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Moving to Barcelona (or Spain)?

Advice gained from first-hand experience of moving to Barcelona from the UK and of living in Spain. Your Barcelona guide, to help you find somewhere to live, register at the town hall and find a job.

Accommodation and long-term flats for rent in Barcelona

Barcelona accommodation

Barcelona accommodation: recommended rental agencies (or finques); websites that advertise flats for rent from owners and agents; and the best classified ads if you're looking for rooms to rent or shared accommodation.

Long-term Flats in Barcelona >> continues

Hotel Felip Neri (©Design Hotels)A Luxury 5-star Hotel in the Centre of Barcelona's Gothic Old Town

Hotel Neri is located in one of Barcelona's most beautiful and tranquil squares – Plaça Sant Felip Neri –, one minute walk from the cathedral and in the heart of the Barrio Gotico.

The hotel has a total of 22 tastefully decorated rooms and suites (which all have wi-fi), 24 hour room service, a stunning rooftop terrace, and restaurant. See more 5 star hotels in Barcelona >>

Save Money, Rent a Room in Barcelona

Two new accommodation services have been added for those on a budget who want cheap short-term accommodation in Barcelona. Barcelona-Home and BarcelonaRoom both rent rooms in shared flats in Barcelona (from one day to weeks and months).

Both sites have comprehensive details on each room available including a good selection of photos and the facilities of the flat. It's a great way to find cheap short-term accommodation in Barcelona. Both sites are in English as well as several other languages. Rent a Room in Barcelona continues here…

New Bed & Breakfast Accommodation

A new bed and breakfast in Barcelona has been added to our list of B&Bs that we recommend. Nisia Bed and Breakfast is in Gracia (just north of the city centre, but with easy access by metro to the centre). Prices start at €60 per night for a double room with ensuite, and of course breakfast is included. Read a full review of Nisia Bed and Breakfast here >>

UK Santander Zero Credit Card

The Santander Zero Credit Card could save you a lot of money. It's a UK credit card which has no foreign exchange fee, so you can use it freely when abroad without worrying about additional costs on currency exchange. There is also no immediate interest charged on cash withdrawn from a cash machine when abroad. More about the Santander Zero Credit Card >>

Barcelona's Old PortBarcelona Property Finding Service

There is now a new flat finding service for Barcelona and the surrounding area. This service is aimed at people living outside Spain or Barcelona and who need to find a property here either to live in or for a holiday home.

The service includes arranging viewings of properties at a time when you are in Barcelona, driving you to viewings, recommending locations and translating, and it can save you a good deal of time and money. Barcelona Property Finding Service continues here >>

Barcelona trafficDriving in Spain

Legal requirements for driving in Spain; including having a valid driving license, why you should apply for a Spanish driving licence if you're a resident in Spain, passing your driving test in Spain and taking lessons in English, and how to import a car to Spain. Driving in Spain continues here >>

How to be Self-employed in Spain

If you want to work as a freelancer in Barcelona, then read our article on how to become self-employed (autonimo/a) in Spain – what you are required to do legally and how to do it... How To Be Self-employed in Spain >> continues...

New Gourmet Restaurant from a Michelin Star Winning Chef

Moments restaurantThe recently opened luxury Mandarin Hotel on Barcelona's Passeig de Gracia has now employed one of Spain's top chefs for it's Moments gourmet restaurant.

Carme Ruscalleda has won Michelin stars for her cuisine and owns the acclaimed Sant Pau restaurant outside of Barcelona as well as a restaurant in Tokyo. The new Moments restaurant can accommodate up to 50 diners and specialises in traditional Catalan dishes. More about Moments restaurant and other Barcelona restaurants...

Barcelona Airport to City Centre Transport

Information on shuttle bus transfers from Barcelona city centre to Barcelona airport (El Prat), airport train service, and the bus service from Girona Airport to Barcelona. Includes Reus airport information too.

