The Upcoming
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Cinema
      • Movie reviews
      • Film festivals
    • Food & Drinks
      • News & Features
      • Restaurant & bar reviews
      • Interviews & Recipes
    • Literature
    • Music
      • Live music
    • Theatre
    • Shows & On demand
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
  • What’s On
    • Art exhibitions
    • Theatre shows
  • Tickets
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Fund us
    • Contact us
  • Interviews
  • Competitions
  • Special events
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Cannes
      • Sundance London
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • Tumblr

  • RSS


Feature of the week

So you want to move to Barcelona?

So you want to move to Barcelona?
22 February 2016
The editorial unit
Avatar
The editorial unit
22 February 2016

So the relentlessly depressing Great British Climate has finally gotten to you, and you’re on the cusp of making the move to sunnier climes. If Barcelona is your choice, well, you couldn’t have picked a better destination. With a bustling arts scene, awe-inspiring architecture, raucous nightlife and a handful of pristine beaches right on its doorstep, there’s a reason Barcelona is one of the most popular spots for ex-pats from all over the globe.

But before you wrap up all of your worldly possessions in a knapsack, sling it over your shoulder and set off towards the sun, there are a few things you should be aware of. Barcelona is a fantastic city to work and live in, but it can be made all the better if you do your homework beforehand. Here are a handful of handy hints to help make the transition as easy as possible.

Housing

First things first: you’ll need somewhere to lay your head and store all of your trinkets. There are a number of websites dedicated to finding flats and houses, such as idealista and yaencontre, as well as loquo. The latter in particular hosts a forum, which is a great place to ask questions, meet other ex-pats and pick up knowledge from those who have been there and done it before you.

Language

Of course, the official language spoken in Barcelona is Catalan, not Spanish. That might seem like a step too far for many, but all locals will speak and understand Spanish without a problem, though English will prove a far greater obstacle. With that in mind, it’s a good idea to get the basics of the language under your belt before departing. City Lit offer a range of different courses, including a fast-track programme if you’re leaving at short notice.

Banking

Using a British bank card in Barcelona ATMs to conduct all of your transactions will quickly amount to a sizable figure in fees and charges. A short-term solution is to get hold of a credit card that is cheap or free to use abroad, though this is really only a stopgap. If you’re serious about relocating, you’ll want to set up a Spanish bank account. There are a number of options available; Catalunya Caixa is a popular choice with many, due to the proliferation of bank machines throughout the city.

Dining

Spanish mealtimes are a law unto themselves. Not only do they begin several hours after the time we are accustomed to in the UK, they can also stretch on indefinitely! You can expect not to eat dinner until around 10pm, hence the popularity of tapas. These sharing snacks are normally eaten in the late afternoon or early evening to provide enough sustenance to tide you over until later in the night. You’ll soon find they become an integral part of your Barcelona experience.

Nightlife

If you’re not finished with dinner until 11pm or later, it’s no surprise that the nightlife doesn’t kick into full swing until well after midnight. With clubs open until 6am, this can represent something of a challenge to boisterous Brits who normally get the party started far earlier. Pace yourself, play the long game and paint the town red until the sun comes up – that’s what the siesta in the afternoon is for.

The editorial unit

Related Items

More in Feature of the week

Natural ways to stay healthy and beautiful

The editorial unit
Read More

Top four destinations to experience culture in Spain

The editorial unit
Read More

Top tools and tips you’ll need in order to brew your own beer at home

The editorial unit
Read More

Three women’s health facts you didn’t know

The editorial unit
Read More

How to dress for day to date night

The editorial unit
Read More

Myths of custom writing services busted

The editorial unit
Read More

How social media influences the educational life of the users

The editorial unit
Read More

Enhancing your physique: A man’s guide to dressing for the races

The editorial unit
Read More

Defining the goals of your fitness plan

The editorial unit
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap

Tickets

Theatre tickets

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • Project Gastronomía: How will Londoners eat in 2050? A symposium on gastronomy and multisensory design
    Food & Drinks
  • Gregory Porter at the Royal Albert Hall
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • Bat Out of Hell at the Dominion Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Tribeca Film Festival 2018: On the red carpet with the stars of Westworld season 2
    Cinema
  • Half Breed
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • 10 cute sandals for spring
    Fashion & Lifestyle
  • Justin Nozuka at the Garage
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • Mayfly at the Orange Tree Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Sherlock Gnomes premiere: A chat with James McAvoy, his co-stars and the film’s creators
    Cinema
  • The Outsider
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Sherlock Gnomes premiere: A chat with James McAvoy, his co-stars and the film’s creators
    Cinema
  • Tokio Myers at the Forum
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • Beast
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Lisa Stansfield at the London Palladium
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • Bat Out of Hell at the Dominion Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre

Instagram

Something is wrong. Response takes too long or there is JS error. Press Ctrl+Shift+J or Cmd+Shift+J on a Mac.
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Fund us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • New London restaurant openings and pop-ups
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • Subscribe
  • What, when, why

Copyright © 2018 FL Media Ltd

Five of the best conspiracy theories
The health benefits of online gaming