Erasmus Experience in Barcelona, Spain by Xènia

What's it like to to live in Barcelona? Do you recommend it? How is it?

From my point of view, as a citizen of Barcelona having lived there all my life...

I don't recommend living here, at least I personally do not like it, because it is very stressful, it's really crowded and lately there has been a lot of tourists visiting with the sole intention to 'get drunk', which is very degrading and dirty, since the kind of people coming are disrespectful to the locals and are very uncivil.

A panoramic view of Barcelona

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What is student life like in Barcelona?

Student life is really great, upbeat and entrepreneurial (as long as it is student and NOT with the sole objective of partying and getting drunk). There are really great people who have a promising future ahead of them.

University of Barcelona

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How much does it cost to live in Barcelona?

It's quite expensive, although possibly not when compared to the rest of Europe... The problem for those of us who live here is the salaries we receive, as they are very low!

The cost of living in Barcelona is quite high

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Was it hard to find accommodation in Barcelona? Do you have any advice?

I have always lived here, so I have never had this problem... but yes, for those living independently and in a couple, as I said before, for younger people and people from the city, the cost of living is expensive and you can't afford to pay rent and even less so a mortgage! That is why it is most feasible to share a flat or rent a room.

Of which there is high demand and also lots of options available!

It's best to share a flat or rent a room in Barcelona

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How's the country's food? What are your favourite dishes?

The food is of good quality, it's Mediterranean, being more healthy and balanced.

In particular, my favourites are the typical dishes of Catalonia such as:

• Bread with tomato, with a corresponding sausage; catalan sausage, secallona sausage, bull sausage...
• Fish cake and sausage
• Salad with red peppers, onions, olives and tomatoes...
• Spring onions with romesco sauce
• Sausage with beans
• Baked potatoes with aioli
• Baked snails in sauce
• Rice casserole, noodles...
• Cannelloni, pasta and broth
• Trinxat (cabbage and potato cake), liver and onions, chicken with plums and pine nuts, rabbit with allioli, beef
• Cod with ratatouille
• Cheese with walnuts and honey, Panellets (bread made with chesnuts), Xuixo (pastry with cream inside), Fartons (confectionary glazed with sugar, Carquinyolis (a Catalan biscuit), Pets nun Crema (nut cookies), Crema Catalan (crème brulée)
• Horchata, Ratafia (a sweet alcoholic drink), Cava, Vermouth

Esqueixada (dish made using red peppers, onions, olives and tomatoes)

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Butifarra amb mongetes (sausage and beans)

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Trinxat (cabbage and potato cake)

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What places do you recommend visiting in Barcelona?

• The old/historic part of Barcelona: the cathedral, the churches, museums and shops on the outskirts... and the el Born neighbourhood.
• Plaza Universidad (very nice University gardens).
• Las Ramblas (a famous street in the city).
• Paseo de Gracia (very commercialised area).
• Montjuïch, the fountains, Spanish towns, all the parks on the mountain and the Castle (high up above everything).
• The maritime and Olympic promenade: from Paralelo (the whole avenue, it has a great variety of leisure and culture activities and that is where the Raval begins, which is also interesting to see), to the Forum (very beautiful and there are many beaches).
• The park of the citadel and arco de triunfo (arch of triumph), along with the Zoo (which is very run-down, by the way).
• Hospital of Sant Pau, Sagrada Familia (although I do not like how they are finishing it off... ), Glories and 22 @ (this is the most modern area, newest part, design, and intelligent city) and new town (with Rambla and nice parks very close by).
• All Barcelona's parks: Collserola, el tres turons; turó de la Rovira (Búnquers), turó del Carmel along with el Parc Güell and turó de la Creueta del Coll.
• There are many beautiful gardens and corners to visit... For example: Parque del Laberinto de Horta, Jardines de Pedralbes, etc.

Las Ramblas

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Paseo de Gracia

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Güell park

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Arco de Triunfo (arch of triumph)

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Do you have any advice you'd like to give to students coming to Barcelona?

Enjoy and appreciate everything that the city and its surroundings have to offer, since there are many places, sites and beautiful corners with very interesting things to see and discover.

But always come with respect and value of the culture and place in order to better understand the city's citizens and therefore learn our values, which contributes to it being "hospital city", making it so attractive and visited.

Enjoy and appreciate the city

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