SIM cards in Spain

If you don't speak Spanish, then you do pick one up, aim for a shop where the clerk speaks English. They can help you register it immediately, since all the reoorded instructions are usually in Spanish. By law now, all PAYG cards in Spain have to be registered...it's been a couple of years now, but I think you just need an address and postal code in Spain, so use your hotel's. There are a couple of 'Phone Warehouse' outlets within a few doors of each other at the top of Calle de Preciados, one of the main pedestrian shopping streets leading north from Sol to Callao. They're closer to Callao, opposite the FNAC store....one of them usually has an English speaking clerk on duty.

Or just go to one of the Pakastani-run phone "bazars". They usually speak some English also, and will waive the registration requirement (which is currently up in the air) without a problem.

Cortes Ingles at Puerta del Sol...upstairs..a good department where the clerk speaks English and is of great assistance...I had purchased a phone and needed to get it 'uped'...the small stores were of no real help, but they went out of their way to help.