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Essential apps for

Spain

España

SpanishEUR6 apps

Cabify is often better than Uber in Spain. Citymapper handles Madrid and Barcelona transit beautifully.

🔌

Power & Plug

TypeC / F
Voltage230V
Freq50Hz

Same as Germany.

💬

Basic phrases

Spanish

  • Hello
    Hola
    Oh-la
  • Thank you
    Gracias
    Gra-syas
  • Sorry
    Lo siento
    Lo syen-toh
  • Yes
    See
  • No
    No
    No

+6 more below

🎎

Tipping

Not expected. Round up or leave 5% in restaurants if happy.

🚖Rideshare & Taxi

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C

Cabify

Strong in Spain and Latin America. Often more reliable in mid-size cities.

Often more reliable than Uber in Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia.
U

Uber

The most widely available rideshare service globally. Works in 70+ countries.

Works in major cities.
B

Bolt

European rideshare with cheaper fares than Uber in many cities. Also offers scooters.

Strong in Madrid.

🗺️Navigation & Maps

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C

Citymapper

Best urban transit app in major Western cities — London, NYC, Paris, Berlin.

Madrid + Barcelona transit.
G

Google Maps

Works almost everywhere except mainland China. Offline maps are critical when roaming.

Strong for everywhere else.

🍱Food Delivery

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D

Deliveroo

Major in UK, France, Italy, Belgium, Hong Kong, UAE, Singapore.

Food delivery in major cities.
Phrases

All Spanish phrases

Hello
Hola
Oh-la
Thank you
Gracias
Gra-syas
Sorry
Lo siento
Lo syen-toh
Yes
See
No
No
No
Please
Por favor
Por fa-vor
Goodbye
Adiós
Ah-dyos
How much?
¿Cuánto cuesta?
Kwan-toh kwes-ta
Where is the bathroom?
¿Dónde está el baño?
Don-deh es-ta el ban-yo
The check, please
La cuenta, por favor
La kwen-ta por fa-vor
Cheers
Salud
Sa-lood
Briefing

What to know before you go

Do

  • Dinner is late — 9-10pm is normal.
  • Late lunches (2-3pm) shut down most businesses for siesta in smaller towns.

Don't

  • Mistaking Catalan culture for Spanish in Barcelona.
  • Calling paella anything you eat in non-Valencia (locals will roll their eyes).

⚠️ Common scams to know

  • Pickpockets on Las Ramblas in Barcelona.
  • "Squirting" scam — someone splashes you and an accomplice pickpockets while "helping".
Going elsewhere?

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