Barcelona Bikes: Too Cool for School? Then you need a Fixed Gear Bike!

You might have noticed that Bikes in Barcelona are a very popular way to get around and as fashion is a top priority around here in all facets of life, Fixed gear bikes are becoming more and more common on the streets. The Fixie Barcelona movement is spreading its roots and all you have to do is look around and you'll notice these special creations (part retro / part modern) zooming like the wind (and sans breaks!) through our urban  landscape.

What is a  Fixed Gear Bike?

Barcelona Bikes come in all shapes and sizes.  A fixed gear bike (often referred to colloquially as a Fixie) is a bike with no breaks and with just one gear. Well... there is one way to slow down: with the pedals. You can pedal backward with a fixie so if you stop the pedals in a sharp hit, you're going to skid from the rear wheel (you might remember this from the bikes of your childhood). You also can slow down regularly by forcing softly backwards on the pedals. As these bikes are literally made for speed, it seems slightly crazy that they do not have 'normal' breaks. Fixed bikes are also sometimes amazingly used as trial bikes. In Barcelona the craziest of the crazies doing Trial is Chris Akrigg. In this video, he flies threw the urban landscape like no other.
Fixed gear finds its roots in the track-bike, designed especially for racing on a velodrome. They were designed first for being light, aerodynamic and mechanically simple. After that, fixed gear bikes were quickly adopted by bicycle messengers in big cities in order to make extra quick deliveries. Today, these racing bikes have become very popular in urban atmospheres with cool designs and a hipster following and are the new generation of the Barcelona bikes. A New Subculture is Born! This exploding movement creates a subculture where riders are experiencing an alternative way of moving from point A to point B. Freedom, self-expression, risk, customization, even more customization, self identity and above all care-free good times, is more or less the embodiment of the Fixie subculture. Races or free rides  are organized in cities all over the world and, in Barcelona, there is a healthy and growing movement of fixed gear riders. You can't get much better of a climate, and free rides can be extraordinarily beautiful and cathartic.

Barcelona Bikes & Fixed Gear Shops

With the Fixed gear movement, Barcelona fixed gear shops are more and more common in the city. Here are some great Barcelona bikes shops. The shops also organize some races and free rides that garner a lot of passionate, talented and nice people from different countries.

• Barceloneta bikes: They organize some free rides on their facebook page. Atlantida 49, Barcelona

• Cream bikes and things: They  launched their own high end frame brand. They also organize Alleycats races in Barcelona city. You can checkout more details about these races on their blog. Bocabella 9, Barcelona

• My beautiful parking: They rent and sell fixed gear bikes. Plus, they have a parking for bikes in the Gotico district. Cervantes 5, Barcelona

Fixed gears are the new generation of Barcelona bikes as they are a mix between transportation, art and lifestyle. In Barcelona the movement is exploding. Fixed gear fiends move fast around the city, without breaks, rarely stopping at stop signs and locking up the back wheel and skidding when they need to stop quickly. Some of the people see that as dangerous and some see it as a new way of life... What do you think about this? Are you a part of the Fixie movement? Would you like to try it? Check these links if you want to rent a bike in Barcelona, or if you would prefer to use the Bicing Barcelona renting system. Enjoy the ride! Hugo

Everything you ever wanted to know about Catalán vaulted ceilings

Have you ever looked up at the ceiling of an apartment in Barcelona and wondered why they often have exposed wooden beams and an arch-shaped series of bricks? Well if you do, welcome to the club. The first time I came to my friend’s flat and looked at those curvy ceilings, my naive mind told me the place must be under some kind of renovation. But then I encountered the same scene in my first rented apartment, my second one, and mostly every flat I've been in so far. What kind of construction is this? At the beginning I didn't like it, so primitive, so uncompleted! But the more I explored this “Catalan style ceiling” the more I liked its unique character. So if you have the same wonder, why don’t you join me in discovering this piece of Catalan charm!
And by the way this design’s called Catalan vault or in Catalan “Volta Catalana”

Design and origin

Catalan vault is a building technique that lays plain bricks lengthwise over the parallel wooden beams or centering to form an arch-shaped ceiling. To create such a curvy ceiling with bricks and no framework needed, builders have to use a fast setting mortar to allow the brick to hold itself after being tapped into place. Constructing vaults in brick was mastered by the Romans, who use arched structure to strengthen their buildings and constructions. This technique was then improved by Catalan people with layers of thinner, lighter bricks to create a ceiling not only light but also very strong. Up till now the technique has been widely used in buildings all over the region, for which it is named “Volta Catalana”. Other names for this technique are Catalan arch, Catalan turn or Timbrel vault.

