5 things to know before moving to Barcelona
If you're reading this, it's probably because you've chosen one of the most wonderful destinations in the world to live in. Barcelona is a city with incredible architecture, a unique gastronomy and the perfect place to enjoy both the sea and the mountains.
Without a doubt, moving to another city to work or study is a very exciting change, but at the same time, it can be very stressful. It is essential to be informed about all the particularities of your chosen destination, from the necessary formalities to the transport system.
That's why we want to make it a little easier for you with a list of the most important things you need to know about the city. Keep reading!
What procedures do I have to do?
The first thing to bear in mind when you move to Barcelona is your nationality. If you are a citizen of the European Union, the European Economic Area or Switzerland, you have the right to travel and reside freely. If you want to live in Barcelona for more than three months, you must register as a resident in Spain with the NIE certificate.
On the other hand, if you are from a country that does not belong to the EU, the European Economic Area or Switzerland, you must complete the immigration procedures. This is a more complex procedure, but it is worth noting that Spain has specific legislation, known as the Entrepreneurs Law, to promote welcoming entrepreneurs. There are also other routes following the general procedure for foreigners.
Discover other obligatory procedures and optional procedures when moving to Barcelona.
What is healthcare like in Barcelona?
Catalonia has a public health system that offers universal healthcare. In order to register on CatSalut (Catalan Health System), you must be registered in Catalonia and paying Social Security contributions. If you are not working and paying Social Security contributions, you will also be able to access the public health system if you meet any of the following requirements:
- If you are from the European Economic Area, United Kingdom or Switzerland, you will have access thanks to the European Health Insurance Card.
- If your country has a health agreement with Spain.
If you are not in any of the above groups, there is also the option of taking out private health insurance, although the public health system will always cover medical emergencies. For the latter, you can call 061, a service that covers the whole of Catalonia 24 hours a day.
How do I get to the city centre?
The most common way is to arrive to Barcelona by plane and land at Josep Tarradellas - El Prat Airport, located about 15 kilometres from the city. You have different options for getting to the city centre:
- A taxi will cost you around €40.
- If you prefer the Aerobús, you can choose between two lines with different stops towards the centre of Barcelona and it costs 5,90€.
- You can also choose to go by train, which departs from Terminal 2 and costs €2 each way.
- If you choose to take the metro, bear in mind that it doesn't go directly to the city centre. You'll have to change at a station to catch another line into the city centre. The cost of the journey is €4.50.
- Another option is bus 46, which stops at both airport terminals and takes you to Plaza España. A ticket costs €2.15.
- If you arrive at night, there are three bus lines (N16, N17 and N18) that go to the centre of Barcelona. The ticket costs €2.25.
How do I get around Barcelona?
Barcelona has a comprehensive public transport network where you can choose between metro, bus, tram, taxi or bicycle to get to your destination.
You can also choose from various types of transport passes depending on your needs. For example, you can get the T-Casual, which contains 10 journeys, or the single ticket, which is for a single journey. You can consult all the tickets on theofficial website of TMB (Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona).
Our recommendation is that before you move in, you should plan the best way to get to your destination. You can do this with the help of applications such as Google Maps or by consulting Barcelona's public transport network.
Where can I live in Barcelona?
For medium and long stays, the best thing to do is to look for accommodation, taking into account factors such as the choice of neighbourhood and the type of accommodation that best suits your needs. In Barcelona you can find many types of accommodation:
- One option is shared flats. Currently they have an average price of 500€ per month with expenses not included.
- You can also rent a complete flat where the rent can go, on average, from €800 to more than €1,500, expenses not included.
- Another different and innovative option is the Colivings, a community residential model that combines social life, housing and work. At Viu you have several accommodation options, which include all the necessary services.
Changing city can be an adventure and a unique experience. We invite you to discover the Viu experience, a sustainable community that aims to simplify your life, and we will be happy to help you make your stay in this city an amazing one!
