Spain! Moving to Spain can offer you the immersive lifestyle change you’re looking for at an affordable price without concerns over degree requirements. That’s right – unlike locations in Asia – Spanish language schools are hiring with only a TEFL certificate required! Depending on the location you choose within the country, you can enjoy highly-affordable living whilst working either in-person as a private language tutor or in a language school, or go remote and make a living online on tutoring platforms or your own personal business. The options are limitless when it comes to teaching English in Spain, and are tailorable to your needs and preferences.

“Why should I move to Spain?”

In combination with the job opportunities available, the laidback lifestyle of the Spanish might be just what you’re looking for to escape the hustle and bustle of a city, or the mundane life of a desk-job. Spend your days enjoying morning walks in the sun on the way to your clients, tapas and siestas before your afternoon sessions, and a vibrant nightlife at the end of the day to immerse yourself in the social culture of Spanish communities. If going out isn’t your thing, Spanish communities often value fitness and health if you’re looking to join a sports or yoga club! Whatever your interest, Spain has it covered.

“How can I move to Spain?”

The visa processes are different depending on your home country, so make sure to contact your designated Spanish embassy to learn more about the visa process for your specific area. To aid your paperwork, sign up for our Spanish language courses, business courses, or – if you’re not yet certified – our TEFL courses at TEFLBarcelona.net to be eligible for a student visa whilst you get your foot in the door at language schools or build a personal client base.

“Where do I sign up?”

Once you’re over and settled, the world is your oyster! Build your career path in a country full of potential students. Your TEFL certificate alone is enough to get hired or set up for teaching in your new favourite country. The only catch is, once you’ve lived in Spain, it’s impossible to go back (well, not literally). You’ll fall in love with the fiestas, food and freedom this place has to offer, you’ll never want to leave! Are you ready to start your new life in Spain, no degree required? Sign up with TEFLBarcelona.net to jumpstart your career!

The post Can I Teach English In Spain Without A Degree? appeared first on TEFL Barcelona - TEFL Spain.

How I got TEFL Certified

I moved to Barcelona lost with no route for a visa in sight. After months of searching, I came across TEFLBarcelona and after meeting with the kind owner I was sold that this was the route for me. Signing up to a TEFL course along with 6 months of Spanish language classes meant I had security in the country under the student visa, cultural immersion with the Spanish lessons, and an open door to endless career possibilities abroad with my new TEFL certificate. This offered me a foundation to my dreams of travelling across the world, making my fantasy a reality. Now, not only could I live in the hotspot city of Barcelona for the year, I could continue on to travel to my other dream destinations with a source of income already lined-up.

TEFL Pathways and Travel

International travel is a dream of many: whether its backpacking across Europe, or luxury wine tourism. Whatever your taste, TEFL opens up the doors to all of it, it’s just about finding the right path for you. TEFL is incredibly flexible: you can set up your own online or in-person tutoring business and scale from there; you can teach on pre-made tutoring sites if you want to work remote without the business side of things; you can find in-person positions in the country of your dreams and make the move. Whatever route you pick, there are always possibilities to scale, grow, explore, travel, and learn.

What can TEFL do for me?

For the ambitious money-makers, countries like the UAE and Saudi Arabia lead the pack, offering tax-free monthly salaries between $2,200 and $5,500 for qualified TEFL teachers. South Korea and China aren’t far behind, often bundling free flights and accommodation into the deal, so you can save a serious chunk of your income while you’re out there.

For the explorers, countries like Vietnam, Thailand, Colombia and Morocco are hard to beat. They combine steady demand for TEFL teachers with a low cost of living, rich culture, and easy access to backpacking routes, so you can fund your next adventure while you’re already living it.

For those who are still figuring things out, websites like Cambly, Preply and iTalki allow for you to earn money and practise your teaching before you make the leap of moving abroad.

Where to get started?

There’s something for everyone in TEFL, and TEFLBarcelona offers high-quality, highly-recognised courses in TEFL, Spanish classes and business classes so you can pair your studies with additional skills to propel your career forward. Sign up to get qualified today and break free from the limits of financial anxiety moving abroad.

The post What Can A TEFL Certificate Do For Me? appeared first on TEFL Barcelona - TEFL Spain.

Finding My Niche

I started small, teaching English to Spanish friends in Barcelona. This early experience did wonders for my confidence and helped me build out my skillset. One of these friends needed English for a job opportunity, which pushed me into the niche of business English.

To develop personalised lessons for his needs, I drew on free online resources like the Market Leader and Business Result workbooks (both easy to find as PDFs), focusing especially on sales language and pitching. This friend became my first loyal student, and the six-month deadline he set for himself kept me motivated to deliver real results.

Moving to Online Tutoring Platforms

With this experience under my belt, I applied to online tutoring platforms like Preply and iTalki, using business English as my selling point while still teaching general English to students who wanted it. Students came from all over the world, and as I built up reviews, my profile gained more visibility – creating a kind of snowball effect toward steady bookings.

Don’t Undervalue Yourself Early On

If there’s one piece of advice I’d give anyone starting out, it’s this: don’t work for less than you’re worth.