Reason for this design

Structural strength: Catalan vaults consist of a single or series of arches on the ceiling which create a shell structure. Thanks to that both the floor above and the ceiling itself will be able distribute gravity forces equally to the whole construction system thus bringing geometric flexibility and endurance of the structural floor surface. I asked some of my Catalan friends and they said that a long time ago in the region people stored tons of agriculture products on the top floor. So it is very important to have a heavily reinforced structure. Resource efficiency: Since this technique was popular among  common people, the material had to be easy to make and affordable. Also, compared to making the same ceiling with a solid design, Catalan vaults costs less and do not require elaborate falsework. Yes that’s true they don’t need a framework to build. If you are skeptical about that, check this video

Different types

Catalan vaults vary depending on its purpose of use and the design of the whole construction.

• The most popular Catalan vault you can see consists of small arches connected to wooden beams, called vigas in Catalan. They are used on the ceilings of multistory buildings to form a strong structure that can bear heavy weight. Some modern designs also replace wood with iron to reinforce the ceiling even more.
• For a roof that doesn't need to bear heavy object above, the arch will be larger and number of arch is reduced. An example of that is the roof of Casaramona(a.k.a CaixaForum)

• Another type is four arches meeting  at a center point, supported by 4 pillars. A perfect example for that is the Manhattan municipal building designed by Rafael Guastavino.

Manhattan Municipal Building

Famous constructions & architecture

Barcelona’s most famous architect Gaudi (see more about his masterpieces here) frequently used the traditional Catalan vault technique to suit the constructional form of his curvy design style. The most obvious example is The School of the Sagrada Familia

School of the Sagrada Familia Calatan vaulted ceilings can also be seen outside of its original birthplace, in America thanks to Valencia architect Rafael Guastavino. Inspired by Catalan vault, he invented the Guastavino tile. The design was then used by Rafael himself and his son to build more than one thousand vaults in churches, cathedrals, chapels, and public buildings in America. Some of his most remarkable pieces are:
New York's City Hall subway station
New York City ‘s Vanderbilt Hotel
National Museum of Natural History’s Baird auditorium

Suitelife’s flats with Catalan vaulted ceiling

Love the curves now? Make you desire come to life! Check out some of our flats with this Catalan traditional design or contact us to find a flat with this beautiful feature! [caption id="attachment_45028" align="alignleft" width="270"]
Alan Harper's flat[/caption] [caption id="attachment_45029" align="alignright" width="270"]
Arc of Light[/caption] [caption id="attachment_45030" align="alignleft" width="270"]
Carmen san diego[/caption] [caption id="attachment_45031" align="alignright" width="270"]
Joaquin Costa V[/caption] There are many other options you can find in our long term flats collection here Tips for apartment hunting: if you fancy the traditional Catalan vaulted ceiling, our recommendation is to look at the old city area, Ciutat Vella with neighbourhoods Barceloneta, Borne, Gothic Quarter and Raval neighborhood. What about modern flats? Check the Diagonal Mar area. The neighborhood guide can be found in this link. peace! T.Vu

All you need to know about tapas in Barcelona: tips, recipes, history, how to eat, where to eat and more!

First of all: what are Tapas?

Tapas is the collective name for a variety of dishes and it is very famous in Spain and around the world. The most famous tapas are the tortilla de patata (spainsh omelet), calamares a la romana (fried squid rings) and croquetas de jamon (ham croquettes). Tapas are served in little plates of different foods and traditionally with some wine or beer. The tradition of Tapas comes from Andalusia, where it is inconceivable to go have a drink in a bar without eating something. Most of the time in Andalusia, Tapas are served with drinks for free. Nowadays the custom of eating tapas has spread up all over Spain, but they aren't free everywhere! Spanish tapas are eaten between meals in order to avoid hunger and to accompany Spanish wine. And Tapas are more than a simple meal! They help the conversation around a table because traditionally everyone share Tapas and it makes a convivial atmosphere.