How To Get Your NIE

If you're from another EU member state you don't need a work visa in order to work in Spain but you do need an NIE (Numero de Identificatión de Extranjero). Go to your local Oficina de Extranjeros (Foreigner's Office) to collect an application form: ex14 (or you can download the form). You also need:

  • two photocopies of your passport
  • three passport photographs with your name written on the back
  • three copies of the completed application form.
  • documentation supporting your reason for applying (this can be the tricky one).

How To Get Your NIE >> continues...

Free Banking in Spain in English

Halifax logoHalifax in Spain gives customers banking in English. If you also have (or set up) a bank account with the Halifax in the UK, it's FREE to transfer money between your Halifax UK account and your Spanish Halifax bank account.

The Halifax Xtra account offers free banking, with an annual fee of €25 and a minimum opening balance of €600. The account comes with a Visa Electron, which you can use to withdraw money free of charge at most ATMs, a cheque book, guaranteed bank cheques and free direct debits. Available to non-residents and residents. Free Banking in Spain in English >> continues...

Six Ways to Find Work in Barcelona

The World Trade Centre, BarcelonaFinding work in Barcelona is not so easy if you don't speak Spanish, and a lot of the Catalan companies also prefer their employees to speak Catalan.

Having said that, it is possible to find work in Barcelona, even with the current credit crunch affecting jobs here too. There are many international companies based in Barcelona as well as those small to medium-sized businesses set up by expatriates, many of which need employees who speak English. Top Six Ways to Find Work in Barcelona >> continues...

Barcelona Walking Tours

Guided walks in BarcelonaBarcelona is such a compact city that one of the best ways to explore it is by walking, particularly through the narrow streets of the old town. Whilst you can buy a map and set off on your own, by taking a walking tour you can concentrate on the alleyways, architecture and history rather than studying the map, and a tour guide will take you to all the best places and point out objects of interest that you might otherwise miss. Barcelona Walking Tours >> continues...



Just Visiting Barcelona? Top 10 Free Things to do in Barcelona

Caixa ForumBarcelona is a great city and there are so many beautiful buildings, museums, parks and locations to visit that it can seem rather overwhelming if you only have a few days to spare and if you're travelling on a budget.

The great climate here means that most of the year you can enjoy some great outdoor locations, as well as the museums and art galleries. This is my list of the top 10 free things to do in Barcelona.

Top 10 Free Things to do in Barcelona >> continues here...

Barcelona Accommodation Resources:

Healthcare
in Spain

Learn about the Spanish and Catalan healthcare and how to register with a doctor in Barcelona.


Learn Spanish in Barcelona

If you don't speak Spanish (Castellano) you need to learn. Find a list of Spanish language schools and learn Spanish (and Catalan). Intensive courses and evening classes.

Banking in Spain

Discover the cheapest ways to make money transfers, how to open a bank account in Spain, and access free banking.

Learn more about moving money and banking in Spain

Legalities

How to obtain your NIE, how to register at the local Town Hall (a legal requirement), how to register with a doctor and receive medical care in Spain, and what you need to do to find a job in Barcelona.

Accommodation guide for Barcelona

BARCELONA HOTELS

Read a summary of 60 hotels in Barcelona and check availability for your dates:

Hotels in Barcelona


Barcelona B&B

The best Barcelona Bed and Breakfast accommodation – for a more personal experience.


Octopus Travel have over 50,000 hotels including Barcelona hotels


Flats for rent
in Barcelona

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Barcelona Expat Services

English-speaking Businesses and services in Barcelona.



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Do you need advice on finding somewhere to live in Barcelona? See our page on Accommodation:
Barcelona Letting agents | Classified ads for renting flats

Information on relocating abroad and how to make the move:
Moving companies |
Channel ferries to Spain | Motor Rail

Learning even the basic Spanish will help you a lot:
Spanish language schools in Barcelona | Spanish/English Intercambios

How to save money and time on telecommunications in Barcelona:
How to get a telephone landline connected |
Installing ADSL/Broadband in Barcelona
Mobile phone calls in Spain | VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol)

And the Catalan and Spanish Cuisine:
Best restaurants in Barcelona | Favourite bars in Gràcia

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