Platforms like Preply already take a significant cut when you’re starting (commission begins at 33%). So if you’re charging their recommended $10/hour, you’re really only earning around $7/hour. Depending on where you live, that might be workable. But after moving back to the UK, that translated to roughly £5/hour — a fraction of the UK’s minimum wage of just under £13/hour.

Your progress may feel slower than other tutors’ at first, but I’d strongly recommend setting your prices at a rate you’re actually comfortable with from day one, rather than underselling yourself to rack up reviews. If you don’t make this change early, you risk resenting your first students – their rate stays locked in at whatever you originally charged (say, $10), even as your listed price rises, unless you renegotiate. And renegotiating comes with its own risk: losing students who can’t afford the new rate.

Going Independent

Once you’ve built a solid client base and developed real relationships with your students, it’s worth considering a shift to private tutoring outside these platforms. Technically, this isn’t allowed under sites like Preply’s terms – but in practice, as long as you have a way of contacting your students directly, you won’t run into trouble for going independent.

Making this move myself was the best decision I made for my financial success. It let me escape the high commission rates and build a client base made up entirely of loyal, direct students.

Building Toward Freedom

From there, the path is about growth – branching into new markets and niches until you’re earning enough to work as a full-time, self-employed tutor, on your own terms, at your own rates, and on your own schedule.

This kind of freedom is something more people are chasing every day, as digital nomad living and remote work become increasingly suited to modern life. If that’s the kind of freedom you’ve been looking for, it all starts with a TEFL course.

The post How To Start Your Online TEFL Business appeared first on TEFL Barcelona - TEFL Spain.

Moving to Spain to train as an English teacher isn’t just a career move. It’s a full-scale rewiring of how you see yourself and what you think you’re capable of. The classroom techniques matter, sure. But the real education happens in the gaps – on the metro at rush hour, in a tapas bar where your Spanish falters mid-order, in the small victory of finally understanding your landlord’s rapid-fire Catalan.

1. Increased Resilience

Let me be honest: the first few weeks of moving to Spain can be humbling. You’ll get lost. You’ll misunderstand something important. You’ll probably overpay for a SIM card because you nodded along to terms you didn’t fully grasp.

But here’s what happens next. You figure it out. You navigate Spanish bureaucracy — an achievement worthy of its own certificate. You learn which metro line takes you home and which one deposits you somewhere entirely unexpected. You open a bank account in a language you’re still learning. Small wins stack up, and quickly.

Barcelona, in particular, has a way of demanding your participation. It’s not a city that lets you stay passive. The noise, the energy, the packed streets of the Gothic Quarter at midday, the late dinners that don’t start until 10pm — all of it pulls you out of whatever comfort zone you arrived with. This is one of the most underrated parts of taking a TEFL course in Barcelona. You are not only learning how to teach English. You are learning how to trust yourself in a completely unfamiliar environment. There’s a particular kind of confidence that comes from solving real problems in a foreign country, and it doesn’t come from any textbook.

By the end of the course, you’ve built something that doesn’t show up on your CV: a quiet, durable resilience. That feeling doesn’t fade when you leave Spain. It follows you into job interviews, new cities, and difficult conversations. You’ve already proven to yourself that you can adapt. Future challenges start to look more manageable because you have evidence – real, lived evidence – that you’ve navigated harder things.

2. Expanding Empathy and Understanding

There’s a moment that happens to almost everyone who moves abroad. You’re trying to explain something simple, and the words just won’t come. Maybe you’re at a pharmacy trying to describe a headache, or you’re in a café and you’ve blanked on a basic word. You feel exposed. A little foolish. Suddenly, you are the beginner in the room.

That feeling is the most useful teaching tool you’ll ever acquire when it comes to teaching English abroad.

Living in Spain means you experience first-hand what it feels like to communicate across a language barrier. That experience makes you a more empathetic, patient, and perceptive English teacher. You understand that language learning isn’t purely cognitive — it’s emotional. Your future students aren’t just memorising grammar rules. They’re risking embarrassment every time they open their mouths.

Taking a TEFL course in Barcelona places you at a genuine crossroads of cultures and perspectives. The city draws people from everywhere: South America, Northern Europe, Asia, other parts of Spain. Your classmates might include a graphic designer from Berlin, a nurse from Colombia, a recent graduate from Seoul. Conversations tend to go further than you’d expect. If you decide to study Spanish while you’re there (and you really should, because it transforms the whole experience) you’ll know exactly what it feels like to be a beginner again. That vulnerability is uncomfortable and valuable in equal measure. It will shape the kind of English teacher you become.

3. A Fresh Start and a New Sense of Possibility

This one is harder to explain, but it might be the most important shift that comes from moving to Spain for a TEFL course.

When you change your surroundings completely, you start to question assumptions you didn’t even know you were holding. The way you’ve always structured your days. The career path that felt inevitable. The version of your life that seemed fixed.

For many people, a TEFL course abroad represents exactly that: a fresh start. Not in a clichéd, wipe-the-slate-clean way, but in a genuinely practical sense. Teaching English in Spain can lead to a job you love, a language you speak, friendships that span continents, and a more expansive understanding of what your life can actually look like.

