Written by Emily Elletson, (University of Minnesota – Twin Cities), CET Barcelona, Spring 2026
I thought I was fully prepared for studying abroad in Barcelona until I actually arrived and started adjusting to daily life here. From managing my money to balancing school and travel, there were a lot of things I did not expect. While Barcelona is an incredible place to study, there are definitely a few things I wish I had known beforehand. Here are my top 5 things to know before studying abroad in Barcelona!
#1 Budgeting Is Essential Before You Arrive
You always hear about how much people spend while studying abroad, but you never think it will be you. Trust me, make a budget before you come.
Budgeting honestly saved me. It helped me plan trips, excursions, and figure out how much I could spend on groceries and eating out each week, all while staying within my semester budget.
Studying abroad is not cheap, and having a clear understanding of your finances ahead of time makes everything less stressful and more enjoyable.
#2 Make Friends Outside of Your Program
It is easy to stay in the bubble of your program. You are taking classes with the same people and living in the same building, especially with CET.
But it is important to push yourself to branch out. Join groups like ESN Barcelona, talk to people in coffee shops, on excursions, or anywhere you can. Some of the best people I have met here are from completely different countries and universities.
At the same time, I have also made some of my closest friends through CET, including people I had not even met back in Minnesota. Now I know I will have those friendships as I finish my senior year.
#3 Your Schedule Will Feel Completely Different
This was one of the hardest adjustments for me. It is easy to feel like you are on vacation, but you are not. Your GPA still matters.
Balancing classes, studying, and traveling can be challenging. You might be traveling every weekend, coming back late Sunday exhausted, then jumping into homework during the week while also wanting to explore Barcelona. Sometimes you are leaving again Thursday or Friday for another trip.
Coming into this experience knowing your schedule will feel different and being intentional with your time makes a big difference.
#4 Public Transportation Makes Everything Accessible
Public transportation in Barcelona is amazing. The metro, buses, and trains are cheap, efficient, and easy to use.
With the metro card CET provides, you can get almost anywhere, which completely changed the experience for me. I have been able to take trips all around Spain including Montserrat, Costa Brava, Sitges, Segovia, Granada, Seville, and Madrid.
While some trips cost money, having Barcelona as your home base gives you so many opportunities. It is also important to remember that you do not have to travel every weekend. Staying in the city and exploring Spain more deeply is just as valuable.
#5 Plan Around Store Closures and Siesta Culture
One thing that surprised me was how often things are closed, especially on Sundays.
In the United States, Sunday is usually the day to grocery shop and prepare for the week. In Barcelona, most grocery stores are closed, so you need to plan ahead and shop during the week. On top of that, siesta culture is real. Many places close in the middle of the day, which means you need to plan errands and meals around those hours. It takes some time to adjust, but once you do, it becomes part of your routine.
Studying abroad in Barcelona was the best decision I could have made for myself. I have grown so much through adjusting to a new lifestyle, culture, and language, while also meeting some of the best people and having the opportunity to see the world. If you have the chance to study abroad, take it!