The 7 Biggest Mistakes When Moving to Spain & Other Tips

Are you thinking of moving to Spain? It’s the dream of many people – food, culture, and history attract thousands of expats every year. 

I have many friends who are expats and have always found it interesting to hear about the mistakes they made when they first moved to Spain. As a Spaniard, I’ve also given them advice on what to do and what not to do.

If you’re considering moving to Spain, you need to know about the seven mistakes many expats make, because living there isn’t all roses. This blog post will also help you decide whether Spain is really for you or if you have a better experience living abroad.

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1. Avoiding learning Spanish 

Many expats arrive in Spain assuming that English is widely spoken. However, this is far from the truth. 

In tourist coastal destinations such as Ibiza or the Costa del Sol, you’ll find more locals who speak English, and many restaurants have their menus translated into English and other common languages.

Although you can make it through your holidays without speaking Spanish, it won’t be the same when you live in Spain. 

The Spanish language can be as complex as many other European languages that come from Latin – as there are more conjugations. However, this isn’t an excuse to avoid learning the language.

If you know you’re moving to Spain in advance, start learning the language using a free mobile app such as Duolingo, join face-to-face or online lessons, or attend language exchanges. 

2. Assuming Spanish cities are all the same 

A big misconception about Spain is that many people think it’s all about beaches, sunny weather and paella.

Spain is characterised by its diverse landscapes and rich culture. Depending on the region you decide to live in, the weather, food and landscape can change significantly.

Southern Spain has very warm temperatures in the summer but mild temperatures the rest of the year. In contrast, Northern Spain has mild temperatures in the summer and cold weather in the other seasons.

Southern Spain has beautiful beaches, but its flora and fauna are completely different from the north, where lush green spaces are abundant.

Last but not least, food varies from region to region. Every city and county has traditional dishes you want to try. There’s much more than paella! You’ll find gazpacho in Andalusia, pintxos in the Basque Country, ensaimadas in Mallorca, etc.

3. Not doing your research before moving

This applies to any country you are considering moving to. Going on a holiday is completely different to living in that country.

First, have a look at which legal documents you must apply for before moving to Spain, for example, a visa if you’re coming from the US.

Then, think about the type of weather you would like – are you looking for sunny and warm weather? Mild or cold? This will narrow your choices.

Something people tend to forget is what activities they want to do or experience. For example, a city with plenty of museums and cultural activities or nature parks and greener spaces.

If multiculturality is essential to you, you may want to move to bigger cities such as Barcelona, Madrid, Malaga or Mallorca. 

Last but not least, if you don’t have a driving license or want to rent or buy a car, and travelling is important for you, check out that the city you’re moving to is well-connected with the rest of Spain. 

4. Buying a property straight away

Many people sell their houses in their home country to buy a lovely apartment, house or villa in Spain. 

Although this isn’t a bad idea, you need to be sure that Spain is the country for you in the long run. 

If you are unsure if you will like or dislike life in Spain, renting a flat for a few months before buying a property is a great alternative.

Renting a flat in Spain isn’t very expensive compared to other countries, except in popular destinations such as Madrid and Barcelona, where the average rent is higher. Therefore, it’s a good idea.

You can sometimes also pay rent for a few months and discuss the possibility of buying that house or apartment with the landlord.

The legal process of buying a house in Spain isn’t straightforward, and it isn’t cheap by any means, so my advice is to take your time before making the investment.

5. Being unaware of cultural aspects

Spain’s culture is rich and diverse from region to region. Of course, there are similarities across the country, but researching a little bit about the region you’ll live in does help.

One of the cultural shocks that many expats experience in Spain is how close locals get. They don’t keep a distance; they greet new people by giving two kisses on the cheeks rather than shaking hands, and if you’re tapped on the shoulder to get your attention, don’t get scared.

Locals are welcoming, and making friends isn’t as difficult as in other countries. If you make a Spanish friend, you’ll be eating lunch at their house in no time.

However, let me tell you that many Spanish people are careless about time. What I mean is that if you both agree to meet up at 7 pm, don’t be surprised if he/she turns up 10 or 15 minutes later.

Lateness is very annoying, and the worst thing about it is that people will always find an excuse for why they were late—most of the time, the truth is that they were too laid-back and started getting ready at the last minute.