Tapas History:

They are many legends about Spanish Tapas: The first one is a tale about Alfonso X, King of Spain in the middle ages. The king was suffering and his doctors prescribed him some medication. What kind of medication you ask? Wine of course! After all, it was the middle ages - alcohol was the answer to everything! In order to avoid getting a little tipsy from all the 'medication' he ate snacks between meals. People say that once he was fully recovered, he ordered all taverns to serve these same snacks,“tapas”, with wine. That way drinkers were less affected by the alcohol. Another legend says that tapas comes from Alfonse XIII (XVII century). The king stopped by an inn one day and decided to sit on the terrace. Unfortunately, it was a very windy day and in order to avoid dust in the King’s cup, the inn’s landlord covered the cup with a ham slice. The king ate the slice and he asked for more. Apparently he liked the Wine / Tapas combination so much that it became 'a thing'! Other stories say that peasants that use to drink wine before lunch and it was better to drink wine with some snacks so as not to be too affected. In Sevilla for instance the cups were served with some cheese or ham.
So, where does the tradition of Tapas bars come from? No one really knows for sure. But what we can be sure about is that its always better to eat and drink at the same time, and if ham really is the best way to protect your wine from dust then we've all learnt something new today!

Tapas world: the 10 commandments on how to eat tapas in Barcelona

• Thou shall not eat more than 2 tapas in the same bar.

Most of the tapas bars in Barcelona have their own specialties. That’s why you shouldn’t spend all your night in the same bar. Have a beer in one, eat some tapas, and then go to another one, have a glass of wine and some tapas, and keep going. You will be able to try a lot of different tapas and to meet a lot of people. Because eating tapas is also a social activity! That brings us to the second commandment…

• Thou shall enjoy your time when eating tapas.

When you go tapear (this is the Spanish word for eating tapas), you’re supposed to have fun and relax with friends or nice people. This is a cool moment for talking and chilling out after work for example. So bring some of your good friends and have a great time in some of the many tapas bars in Barcelona!

• Thou shall eat tapas in the right way

And the rightway is standing in front of the bar, tapas on the counter and drink in your hand. Don't worry if it gets crowded, everyone's used to it and besides, its all part of the fun! Then, one person can pay for each round of tapas - no need to start splitting cents, after all, you are here with friends!

• Thou shall eat tapas at the right time.

The best time for tapas is after a stressful day of work and when you have a few hours to kill before going to bed. They say  you shouldn’t have a big meal before sleeping, so tapas are exactly what you need! Another great time for tapas is just before lunch, in order to whet your appetite for something a little more filling

• Thou shall try the most famous tapas and then learn how to cook your own tapas.

That’s means you have to cook  tortilla de patatas and patatas bravas. Finding the best ones is truly an assault course, but hey, where there’s a will, there’s a way! Once you've found your favourite, try to replicate it by cooking your own. Start easily with pan con tomate and level up with chiquitos!

• Thou shall eat pintxos at Maitea and go to La Flauta and Los Toreros in Barcelona.

Pintxos are good and pintxos at Maitea are excellent! For around 8€ you can have 5 or 6 pintxos. The restaurant is nice and the food is awesome. You should also go to La Flauta or Los Toreros, two of the best tapas restaurants in Barcelona. It’s a safe bet, believe us. If you'd prefer something a little more fancy how about checking out the best Michelin starred restaurants in town

• Thou shall try a new tapas bar or restaurant in Barcelona every week.

Barcelona is full of tapas bars and restaurants. To live your gastronomic experience to the max, you should try at least a new one every week. Taste their specialties and chill out in different atmospheres, from modern and trendy to traditional and friendly.

• Thou shall do a tapas tour in Barcelona: free tapas with one drink.

To save some pennies during your tapas night in Barcelona, you should hunt around for free tapas in Barcelona. You pay for one drink and you get one pintxos or tapas totally free. There's no excuse for skipping this tapas tour!

• Thou shall try catalan tapas.

Barcelona has its own specialties concerning tapas, and you have to taste them! Just a few names to make your mouth water: sofregitin, escudella, zarzuela… and of course, aioli! People also say that you can find the best fish tapas on Barcelona beaches. Now, you have all the tips you needed to eat tapas like a pro and spend an amazing time in Barcelona with your friends!

Where can I eat tapas?

You can eat tapas on nearly every street corner of Barcelona but to give you an idea of where to get started check out our blog post on our favourite tapas bar in Barcelona, the best neighbourhood to find tapas, our Basque tapas tour, tapas for 3 euros and where to get free tapas! We hope that this tapas guide will help you to feel Spanish, and even Catalan, when you’re eating tapas in Barcelona! If you liked it, do not hesitate to share it and give us your own tapas tips! Adéu! - Erin

Vietnamese Restaurant in Barcelona :“Back in Florida, Pho is like the new sushi.”

