Things to Know Before Moving To Spain

Studying abroad in Spain was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, but there were definitely a few things I learned the hard way. If you’re getting ready to move here, this will save you a lot of confusion, money, and awkward moments.

1. Your Entire Schedule Will Shift

I thought I’d keep my normal routine… absolutely not. Lunch is at 2–3 p.m., dinner is at 9–10 p.m., and no one goes out before midnight. It feels weird at first, but you adjust fast.

2. You Will Walk Everywhere

I wasn’t prepared for how much walking I’d do. Spain’s cities are insanely walkable, and the metro makes everything easy. Bring shoes you can live in — trust me.

3. Things Close in the Afternoon

The “siesta” isn’t a myth. A lot of stores shut down between 2 and 5 p.m. I learned this the hard way when I tried to run errands at 3 p.m. and everything was locked.

4. Bureaucracy Takes Patience

Getting a SIM card, opening a bank account, or doing anything official usually takes longer than it should. Don’t expect U.S. efficiency. Bring your passport everywhere and take a deep breath.

5. Cash Comes in Handy

Cards work almost everywhere, but small cafés, local markets, or bakeries sometimes prefer cash. Always keep a little on you.

6. Meal Time Is Social Time

Spaniards don’t rush meals. Dinner can last two hours and no one is in a hurry. Some of my best memories came from long dinners with people I had just met.

7. Basic Spanish Makes a Huge Difference

You don’t need to be fluent, but knowing phrases for ordering food, asking directions, or handling errands makes your life so much easier. People are friendlier when you try.

8. Travel Is Too Easy… and You Will Spend Money

Flights to Portugal, Italy, and France are sometimes cheaper than eating out. Everyone ends up traveling way more than they expected. Budget for weekend trips because you’ll definitely take them.

9. Not Every Day Will Be Perfect

Study abroad isn’t just parties and postcards. Some days you’ll feel homesick or overwhelmed. That’s normal — everyone goes through it. Give yourself grace.

10. Making Friends Early Changes Everything

This is the part no one told me. The experience is 10x better when you have people to explore with. I ended up using TripBFF a lot because it let me see travelers in my city and join local group chats. I met most of my friends there within my first week — especially other study-abroad students who were also trying to meet people fast. It genuinely made settling in way easier.

Studying abroad in Spain was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, but there were definitely a few things I learned the hard way. If you’re getting ready to move here, this will save you a lot of confusion, money, and awkward moments.

1. Your Entire Schedule Will Shift

I thought I’d keep my normal routine… absolutely not. Lunch is at 2–3 p.m., dinner is at 9–10 p.m., and no one goes out before midnight. It feels weird at first, but you adjust fast.

2. You Will Walk Everywhere

I wasn’t prepared for how much walking I’d do. Spain’s cities are insanely walkable, and the metro makes everything easy. Bring shoes you can live in — trust me.

3. Things Close in the Afternoon

The “siesta” isn’t a myth. A lot of stores shut down between 2 and 5 p.m. I learned this the hard way when I tried to run errands at 3 p.m. and everything was locked.

4. Bureaucracy Takes Patience

Getting a SIM card, opening a bank account, or doing anything official usually takes longer than it should. Don’t expect U.S. efficiency. Bring your passport everywhere and take a deep breath.

5. Cash Comes in Handy

Cards work almost everywhere, but small cafés, local markets, or bakeries sometimes prefer cash. Always keep a little on you.

6. Meal Time Is Social Time

Spaniards don’t rush meals. Dinner can last two hours and no one is in a hurry. Some of my best memories came from long dinners with people I had just met.

7. Basic Spanish Makes a Huge Difference

You don’t need to be fluent, but knowing phrases for ordering food, asking directions, or handling errands makes your life so much easier. People are friendlier when you try.

8. Travel Is Too Easy… and You Will Spend Money

Flights to Portugal, Italy, and France are sometimes cheaper than eating out. Everyone ends up traveling way more than they expected. Budget for weekend trips because you’ll definitely take them.

9. Not Every Day Will Be Perfect

Study abroad isn’t just parties and postcards. Some days you’ll feel homesick or overwhelmed. That’s normal — everyone goes through it. Give yourself grace.

10. Making Friends Early Changes Everything

This is the part no one told me. The experience is 10x better when you have people to explore with. I ended up using TripBFF a lot because it let me see travelers in my city and join local group chats. I met most of my friends there within my first week — especially other study-abroad students who were also trying to meet people fast. It genuinely made settling in way easier.

Studying abroad in Spain was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, but there were definitely a few things I learned the hard way. If you’re getting ready to move here, this will save you a lot of confusion, money, and awkward moments.

1. Your Entire Schedule Will Shift

I thought I’d keep my normal routine… absolutely not. Lunch is at 2–3 p.m., dinner is at 9–10 p.m., and no one goes out before midnight. It feels weird at first, but you adjust fast.

2. You Will Walk Everywhere

I wasn’t prepared for how much walking I’d do. Spain’s cities are insanely walkable, and the metro makes everything easy. Bring shoes you can live in — trust me.

3. Things Close in the Afternoon

The “siesta” isn’t a myth. A lot of stores shut down between 2 and 5 p.m. I learned this the hard way when I tried to run errands at 3 p.m. and everything was locked.

4. Bureaucracy Takes Patience

Getting a SIM card, opening a bank account, or doing anything official usually takes longer than it should. Don’t expect U.S. efficiency. Bring your passport everywhere and take a deep breath.

5. Cash Comes in Handy

Cards work almost everywhere, but small cafés, local markets, or bakeries sometimes prefer cash. Always keep a little on you.

6. Meal Time Is Social Time

Spaniards don’t rush meals. Dinner can last two hours and no one is in a hurry. Some of my best memories came from long dinners with people I had just met.

7. Basic Spanish Makes a Huge Difference

You don’t need to be fluent, but knowing phrases for ordering food, asking directions, or handling errands makes your life so much easier. People are friendlier when you try.

8. Travel Is Too Easy… and You Will Spend Money

Flights to Portugal, Italy, and France are sometimes cheaper than eating out. Everyone ends up traveling way more than they expected. Budget for weekend trips because you’ll definitely take them.

9. Not Every Day Will Be Perfect

Study abroad isn’t just parties and postcards. Some days you’ll feel homesick or overwhelmed. That’s normal — everyone goes through it. Give yourself grace.

10. Making Friends Early Changes Everything

This is the part no one told me. The experience is 10x better when you have people to explore with. I ended up using TripBFF a lot because it let me see travelers in my city and join local group chats. I met most of my friends there within my first week — especially other study-abroad students who were also trying to meet people fast. It genuinely made settling in way easier.

Things to Know Before Moving To Spain

Dec 8, 2025

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