Everything you need to know before moving to Barcelona for an academic season at The Lofttown, your university residence

Barcelona is a very important university destination in Europe, both for Erasmus students and for young people from the rest of Spain. And it is not only a destination for undergraduate students, but also for those who want to do a specialization, such as postgraduates or a master’s degree.

Therefore, in the Catalan capital there is an international and dynamic atmosphere at all times thanks to its cosmopolitan character, so we assure you that you must choose it if you plan to study abroad.

That’s why today, in The Lofttown we bring you a detailed post to discover some curiosities and suggest you should know before moving to Barcelona. We know that studying in Barcelona is fashionable because the city is always amazing, so if you have already decided to come here to study for a while, then pay attention to this post with the most necessary tips you should know.

What are the TOP universities in Barcelona?

Barcelona is not only the capital of art, fashion, bohemia and technology, but also the home of many universities, specialized centres and big business schools in Spain and Europe. Therefore, when we talk about Catalan universities, the referents are the University of Barcelona (UB), the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), the Polytechnic of Catalonia (UPC) and the Pompeu Fabra (UPF).

On the other hand, there are also business schools with international prestige such as IESE Business School, considered the best in the world, or ESADE.
However, these are just a few of the well-known centres, as in Barcelona you will find many more centres specialising in all the humanities and technological subjects depending on what you want to study.

If you want to know more about the most prestigious universities in Barcelona, take a look at our post about the Catalan universities you can’t miss.

Learn Catalan to study in Barcelona

You should know that the official language in Barcelona is Catalan. Although local people almost always address foreigners in Spanish, we remind you that it is important to familiarize yourself with the Catalan language, because it will make life easier in many ways. In this sense, depending on the degree you are going to study and the subject you have chosen, you may be asked to use Catalan as an indispensable requirement.

Our suggest is to take it as a great opportunity to learn a new language, because if you know Spanish it is very easy to understand. In fact, the majority of foreign students, regardless of the country they come from, take Catalan as a challenge and as something positive of the possibility of learning two languages at the same time during their stay in Barcelona

But don’t worry, we tell you that most classes always teach in Spanish and also in English.

Choose a house in Barcelona

Your best option to live in Barcelona is for sure our university residence located in the heart of the city. Unlike shared flats, where you don’t have independence, individual flats that will be very epensive, university residences like ours are a splendid option to live in a quieter way and, Also, take advantage of free time to enjoy the city to the fullest.

We guarantee you that it is a best solution to live, without taking time so you can dedicate it to your learning or to know Barcelona in the specific way as if you’re local of a lifetime

Mobility in Barcelona

We tell you that the public transport network in Barcelona is perhaps one of the best in Europe. Therefore, it will be very easy to move around the city and the metropolitan area without any problem.

In addition to the conventional public transport such as the metro, tram and bus, you can also use the Bicing service, undoubtedly a sustainable way to move around the city and also play sports.

Also, if you have your own bike you can also move without a problem thanks that Barcelona has thousands of lanes that connect practically all of Barcelona, a good option to go by own ritm and discover every neighborhood and every atmosphere of the city.

Lunch time in Barcelona

Barcelona has a great culinary offer for all tastes and budgets. When you are a student, the most economical options are those that get your attention, such as eating in our student residence thanks to our food service that will fill your appetite.

However, if you are one of those who prefer to eat out and want to enjoy a lunch with friends, then we encourage you to visit our post about the best restaurants in Barcelona for students.

So, if you are going to eat out we recommend you as rule number 1: don’t go especially the tourist areas to eat, or if you do not want to scare in a few days with hight prices or very good quality food. And in Barcelona there are many good places where you can enjoy the best food for cheap, but there is to know how to find them, something you only know living in Barcelona as a local citizen.

We advise you not only to search on the internet, but also to find friends from Barcelona who can give you the best recommendations for all pockets.

Are you ready to move to Barcelona?

We hope that this post has served you to prepare mentally for everything that awaits you in our wonderful city.
And also remember that at The Lofttown we want to count on you in our university residence to live a unique and unforgettable experience, while you study in Barcelona so that you become one of our #TheLoftowners.
If you want to know more about us we also invite you to follow us on Facebook and Instagram so that you are always update with the latest promotions and news in our university residence.

Have a great September!