Life in Barcelona
Living & Teaching English in Barcelona
Barcelona, the capital of Catalunya (or Catalonia to Spanish speakers), is the economic and cultural powerhouse of northern Spain and home to over 3 million residents.
Situated between the Pyrenees mountain range and the Mediterranean, just 150 km from southern France, Barcelona has a lot going for it. You can lose yourself in the vibrant city centre, get away from it all in the stunning mountain scenery, or soak up the sun on one of the city’s many beaches.
Then there’s the stunning architecture and art – notably Antoni Gaudi’s modernist masterpieces and Joan Miró’s iconic sculptures – incredible food, rich local traditionals, countless festivals and, of course, fantastic nightlife.
Teaching English in Barcelona
There’s endless fun to be had in Barcelona, but it also has unparalleled opportunities for English teachers. The Catalan population are ‘English conscientious’ and English-speaking abilities are highly regarded and sought-after. Many companies have English as a standard requirement for job entry.
This means English schools and teachers are in constant demand. That’s why Barcelona is home to over 100 language academies and schools, all of which employ several teachers throughout the year, doing a mixture of courses for people of all ages – including specialist English courses for business and commerce.
The TEFL Jobs Market
The Spanish economy is now one of the fastest growing large economies in Europe. What’s more, the ability to speak English is increasingly in-demand for large and small businesses throughout the city. This is helped in no small part by the fact that Barcelona is now one of the best cities for startups in Europe , many of which use English as a primary language.
So, it stands to reason that the TEFL jobs market in Spain continues to go from strength to strength, with hundreds of jobs posted every day.
The Cost Of Living
Barcelona is a large international city, and one of the biggest city brands on the planet. Still, the cost of living is much cheaper than other big European cities – or even most other US cities like New York and Miami
In fact, Barcelona is a far more affordable place than you might think. Here’s a cost of living comparison against a few big cities that our students regularly come from.
As you can see, Barcelona is a lot cheaper than its international counterparts! And this is another factor that makes the city a great place to live.
Making The Most Of Living In Barcelona
We can’t rate Barcelona highly enough. After all, we have decided to settle here permanently and make the city our home!
Delivering quality TEFL courses is our business, but we are also here to guide
your entire experience. We’ve got your back from the very first step, with
expert assistance when it comes to getting your
student visa
and we’ll also help you
open your Spanish bank account
. Our in-house accommodation service will help you get settled
in the city
, while our dedicated careers service will help you secure work post graduation.
With secure foundations laid and the admin side of things in place, you’ll be ready to explore Barcelona in all its vibrant glory. And there really is something for everyone… quirky bars, late-night hangouts, colourful characters, massive festivals, beach parties, crazy culture, street art, outdoor pools, concerts, quiet parks, stunning architecture, amazing coffee, exotic cuisine … the list goes on! Honestly… you name it, Barcelona has it.
With that in mind, here’s just a snapshot of what you can expect from life in Barcelona…
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Top Six Things To Do In Barcelona
We’ve made Barcelona our home but the
number of temporary residents in the city is enormous too and
over 7 million tourists now arrive each year – including a huge proportion of
English speakers who come to see what this city has to offer.
Barcelona is such a popular destination for the fun, beaches, sangria, relaxation and nightlife, etcetera (we’ve covered most of this already) but making the most of life in the city needs a bit of inside knowledge to get beyond the tourist trappings.
Tibidabo and Parc de Collserola – always a great idea.
Party Till The Break Of Dawn
Legendary music festivals, epic street parties, awesome night clubs, blissed-out beach parties – this city has everything. Open your mind, go with the flow, and Barcelona will take care of the rest.
Read more:
5 Spanish festivals you’ve never heard of
The 5 best bars in El Raval, Barcelona
Enjoy The Great Outdoors
From breathtaking mountains to idyllic beaches, amazing adventures await those with a passion for nature and the great outdoors, with the outskirts of Barcelona and beyond offering a lifetime of incredible experiences.
Read more:
Top 5 outdoor activities in Catalonia
Best day trips and weekend trips from Barcelona by train
The five best beaches near Barcelona
Sample Some Amazing Cuisine
Barcelona and Catalonia in general is renowned for its fantastic food, and there are so many incredible local dishes to discover when living in Barcelona. That’s just the half of it though. Thanks to Barcelona’s cosmopolitan feel, with such a diverse range of nationalities living in the city, foodies get to sample the best dishes from cultures the world over.
Read more:
A foodie guide to traditional cuisine in Barcelona
TEFL Iberia’s vegan guide to Barcelona
The five best brunches in Barcelona
Get Sporty
The city is host to FC Barcelona… one of the most prestigious football teams in the history of the game. A visit to Camp Nou is a must for any sports fan and, with countless 5-a-side football pitches throughout the city, there are plenty of opportunities for football fanatics to get their fix. Add running tracks, basketball and padel courts, gyms, swimming pools and rock climbing centres into the mix and you’ve got a city that’s perfect for sports lovers.
Read more:
The five best workout spots in Barcelona
Be A Culture Vulture
Barcelona has a rich artistic history, with the legacies of great painters, poets, writers and architects part of the fabric of the city. Whether visiting legendary spots like Bar Marsella or Els Quatre Gats (Picasso and Hemmingway hangouts, so they say), checking out local art exhibitions or taking advantage of free museums on the 1st Sunday of every month, there’s culture on every street corner in this wonderful city.
Read more:
The best bookshops in Barcelona
Live Like A Local
Once you’ve been in the city for a while and the honeymoon period comes to an end, you’ll find a deeper appreciation for local life. Soon you’ll be regaling your friends and family with stories of winter calçotadas and local festa majors, while discovering that you’re picking up the habits of the locals!
Read more:
Our favourite terraces in Barcelona
Where to go for Vermouth in Barcelona
The TEFL Iberia guide to neighbourhoods of Barcelona
For more about living and teaching English in Barcelona, take a look at one of our recent blog posts.