What is a good town in Spain to live in?
I'm looking to live in a small to medium sized town in Spain where the people are friendly and I can learn Spanish in a relaxed environment. I'd like it to be in the country but also accessible to a city no more than 30 minutes away. I am in my early twenties so some people around my age would also be a plus. Please give suggestions.
Other - Spain - 10 Answers
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1 :
Barcelona
2 :
Barcelona but do you speak spanish because speaking pure english over there doesnt cut-it!
3 :
Barcelona itself is an immense city, not a medium sized town but I assume the previous answers meant the towns surrounding the city. If you are coming to Spain as an English speaker, you may be more comfortable in the medium-sized towns near Málaga and Marbella, in the south. There is still going to be the day to day necessity of speaking Spanish, that will force you to learn, just as anywhere in Spain, but with plenty of opportunities easily available to speak English, when you need a break. However, if you are planning on being able to find employment, it is more likely that you will end up in Madrid or Barcelona. (depending on what you do for work, of course.) If you have never searched for a job in a country with sustained double-digit unemployment, you are in for a "treat"
4 :
I'm not telling you. There are enough foreigners in my town already. Go to Sitges.
5 :
I would go to Barcelona. Because even if you're considering a small town at the moment, it could get boring. Barcelona has fantastic shopping, malls and markets, great restaurants, clubs, bars and beaches. As it's also the heart of Catalan Spain it's very cultural. On the boarders of Barcelona there are some great towns up in the hills and more along the coast. I reccomend you go to your local travel agent and discuss exactly what you want. Good luck x
6 :
I lived in Andalucia for three years and loved everything about it - the architecture, the people and the way of life. You could live in one of the many small towns near Sevilla and as there is a great rail network, other big cities like Madrid are easily within reach. Jerez de la Frontera, Rota, El Puerto de Sta Maria, Cadiz, Granada, Cordoba - to name a few. Puerto and Rota have lovely beaches and I found most people in the smaller towns either spoke a little English or, were very patient with me while I tried to communicate in my Spanish. Andalucia has everything - beauty, history, scenery and is the perfect blend of old and new.
7 :
I like Di's answer. We lived in El Puerto de Santa Maria for a period of time. It's very close to the US/Spanish based of La Rota, in case you need assistance, you can get it there or in Jerez (US Consulate), a short drive away. There is a bit of opportunity for contact with ex-pats if need be, but you feel the "deep Spain" there too. There is great access to all of Andalucia from here, including Sevilla and the White Towns (Ronda and all that), as well as the swinging beach areas of Marbella, Porto Banuz and the Malaga area, if that's your thing. If not, the beaches towards the Portuguese border are fantastic, wild, great for wind surfing. We also lived in Villanova i la Geltru, a simple but frindly little fishing port with wide beaches near Sitges. The town has all the services and great access to Barcelona via metro link: 30 minutes by train or 20 by car, but light years away in many ways. If you happen to go, don't miss the Arroz con Bogavante -a paella-like rice with lobster; the best I've ever had, anywhere- at Peixerot!!! (in Villanova since the early 1900's and lately in Barceloan as well) and visit the wine region around the area (the Penedes, great cavas and "aguja" -spakling- wines to go with the local seafood). Sitges itself is very lively during the summer (read touristic) but pretty quiet the rest of the year. Barcelona is a gorgeous city with great cultural attractions and opportunities, great medical services and a US consulate. It is also very close to the French border and you can be in the middle of Provence in 5 hrs. or in the Pyrenees for skiing in less than that. The Costa north of Barcelona near Gerona is absolutely amazing, with great little towns and restaurant heaven, with restaurants such as El Bulli of Ferran Adria in Roses. You can also fly-in or take the ferry accross to the Balearic Islands (Mallorca, etc). Madrid is about 5 hrs away by car, great highways and public transportation, with almost hourly fligths (Puente Aereo). The only trouble with Catalonia is that not many people speak English in the small towns, and Spanish is sometimes disfavorably regarded, in favor of Catalan. But hey! this can be a great chance to learn another beautiful language. The Catalan are friendly people and even making the effort and learning a few phrases will take you far. Bona sort!
8 :
almost anyplace will fit most of your needs. Depends which big city you want to be close to. I liked Sevilla...LOVE Andalucia...I have heard Dos Hermanas fits the Small Town piece, being a bedroom community to Sevilla. I like Granada, too.
9 :
Hi. I have seen all the answers, and I can tell you, that the most of the people, who answered you, they were tourist. Im from Spain. And Im going to tell u as well as I can the different parts of Spain making your choice better..Because Spain is so different deppending in the part. Im from the north of Spain. For me, its the best place to live. ( Richer, better studies, more comfortable cities...than the south of Spain. When I Say north, I mean Galicia, Asturias, Santander, Vasque Country, and north of Castille and León) Galicia- Its mainly country, but with important cities. Like Santiago, Vigo, A coruña...They speaks two lenguajes, spanish and gallego. But, if they are speaking Spanish, they have a strong accent. So beautiful, but so far from the rest of Spain. Asturias- It have medium cities, like Gijon- Oviedo- Aviles...Each city, is a small city, but all the tree togheter, make a big union, with shopping centres, museums, concerts...Asturias have one of the most beautiful countrysides in Spain. Beautifil beaches ( Galician and asturian beaches are the most beautiful of Spain, but, the problem is that ist always raining, so we dont use this beaches for sunbathe as much as the south beaches). They speak a dialect. When they speak spanish they have accent too. Cantabria- The main city is Santander. Is one of the "elegant cities" of Spain, next to Burgos or San Sebastian. ( The dictator of Spain used to sat it). They speak good spanish. No accent ( I mean, the real spanish accent from Spain) The main city is Santander. Basque Country- The main Cities are Bilbao ( Bilbo) San Sebastian ( Donosti), and Vitoria ( Gazteiz). They Speak Spanish and Basque ( But dont worry, most of them Speaks Spanish with friends and in the streets). So beautiful. You can choose bog cities, Elegant cities, Beautiful Villages. And important! Dont be afraid of the terrorist group E.T.A. Its no dangerous, North Of Castilla and La Rioja- The auntentical Spanish accent. There are cold cities in winter. The main Cities are Logroño, Burgos and León. Its snow there. but the msot of the people in this part, lives in the cities. With lots of Palaces, castles, cathedrals...Medieval Cities. *All this parts, have no good weather ( With rain, and Snow), but the level of live is higher, the colleges, and uni, are better, and the culture is more european than the rest. South of Castille, and castilla la mancha-Extremadura- They speaks Spanish. Important ( But small) cities Toledo, Caceres...They are hot, even in winter. There are no big cities, so there are no so much shopping centres, or leisures centres. Cataluña- Comunidad Valenciana- Iles balears- They speaks, catalian ( and dialects), and spanish. It a good places to live. But there are too many tourism, but if you want to study with good wheater go there. Andalucia- For the people of the north of Spain, the "tipical spanish as you think, is the tipical from andalucia. No so much work, always on party, good weather, beaches...They speaks spanish, but they have accent, and they have "grammar mistakes" ( If they say this mistakes in Andalucia, are correct, because its a dialect, but this kind of mistakes in the centre, north of spain are tipical of poor people). Good culture and history, half spanish-european, and half arabic Canarias- They speaks like spanish from america.
10 :
I see that a lot of catalanes are answering, : ). Barcelona is quite good, but Spain is quite more than Barcelona. Balearic islands, Basque country, Asturias, Galicia, Salamanca, Toledo, Andalucia, Madrid, Canarys, etc.... People from Barcelona are not the most friendly in Spain, for example.....
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