Why Move to Madrid, Spain

I’m so lucky to say I live in the capital city of Spain. Moving here has allowed me to experience exciting new things and collect some wonderful memories. Madrid is full of amazing things to do and I want to share with you the fiestas, events and perks of living in this fantastic place. Here are my top 10 reasons why you should move to Madrid!

1. Learn Spanish.

I truly believe Spanish is one of the best languages to learn for travel, as over 400 million people in the world speak Spanish. 21 countries speak Spanish as their official language! Knowing Spanish will make your travel experiences much easier and more enjoyable. You will learn much more about the culture and have an appreciation for Spanish and Latin American music, film and literature. I’ve been able to speak with people I wouldn't have been able to communicate with before and hopefully made some friendships that will last forever!

2. Cost of Living.

If we're comparing Madrid to London, the cost of living in the Capital city of Spain is cheap as chips. Living in a shared flat with a couple of room-mates means the rent here will never cost much more than €500 and that’s me exaggerating the price. Groceries are affordable and if your going out for a bite to eat the prices are very reasonable. You can attend so many free events or exhibition if you're looking for something to do without having to spend. Everything and everywhere is close by which means chances are you won't even have to pay or travel!

3. Festivals, street parties and events.

Madrid being the capital of Spain is well-known for having some of the most amazing festivals across Europe. There are many traditional saint and holiday celebrations as well as the international LGBTQ Pride which includes concerts and a crazy parade. To name just a few: The Virgen de La Paloma Festival in La Latina, San Isidro, and Carnaval all of which have live concerts, parades, and drinking in the streets HORRAY. There is also an annual water fight here in the Vallecas neighbourhood which is fantastic in the hot weather and brings the community together! I shall write a separate blog to tell you more about the festivals, street parties and events that you should attend! There is so many!

4. Transportation.

I can’t explain my love for the metro and transport here enough! You get to anywhere in Madrid or Spain at practically any time! Here you are well-connected to everything whether you work in the city centre or outside of Madrid. There is always the metro, train and bus and if you're 25 or under, the transport card is only €20 which allows you to use unlimited public transport for a month which blows my mind!

5. Shopping.

This could be a good or bad thing for some people depending on the level of your Shopaholic-ness. Madrid has some great local brands and stores of the best international designers. There is plenty of areas in this city where you can shop till you drop, depending on your style and taste. Gran Via is great if you want high-street brands, Serrano is perfect if you're wanting to buy luxury. Las Rozas is an outlet shopping centre if you want designer goods at reduced prices. Malasana has plenty of thrift stores, and Rastro is great if you're looking for some vintage items. Again I will write a separate blog on the amount of shopping to be done here because BELIEVE ME there is plenty to shop for!

6. Weather.

Regardless of the season, Spain is always sunny! The summers are hot and the winters are pretty mild. Even if it's not hot, the sight of the sun shining through my windows makes my day much brighter; especially considering I’m someone who comes from rainy Blackpool, England. Obviously, Madrid doesn’t have a beach but you can still travel to the surrounding beaches and also read my blog on ‘The Best Sunbathing Spots in Madrid’ for some beautiful beach substitutes where you can enjoy the weather and even get a golden glow.

7. Lots to do.

I’m never stuck for things to do in Madrid! If there isn’t a festival, party or event there is always something else going on. Madrid has tones of free museums, many parks where you can enjoy picnics or bike rides and cheap drinks at cool music bars - perfect for letting your hair down after a long week! If you're looking for something else to do, there are plenty of other towns and places outside of Madrid where you can experience other parts of the beautiful country. Check out my blog ‘My Top 10 Day Trips from Madrid, Spain’ for some ideas!

8. Travel.

Due to Madrid being so huge, its airport is too- the second largest in Europe! You can easily get the metro to the airport and with the €20 transport card I mentioned earlier, there is no additional cost which is fantastic! Its simple to find flights across Europe and the rest of the world for a reasonable cost. This means if I get home-sick and have some time off work, I can fly back to England fairly easily! Madrid Airport connects Spain to some of the most important and well-known countries in the world which is convenient if I want an adventure. Another thing I love about travel here is that you can visit all of Spain and its nearby countries like Italy, France and Portugal…by bus. Yes, the BUS!!! NEED I SAY MORE?!

9. Culture and People.

Since moving to Madrid I have met, lived and worked with people from Venezuela, Chile, Brazil, Honduras, Peru, Ecuador, Argentina, Columbia, Mexico, Cuba, Bolivia, Croatia, Germany, France, Sweden, United Kingdom, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Romania, America and Spain of course. I mean…what more can I say?! Where else in the world would you meet people from all the countries and cultures. Moving to Madrid has opened my mind to the rest of the world and I’ve made some amazing life-long friends along the way, including my Chilean 'King of the Slang' boyfriend!

(lol, help)

10. Architecture and its beauty.

The architecture of Madrid is just immense. There are many examples of modern, contemporary, traditional, experimental and innovative architecture. This includes Roman ruins and urban designs; Madrid is one of the best places to admire the old and new architectural gems. Whether you're just walking through the neighbourhood or off to the main sites, Madrid has all the world-renowned architectural landmarks right on your doorstep. This city truly is overwhelming!

I hope if you’re thinking of moving to Madrid or even Spain, that this blog has inspired you and gave you something to think about! Obviously, there are sometimes ups and downs but overall living in this beautiful city gives me great happiness and a joy for life.

‘The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes’

- Marcel Proust