Essential Facts About Living in Barcelona

There’s no denying the fact that Barcelona is one of the liveliest, most culturally rich cities in the whole of Europe.  There’s also no denying the fact that Barcelona is a strong tourism draw as well as one of the most attractive city based locations for expatriates of working age who are considering living abroad.

In this article we’ll look at the essential facts about living in Barcelona so that if you’re seeking an overseas destination that combines charm with vibrancy and an attractive climate with good employment prospects, you can add Barcelona to your list of locations to consider.

Located to the north of Spain and on the east coast of the country, Barcelona is perfectly positioned for its residents to have easy access to the Mediterranean Sea, France, Andorra and the ski resorts of the Pyrenees, meaning that it is a great place to base yourself if you want to experience many sides of Europe and the best the continent has to offer.

If you speak Spanish and/or Catalan as well as English this will immediately stand you in good stead for getting a job in Barcelona – otherwise your employment prospects will be relatively restricted to teaching in the international schools and language schools, working in the tourism industry or teaching English as a foreign language privately perhaps.  If you don’t mind starting out in these professions that’s fine, because once you’re living in Spain in Barcelona you can attend after work classes and learn Spanish and Catalan if you want to change your career focus.

Because Barcelona is one of the most prosperous centres of Spain it has managed to attract leading national and international firms to its city limits meaning that there are exceptionally good employment prospects once you master the local language.

In terms of what it’s like living in Barcelona, a great deal will depend on the region of the city in which you prefer to base yourself.  Some of the most attractive suburbs where property prices are the highest are quiet, command exceptional views and are ideal for families – consider Pedralbes, Sarria or Tres Torres to the north of the city centre for example.  Or if you’re seeking the best the city has to offer in terms of night-life and activity, then maybe you should choose a more central district and opt for apartment based living.

As stated, Barcelona is certainly one of the most exciting cities in Europe.  There is so much to do and see – starting with the architecture, you have the modernistic landscape as created by Gaudi contrasting spectacularly with Gothic and Art Nouveau backdrops.  You have museums, art galleries, theatres, sporting venues, cinemas, shopping centres, leisure complexes.  You even have theme parks, an aquarium, a zoo, the beach and many festivals and exhibitions that take place in Barcelona throughout the year.

The cafe and restaurant scene is vibrant and varied, there are bars and clubs for more night-life options and no matter what age you are and what activities and events entertain and fulfil you, you will find a wealth of choice in Barcelona.

Complimenting all of the above benefits of living in Barcelona is the fact that the city’s climate is generally fabulous.  It is blessed with a long hot summer and a relatively mild winter, and the only drawback is that the end of the summer can draw in dramatic storms from the ocean – these are fun if you’re indoors and you can watch the lightening striking out on the Med, but they aren’t so much fun if you get caught in a torrential downpour!

If you’re looking for a fabulous city to call home, Barcelona has more than the vast majority of the world’s cities put together stacked heavily in its favour!