and live like a madrileño.
Salamanca — expensive, upscale, designer shops. For those with relocation packages.
Chueca — the LGBTQ+ neighborhood. Vibrant, welcoming, good bar scene.
The Things Nobody Tells You
Lunch is at 2:30–4pm, not noon. Show up at noon expecting lunch and you will be deeply confused.
Pharmacies (farmacias) are incredible. Spanish pharmacists are knowledgeable and will often help you with minor ailments without a doctor's visit.
The Metro is genuinely excellent. €12.20/month for zone A unlimited is one of the best transit deals in Europe.
You will be slower than everyone on the escalator. Stand right.
Everything closes on Sunday. Plan your grocery shopping accordingly.
Essential Apps for Madrid Life
- Metro de Madrid — official metro app, works offline
- Cabify — local alternative to Uber, often cheaper
- Glovo — food delivery, also delivers groceries
- Bizum — how Spanish people send money to each other (link to your Spanish bank account)
- Mi Carpeta Ciudadana — for managing government documents
Budget Reality Check
Here's what I actually spend monthly in Chamberí:
| Expense | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| Rent (1BR) | €1,100–1,400 |
| Metro pass | €12.20 |
| Groceries | €250–350 |
| Eating out | €150–250 |
| Phone (Movistar) | €20 |
| Utilities | €80–120 |
| Total | ~€1,700–2,200 |
Madrid is significantly cheaper than London, Amsterdam, or Paris, but it's not the bargain it was 10 years ago — especially for housing.
Final Thoughts
Madrid will frustrate you with its bureaucracy, charm you with its food and people, and eventually feel more like home than anywhere else you've lived.
The key is patience in the first 60 days. Once your NIE is sorted, you have a flat, and you've found your local bar, everything clicks.
Questions about moving to Madrid? I answer every email — contact details in the footer.