Travel Smart in Spain: Dos, Don’ts & the “Rhodes Traveled” Way

✅ Dos and ❌ Don’ts: Spain Edition

DO:

• 👋 Greet people properly: “Hola” and “Buenos días” go a long way.

• 🍷 Try regional wines — don’t just stick to sangria (try Rioja, Priorat, Albariño).

• 🍽 Eat late: Dinner before 8:30 PM is for tourists or toddlers.

• 🚶‍♂️ Wander without a plan — getting lost is half the fun.

• 💃 Learn a bit of the language — even “gracias” makes a difference.

DON’T:

• 🏃 Rush through meals — food is sacred. Lunch can be 2 hours. That’s normal.

• 💸 Forget to tip a little — not mandatory, but appreciated (5–10% is great).

• 🔊 Speak loudly — Spaniards are expressive, but not necessarily loud.

• 🛑 Assume everyone speaks English — especially in smaller towns.

• 🔥 Complain about the heat — they know. That’s what the siesta is for.

💡 “Rhodes Traveled” Tips – By Someone Who’s Actually Been There

Madrid

• 🖼 Skip the lines at the Prado by going late (free entry the last 2 hours daily).

• 🍷 Tapas crawl around La Latina — order small and keep moving.

• 🛍 Shop at El Rastro on Sundays, but watch your bag — it's like a flea market met Coachella.

Barcelona

• 🌊 Beach tip: Go to Ocata (a bit north) — cleaner, less crowded than Barceloneta.

• 🏰 Book Sagrada Familia tickets in advance or risk spending your day in a queue.

• 🧀 Order the "bikini" sandwich (trust us), but also don’t miss bombas in tapas bars.

Toledo

• 🏰 Go for a night stroll — the old city glows and empties after day-trippers leave.

• 🖌 Don’t miss El Greco’s The Burial of the Count of Orgaz — worth a quick detour.

• 🍬 Try marzipan from a convent bakery. It’s like dessert... with a backstory.

Island Vibes

• 🌅 Mallorca: Rent a car and chase the sunset on the west coast (Deià, Valldemossa).

• 🏄 Tenerife: South for beaches, North for greenery, Teide for your volcano selfie.

• 🏖 Ibiza isn’t just parties — the north side is peaceful, boho, and beautiful.

🧳 Final Word Before You Pack

Spain is a mosaic of cultures, cuisines, and coastlines. Whether you’re clinking wine glasses in La Rioja, hiking cliffside trails in Mallorca, or trying to eat dinner at a “normal” Spanish hour (good luck), do it with curiosity and good shoes.

The road more “Rhodes Traveled” is often the one with the better tapas.