A comprehensive guide to the daily life details that guidebooks miss.
Living in Barcelona as a mom means navigating countless small details that aren’t covered in expat guides or tourist blogs. These are the real-world practicalities that affect your daily routine, your budget, and your sanity – the things locals take for granted but newcomers discover through trial and error.
Everyone knows about later dinners, siestas, and tapas, but what about actually living day-to-day and making a life here?
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Check out the details below!
1. Package & Delivery Logistics
- No doorstep deliveries: Packages must be delivered to a person, never left unattended – especially in apartment building lobbies or doorways. This is important to share with caring family members who want to send you packages!
- Delivery confirmation notes: For deliveries handled through Correos, the Spanish public postal service, the delivery person will leave a note so you if you are absent or a delegated person can pick-up the package from the office.
- On the note, the address of the closest post office will be indicated; you can also check here for the Spain’s post offices.
- Hint: if loved ones send you a package with a tracking number, the USPS tracking side will come to an end when it arrives to Spanish customs. You can continue tracking it in Spain here.
- Package delivery alternatives: If you receive a package at an unplanned time and you are not home, coordinate with a neighbor to accept the package for you.
- Pick-up point culture: Most people use nearby dedicated pickup locations – make sure to select these to facilitate pick-up and avoid frustration and lost packages. These locations are usually internet cafes (locutorios), neighborhood shops, etc.
- Amazon lockers: Strategically located throughout the city for secure package collection, but fill up quickly during peak seasons. Some items cannot be delivered to Amazon lockers, even if purchased from Amazon, if the seller is not officially Amazon.
- Delivery time windows: Extremely narrow and inflexible, plan your entire day around them – often just 2-hour slots
2. Identity & Documentation Culture
- NIE number exposure: Your tax ID number (NIE: Número de Identidad Extranjero; Foreigner’s Identification Number) is used openly for everything from gym memberships to grocery store loyalty cards – no privacy concerns like with Social Security Numbers.
- Digital certificate power: Your digital certificate handles taxes, school applications, medical appointments, and government services – essential for all online bureaucracy, even facilitating immigration renewals and appointments. You can apply for your digital certificate the moment you have a NIE assigned to you (even before approval or before the residence card).
- Physical document requirements: Despite digitization, you may still need paper copies for many processes – keep a folder with certified copies.
- Apostille necessity: Foreign documents need official authentication for most official uses.
- Resident card vs. passport: Your TIE (resident card) is more valuable than your passport for daily life – you will need it for everything.
- Identification document: In the street, you are required to have your original residence card on you. This requirement applies to everyone, even Spanish nationals, who need to present their National ID Card.
3. Tipping & Payment Etiquette
- Restaurant tipping: Often just rounding up the bill – over-tipping marks you as a tourist. You can leave extra if you were impressed by the service.
- Taxi tipping: Round to nearest euro if you pay by cash, never percentage-based – €0.50 is perfectly acceptable. If service was exceptional, especially for longer journeys, you can be more generous (around €5, for example).
- Delivery tipping: €1-2 maximum, nothing for regular deliveries.
- Service workers: Hair stylists, for example, you can round up or leave a couple of euros.
- Cash vs. card culture: Many small businesses still prefer cash despite card acceptance – especially markets and small bars. This changed during the pandemic, but the reality is that the card fees are expensive for small, local businesses.
4. Utility & Energy Realities
- Heat sparingly: Most families heat only occupied rooms and only when necessary. First of all, it is expensive. Second of all, Spaniards are used to using blankets. Third, the heat will not constantly need to be on as you will see in Barcelona winters.
- AC use: It is hot and humid in Barcelona, but even when cost is not an issue, everyone limits air conditioning to extreme heat days and peak hours- fans are preferred for mild heat. Even better: take advantage of the heavy blinds used here to keep the sun and heat out! There will be a huge impact on the temperature of your home and your electricity bill!
- Doors for every room: even for the kitchen, entryway, and living room. This system allows the heat and cool air stay where you want it to.
- Water use: Water use is a serious issue across the world, but we are especially conscientious of it in Catalunya. Adapt to the Spanish system of short showers and turning off the water when you are not using it in the shower. If in the winter, consider using a space heater (far from the tub!) to heat the bathroom first.
- Electricity peak pricing: Rates vary dramatically by time of day – check the rates for the day and run the dishwasher or washing machine at the cheap times.
- Gas bottle delivery: Butane gas bottles delivered by delivery people walking around with the tanks on utility dollies, banging on the tanks to indicate they are there – you run outside when you hear it (if your apartment uses butane).
5. Transportation Nuances
- Bus night service: Completely different routes and schedules than day buses, night buslines are literally called “Night bus”: Nit bus.
- The subway hours: Monday to Thursday from 5 AM to midnight; Friday from 5 AM to 2:00 AM; Saturday runs all day; Sunday closes at midnight.
- Parking meter Spanish: Only operates in Spanish, can be confusing for newcomers
- Resident parking permits: Complex zone system that locals navigate instinctively. When and if you have a car, study your zone carefully!
- Bicycle lane enforcement: Heavily fined, but enforcement is inconsistent
- Helmet use: Helmet use was initiated this year for scooters and bicycles, but implementation is still mixed.
6. Shopping & Store Behaviors
- Siesta scheduling: Not just lunch break – affects medical appointments, school pickups. Generally from 2:00 – 5:00 PM. Large stores, grocery stores, and malls are not affected by this, while smaller shops are.