While there are many cuisines and restaurants , Vietnamese restaurant in Barcelona is not usually one that first comes to mind. As a lover of Pho (and not a huge fan of Spanish food, sorry), I have been determined to find out where the good Pho restaurants are in Barcelona, and share them with SuiteLife readers.
I was introduced to the Vietnamese food trend by my older brother, the king of hipsters himself, who discovered the cheap and delicious lunch fare, just a mile or so away from our house. After one try, I already felt myself hooked on the spicy, salty soup. But it was around this same time that I decided to come to Spain, and as I jetted off to Catalunya, I left my latest food obsession long behind without a second thought. Thus, when I found out there was a Pho Bar just a 12 minute walk from our office I felt no shame in begging my co-worker Sarka to accompany me as I went in pursuit of, one of a few, new Vietnamese restaurant in Barcelona.

What Is IT?

Pho Bo is a Vietnamese noodle soup made from beef broth; thin slices of boiled beef, your choice of basil, cilantro, scallions, and beansprouts (likely all four), lime, and a variety of sauces from fishy to hot. The fine selection of textures and flavors is guaranteed to satisfy any food craving you may have from sweet and salty, to hot, to sour, to crunchy, to smooth and savory.I absolutely love the exotic flavors of ethnic food, especially Asian and Indian, because they can't be easily duplicated at home and coming from a vegetarian background, it is always important to me that vegetables be somewhere on the menu.  Furthermore, Pho can be spiced to your liking (for me, extra spicy) using the sixth and most important food group - Siracha.

How does it work?

They bring you a bowl of noodles and throw the beef in. Then, you will get to combine the veggies and flavorings, tweaking your soup to perfection. This process is great because I love to eat but I hate to spend money on food that I don’t like. Having something to work from and ingredients at my disposal is the best combination of laziness and creativity I can get when eating out.  And I know many people are turned off by the idea of eating soup as a main course but rest assured Pho Bo is not going to leave you starving. The trick is the mix of hearty (beef) and light ingredients (broth and vegetables) that fills you up without weighing you down.

Where can I get it?

Pho Bar Barcelona, like many Vietnamese restaurants in Barcelona, offers a moderately priced lunch menu of several courses. The first course consists of a spring roll (vegetarian or regular) or a salad, the second course is the main course of pho bo or another type of Vietnamese soup or noodle dish, and the last course is a dessert of either fruit or fruit flavored ice cream.
This restaurant is located at Sepulveda Street 159 , 08011 Barcelona and open for lunch and dinner, with a siesta in the middle. When we went, we were the only customers at first but the place gradually filled up right around 2:30 p.m. You shouldn’t have any trouble finding a table as these places are new and haven’t quite caught on with the locals yet (give it a few years!). If you live a ways away from Eixample, you might want to conduct your own search for Pho and let us know where it is! As we walked home from the first Pho bar, we actually spotted another one of the Vietnamese restaurants in Barcelona “Restaurant City Ho Chi Minh,” offering a similar lunch menu AND a half liter of wine for a cheaper price. Something tells me these places are sprinkled all over Barcelona… Have you ever had Pho before? What is your favorite Asian cuisine or Vietnamese restaurant in Barcelona? Bon Appétit Kathy PS: If you're interested in making your own Pho, or just learning more about it, I highly recommend the blog located here.

Sports in Barcelona : Let's try something new!

Are you looking for some different sports in Barcelona? Dark room ... electro music ... and ... sweating people ... What am I talking about? Razzmatazz or Catwalk? No, not any of those or other clubs in Barcelona. I am talking about La Sala Magali - in other words  a new way to work out in Barcelona! Strict trainer and (just) 30 minutes of INTENSIVE training! If you are tired of running in Citaudella Park, swimming or just a gym and you are open to try new things - you shouldn't stop reading.
My co-worker Sarit told me about her addictions, which is besides coffee also La Sala Magali! She has been a member of La Sala Magali for over a year and she loves it! Sarit also told me about the trainers and how even an easy class can still feel like being in army sometimes... It was like a bell going off in my head - I HAVE TO TRY IT!
We went there! I was pretty nervous, mainly because Sarit told me about the trainers. I could feel an energy from people even before the lesson! Everybody was on time! (Wooow, I was thinking, am I still in Spain? :) ). Everyone was so highly motivated and I felt like I was in the middle of a pack of Jack Russell Terriers! Seriously! :D
"Located in the heart of Barcelona, the Sala is a space designed with a very New York spirit, inspired by the monasteries inhabited by the Shaolin monks, who live with minimal comfort and train daily." We went to the dark room - just mirrors, me and other 15 people and ... trainer Catherine! She was very sweet to me because she knew I was a newbie. Anyway, she wasn't so sweet to others, sometimes I could hear shouting in Spanish or English, so I knew I better n0t stop although I was practically dying from the beginning of the class! Catherine walked between people so she could also show us how to work out properly!
After 30 minutes (it seemed to me like 10 minutes) I felt like I wouldn't even make it to metro station :D But I mean, I felt GREAT! I have never had such an intensive workout in such a short time. The concept is just awesome! They have different types of training sessions, so everybody can choose the level and people are very cool and friendly! At least, go to try it, it's worthy experience! ;) Check their website here! Do you know about other unusual work out/sports in Barcelona?? Give us feedback in comments below! Cu there! :) ~ Ivet

