What do I need to know before moving to Barcelona?

When we asked people what advice they would give someone preparing to move to Barcelona, they said...

"Before moving to Barcelona, expats should familiarize themselves with the local language, Catalan. Although Spanish is widely spoken, Catalan is the official language of the region and is used in many everyday situations. Expats should also be aware of the cost of living in Barcelona, which is higher than in many other parts of Spain. Additionally, expats should research the city's public transportation system, which is an efficient and affordable way to get around. Finally, expats should be aware of the cultural norms in Barcelona, which are quite different from those in other parts of the world," explained one expat living in Barcelona, Spain.

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"If they are coming from a prosperous Western European city or the States, I would say they should expect a much lower level of quality in customer services and professionalism in the working environment. Barcelona is great if you can party and sunbathe all the time and not worry about work and earning a good salary. Choosing a neighbourhood depends on the kind of lifestyle you want to live - Barcelona is one of the most densly populated cities in Europe so negative side is noise, pollution and small living spaces. Plus side is you can walk everywhere and always plenty of places to go out and eat and shop. Suburbs are quieter but more expensive, the wealthier Catalans choose to live in the hills looking down on the city (and the smog)," said another expat in Barcelona, Spain.