You have to live it to understand it! An experience in Barcelona, Spain.

What do you think about living in Barcelona? Do you recommend it? How is it?

Barcelona is a cosmopolitan city with a lot of atmosphere where you can enjoy a nice life, not only because of the climate but also because of its location. I recommend spending at least one season there, if you don't like cities, maybe you and Barcelona will not get on, but at least you can live it in order to know it. Even though it's a big city, it's not as big as Madrid or London and this gives it a lot of its charm.

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What is the student scene like in Barcelona?

There are a lot of students in Barcelona with a good atmosphere, there are a lot of universities, both public and private, but more than anything else because Barcelona is such a lively city, it's not just for students.

How much does it cost to live in Barcelona?

It depends on which area you want to live in but it won't be less than 500€. In the Gracia neighbourhood, for example, a flat can cost you 900€. Or close to the 'Hospital Clínic de Barcelona' a flat would cost around 600€ in total. It must be said that if you want to live alone, you will pay for the whole flat but in a student flat, with typically 3 to 5 people, depending on how many rooms there are, the price is usually lower.

Did you have any trouble finding accommodation in Barcelona? Can you give me some advice?

It's not a problem finding accommodation in Barcelona, the problem is finding a place that is well located and in good condition. It's better not to trust the photos and use a day to go and visit a few places to get an idea about what you can find with your budget.

What's the food like there? What are your favourite dishes?

The food here is fabulous, I'm from Spain and it's true, I've never eaten better anywhere than here. I am the kind of person who likes pasta and rare meat too but what I go crazy for is sweet things! That's why I'll leave you with a recipe for 'Torrijas'.

Torrija Recipe:

Ingredients

• A loaf of bread
• Eggs
• Milk
• Cinnamon
• Sugar
• Oil

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First, cut the loaf of bread into slices (quite thick but not too much), then soak them in the milk (but not so they are completely saturated), then cover them with the eggs and fry them until they are golden brown on both sides. When you take them out sprinkle both sides with cinnamon and then sugar.

It's really easy to do even for people who can't cook, like me!

What places would you recommend to visit in Barcelona?

The typical ones like the Sagrada Família, Barceloneta and Parc Güell, those you can't miss. Now for other places to visit, it depends on what you like. The good thing is that Barcelona has a beach, take advantage of it, there are also some parks where you can admire nature, not just buildings. If you like shopping go to 'Puerta del Angel', to 'Maquinista' and to 'Maremagnum' and it's obligatory to loose yourself in the streets of Gracia and find the little shops that the city also has. If you like monuments and architecture, simply take a walk through the streets, there's a few places where you will see streets where all the buildings have some kind of history, the Gothic Quarter would be a perfect place to get lost in for this. And if it's nature you're looking for, don't worry, Barcelona is really well connected with its surroundings and you can easily go to other parts. I recommend that you visit the ski resorts which are about 2 hours from BCN. And finally, if you like culture in general, there are a lot of museums, however almost none of them are free but make sure you go to the theatre at least once.

Generally in Barcelona there is always something to see or do to, you just have to look for what you prefer.

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And what about eating in Barcelona? Can you tell me your favourite places?

Any place in Barceloneta will be fine, especially if you have paella or fideua (careful if you're allergic to seafood! ). 'El tagliatella' is a good place for pizza and pasta, quite expensive but very tasty. Any Japanese restaurant drives me crazy! Also try some tapas and beers in any bar with friends, that never fails.

What places would you recommend to go out in Barcelona?

Well, it depends what you like, but there are lots of places to go out, from clubs to bars, there is a lot of nightlife, especially on Thursdays. And if you don't like going out like that, there are other things that you can do, like laser tag, escape rooms, also bars that have their own board games! Even the geeks have there own places to meet.

Is there any advice you want to give to future students going to Barcelona?

Enjoy it! Barcelona, like any big city, can be stressful, but if you are able to enjoy it, you'll come back with great memories!