CATALAN CUISINE: THE TOP 5 CATALAN RESTAURANTS IN BARCELONA

When coming to Barcelona you will definitely want to try some Spanish tapas, paella and tortilla de patatas. Did you know, though, that these meals are not from Barcelona, or even Catalonia? Well, I highly recommend you to try them, but you should not miss some typical Catalan dishes either. Fortunately, there is a great deal of traditional Catalan restaurants in Barcelona. I think that you absolutely should add trying at least one of my top 5 Catalan restaurants in Barcelona to your To-Do-List!

1. 7 Portes

“Practice makes perfect”, right? Well, that is why the traditional restaurant 7 Portes, in the El Born district, is regarded as one of the best traditional restaurants in Barcelona: It was founded in 1836! That means... well, wait a second … ok, I have it: 178 years of existence!  In case you are not convinced yet, here are some of their Catalan dishes: fideuà, canelons, Esqueixada de bacallà and much more. Great service, a special atmosphere with live piano music and the most important: great dishes are guaranteed! It will be an unforgettable experience! You won’t regret it, that’s for sure!

• Address: Passeig d'Isabel II, 14
• Phone: 0034 933 193 033/ 0034 933 192 950
• Opening hours: Monday – Sunday, 13 pm – 1 am
• Email for reservations: reserves@7portes.com
• Price: From 30-45 Euros

2. Senyor Parelleda

Another must-try, for those who are willing to taste a typical Catalan dish, is the traditional restaurant Senyor Parelleda, also situated in the beautiful El Born quarter. It is always well patronized, which is, not surprisingly because with the divine food they serve. My advice therefore is definitely to reserve a table! Let’s have a look at some meals they offer, OK? Let’s get started: Esqueixada con escalivada, Bacalao gratinado con alioli de pera y salsa vizcaína and of course the typical pan amb tomate. In case you can still resist, watch out: apart from their delicious kitchen, the special traditional decoration of the place is something you should not miss! What are you waiting for?

• Address: Carrer Argenteria, 37
• Phone: 0034 933 105 094
• Opening hours: Monday – Sunday, 13:00 – 15:45 and 20:30 – 23:30
• Email for reservations: reservas@senyorparellada.com
• Price for Menu: 19-39 Euro

3. Taverna el Glop

You are looking for something traditional, right? And you finally want to try that dish called "calçots", true? Well, then you should undoubtedly try the rustic, informal restaurant El Glop, which is for sure one of the best traditional restaurants in Barcelona. Aside from calçots, they serve as well botifarra Catalana amb mongetes, escalivada amb anchovies and crema catalana, just a few of their mind-blowing dishes. It is situated in the beautiful Gracia district and appropriate for everybody, even for big groups, as they do have three big private rooms and special offers for groups. You see? You can’t miss this, can you?

• Address: Carrer Sant Lluís, 24
• Phone: 0034 932 137 058
• Opening hours: Monday-Sunday, 13 pm – 1 am
• Email for reservations: info@tavernaelglop.com
• Price for Menu: 20,25 - 40,65 Euros

4.  Can Culleretes

Can Culleretes is one of the oldest traditional restaurants in Barcelona, situated in the Gothic quarter and one of the most charming places I have ever been to. The food was a dream, well, you might have assumed that. But that food in combination with the old photos and paintings on the walls made me feel indeed comfortable and so special. The friendly staff contributed to this in great part. Thus, in my opinion it is a MUST during your stay in Barcelona. After that description I’m pretty sure you are dying to get to know what they serve… Well, here we go: escudella, butifarra, asador catalan and much much more. I’m just going to say: Get ready to feel like you're in heaven and bon profit!

