MOVING TO BARCELONA

Who wouldn't want to move to Barcelona? The city has everything you might wish for, and more. Barcelona tends to charm anyone who visits, and many decide to stay. I was supposed to stay for 4 months, and I’ve been here for more than 16 years..!

If you are considering moving to Barcelona, or just moved here, I've put together some pros, cons, and tips and tricks when it comes to living in this beautiful city!

living in barcelona - pros

Here are some of the highlights of living in this amazing city:

The beach - Barcelona has a long beach right in the city center that is packed during the summer months. The best beaches, however, are a short train ride away, north and south.
Rich culture - Barcelona has so many artists, and it is a marvellous city for creativity.
Architecture and history - If you are a history buff, then this is the place for you. Barcelona has a vibrant history, and the architecture is world-famous.
Close to everywhere - If the city gets to you, just hop on a plane and within an hour you're in France, Italy, Portugal, the Balearic Islands, you name it, the options are endless. Flight tickets are quite inexpensive, but if you prefer the train, that is also an excellent option. Tickets to France, for example, can be a downright steal.
Great expat community - The best thing is to befriend locals. But when you are looking for people in the same situation as you, the expat community has a lot to offer, including shops with products you're missing from home. If you need any tips on where to look, just drop me a line.
Always things to do - Neighborhood festivals, food truck fairs, wine tastings, celebrations… You will not run out of things to do in Barcelona; I can guarantee you that.
So.many.restaurants - Barcelona has thousands of restaurants and bars. There is so much good food to be enjoyed, and all the tasty wine… Here on my website I have lots of tips and tricks on where and what to eat.
Great for freelancing or digital nomads - Many digital nomads and freelancers have chosen Barcelona as their city. If you prefer not to work from home, there are numerous coworking-spaces to choose from, in all price ranges, if you want to work in a place where you get some social interaction. If you are more of a coffee-shop kind of person you’ll find options for this too.
Great public transport - Barcelona has great public transport, it reaches everywhere, and you never need to wait for long for a bus or a subway train. There is no need for a car if you live in the city center, and even if you live in the suburbs, you can rely on public transport to take you wherever you need to go.
People from everywhere - There is a richness to the local culture brought by all the people who have chosen to call Barcelona their home. Exotic food, interesting shops, and fun things to do, inspired by people from everywhere in the world.
Festivities - La Mercè, the city festival, is the biggest event of the year. It goes on for more than a week and takes place at the end of September. But even if you miss it fear not, there is always something happening. Of the neighborhood festivals, the most famous one in the Gracia festival, happening mid-August. Don't miss Sant Jordi, the books and roses festival, in spring!
The weather - The sun shines almost every single day, and this is one of the many things that makes Barcelona a great city to live in. The winters are mild, and the summers are great, especially if you are a fan of the beach.
Great nightlife - If you're looking for some fun, then Barcelona is perfect. There are numerous bars and night clubs, and many of them are open until the sun rises in the morning.
Day trips - Catalunya is beautiful, and it has everything: mountains, sea, wine regions, skiing, cozy old villages… If you have a car, that's great, but many cool places are also accessible by train or bus.

living in barcelona - cons

Living in Barcelona has some downsides, too:

Prices - Barcelona is not as cheap as many other Spanish cities. Also, rents can be quite high depending on what you are looking for, and the area.
Lack of parks - Barcelona is one of the major cities in Europe with the least amount of park area per square meter. If you are looking for a large, green area, your best bet is to go outside of the city.
Petty crime - Pickpockets are a significant problem in Barcelona. Make sure to be careful with your things! Read my guide to Barcelona here and check out the section on safety. The good news is that Barcelona is not a city with a lot of violent crime.
Crowds - Some areas of the city center can be very crowded, and when you live here you might prefer to avoid these areas.
Bureaucracy - Anything that requires paperwork can be incredibly frustrating. Be patient, don't get angry, and be persistent is my advice.
Political unrest - The independence movement has caused turmoil in the city during recent years and has specifically affected businesses. However, this is rarely anything that is a safety concern for anyone living in Barcelona, unless you specifically seek out hot spots during demonstrations. After the pandemic things have cooled down significantly in this aspect.
Smells - Yup, sometimes it smells around here, particularly in areas with lots of bars and clubs, and when you add scorching sun to this it’s a winning combo.
Friendliness - You might not always be greeted with a smile. But the longer you live here (and the more you learn the language), the more friendly faces you will see.

paperwork

There is some bureaucracy involved when you decide to live in Barcelona. Here are some of the most common things you need to take care of:

NIE - Regardless of what you are planning to do in Barcelona, you have to have a NIE. It stands for Número de Identidad de Extranjero and is an identification number for foreigners in Spain. It is required for work, opening a bank account, renting an apartment, apply for a Bicing Card, and much more. Check the documents you need, schedule an appointment, fill out the paperwork, and visit the immigration office. Scheduling the appointment (cita previa) is usually the biggest issue, as the queues can be long, and the slots are few.
Social Security Number - To work in Barcelona, you need a social security number. This is a fairly straightforward procedure: fill in the required paperwork and visit the General Treasury of the Social Security System and have it filed. You do not need to have an appointment for this.
Empadronamiento - For you to get a health insurance card, you need to register at the local town hall (different for each neighborhood). Remember to re-register when you move!
Health Insurance - To receive public health care, you need to register at your local CAP (health center). You need your passport, your NIE, your Empadronamiento, work contract, and your social security number to get your sanitary card. Private health care is also a great option, and you’ll rarely have to wait long for an appointment.

where to live

Choosing an area to live depends a lot on what you are looking for. If you have kids, you might want to stay out of very crowded areas and look for neighborhoods with parks and places for kids to play. If you love the beach, you might want to live close to it, but take into consideration the humidity and cold during winter months. Gracia is, without a doubt, my personal favorite: it is close to everything, well communicated, and it has that village kind of feeling to it. It is also a hot spot for organic and zero waste shops. Make sure to pay attention to how much daylight you get: in neighborhoods like Raval, Gótico, and Born the buildings are very close together and daylight might not reach these apartments as much as you would like, especially in winter.

finding an apartment

Yup, it's a jungle out there. The most difficult time of the year to find an apartment is around September, but in general, it is not very easy to find a nice place to live. Consider the following when you're looking for an apartment:

Be fast - Be prepared to sign the lease fast, or it will go to the next one on the list - there are a lot of people looking for a place to live. But try to negotiate the rent if you can, sometimes you might get lucky.
Be prepared to share - If you are used to be living alone, finding an apartment for just you might be tricky. Take into consideration the possibility of sharing an apartment, and lower the costs.
Watch out for scams - There are so many scams out there; if the rent sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Never, ever pay anything in advance without seeing the place first. Going through an agency is often a good bet, even if it can be more costly.
No elevator - Many of the older, smaller buildings do not have an elevator. You might have to walk several flights of stairs, but once you get used to it isn’t not a big deal, unless you have kids.
Cockroaches, mold, bedbugs - Yup, all of these things can be an issue. Check and double-check the apartments you visit and make sure these aren't an issue.
High costs - If you go through an agency, they usually ask for a 2-month deposit, an agency fee (usually 10% of a year's rent) and current months rent, this means lots of money to be paid at once.
Where to look - Check out, for example, Habitaclia and Idealista to find your dream place. Never just send an email if you’re interested in a place, they will never get back to you. Make sure to call.

finding a job

The unemployment rate in Barcelona is low in comparison to many other areas in Spain. Don't know Spanish or Catalan? Don't worry; there are lots of jobs for those who speak different languages, while you’re learning the local ones. Many international companies have subsidiaries in Barcelona.

The city is also great for freelancers, digital nomads, and creatives. Starting your own business here can be a bit exhausting with the paperwork, but many small businesses are thriving here. Check out Infojobs, Linkedin, and Glassdoor for job opportunities. If you're a woman and you like support from expats, check out the Girl Gone International Facebook group for Barcelona.

escape the city

When you feel you need to get away from the hustle and bustle, or simply want to see something new, then there are so many options out there. You can get cheap flights for almost anywhere in Europe, and in less than an hour, you can be in a completely different country altogether. Trains are an excellent means of transport too, France is just a couple of hours away, Madrid is nearby, and even the south of Spain is a few hours away by train. For day trips, check out Girona, Costa Brava, Sitges, the mountains… There are so many lovely places to choose from.

things to do and people to meet

Want to make some friends? Check out the expat groups on Facebook! For example, if you like hiking, there is an excellent group for this on Facebook, and they arrange trips regularly to places around Catalunya. If sports is your thing, you'll find lots of options for this, and it is also a great way to make new friends. There are language exchanges, and if you identify as a woman make sure to join the Barcelona Girl Gone International Group, they arrange meetups. There are wine-tastings, activities for kids, and so much more, check Facebook and Instagram, and you'll find a lot of options.

language

Catalan is spoken widely in Barcelona, but in most places, you can get by with Spanish. Try to learn either as soon as possible: it helps a lot in any interaction you will need to have, and you'll be treated better. There are free Catalan language courses offered by the Generalitat, private teachers can be found for a reasonable price, and language exchanges are also popular.

Anything else you need to know? Drop me a line, I'm happy to help!

How to Move to Barcelona Like a Pro