Some people finish their TEFL course in Barcelona and stay, picking up teaching work in local language schools or through private tutoring. Others use it as a launchpad, moving on to teach English in Asia, Latin America, or the Middle East. And for plenty of people, it’s simply the experience that proved they could take a leap when it mattered.

If you’ve been feeling stuck, uninspired, or quietly fed up with the same routine, moving to Spain might be less of a risk than staying put. The course gives you a qualification, but the experience gives you perspective – and perspective has a way of changing everything.

Why TEFL Provides The Structure You Need Whilst Moving Abroad

Here’s the practical reality: moving abroad alone can feel chaotic. No routine, no familiar faces, no one expecting you anywhere. A TEFL course in Barcelona changes that equation from the moment you arrive. You land with a purpose — a clear schedule, a cohort of people in the same slightly-overwhelmed boat, and trainers who’ve guided hundreds of people through this exact transition. You have somewhere to be every morning. You have people to eat lunch with, debrief alongside, and explore the city with on weekends.

This structure doesn’t limit the adventure, instead it makes it sustainable. Joining a TEFL course means you step into a supportive learning environment instead of landing in a new country without direction. Someone helps you understand the visa process. The paperwork gets streamlined. You’re not navigating it all alone.

That combination of genuine freedom with a solid foundation is what makes taking a TEFL course in Spain one of the smartest ways to make the move abroad for the first time. You get the independence, the exploration, and the sense of possibility, without the paralysing uncertainty of having no structure around you.

Written by Hannah Welsh

The post 3 Ways a TEFL Course in Spain Can Change You Forever (For The Better) appeared first on TEFL Barcelona - TEFL Spain.

The post Is TEFL Worth It in Spain? appeared first on TEFL Barcelona - TEFL Spain.

If you’re considering becoming an English teacher, you might wonder if it’s worth investing time and money in a TEFL course. The short answer: absolutely! Let’s break down why this path is worth exploring and how it can help you achieve your personal and professional goals.

Why Become an English Teacher?

1.- Endless Travel Opportunities One of the biggest attractions of becoming an English teacher is the chance to live and work in different countries. English is the world’s most widely spoken second language, meaning there’s a high demand for teachers in countries like Spain, Japan, South Korea, and many more.

Teaching English abroad gives you the opportunity to immerse yourself in new cultures, learn new languages, and explore the world, all while earning a salary.

2.- Flexibility and Freedom Beyond teaching in traditional schools, English teachers have the flexibility to work online. Online teaching has skyrocketed in recent years, with many teachers offering private lessons or working for established platforms from the comfort of their homes.

This flexibility allows teachers to create their own schedules, take on as many students as they want, and enjoy the freedom to work from anywhere with an internet connection.

3.- Making a Real Impact Teaching is one of the most rewarding professions, and teaching English is no exception. You get to help students improve their language skills, which can open doors for them in terms of education, career opportunities, and personal growth. Many English learners are motivated to learn for job promotions, study abroad, or connect with people globally.

As a teacher, you get to be a part of their journey and make a meaningful impact on their lives.

4.- A Growing Demand for English Teachers The demand for qualified English teachers continues to grow. With globalization and international business communication heavily relying on English, more schools, language institutions, and online platforms are hiring TEFL-certified teachers to meet the need.

Whether you’re in a major city or a more remote location, there’s always a need for English teachers, ensuring job security and consistent opportunities.

The Value of TEFL Certification

Now that you understand the perks of teaching English, let’s talk about how a TEFL course can help you get there. TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certification is essential for anyone who wants to teach English abroad or online. It equips you with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to succeed in the classroom.

Here are some reasons why investing in a TEFL course is worth it:

1.- Gain Teaching Skills While you may already be fluent in English, teaching the language is a completely different skill. A TEFL course helps you understand how to create effective lesson plans, manage a classroom, teach grammar, and develop engaging activities for students.

You’ll learn techniques to motivate learners, assess their progress, and provide meaningful feedback.

2.- Hands-On Experience Most reputable TEFL courses include practical teaching components. At TEFL Barcelona, for instance, we offer hands-on teaching practice with real students. This allows you to gain valuable experience and build your confidence before stepping into a full-time teaching role.

Our courses include at least seven hours of face-to-face teaching practice, so you’ll leave feeling ready to take on the classroom.

3.- Internationally Recognized Certification A TEFL certification is recognized worldwide, making it your passport to teaching opportunities across the globe. Whether you want to work in Asia, Europe, or Latin America, a TEFL certificate opens doors to well-paying jobs in various countries.

At TEFL Barcelona, we offer internationally recognized certifications such as the 120-hour TEFL course accredited by Lamar University, the 160-hour Trinity CertTESOL course accredited by Trinity College London, and the 190-hour TQUK Level 5 Award in TESOL.

4.- Job Support Completing a TEFL course doesn’t just give you a certificate—it provides you with access to career support and job placement assistance.

At TEFL Barcelona, we go the extra mile to support our graduates in finding teaching jobs after they complete their courses. Our network of schools, agencies, and private clients around Barcelona ensures that our trainees can quickly secure teaching positions.

