# First Week Survival Guide: Barcelona

Your day-by-day plan for the first 7 days in Barcelona. Follow this sequence and you will have your core admin sorted before the weekend.

> Print this guide. Pin it to the wall. Check things off as you go.

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## Day 1 (Arrival Day)

### Get Connected
- [ ] Pick up a SIM card or activate your eSIM. Options:
  - **Holafly eSIM**: activate from the plane, data-only, EUR 19 for 5 days
  - **Airport SIM**: Vodafone, Orange, and Movistar have kiosks at T1 and T2 arrivals (EUR 15-25 for a prepaid SIM with data + calls)
  - **Lycamobile**: cheapest option, available at locutorios (phone shops) around the city, EUR 10 for 10GB
- [ ] Download or update essential apps: Google Translate, Citymapper, Google Maps (offline Barcelona map)

### Check Into Accommodation
- [ ] Arrive at your temporary accommodation. Confirm the address with the host - you need an exact street address for your empadronamiento
- [ ] Ask the host for:
  - The Wi-Fi password
  - Whether mail can be delivered to this address
  - Whether they will provide a rental contract or letter for your empadronamiento (crucial - some will, some will not)
- [ ] Get your bearings: locate the nearest supermarket, pharmacy, and metro station

### Orientation Walk
- [ ] Walk your immediate neighborhood. Find:
  - Nearest Mercadona or Lidl for groceries
  - Nearest pharmacy (farmacia) - look for the green cross
  - Nearest metro or bus stop
  - Nearest ATM (CaixaBank has the widest ATM network)
- [ ] Buy water, basic food, and any toiletries you forgot
- [ ] Withdraw EUR 100-200 in cash if you have not already (many small shops and the Modelo 790 bank payment require cash or local payment methods)

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## Day 2: Empadronamiento

### What It Is
The empadronamiento (padron) is your official address registration with the Ajuntament (city hall) de Barcelona. This is the first domino - almost everything else requires it.

### Before the Appointment
- [ ] You should have booked your Cita Previa online before arriving. If not, try booking at [ajuntament.barcelona.cat/cita](https://ajuntament.barcelona.cat/cita) first thing in the morning. Slots open at random.
- [ ] Prepare your documents:
  - Passport or EU national ID (original + photocopy)
  - NIE certificate (if you already have one) or passport for EU citizens
  - Rental contract or authorization letter from the property owner (this must include the property owner's NIE/DNI number and signature)
  - Cita Previa confirmation (printed)

### At the Appointment
- [ ] Arrive at the Oficina d'Atencio al Ciutada (OAC) 10 minutes early
- [ ] You will receive a volante de padron (registration receipt) on the spot
- [ ] Keep this document safe - you need it for almost every subsequent step

### Key Phrase
> "Vengo para hacer el empadronamiento." (I am here to do the empadronamiento.)

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## Day 3: NIE Appointment (if pre-booked)

### If You Have a Cita Previa
- [ ] Bring everything listed in the NIE Appointment Script (see `nie-appointment-script.md`)
- [ ] Arrive 15-20 minutes early
- [ ] If successful, you walk out with your NIE number on a stamped A4 sheet

### If You Do Not Have a Cita Previa Yet
- [ ] Spend the morning refreshing the Cita Previa page for available slots
- [ ] Contact a gestoria to help with booking (EUR 100-200, but they often get slots faster)
- [ ] Use this day to organize your other documents and explore the neighborhood instead

### NIE Offices in Barcelona
- Oficina de Extranjeria: Carrer de Murcia, 42 (Badalona)
- Comisaria de Policia - Extranjeria: Rambla Guipuscoa, 74
- Comisaria de Policia - Via Augusta: Carrer Via Augusta, 202

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## Day 4: Bank Account

### Where to Go
**CaixaBank** is the most foreigner-friendly bank in Barcelona. They have English-speaking staff at larger branches and are accustomed to processing expat accounts.

