Experience in Barcelona, Spain by Camilla

What is it like to live in Barcelona? Would you recommend it? How is it?

Of course I would recommend it! It is a really big city that has everything. And the most important thing is that it has a beach! (Well, at least for me that is very important). Although Barceloneta Beach is not the best, it is the closest one to the Old Town. For those who are looking for a good beach, you will have to travel a bit further, but the metro will take you to the closest beach which is really big and clean.

How much does it cost to live in Barcelona?

It costs the same as it does in practically any part of Spain. The basic costs of food and personal hygiene come in at around 200-250 euros a month, depending on what brands you use (I always use the cheapest ones). But accommodation can be a bit more expensive.

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

It is always difficult to find accommodation for an affordable price and also you have to be lucky to find nice flatmates. Therefore you should make sure you only rent a flat where you are sharing with other students. You are always going to have problems between students and employed people. But don't let this get you down, to solve the problem I recommend you do a video call over Skype to get to know each other beforehand and get an idea of what the people you are going to share a flat with are like.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

The food is good, but if you are a vegetarian, very often there is not that much choice but in the supermarkets, there is always vegetarian food that you can choose from. However, for the rest of my friends, there is always a decent choice of food to choose from.

What places would you recommend visiting in Barcelona?

I highly recommend going to Park Guell, and if you don't have much money to spend, you can decide to go like I did before 8 am to get in for free, as after 8 am you have to start paying to enter. In summer at this time it is already sunny so you'll be able to take good photos, but at the same time, once you're inside won't have to leave even though they have started to charge the people that are entering. I also recommend going to the Sagrada Familia. But you should know that if you want to go inside, you have to buy your ticket online, but usually, they are valid as soon as 3 days after the purchase. But you can also opt to do the same thing on Sundays for free (but you should go a minimum of 2 hours before opening to ensure you can get in as usually a lot of people go).

Another really interesting place is the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau. Although it is a hospital, it ends every day making itself more touristic by being so eye-catching, due to its beautiful appearance. Another really pretty tourist attraction is the Montjuïc Castle, which is a bit further out from the centre but is worthwhile visiting. Firstly, you shouldn't miss out on the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc which comes to life at night with lights and music, where the water dances in a truly perfect way. Also, there is Camp Nou, the Barcelona football stadium, for fans of the sport.

Then, near the Barceloneta Beach, you can find the Ciutadella Park, where you'll find Barcelona's famous Arc de Triomf. Obviously, I recommend going to Barceloneta Beach and other nearby beaches but which are further from the port. Then I'd recommending visiting all of the Old Town to enjoy every detail of this beautiful city.

What advice would you give future students heading to Barcelona?

I recommend that you look for accommodation at least a month in advance so you can make sure that you've got a good price, as they do exist, but they will always be the first ones to go. Go there with a desire to have fun, get to know people and learn a new language! Erasmus is an incredible experience that, in my opinion, everyone should experience.

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