5.- Work in Amazing Locations With a TEFL certificate, you can work in beautiful destinations like Spain, Thailand, or Costa Rica. In Spain, for example, English teachers are highly sought after, especially in cities like Barcelona.

By completing a TEFL course with us in Barcelona, you’ll not only get to live in one of the most vibrant cities in Europe, but you’ll also be able to take advantage of the high demand for English teachers in the region.

Why Choose TEFL Barcelona?

TEFL Barcelona offers beginner-friendly courses that are accessible to anyone with a passion for teaching, regardless of prior experience. Our courses are designed to provide personalized support with small class sizes, ensuring you get the attention you need to succeed.

Here’s what makes our courses stand out:

• Small Group Sizes: With a maximum of 12 trainees per class, we provide individual attention to help you develop your teaching skills.
• Practical Experience: Our courses include hands-on teaching practice with real students, giving you the confidence to lead your own classroom.
• Ongoing Career Support: Our alumni enjoy continued access to career guidance and job placement assistance. Whether you want to teach in Spain or another country, we’re here to help you find the perfect job.
• Spanish Visa Assistance: If you’re planning to live in Spain long-term, our TEFL courses can be followed by optional Spanish classes and visa support, helping you transition smoothly into your new life as an English teacher in Spain.

Advantages of Studying in Spain:

• Cultural Immersion: Studying TEFL in Spain allows you to fully immerse yourself in a vibrant, dynamic culture. You’ll experience Spanish traditions, enjoy the Mediterranean lifestyle, and even learn Spanish alongside your TEFL training, making it a richer experience.
• Travel Opportunities: Spain is well-connected to other European countries, making it easy to travel during weekends or holidays. Whether it’s exploring the beautiful beaches of the Costa Brava, skiing in the Pyrenees, or hopping over to Italy or France, your time studying in Spain will be packed with adventure.
• High Demand for English Teachers: Spain has a growing demand for English teachers, especially in cities like Barcelona. Studying and earning your TEFL certification in Spain puts you in the perfect position to take advantage of the local job market, with many opportunities to teach both adults and young learners.
• Student Visa Benefits: When you enroll in a TEFL course in Spain, you may qualify for a Spanish Student Visa, which allows you to work part-time while studying. This visa can also be extended if you decide to continue studying or working in Spain after your course.
• Affordable Living Costs: Compared to other European countries, Spain offers a relatively low cost of living, especially for students. Whether it’s enjoying local tapas, finding affordable accommodation, or accessing public transport, Spain is a great place to study without breaking the bank.
• Beautiful Weather and Lifestyle: With its sunny climate, relaxed atmosphere, and friendly people, Spain offers a high quality of life. Studying in Spain means you can enjoy a pleasant environment while focusing on your studies, making your time here as enjoyable as it is educational.

Is It Worth It?

Absolutely. Studying a TEFL course is an investment in your future. Whether you want to teach abroad, work online, or simply gain new skills, TEFL certification provides endless opportunities. You’ll have the chance to travel, earn a steady income, and make a real difference in students’ lives. Plus, with TEFL Barcelona’s hands-on approach and career support, you’ll be fully prepared to take on the world of English teaching.

Contact us today! 

The post Is it Worth Studying a TEFL Course? Exploring the Benefits of Teaching English appeared first on TEFL Barcelona - TEFL Spain.

Many expats come to the city because they love its culture and lifestyle. Others come to learn Spanish, one of the world’s most widely spoken languages. But regardless of why you want to teach English in Barcelona, there are a few things you should consider before deciding on this option.

This blog will discuss the necessary steps to secure a TEFL course in Barcelona. The city is a magnet for people from all over the world, and it’s full of opportunities for language learners. So whether you’re looking for part-time work or want to give this career a try on your own, here are some tips for getting started:

• Decide why you want to teach English
• Find out where you can teach English.
• Find out what kind of schools hire teachers.
• Get certified as an EFL teacher.

An Overview Of TEFL Courses in Barcelona

Teaching English in Barcelona is an excellent way for people who want to travel, work and live abroad. Taking a TEFL course in Barcelona will give you a unique opportunity to learn the skills needed to teach English in a foreign country while exploring a new culture. When taking a TEFL course, you can expect to learn the fundamentals of teaching English as a foreign language.

You will become more familiar with language teaching methods and learn how to apply them in real-life situations. Along with learning the theoretical side of teaching, you will also gain practical experience by teaching English classes to local students and observing experienced teachers for a more hands-on approach.

Finding The Right TEFL Course In Barcelona For You

If you are looking for a TEFL course in Barcelona, you must find the right one. Furthermore, you must ensure that the course you choose will provide you with all the skills and knowledge required to teach English as a foreign language.

You should ensure that the course provider offers several different courses, so you can choose the one that best suits your needs. The best way to do this is to visit their website and look at their list of courses available. Then, if any courses interest you, visit their website and read up on them before deciding about enrolling.