In relation to being late, the bureaucracy in Spain is very slow, so you definitely want to sort out your paperwork as soon as possible.

As part of the Spanish laid-back culture, you’ll also find that locals have lunch or dinner quite late in comparison to other countries such as the UK. It’s quite normal to have lunch between 2-3:30 pm and dinner between 9-10:00 pm. These times can be even later in the summertime.

Other culture shocks that you can experience in Spain are the practice of bullfighting in some parts of Spain (although there are many locals, like me, against this), eating times as well as more meals, the nightlife, etc.

6. Spending too much money

If you’re coming from a country where your currency is stronger than the euro, it’s very easy to overspend money because you think everything is cheap. For example, eating out is relatively cheap, as tapas are. 

However, if you do this almost every day and check how much you’ve spent, you’ll realise you could save a lot or put that money aside to buy something important or save.

The best way to avoid overspending in Spain is to set a weekly or monthly budget. By setting a budget, you don’t necessarily need to stop having that coffee in your favourite cafe but reduce the times you do it.

Another way to save money is to make a list of the things you must buy. Whether you’re renting or buying a house, there’s always something you must buy—no matter how big or small, it’s an expense. 

Making a list is super useful for avoiding buying unnecessary things, too.

7. Delaying paperwork

The Spanish bureaucracy is far from good and well-organised, and you must know this before moving to Spain. Even the simplest paperwork can be a real pain because of office disorganisation or a reduced number of administrators.

Some institutions will tell you that you need cita previa (an appointment), which you can arrange by phone or online. This cita previa doesn’t always run in time, so you are given a date and time and can still end up waiting.

It gets worse when they don’t accept appointments. You must go early and queue for hours. Sometimes, you will be lucky and get things sorted on your first visit, but you may sometimes be asked to provide extra information and bring it another day.

The biggest advice is to sort out your paperwork as soon as possible and not leave anything for the last minute (especially if it’s urgent!)

At the same time, if there’s something you can do before moving to Spain – i.e. from your home country, it’s better to start the process there.

Other important Spain moving tips 

Don’t leave things for August

Most people take holidays in August, and many businesses are closed; therefore, it isn’t the best time to get something sorted – i.e. buying a house, arranging a doctor’s appointment, renewing the driving license, etc. 

Don’t be surprised if someone cancels on you because of the weather

If you come from the UK, you’re used to going out no matter the weather, because if people didn’t make plans because of the rain, they would barely go out.

In Spain, it’s completely acceptable to cancel on friends because of the rain or to invite them over for a chill day watching films. 

Locals don’t really enjoy doing outdoor activities if it’s raining. Luckily, Spain doesn’t have as many rainy days as other countries.

Opt for Menú del día

Do you love eating out but don’t want to spend lots of money?

Well, an excellent option to find good prices is to look for restaurants that offer menú del día – a set menu that consists of a starter, main course and dessert. They’re often cheaper, and you won’t leave the restaurant hungry for sure.

Immerse yourself in the Spanish culture

Apart from learning the language or meeting the locals, you can immerse yourself in the Spanish culture by attending important events such as Semana Santa (Holy Week), the Three Kings parade at Christmas, fairs and traditional town parties. 

Conclusion on the biggest mistakes when moving to Spain

So, is moving to Spain a good idea? That’s something I can’t answer for you. I know many people who love living in my country and don’t regret relocating. However, a smaller percentage of people realise Spain isn’t a place for them to live.

As I mentioned above, it’s really important to research before moving to Spain. You don’t have to know everything, and of course, there will be things that surprise you during your life in Spain. However, knowing these seven simple mistakes can make a difference.

If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below. I’m happy to help.

Also, if you’re an expat in Spain, I’d be really interested in hearing your thoughts on these mistakes. Have you made any of these mistakes before?

Cristina xx

Other useful resources for moving to Spain

• Move to Spain from the UK
• The True Cost of Living in Spain
• The Best Cities to Live in Spain
• Living in Valencia vs Barcelona
• Living in Malaga vs Barcelona
• An Insider’s Guide to Living in Malaga as an Expat
• Living in Marbella, Spain: The Ultimate Expat Guide