Nightlife in Spain - Tips for Students

Spain is rather well known for its nightlife, and if you are planning on spending time in Spain, especially in a larger city, you will find that the cities have a different face at night, but that they can be just about as animated and lively at 2:00 am as they are at 12:00 pm. Spanish nightlife can be very alluring, and there is something for just about everyone, from "discotecas" to pubs, to concerts, shows, to bars of all kinds, outdoor cafés....
Just a quick word to the wise, there are unfortunately people out there who target students and young tourists and want to either get money off of you, or take advantage of you in some form or fashion. Bars, nightclubs, pubs, and the like, that proclaim an "international ambiance" are likely places where you will pay double or more for whatever you are drinking than you would elsewhere, where there are probably some less than savory native characters who may be especially charmed by your foreign accent, a denser population of those willing to slide a sly hand into your purse and extract whatever they find while you're not looking... If your curiosity is killing you and you must enter, do enter with your guard up, and remember that you are entering into territory where you may be met with untrustworthy individuals on either side of the bar. It can leave a bitter taste in your mouth to find out afterwards that you leave the place with fewer euros than you had thought, or worse, without your wallet, or in the worse case scenario, with your dignity tarnished. Also, keep in mind that, if you find yourself in a discotech, crowded nightclub, or the like, keep a low profile, and don't leave anything unattended when you head for the dance floor, that includes not leaving your camera, wallet, telephone or bag with your friends (who may get distracted and forget about it). The chances of someone snagging it are too great. These are things that repeatedly happen to students who walk innocently into Spanish nightlife, especially in the larger cities. Don't let yourself fall victim to these kinds of incidents.
Both Madrid and Barcelona offer up many places to go where this will not happen, and usually, if you leave the main drags, you will find a wealth of interesting places. If you know of places that you like to hang out either in Barcelona or in Madrid, and think that they are safe and enjoyable for international students, leave us a comment! Thanks!