— City Guides — Living in Barcelona – City guide Barcelona October 6, 2016 Living in Barcelona Bienvenidos a Barcelona! nestpick is proud to present you the first edition of the International Guide to this exciting city. This guide is written by a group of international students and explorers at heart who have themselves ventured out of their home countries to experience other cities and countries. We have written this guide for you, an international student or expat moving to Barcelona to study and enjoy your time in this great city. We want to help you make the best of it. As you may already know, Barcelona is Spain’s second largest city and capital city of Catalonia. This is actually one of Barcelona’s most interesting aspects: while living in Barcelona, you are in Spain, of course, but you are first and foremost in the hub of the autonomous Catalan community where the Catalan dialect is prominent. With 1.6 million inhabitants and over 50 000 students, it is very hard to get lonely here. Living in Barcelona is great for all of the right reasons: the city is on the Mediterranean and is kissed by the sun for the majority of the year, it is renowned for its culinary delights, and it is home to some of Europe’s most interesting architecture. Connect with your new town and do as the locals do. Head to Barceloneta, right along the sea, and say adiós to buses, taxis and buenos días to your new four-wheeled friend, the long-board. You will quickly notice that countless Barcelonians get from A to B on this type of skateboard, as the weather permits it and the city centre is relatively flat. If riding is not your thing, have no fear: public transportation here is very efficient and will get you where you need to go. Next, indulge in a delicious lunch under the sun – seafood is king in Barcelona, and you must try a traditional paella to get a true taste of the city. Afterwards, take a siesta or work off the feast by head- ing up to the incredible Parc Güell, designed by Gaudí and located on top of Carmel Hill. Alternatively, you can catch a breathtaking sunset over the city from Mount Tibidabo, where a vintage amuse- ment park is still in place. You can access Tibidabo by riding an old-school funicular train or on foot. If you choose the latter, reward yourself with some freshly-made churros once you get to the top. Finish the day with some tapas y vino in one of the many of little wine-bars in the old town of Barri Gòtic. With a never-ending list of adventures awaiting you, it is very unlikely you will have time to get bored whilst living in Barcelona. Although a move abroad is fun, it can also be intimidating particularly if you are far away from home. We want you to feel like a local, not a visitor. It is our belief that the gems of a community take longer than just a day or two to uncover. These are the things that can’t be found on a map, the real and true character of a city. They are the sites and sounds you encounter as you take a wrong turn and walk down a cobblestone path. This guide will tell you what you need to know, so you don’t need to waste time and can get on with enjoying living in Barcelona. Pásalo bien! Living in Barcelona City Guide