Additionally, here are a few things you should know before taking a TEFL Course-

• Researching the Different TEFL Programs
• Benefits of Taking a TEFL Course in Barcelona
• Online vs. In-Person TEFL Courses
• What to Expect When Taking a TEFL Course in Barcelona
• Preparing for Your TEFL Course in Barcelona
• Cost of Taking TEFL Courses
• Understanding the Different Types of TEFL Certificates
• The Role of Accreditation in TEFL Certification
• How Language Schools in Barcelona View Different Types of TEFL Certificates
• Using Your TEFL Certificate to Get a Job in Barcelona

Popular Courses at TEFL Barcelona

1. The 120-hour TEFL Certificate Course in Barcelona
2. The 160-hour Trinity CertTESOL Course in Barcelona
3. The 190-hour TEFL Certificate Course in Barcelona

Click here to know more https://teflbarcelona.net/tefl-course-information/

Top 3 Career Opportunities TEFL Courses Can Open Up

1. English teacher:

Teaching English is one of the most popular career options for TEFL graduates, with many people working as teachers in Spain. It is suitable for those with TEFL qualifications. Along with offering a fantastic opportunity for work experience, teaching English gives you the experience of working in another country and gives you an insight into how other countries operate with their unique education system.

2. IT Trainer:

Spain boasts an excellent network of schools and colleges, so there are plenty of opportunities for IT trainers to work abroad in Spain. Most companies are looking for people who have experience working in education and can demonstrate their commitment to helping students learn new skills.

3. Customer Service Representative:

Customer service is another popular career option for many TEFL graduates, who often work as customer service representatives or call center representatives after completing their studies abroad. These jobs are often based on efficiently handling customer queries so that customers can get the answers they want quickly and easily. They also need excellent communication skills and the ability to deal with difficult situations calmly and efficiently when necessary.

Things To Do Before Entering The Job Market In Barcelona

 Before applying for TEFL courses, it is essential to understand the local job market and what kind of teaching positions are available. It is also advisable to research the different institutes in the city and the regulations governing English teaching in Spain.

Furthermore, it is important to understand the different requirements of the various institutes as they may differ. Additionally, researching the different types of TEFL courses available in Barcelona and their associated costs can help you make an informed decision before signing up.

Finally, familiarizing yourself with the local customs, culture, and language can be beneficial when applying and interviewing for teaching positions.

• Finding Job Opportunities:

Once you have completed your TEFL course in Barcelona and are ready to begin applying for teaching positions, many resources are available to help you find job opportunities. For example, you can search for TEFL job postings online or consider attending job fairs hosted by various schools and institutes.

• Preparing for Interviews:

Before attending an interview for a TEFL job in Barcelona, it is essential to be well-prepared. Additionally, practice common interview questions and make sure you have an updated CV and cover letter. Finally, dress professionally and bring a copy of your TEFL qualification.

TEFL Jobs & Career Guidance For English Teachers in Barcelona

• Discover English Teaching Jobs in Barcelona – Get TEFL Career Support Service
• Barcelona English Teaching Career Guidance Service
• Applying to English Teacher Vacancies During Your TEFL Course in Barcelona
• Barcelona TEFL Job Guidance Sessions
• Interviewing for TEFL Teaching Jobs in Barcelona or Elsewhere
• Career Support After Completing Your TEFL Course
• Get A Professional CV for a Teaching Job

Know more: TEFL Jobs and Career advice

 The Bottom Line

In conclusion, with a good understanding of the necessary steps, you can live and teach abroad in this beautiful city sooner than you think. It is a rewarding journey that can open up a world of opportunity and personal growth–not to mention the unforgettable experiences you will gain in Barcelona.

If you are a student or an experienced teacher who wants to ace your career as a foreign language teacher in Spain or abroad, TEFL Barcelona has suitable courses for you! Visit https://teflbarcelona.net/  or call on Tel: ( + 34 ) 93 759 39 70 to know more.

Take the first step today and make your Barcelona dreams a reality!

The post Teaching English In Barcelona: How To Get Started appeared first on TEFL Barcelona - TEFL Spain.

Accommodation

The first and perhaps the main ingredient in our dish called “reasonable economy” will be accommodation. Because that will be the biggest part of your expenses in Barcelona. And here are some tips which will help you save money. 

1. Let’s start with the accommodation search. Try to find a place on your own, without the help of agents, because you will spend a decent amount on agents. You can search in the Idealista and Badi apps. In the second one, there are more ads placed directly by owners. 
2. The average cost of a room is 450-500 euros. If you see a good but very cheap option, be careful, most likely they are scammers. Also, to avoid problems and losing money, make sure you sign a contract ( and read it carefully! ). 
3. The cost of a room or apartment depends on many factors. The cheapest options are not in the city centre. However, Barcelona has a good public transport system, so it won’t be a problem. If you check out the districts, Nou Barris is one of the most affordable districts, along with Sant Andreu and some parts of Sant Martí, Sants-Montjuïc, and Horta-Guinardó. On the contrary, the districts of Sarrià-Sant Gervasi, Eixample, Gràcia, Ciutat Vella, and Les Corts are the most expensive. 