• Address: Carrer Quintana, 5
• Phone: 0034 933 173 022 / 0034 933 176 485
• Opening hours:  Tuesday – Saturday 9:00-16:00 and 21:00- 23:00, Sunday 9:00-16:00
• Email: info@culleretes.com
• Price for Menu: 20-30 Euros

5. Cal Boter

Last but not least (actually to the contrary) the number one traditional restaurant in Barcelona of my top 5 list is the restaurant Cal Boter, situated in the Gracia neighborhood. You should not miss it if you fancy something classic, unique and absolutely delicious. Founded in 1986, they please their guests with typical Catalan delicacies, such as xatonada, botifarra, cargols picants and many more. If you're up for some wine, you will love that place even more. Why? The wine of the house is served in a “porrón”, which is a traditional Catalan bottle with a long spout, enabling you to drink from it. Curious what this looks like? I guess so. Don’t forget to reserve, though, it is always packed! Good luck.

• Address: Carrer Tordera 62
• Phone: 0034 934 588 462
• Opening hours: Monday - Friday Breakfast: 9:00 am- 12:00 pm, Monday - Sunday Lunch: 13:00-16:00 pm, Tuesday - Saturday Dinner: 21:00 - 12:00 am
• Price for Menu: 20-30 Euros

Is there any even better Catalan restaurant in Barcelona? Did you like my selection? I’m looking forward to reading your feedback in the comments section. :) Enjoy! Melina

How to get a Spanish NIE Number in 2018

What is a Spanish NIE number anyways?

The Spanish NIE number, short for Número de Identificación de Extranjero, is a Foreigner Identification Number issued by the Administración General del Estado  (General Administration of the State) as a fiscal identification number for foreigners who want to stay more than 3 months in Spain, or in oder to be able to process certain transactions in Spain like buying a property. The equivalent of NIE for Spaniards is the NIF (Número de Identificación Fiscal). The NIE number is different from the Empadronamiento or Padron Municipal which is about getting registered in your living community. The Spanish NIE number starts with a letter, followed by seven numbers and another letter in the end (example Y - 1234567 - B). Each NIE number is dedicated to one person and it is neither transferable nor does it expire.
It is worth remembering that a Spanish NIE is not the same as a TIE. EU citizens will need the NIE number only and can use their passport as identification whereas non-EU citizens will need a TIE (Tarjeta de Identificación de Extranjero) which is both a NIE and a form of identification.

Why it is important?

The Spanish NIE number is basically used as a code to serve people who don’t have Spanish Nationality. It is of essential for virtually every activity that requires your identification. Many people are not aware of the real importance of the NIE number. For example, your very first steps after moving to Barcelona, like opening a bank account and getting internet/phone contracts, will require a NIE.
A quick anecdote: One of our colleagues here at SuiteLife had just arrived to BCN and wanted to get Internet installed in his apartment. He spoke to most of the Internet companies and there was one that told him he could sign up without having a NIE. To make a long story short, after weeks of talking back and forth with the company, it turned out they were misinformed and he did indeed need a NIE number. Moral of the story is just get the thing! It'll make your life a lot easier. The Spanish NIE number is important for those who have a professional or economic interest in Spain, because for certain they must have a NIE in order to:

• Study in Spain
• Buy, sell or insure a property in Spain or purchase any asset over € 3,000
• Buy a vehicle in Spain
• Inheritance of assets in Spain
• Setup a company, start a business or simply work in Spain
• Pay Spanish taxes
• Apply for a mortgage or other loan in Spain
• Register for national Social Security Health plan
• Register with social services and arrange receipt of social security benefits
• Apply for a driving license

You can pay an agency to sort out all of your NIE documents for you but remember that, even if you give them power of attorney, you must be present on the day.

How to get a NIE number – Step by Step

Step 1: Fill in the application form

EU citizens: the Spanish NIE number application form you need to fill out is called EX - 18 Solicitud de inscripción en el Registro Central de Extranjeros_Residencia Ciudadano de la UE which you can download here Non-EU citizens: you need the EX-15 Solicitud de Número de Identidad de Extranjero (NIE) y Certificados which you can download here. Both forms are in Spanish, but don't worry because you've reached the right place. We have the EX-15 document with the most essential fields translated to English so you can refer to it (the EX-18 has the same vocabulary so you can easily compare the two).
This is sample image of our translation. For higher quality one, download the pdf version here If you are en EU citizen you should only need to fill out the EX-18, however, it is best to have both this form and the EX-15 ready and filled out as the documentation asked for can vary greatly. Likewise non-EU residents should bring both just to be safe. EU citizens you will also need the Modelo 790-012 which in 2017 MUST be filled in online, printed and brought to the appointment. You will then have to pay for the NIE at a nearby bank. Non-EU citizens will also have to pay but should be given a receipt at their appointment which you then take to a bank to pay.