Other options: BBVA, Sabadell, Bankinter. Online-only: Openbank (Santander's digital bank).

### Documents to Bring
- [ ] Passport (original)
- [ ] NIE certificate (the stamped A4 sheet from Day 3)
- [ ] Empadronamiento (volante de padron from Day 2)
- [ ] Proof of income: employment contract, last 3 payslips, or tax return from your home country
- [ ] Your Spanish phone number

### What to Expect
- The process takes 30-60 minutes
- You will receive a temporary card immediately or within a few days
- Online banking will be activated within 24-48 hours
- Ask about their foreign resident package - some branches offer a tailored service

### Key Phrase
> "Quiero abrir una cuenta bancaria. Soy residente extranjero." (I want to open a bank account. I am a foreign resident.)

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## Day 5: Social Security Registration

### Why
Your Social Security number (numero de afiliacion) unlocks access to CatSalut, the Catalan public health system. Free GP visits, specialists, hospital care, and prescriptions with small co-pays.

### Where
Tesoreria General de la Seguridad Social. Find your nearest office at [seg-social.es](https://www.seg-social.es).

### Documents to Bring
- [ ] Passport (original + copy)
- [ ] NIE certificate (original + copy)
- [ ] Empadronamiento receipt
- [ ] Employment contract or Autonomo registration (if applicable)

### After Registration
- [ ] Take your Social Security number to your local CAP (Centre d'Atencio Primaria - primary health center) to apply for your TSI card (Targeta Sanitaria Individual)
- [ ] The TSI card is your gateway to the public health system - bring your empadronamiento and Social Security number

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## Day 6: Apartment Viewings

### If You Are Still in Temporary Accommodation
- [ ] Check Idealista, Fotocasa, and Habitaclia daily for new listings (the best apartments go within 24-48 hours)
- [ ] Contact agents and landlords directly - be ready with your document package (see `landlord-email-templates.md`)
- [ ] Schedule 3-5 viewings per day if possible
- [ ] Bring your document folder to every viewing - if you like a place, you want to submit your application immediately

### What to Check at Viewings
- [ ] Natural light (exterior vs interior apartment makes a huge difference)
- [ ] Elevator (no elevator above the 2nd floor with kids or heavy groceries gets old fast)
- [ ] Kitchen status (many unfurnished flats literally have no kitchen - check if you need to install one)
- [ ] Water pressure (run the taps)
- [ ] Street noise (visit at different times if possible)
- [ ] Building community (ask about the comunitat de veins - building owners' association)
- [ ] Nearby schools, parks, metro, supermarkets

### Budget Guide
| Type | Price Range |
|------|-------------|
| Studio / small 1-bed (Raval, Sant Andreu, Horta) | EUR 900-1,100/mo |
| 2-bed (Les Corts, Gracia, Sants, Poblenou) | EUR 1,100-1,400/mo |
| 2-bed (Eixample Dreta, Sarria, Sant Gervasi) | EUR 1,400-1,800/mo |
| 3-bed in premium zones | EUR 1,800-2,500/mo |

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## Day 7: Groceries and Neighborhood Life

### The Mercadona Run
Your first proper grocery shop. Mercadona is where most Barcelona residents do their weekly shopping. A family of four spends EUR 80-120 per week.

**What to buy on your first visit:**
- [ ] Basics: olive oil (Hacendado brand is excellent), bread, milk, eggs, pasta, rice
- [ ] Fresh produce: seasonal fruit and vegetables (look for "producto nacional" labels)
- [ ] Protein: chicken, fish, or jambon - quality is noticeably higher than Northern European supermarkets at lower prices
- [ ] Cleaning supplies: floor cleaner, dish soap, laundry detergent
- [ ] Bathroom: toilet paper, shampoo, toothpaste

### Other Supermarket Options
- **Lidl**: 10-15% cheaper than Mercadona, great bakery section
- **Bonpreu / Bon Area**: Catalan chains, better produce quality, 5-10% more expensive
- **Municipal markets**: Higher quality fish, meat, and produce. Check Mercat de l'Abaceria (Gracia), Mercat de Santa Caterina (Born), Mercat del Ninot (Eixample)