Food

The next station on the way to an economical and high-quality lifestyle will be food. One of the most affordable supermarkets is Mercadona, also Dia is pretty cheap. But it is better to buy fruit and vegetables in the local markets. 

Of course, it’s more economical to cook your own food, but always eating at home can be boring. To diversify your menu, try what is called “menu del día”, this is the equivalent of a business lunch. The average cost of a “menu del día” is 10-15 euros. And here are a few places where you can satisfy your hunger with a tasty meal for a small cost:

1. Bar Morryssom
2. El Señorío de Peru
3. Sopa 
4. La Pepita 
5. Cervecería Catalana 
6. Can Codina
7. La Muscleria 
8. Thai Barcelona 
9. Ciudad Condal 
10. Hostal Olivera 

To be continued… 

Entertainment and cultural recreation

So, we have covered our basic needs. It’s time to move on to entertainment and cultural recreation. There are quite a few opportunities to save money here. For example, art fans will enjoy free days in museums. Do you want to know when they are? Here is the information:

City History Museum

A must-see is Barcelona’s History Museum where you will experience first-hand the Roman city.

FREE TIMES: Every Sunday after 3 pm & the first Sunday of the month.

Natural History Museum

There is a good permanent exhibition, “Planet Life”, that represents the relationship between man and earth. Plus there are also temporary exhibitions which are worth checking out. 

FREE TIMES: Every Sunday after 3 pm & the first Sunday of the month.

Frederic Marès Museum

Frederic Marès was a university professor, sculptor, and collector. His public work includes the fountain in Plaça Catalunya and the steps leading up to Montjüic, among other places in the city. His passion also lay in collecting art. That is why after his death he left a truly impressive collection, which you can enjoy in this museum. 

FREE TIMES: Every Sunday after 3 pm & the first Sunday of the month.

Botanical Gardens of Barcelona

Barcelona Botanical Gardens offers a 14-hectare oasis and splendid views of the city. 

FREE TIMES: Every Sunday after 3 pm & the first Sunday of the month.

El Born Cultural & Memorial Centre (El Born CCM)

It’s interesting that originally this impressive iron structure housed a food market. However, during some renovation work inside the market, an archaeological dig was done revealing beautifully preserved paths and house foundations from the previous neighbourhood which once stood here.

FREE TIMES: Every Sunday after 3 pm & the first Sunday of the month.

Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona (CCCB)

The Contemporary Cultural Centre of Barcelona is a “space for creation, research, exhibition, and debate on contemporary culture”. Exhibitions here are always changing, so it is worth checking their website to find out what is on show. 

FREE TIMES: Every Sunday after 3 pm.

Ethnological & Cultures of the World Museum

The Ethnological and World Cultures Museum was born thanks to a group of passionate intellectuals in ethnology who wanted to preserve objects relating to traditions. 

FREE TIMES: Every Sunday after 3 pm & the first Sunday of the month.

Music Museum

Music fans will find here a collection of around 2,000 instruments from all over the world of which 500 are on display. 

FREE TIMES: Every Sunday after 3 pm, Thursday after 6 pm & the first Sunday of the month.

Maritime Museum

The Maritime Museum was once Barcelona’s Royal Shipyard. It is a perfectly preserved example of Gothic architecture as its construction began in the 13th century. 

FREE TIMES: Every Sunday after 3 pm.

Design Museum (HUB)

My personal favourite. Everything strikes you here, starting with the unusual shape of the building. 

FREE TIMES: Every Sunday after 3 pm and the first Sunday of the month.

Catalonia’s National Art Museum (MNAC)

The impressive building of this museum was constructed for the 1929 Barcelona International Exhibition. It is one of the largest museums in Spain and has a majestic avenue leading up to it from the very impressive Placa d’Espanya. 

FREE TIMES: First Sunday of the month from 10 am to 3 pm & Saturdays after 3 pm.

Monastery of Santa Maria de Pedralbes

This Gothic Monastery was founded in 1326 and now it is one of the national treasures. Within its walls, you will find a big collection of art and artefacts like furniture, gold & silver, pottery, and manuscripts. 

FREE TIMES: First Sunday of the month.

Picasso Museum

This gem is located in the medieval part of the city and proudly exhibits around 4,000 works by Pablo Picasso. 

FREE TIMES: First Sunday of the month & Thursdays from 4 pm to 7 pm. Don’t forget to book your tickets online. Actually, this advice can be extended to all museums. 

Palau Güell – designed by Gaudí

It is not one of Antoni Gaudí’s best-known buildings, but it was one of his earliest important commissions. And there is so much to see, for example, impressive wrought-iron works, woodwork, ceramics, stained glass, and much, much more. 

FREE TIMES: First Sunday of the month. 

Catalonia’s History Museum

If you want to take a journey into Catalan history, I can recommend the Catalan History Museum. Here you will travel in time from Roman Christianity and the Roman Empire through the history of Counts and Kings, up to the Spanish Civil War and the present day. Some of the exhibits are interactive. 

FREE TIMES: First Sunday of the month from 10 am to 2:30 pm.