Step 2: Make an appointment online

You have to make an appointment online first before coming in person; otherwise you will not be served. To do that, click on this link and choose “Acceder al Procedimiento” at the bottom.

• In PROVINCIAS DISPONIBLES choose Barcelona.
• In TRÁMITES DISPONIBLES PARA LA PROVINCIA SELECCIONADA choose Certificados UE (if you are from the European Union), or Expedicion de tarjeta de identidad de extranjero (heulla) if you are from overseas
• Click Aceptar
• Click Entrar
• Fill in your information:
  • Choose PASAPORTE and enter your passport number below
  • Nombre y apellidos = name and surname
  • País de nacionalidad = your nationality
  • In Caracteres enter what you see on the picture above
  • Click Aceptar

You MUST bring your printed appointment confirmation with you on the day. It can be a bit of  nightmare trying to get an appointment in the first place so we highly recommend looking to book an appointment as soon as possible - it took me nearly 3 months to get mine! TIP: try looking a little further afield if you can't find an appointment in the centre of Barcelona. I got mine in Sant Adria de Besós which is about 30 minutes on the metro from station Jaume I.

Step 3: Prepare all the necessary documents (checklist)

For EU citizens:

• Passport and copy
• Proof of address in Spain - your rental contract (in your name) would be sufficient
• Completed EX-18 form
• Completed Modelo 790
• Proof of health insurance - this can be private health insurance or an EHIC card
• Document* proving why you need a Spanish NIE number, which differs depending on your intentions. In most cases it is:
  • a contract showing that you’re going to buy a property in Spain like real estate, car, etc.
  • employed:  job contract from the Spanish company
  • self-employed: a company ownership certificate
  • persons with sufficient funds: proof that you can live in Spain without working
  • students: acceptance letter from the school plus proof of payment to the school
  • job seekers: you can go only with passport, but you will be issued a temporary NIE number valid only for 3 months
• Enough to pay the NIE fee (€10.71 at the time of writing)

*Any documents must be translated into Spanish or Catalán (unless they are official EU documents) and you must bring the original

For Non-EU citizens:

• Passport, Visa and copies
• Completed EX-15 form
• Empadronamiento - you will need to go to the town hall and register yourself as living in the area
• Non-EU citizens will need the additional proof of legal entry into Spain (for instance a landing card, known in Spanish as a declaración de entrada)
• Proof of health insurance
• Two passport size photos (check as this can vary from country to country - the Spanish size is called carnet)
• Document* proving why you need a Spanish NIE number which differs depending on your intentions. In most cases it is:
  • a contract showing that you're going to buy a property in Spain like real estate, car, etc.
  • employed:  job contract from the Spanish company
  • self-employed: a company ownership certificate
  • persons with sufficient funds: proof that you have enough funds to live in Spain without working
  • students: acceptance letter from the school plus proof of payment to the school
  • job seekers: you can go only with passport, but you will be issued a temporary NIE number valid only for 3 months

*Any documents must be translated into Spanish or Catalán and you must bring the original You can apply for NIE number at police stations with a Oficina de Extranjeros (Foreigners Office). In Barcelona they are located on:

• Carrer de Balmes 192,  08006 Barcelona
• Rambla de Guipúscoa 74,  08020 Barcelona
• Carrer de Múrcia 42,  08027 Barcelona
• Passeig de Sant Joan 189,  08037 Barcelona

Opening hours:

• Monday to Thursday from 9h to 17h30
• Friday 9h to 14h
• Summer (June 16^th to September 15^th) from 9h to 14h

TIP: it is possible you will have to wait in queue hours until your turn at the office, so bring something that can keep you occupied for example a book or a magazine.

Step 5: Useful Spanish terms

Some simple Spanish phrases that you might need: Hello! I would like to apply for NIE number = Hola ! Me gustaría obtener mi número de identidad de extranjero (NIE) . Where can submit my NIE application? = ¿Dónde puedo inscribirme? I have an appointment to get my NIE = Tengo una cita para obtener mi número de identidad de extranjero (NIE).

Step 6: Keep calm and wait for it

All you lucky EU citizens will receive your NIE immediately however, non-EU citizens will have to wait. After submitting all the documents, a photocopy of the application, a paper indicating when the card is available (keep it safe, you will need to show it to them later when you pick up your NIE card) and your passport will be returned to you. Usually after two weeks the NIE card should be available to pick up, but the process can sometimes take as long as 6 weeks. So stay patient!

