Looking for Italian Expats in Barcelona?

Thinking about moving to Barcelona as an Italian? 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 Italian 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 Italians love the sun in winter and an easygoing, happy way of life that mirrors home.

• Culture, food, and the outdoors abound. Barcelona scores 84% for culture and nightlife, 86% for culinary variety, and 90% for recreational sports, with 87% rating the natural environment.

• It's cosmopolitan and well-connected. 83% rate the availability of public transportation positively and 92% the opportunity to travel, with a big airport close to the city.

• Spanish comes easily to Italians. 60% of expats in Barcelona say the language is easy to learn, and it's especially gentle for Italian speakers.

• Housing is punishingly tight. Just 10% of expats in Barcelona rate housing affordability positively, with poor contracts and high rents.

• Bureaucracy is a continuous struggle. Only 26% find it easy to deal with local authorities — a battle even for locals — and public services feel inefficient.

• Petty crime takes adjusting. Only 64% rate personal safety positively (vs. 81% globally), with pickpockets and robbery a recurring worry.

• Careers and pay disappoint. Just 38% say the move improved their career prospects, and Italians note low, poorly paid research and professional roles.

For Italians, Barcelona offers sunshine, a familiar easygoing culture, food, and a cosmopolitan life by the sea. The trade-offs are a brutal housing market, bureaucracy, and petty crime. If lifestyle matters more to you than career momentum, it feels like a warmer home from home.

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 Italian members to move abroad, what keeps them there, and what they struggle with or miss about home.

We also get a lot of written feedback from the thousands of survey-participants each year. Let's see some of the most common positive quotes.

Now let's see some common negative topics that our Italian members had on their minds:

With InterNations, Italian 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 Italian expats.
• Become active in our Expat Forums in order to find insider tips and suggestions from fellow Italian 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 Italian 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 Italy in your local community and meet Italians 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 Italians living in Barcelona!