- Sunday closures: Most stores still closed, though some are starting to open – always check in advance
- 24-hour culture doesn’t exist: Limited convenience stores open all night, at best 24-hour pharmacies for medications only
- Pharmacies: Just medications and basic health items, not the mini-mart experience of US pharmacies
- Market vendor relationships: Building relationships gets you better produce and service. Take the time to go to the smaller markets and make those connections.
- Return policy culture: Much stricter than abroad, so review the terms!
7. School & Childcare Systems
- School snack confusion: You send a “snack” but the school calls it breakfast – timing and expectations differ. Other families apparently just give a glass of milk and cookie from what the moms at my daughter’s school tell me! Morning snack is usually at around 10 or 10:30 AM.
- Teachers’ names: Teachers, the principal, everyone…goes by their first name. It is still a shock to me.
- Lunch timing: School lunch at 12:30-1:30, dinner after 9 PM creates scheduling challenges. In this sense, remember that you make your family’s schedule: my daughter has dinner at around 6:00 PM.
- Afternoon snack: Parents always bring some fruit or even a bocadillo (sandwich on a baguette) for an afterschool snack.
- Extracurricular logistics: Often require parent pickup in middle of work day
- School supply lists: Extremely specific, must buy exact models when indicated.
- Parent WhatsApp groups: Essential communication tool, expect constant notifications
- School calendar complexity: Frequent holidays and half-days not obvious to newcomers. Identify the school calendar early in the year to avoid surprises.
8. Healthcare Navigation
- Appointment booking: Phone calls required or even visiting the medical center directly, online booking can be limited – expect to wait on hold during peak hours
- Specialist referrals: Must go through family doctor first, can’t self-refer – even for obvious issues like dermatology.
- Pharmacy consulting: Pharmacists diagnose minor issues and recommend over-the-counter medications, reducing doctor visits – they’re highly trained and trusted
- Speaking of OTC medications: You cannot pop into a pharmacy and buy whichever medication you prefer. All must be handled through the phamarcest, even for OTC medications.
- Emergency room waits: Extremely long unless life-threatening – bring snacks and entertainment for kids. Medical centers are generally faster than hospitals, but there are no specialists…for that, you will need to go to a hospital.
- Private vs. public mixing: Many people use both systems strategically – public for routine, private for urgent or for self-referrals, manytimes due to the issues above.
9. Social & Cultural Expectations
- Greeting protocol: Kisses on both cheeks even for acquaintances – including your child’s teacher and other parents. Not for every day greetings (running into them at a playground, or at school), but a more specialized meeting it would be expected (birthday parties, playdates, etc.).
- Noise tolerance: Apartments have thin walls and you can hear a lot from your neighbors’ apartments. Generally, there is a lot of acceptance of neighbor noise – kids playing until late is normal.
- Children’s bedtimes: Kids out at restaurants until 11 PM is completely normal – Spanish families embrace late schedules, especially during the summer.
- Personal space: Much closer physical proximity in lines, conversations – expats often feel crowded initially
- Directness level: More direct communication style than many cultures expect – less small talk, more efficient
10. Financial & Banking Quirks
- Cash dependency: Many services still require cash payment
- Bank holiday scheduling: More frequent than other countries, affects all services
- Direct debit culture: Most bills automatically debited, manual payment options limited
- ATM fees: Vary significantly between banks and locations. Your bank must be clear with these charges and where you can withdraw cash for free.
- International transfer costs: Expensive and slow, affects expat financial management. Use a cheap, funds transfer company like Wise. (This is an affiiliate link so I may receive a comission, and I only share recommendations that I use and love myself.)
11. Apartment Living Realities
- Noise ordinances: Quiet hours strictly enforced by neighbors, not authorities
- Shared building costs: Homeowners Association fees cover planned (and unexpected) building repairs
- Key copying: Requires specific permission and documentation.
- Size: Apartments and everything in them are smaller than other countries. Plan accordingly, downsize, and learn to live with the basics.
12. Food & Dining Culture
- Grocery store timing: Fresh bread only certain hours, produce best early morning
- Menu del día: Lunch specials better value than dinner, completely different experience. Full meals at a reasonable price to truly enjoy Spanish cuisine.
- Coffee culture: Standing at bar vs. sitting at a table vs. sitting on the terrace have different pricing
- Wine selection: House wine often better quality than expensive bottles
- Children’s portions: Restaurants expect kids to share adult meals. More restaurants are adding children’s menus, but the system is still to have an adult meal.
- Portions: Portions are smaller than in the US, but usually more than enough for a meal.
- Taking food to-go: A very new concept implemented to avoid food waste, restaurants are now obligated to allow you to take your left-overs to go. Up until a few years ago, you were expected to fore-go what you could not eat.
13. Weather & Seasonal Adaptations
- Summer heat strategy: Life moves indoors during midday, late evening activities.
- Rainy season gear: Proper rain protection essential.
- Beach season timing: Locals avoid beaches during peak tourist months or go to beaches outside of the city.
- Clothing seasonal storage: Apartment storage limited, requires strategic wardrobe rotation. Locals swear on underbed storage
- Air quality awareness: Pollution levels affect outdoor activity planning, as does pollen, which is terrible in Barcelona, especially late April, May, and late summer/early Fall.
Conclusion
These hidden realities of Barcelona living don’t make the city less wonderful – they just require insider knowledge to navigate smoothly. Understanding these details helps families adapt faster and avoid the frustrations that come from expecting familiar systems in a new culture. The key is embracing these differences as part of the authentic Barcelona experience while finding practical solutions that work for your family’s needs.