Night Life 

The main recommendation here is very simple: buy your tickets online well in advance . Like this,  

• you get the best market price and can save up to 30%.
• you will be sure to get in.
• you get to skip the long lines.

Our economics lesson has come to an end. I hope you now know how to save more money and at the same time enjoy living in this bright city. 

By Lilya Syromiatnikova
@digidogs

The post How to save money in Barcelona? appeared first on TEFL Barcelona - TEFL Spain.

To answer this question I’ll ask you to take a seat in our time machine, fasten your seat belts and do not get up during the flight. Let’s go to prehistoric times.

We’re landing between the Besòs and Llobregat river deltas, the site of today’s Barcelona. (Don’t applaud the pilot.) And what do we see? We see various settlements of native people, mainly Laietani.

One of the main thoroughfares of the city, Via Laietana, is named after the Laietani.

The founding of Barcelona is the subject of two different legends. According to the first one Hercules had a nine-ship expedition.
They were caught in a severe storm and were forced to search for land. They found it. But they lost all the ships except one, the ninth. That’s why they call the land Barca Nona, which means “9th boat”.

There is another more realistic version of the origin of the name, according to which it was Carthaginian general, Hamilcar Barca, father of Hannibal, who supposedly named the city Barcino after his family in the 3rd century BC.

Inside the walls

Like almost every ancient city, the territory of Barcelona was bounded by walls. The Roman colony Barcino had a wall that surrounded the city. The second wall was built between the 2nd and 4th centuries, and finally, the third wall was constructed in the 13th and 14th centuries. But in the 19th century like an obese woman in a tight corset, the city began to suffocate within its own walls.

Back then, the city was quite dirty, because all the sewage simply drained into the streets of the city, there was not enough light, fresh air, people lived extremely close to each other in the narrow and dark streets. As a result, diseases spread at lightning speed. And that was one of the reasons to demolish the city walls in the 19th century.

But you can still find some parts of the walls in the city and “touch the history”. For example, in Ramon Berenguer Square, next to Via Laietana, you can find a section of the second wall with the quadrangular defence  towers that have been preserved. Or between the Paral·lel avenue and the Portal de Santa Madrona street, there is part of the third wall, built in the 13th century by Jaume II.

Let’s take a train!

Sensation! Sensation! Fanfare sounds, confetti flies in the air. And that’s all because, in October 1848, the first train journey on the Iberian peninsula took place. It lasted only 35 minutes. And it was a small journey between Barcelona and Mataró.

This line is still in use today and it linkd Barcelona, Mataró, San Adrián de Besós, and Badalona. But the opening of the line was a very important event and a huge success. Of course, it contributed a lot to Barcelona’s history and the economic development of the entire region.

Universal exhibitions

From 1860 an urban project in the neighbourhood of L’Eixample laid down the guidelines for the fast and beautiful expansion of the city, which would include Barcelona’s first trams. Plaça de Catalunya was also born at that time.

Later, the 1888 Barcelona Universal Exhibition motivated the building of many famous city landmarks and grand avenues, such as Saló de Sant Joan, which is now called Passeig de Lluís Companys, and its starting point, the Arc de Triomf.

At the beginning of the 20th-century modernism stretched its magnificent wings over the whole of Europe and Barcelona was a bright gemstone among many other European cities. As a consequence in 1929, Barcelona hosted the International Exhibition again. One of the most significant buildings which were created for that exhibition was Palau Nacional on Montjuïc.

Ghost stations

The development of the metro naturally coincided with the emergence of new areas in the city at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century. But not all the stations that were built were used. Some stations were closed immediately after their construction, and some others were used for a time and then closed.

For example, Banco Station, which was built in 1911, was located between Santa Eulalia’s Cathedral and the Mercat de Santa Caterina. Look out the window when you are riding the Metro, you can see it between Urquinaona and Jaume I. According to the legend it served some of the banks in the area, but now it is completely abandoned.

Another ghost station is Gaudí Station. It was built in 1968, but  never opened  officially . It is located just next to the Sagrada Família under Avinguda Gaudí. You can see it traveling on Line 5 to the current Sagrada Família stop. Look carefully, the legend says that you can see a ghost of Gaudi there.

An artificial beach and much more

Yes, yes… it is hard to believe now but Barceloneta was just the home to a handful of factories and the homes of local fishermen. But the Olympic Games of 1992 brought a radical transformation that permanently changed the face of Barceloneta and the whole city as well.

Barceloneta was not the only area which changed before the Olympic Games. Poblenou was another example of a great transformation from a collection of industrial warehouses and factories, which was even called “the Catalan Manchester”, into a trendy, modern hub.

Montjuïc mountain became home to the city’s Olympic Stadium and Olympic swimming pools, which you can see in the music video of Kylie Minogue called “Slow”.

Also, two big city’s ring roads, known as the Rondas, (Ronda de Dalt and Ronda Litoral), were specifically designed for the 1992 Olympics. It was made to reduce traffic congestion and facilitate movement through the city.

Fanfares again

The Royal Institute of British Architects since 1848 has awarded prizes to outstanding people in the field of architecture. In 1999 precedent was broken to award the Royal Gold Medal to the City of Barcelona.

