Looking for German Expats in Barcelona?

Thinking about moving to Barcelona as a German? These pros and cons come from the InterNations Expat Insider 2026 survey, in which thousands of expats around the world share what they like and don't like about life abroad each year. The points below reflect what German expats in Barcelona wrote in their own words, backed up by survey percentages from all expats living there.

• The weather and easy pace are the big draw. 91% of expats in Barcelona rate the climate and weather positively, and Germans love the beach, the sun, and a less stressful, enjoy-life mentality.

• Nature and the outdoors are close. 87% rate the natural environment positively and 90% opportunities for recreational sports, with the sea and mountains nearby.

• Food and culture are a joy. 86% rate culinary variety positively and 84% culture and nightlife.

• It's connected and learnable. 92% rate the opportunity to travel positively, and Spanish comes easily (60% say it's easy to learn).

• Politics and bureaucracy frustrate. Only 26% of expats in Barcelona find it easy to deal with local authorities, and Germans point to the Catalan political situation and admin where 'nothing works'.

• Careers and job security disappoint. Just 38% say the move improved their career prospects, with an outdated business culture and weaker job security than in Germany.

• Housing and pay lag home. Only 10% rate housing affordability positively, and Germans note lower salaries and poorer housing quality.

• Reliability and friendships take adjusting. Germans mention unpunctuality and difficulty building close local friendships.

For Germans, Barcelona offers sunshine, an easygoing pace, food, and nature by the sea. The trade-offs are the bureaucracy, the politics, and a job market that lags home. It suits those who value lifestyle and climate over career and predictability.

Every year, we publish one of the biggest global surveys among expats — asking them about various aspects of their life, from work to leisure. Learn what motivated our German members to move abroad, what keeps them there, and what they struggle with or miss about home.

Now, lets explore some negative reviews of expat life in Barcelona

Every year, we publish one of the biggest global surveys among expats — asking them about various aspects of their life, from work to leisure. Learn what motivated our German members to move abroad, what keeps them there, and what they struggle with or miss about home.

With InterNations, German expats in Barcelona are able to find both the help they need as well as lots of valuable information. The "City Of Counts" offers so much for expats to explore - our community helps you enjoy your stay to the fullest.

• Look through our Members Network to connect with Barcelona’s German expats.
• Become active in our Expat Forums in order to find insider tips and suggestions from fellow German expats in Barcelona.
• Make full use of the Expat Guide for Barcelona to obtain important information on your temporary home abroad.

Our Barcelona community is also lively and welcoming offline. The InterNations Ambassadors host regular get-togethers and a range of expat activities, e.g. a chic dining experience in Barcelona’s trendiest restaurant or a get-away with fellow German expats to discover the thriving capital, the vibrant Catalonian coastal city of Barcelona. These activities make it easy for you to get to know other expats from Germany in your local community and meet Germans in Spain in a comfortable setting. If this sounds interesting to you, simply sign up for membership – we are looking forward to welcoming you among our Germans living in Barcelona!