How can I avoid looking like a tourist from the US when I go to Madrid?

Question

I'm going to Madrid in January and I'd like to blend in a bit. I mean, I'm sure it will be incredibly obvious that I'm not from there when I open my mouth and they hear me speak (I speak Spanish, but certainly not like a native speaker; and while my accent is good, it's definitely not a Spanish accent), I just don't want to attract too much attention, good or bad.

What kinds of things would a young, urban, female Spaniard do/wear/say/etc?

I've been told to dress fashionably (no jeans and T-shirts) and not wear tennis shoes, because that's a dead giveaway that I'm from the US. What else should I know?

Gracias por los consejos.

Answer 1

No bright colors,easy on the makeup.Depends where you go,Barcelona can be very casual in summer.

Answer 2

You've basically got it.  Es los zapatos!

Answer 3

when you arrive buy some clothes from where they usually shop and some shoes just look around at the other girls from there  then sometimes use your spanish if you know you cant say something then just say it in english  so you wont be so noticeable   other than that just be yourself  there nothiong at all with being american

Answer 4

You'll be fine, it's a big city! Pay special attention to the shoes though, I was in Barcelona a few months back and you could spot the americans because of A. large packs B. bight clothes, often things like printed t-shirts C. shoes that were conspiculously "american" ie tennis shoes, often with D. white socks. That, and have some fun buying local clothes, you can find some great bargains, I bought a fabulous dress for my friend for like 40 euro that would be $300 here.

Answer 5

Dress smart. No jeans or T shirts or sweats; especially do not wear sneakers or tennis shoes. Spanish people are, most of the time, well groomed and sharply dressed especially if out in public areas.

Do not stare at people and be discreet if you look newspaper stands (kiosk); pornographic magazines are visible and in plain view.

Alcoholic beverages are plentiful; know when to say enough and DO NOT get drunk. If go to a bar and someone starts a conversation with you and offers a drink do not refuse it, but try to stick to sodas or coffee if need be, Spaniards do not use too much ice in their drinks. Be sure to offer drinks to the people that bought you a round.

Do not criticize bullfighting; it is their culture; but ask them to explain corridas, encierros, flamenco and spanish history (from their point of view).

Answer 6

You'll be there in winter, and winter in Madrid can be really cold...Definitely take a nice warm coat and something for the rain...If you can afford it, bring just a minimum with you and take advantage of the january end of winter sales...They are really fantastic! (They start january 7th. and last into february. The best are during the week following the 7th.) Buy yourself clothes when you arrive. And shoes, Spain has great shoes.

Try window-shopping first:

EL CORTE INGLÉS department store is good and there's one in the center of Madrid near Callao.

Then go on to the boutiques: ZARA has really nice clothes, MANGO or MNG, and there are plenty of other shops worth looking into in the midtown area around La Gran Via (more chic/expensive) and the side streets near la Puerta del Sol especially the pedestrian ones.

Then there is the LA VAGUADA shoping center, a super - great mall with lots of shops, its in El Barrio del Pilar (you have a subway station with that name), and you'll find oodles of places to shop there (including a big El Corte Inglés...my niece bought her wedding gown there, and I went with her to pick it up)

You haven't said how long you are staying for...

I hope you do enjoy your visit! Madrid is a magnificent city,,, the museums are fabulous, as are the palaces, monuments, etc.

P.S. DO bring a good pair of walking shoes...to start you off! And wear your jeans for traveling, it's the most practical. People here do wear jeans...a lot,  but never with white socks and tennis shoes ...As you said yourself, that's a tourists' dead giveaway!

Another thing: watch your purse... We now have a lot of east european immigrants in Spain who think it's great to make a living with no work...just snatch a few purses a day! They aren't really dangerous, but it is nasty to have your papers disappear... So be careful.

Buen viaje!!!

:-)