Do you see now how bright the history of Barcelona is? It is time to get into the time machine, come back to the present, and enjoy this gorgeous city!

By Lilya Syromiatnikova

@digidogs

The post The History of Barcelona – Some Interesting Facts by Lilya Syromiatnikova appeared first on TEFL Barcelona - TEFL Spain.

1. Getting your NIE/TIE/Foreigner’s Identification Number

Stay on top of your paperwork. Documentation takes a while to process and if you’re coming from a country out of the EU, you’re most likely going to have to endure long wait times to get appointments and to get all the paperwork sorted. Everyone’s got their own sources of information so branch out and acquire as much information you can about it. And if you’re moving to study, don’t forget to ask your school if they have visa/relocation services as well.

2. Finding the Right Place to Live

Finding the right people to live with can be challenging at first. If you’re coming to Barcelona as a student, check if your school provides accommodation services. You can also browse through Facebook groups or apps like Badi and Idealista. Whether you choose the family-friendly neighbourhood of Gracia or the bustling Gothic quarter, the process becomes easier once you narrow down your favourite neighbourhoods.

Make sure the place that you rent also provides you with an Empadronamiento. Getting an Empadronamiento means registering yourself as a resident in the city and this indicates where you live. It’s also crucial to have one to be able to apply for your NIE or Foreigner’s Identification Number.

3. Learning Catalan

Knowing Spanish will help you get around the city and English is spoken widely amongst the expats but picking up a bit of Catalan can help integrate with the locals even more and can certainly open more doors!

4. Safety in Barcelona

Barcelona is considered a safe city for tourists and residents alike and violent crimes aren’t commonplace. Having said that be wary of your surroundings. Pickpocketing is recurrent in certain areas of the city. So be sure to never keep your wallet or phone in your back pocket or leave your belongings unattended. Be extra wary when using public transport or when at the beach. Ensure that your bag/backpacks are always zipped up. And if possible, wear your backpack on your front in crowded or touristy areas.

5. Transportation

There are enough modes of transport like buses, trams, trains, and metros running quite late into the night that you won’t have to worry about their schedules in most cases. A ticket that can be easily bought from any metro station which can be found almost around every couple of blocks in the city, can be used on almost any of the means of transport mentioned above.

6. Don’t like public transport?

Bicycles and scooters to your rescue. In addition to the means of public transport, if you’re a resident you can also use the public bicycles that can be rented by the minute. One of the ways you can enjoy this service is by getting registered on a bicycle-sharing app called Smou and you can reserve and take the bikes just with a push of a button on your phone. And for those who wish to get around the city faster, can opt for Yego, a self-service electric scooter rental.

7. Vegan in a Seaside Town?

If ever there was a cuisine made for snacking it has to be the Spanish cuisine. With a multitude of tapas to choose from every bar and restaurant around the corner and across the street, you will never run out of options when it comes to eating out. Though the local cuisine is a little meat/seafood-heavy, the booming plant-based diet culture and the increasing popularity of diverse menus certainly plays in favour of the vegan or the vegetarian. Not to mention the variety of organic and vegans stores for those who wish to cook up a nutritious meal for themselves.

8. Time to Party!

Speaking of festivals, living in Barcelona can often trick you into thinking it’s one big party. With the city beaming under the sun almost throughout the year and the Catalans knowing how to throw a good fiesta, one would be remiss to not keep track of them. From the neighbourhood block parties in the summer to the long-standing traditions like correfocs (fire runs) and castells (human towers), let’s just say the locals know how to celebrate. The crown jewel of these festivals has got to be Sant Joan which falls on the 23^rd/24^th of June. With bonfires at the beach and a night filled with endless fireworks, celebrating Sant Joan and the summer solstice in Barcelona must be on your to-do list!

9. Day trips have never been more tempting…

Find yourself with a long weekend to spare? Don’t miss out on incredible day trips you can make from Barcelona. Whether you prefer the ocean or the mountains, there’s a city close by to satisfy all your travel desires. Fan of Game of Thrones? Head out to Girona where you can find incredible castles where the show was shot and the quaint old town and Arab baths. Wish to sit by the sea with a good book on a warm summer’s day? Sitges, Tarragona, and a plethora of cities just a train ride away come to mind. These mind-blowing cities also host a variety of unmissable events, namely the Carnival in March, the Sitges Film Festival, and many more.

Trainline

10. Visca Barça!

Whether or not you like team sports and/or football/soccer, your time in Barcelona will certainly be deemed incomplete without a trip to watch a match at the legendary Camp Nou. Located right in the city, the stadium has been set foot upon by the likes of all-time greats like Messi, Ronaldinho, and Andres Iniesta to name a few. Fans from all over the world visit Barcelona to enthral themselves in the largest stadium in Spain and Europe; a stadium that can hold over 99,000 spectators. And say you’re not a football aficionado, then you could enjoy one of the many tours and immersive experiences of Camp Nou Stadium and Museum as well.

By Maya Dileep Kumar

The post Top 10 Tips to Know Before Moving to Barcelona, by Maya appeared first on TEFL Barcelona - TEFL Spain.