### Neighborhood Exploration
- [ ] Find your local park (every barrio has one)
- [ ] Locate the nearest playground if you have kids
- [ ] Walk to the nearest Bicing station (you can sign up once you have empadronamiento - EUR 50/year)
- [ ] Find a local cafe for your morning coffee (cafe con leche: EUR 1.50-2.50)
- [ ] Introduce yourself to neighbors if the opportunity arises

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## Essential Phone Numbers and Addresses

| Service | Number / Address |
|---------|-----------------|
| Emergency (police, fire, ambulance) | 112 |
| Policia Nacional | 091 |
| Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan police) | 088 |
| Medical emergency | 061 |
| Fire department | 080 |
| CaixaBank customer service | 900 404 090 |
| TMB (metro/bus info) | 010 (from Barcelona) |
| Ajuntament de Barcelona (city hall) | 010 |
| Oficina de Extranjeria (Badalona) | Carrer de Murcia, 42 |
| Policia - Extranjeria (Rambla Guipuscoa) | Rambla Guipuscoa, 74 |
| Policia - Extranjeria (Via Augusta) | Carrer Via Augusta, 202 |

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## Key Spanish & Catalan Phrases

### Survival Spanish
| English | Spanish | Pronunciation |
|---------|---------|--------------|
| Hello | Hola | OH-lah |
| Good morning | Buenos dias | BWEH-nos DEE-as |
| Thank you | Gracias | GRAH-thee-as |
| Please | Por favor | por fah-VOR |
| I don't speak Spanish well | No hablo bien espanol | no AH-blo bee-EN es-pan-YOL |
| Where is...? | Donde esta...? | DON-deh es-TAH |
| How much does it cost? | Cuanto cuesta? | KWAN-toh KWES-tah |
| I need help | Necesito ayuda | neh-seh-SEE-toh ah-YOO-dah |
| I have an appointment | Tengo una cita | TEN-go OO-nah SEE-tah |
| The bill, please | La cuenta, por favor | lah KWEN-tah, por fah-VOR |

### Survival Catalan
| English | Catalan | Pronunciation |
|---------|---------|--------------|
| Hello | Hola | OH-lah |
| Good morning | Bon dia | bon DEE-ah |
| Thank you | Gracies | GRAH-see-ehs |
| Please | Si us plau | see oos PLOW |
| Goodbye | Adeu | ah-DEH-oo |
| Excuse me | Perdoni | pehr-DOH-nee |

### At the Bureaucracy Office
| English | Spanish |
|---------|---------|
| I have an appointment at [time] | Tengo cita a las [hora] |
| Here are my documents | Aqui estan mis documentos |
| Do I need anything else? | Necesito algo mas? |
| When will it be ready? | Cuando estara listo? |
| Can you repeat that, please? | Puede repetir, por favor? |

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## Tips and Warnings

**Tip:** Everything closes between 14:00-17:00 for many small businesses and government offices. Schedule your admin for mornings.

**Tip:** Always bring more photocopies than you think you need. There is always a copy shop (copisteria) near government offices - look for "fotocopias" signs.

**Tip:** Tap water in Barcelona is safe but tastes strongly of chlorine. Most locals buy filtered water or use a Brita filter. A 5L jug at Mercadona costs about EUR 0.80.

**Warning:** Do not carry all your documents in one bag. Leave originals locked in your accommodation safe and carry photocopies for non-appointment days.

**Warning:** Pickpockets operate on La Rambla, in the metro, and at popular tourist spots. Keep your phone in a front pocket and your bag zipped and in front of you.

**Warning:** Government offices are strict about appointment times. If you arrive late, you may be turned away and need to rebook.

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*Part of the SettleBarcelona Starter Pack. For detailed guides on each step, visit our free guides at [settleinbarcelona.com](https://settleinbarcelona.com).*