Expat Life in Barcelona
So you've decided to up sticks and move to balmy Barcelona? Well who could blame you! With its stunning Modernista archictecture, courtesy of Gaudi and co., the lifestyle of eating tapas al fresco and drinking Cava and cocktails until dawn, and of course the beautiful array of beaches and reliably good weather, Barcelona offers a quality of life that many Northern Europeans can only dream about. In short you've made the right decision. But just to make sure your expat experience goes according to plan you might want to peruse this page to make the most out of living and working in Barcelona.
Above: A bit of volleyball after work? You can't do that in Derby.
Language and Culture in Barcelona
The first thing to bear in mind when moving to Barcelona is that whilst the rest of the world considers Barcelona part of Spain, the native Catalans consider Barcelona as the capital of Catalonia, an autonomous region with dreams of complete independence. In fact Catalan is the official language of the the city and region, with road signs, metro instructions and other public notices often appearing in Catalan and not Spanish, whilst Catalan is spoken in all public institutions - such as schools (Castilian is taught as a foreign language!). Fear not Spanish-speakers however, Castilian is still very much the lingua franca of Barcelona due to the large number of non-Catalans (including expats) who live and work in city, and the fact that all Catalans speak Spanish as well - albeit reluctantly in some cases on account of their regional pride. If you're planning on spending any time in Barcelona then you should definitely do your best to pick up at least basic Spanish, and there's certainly no shortage of language schools in Barcelona willing to help you. For day-to-day purposes, you might be able to get by in English but for emergencies and for dealing with household situations, Spanish is essential - finding an English-speaking locksmith for example isn't easy!
The Catalan culture on a basic level is quite similar to Spanish culture, however some of the famous associations you hold with Spain don't wash here in Catalonia. Bull-fighting is frowned upon for example (indeed the Catalans reject the bull as their national animal, selecting the Catalan donkey instead), the sardana is preferred to flamenco, and people don't sleep during siesta (they do shut their shops however, much to the irritation of expats/foreigners used to more regular hours). Catalans pride themselves on their mix of seny and rauxa, common sense and passion, and with their rich heritage of artists, such as Joan Miro, writers, like Joan Maragall, and - of course - architects, it would be churlish not to differentiate between the two cultures. A good way to ground yourself in your new locale would be to read some of the better books about Barcelona and Catalonia.
Working in Barcelona
Spain and Barcelona have been hard hit by the global economic crisis, and unemployment is high. However with its situation as a port city, good infrastructure, the great lifestyle to attract multinationals and foreign businesses and of course the city's huge tourism industry there are still plenty of opportunities for job searchers, especially for those who speak Spanish and/or Catalan along with English. Banking and logistics sectors are particularly big, and currently the city is trying to regenerate the district of Poblenou into an IT and technology hub (dubbed 22@) in the style of Silicon valley, as Barcelona sets itself for growth. For more casual, seasonal or short term work then you might be best contacting restaurants, hotels and bars with your CV, whilst plenty of opportunities also exist working as nannies or au pairs, or teaching English as a foreign language.
As usual the Internet is the best tool for beginning your search and a little Googling should reveal some handy resources. Loquo.com is a great place to start.
Lifestyle and Leisure
For many people the chance to live in Barcelona is motivation enough, above any financial rewards, and indeed many expats leave well-paid jobs in their home countries to take up less well-paid positions in Spain... but few complain about having a bit less cash to play with. When the sun shines (virtually) every day and you can spend your weekends lazing on Barcelona's beaches, sipping mojitos at chiringuitos, nibbling on Spanish and Catalan delicacies on open squares in Barri Gotic, El Born and El Raval, and maybe supplementing these epicurean pursuits with some high culture in the form of opera at the Liceu Theatre or a classical performance at the Palau de la Musica Catalana, then you can truly say life is good. What's more, as well as the infamous nightlife and parties in a seemingly infinite number of great bars and clubs, there's glut of entertainment to be had in the form of festivals, live music and a constant procession of great events. Naturally sports fans can drool at the prospect of seeing the mighty Barca FC compete on a regular basis at Camp Nou, and there's a tonne of outdoor pursuits to take part in as well - from skiing in Andorra nearby during winter, to mountain biking and kitesurfing during summer. With the Pyrenees up the road, the Costa Brava coast, and the beautiful countryside of Catalonia all nearby, life in Barcelona never need be dull! Weekend trips to Madrid and Valencia, and even San Sebastian are all possible as well.
Other Practicalities
Naturally there are a thousand other considerations and practicalities to take into account if you're thinking of joining Barcelona's expat community in the sunny Med. We'll come back and update this page with some info on international schools, living costs, healthcare, finding accommodation, including house-buying, and much more. In the meantime you might want to check out our the business directory in our Services section where we have some handy information on everything from English-speaking doctors to accountants.