Apply for NIE number before you come to Barcelona

It is also possible to apply for Spanish NIE number before coming to Spain by contacting the Spanish consulate in your country. ------------------------------ Getting the NIE is no easy feat but with our guide you should be good to go! Remember, if you are applying outside of Barcelona, the required documents can vary so it is best to have copies of everything as well as the originals. And they can even vary inside Barcelona so don't be surprised if they ask you for other documents or only ask you for half of the documents above. I only needed my passport, a copy of my passport, the EX-18 and proof of my reason for needing a NIE but I know people who have been turned away for not having their proof of insurance! But its best to just bring copies and originals of everything you could possibly need rather than get turned away at the last moment; better safe than sorry! Beside this we also have many other helpful tips to make moving to Barcelona a piece of cake. Check it out Is there any other problem you have in Barcelona? Do tell us in the comments below, we would love to help! Peace! T.Vu

Where to Celebrate St Patricks Day in Barcelona

St Patricks day in Barcelona is on the 17^th of March, just like in Dublin of course! If you want to celebrate it as Irish people do, take a look at the following places and at the promotions that they will offer for this particular day. Even if there is no parade for this special St Patricks day in Barcelona, Barcelona is full of Irish pubs where you can celebrate it. So put your green tights on, find a four-leaf clover and let’s have a beer! By the way, you can check this post about the best Irish pubs in Barcelona…

Kitty’s Pub – SPECIAL EVENT

It seems like Kitty’s has been the first Irish pub opened in Barcelona, 18 years ago. For St Patrick’s Day, they transform the area of Carrer de Numancia into an Irish district! There will be different activities organized, even for children, all day long. Come by, watch Irish dancing and listen to Irish music. The all programming is just here. And what can be best than watching England Vs Ireland to close your St Patrick’s Day in Barna?! Address: Carrer de la Nau Santa Maria, 5, Barcelona 08017 Website

Barcelona Sights - One Of The Greatest Things to Do in Barcelona !

There are an endlessly fascinating amount of Barcelona sights that will appeal to people with a whole range of passions and interests. There are so moany ways to experience Barcelona sights ranging from simple walking tours to Segway tours and even more. Whatever floats your boat, there are almost certainly tours in Barcelona that can help you indulge in your interests. Stuck for ideas on what to do in Barcelona? Check out our guide to some of the best tours in Barcelona which range from the unusual to the 'little bit different' to the outright cool specifically handpicked by us! Enjoy!

Bicycle tours

Not the most riveting tour on the list, but nonetheless a really nice way to see Barcelona sights. Most of the tours tend to last around 3 to 4 hours and their are plenty of companies who offer bike tours around the city. Surprisingly, you cover a lot of the city in such a short time and bike tours prove to be a lot more relaxing than you'd expect (less strenuous than walking tours for sure!). Tours on average cost around the 20 Euro mark which is good value for what you get (as with everything it does depend on the company!). Our favourite bike tour in the city is with the aptly named Barcelona Bike Tours or 'Un Cotxe Menys-Bicicletes' (as they're known in Catalan), who offer bike tours all year round (everyday from 11am to 4.30pm) at Plaça Jaume. The company offers a daily tour in English for anyone to join but also offers tours for groups (private and for businesses) which can be delivered in a variety of languages and tailored individually to the group. Being one of the organisations instrumental in transforming Barcelona into the bicycle haven that it is today, their commitment to making their city more environmentally friendly is obvious and they are also a founding member of the Associació BiciTours Barcelona. Even today, they play an active role in the tourist scene in Barcelona and continue to promote cycling initiatives in the city.

Go Car Tours

For someone who is not from the most tourist orientated city, this is one tour that most certainly surprised me when I came to Barcelona! In a nutshell, Go Car Tours are small yellow open-top cars with a built in navigation system which talks to you and teaches you about the Barcelona sights as you drive past them. The Go Cars don't just offer a standardised tour and are not remote controlled. You actually drive them yourself! The tours offer a variety of themed tours from a Camp Nou tour, Olympic Barcelona, Barcelona Highlights and an All Day Tour to name but a few. The tours are also available in a range of languages and also offer tours for individuals and groups. Prices start at around 19 Euros per hour, but they also offer regular promotions too. The only thing prerequisites are that you have a full driving licence. Give it a go!

Cooking Tours

There is simply no better souvenir to take back home with you than knowing how to cook typical food from the place where you've visited. It's a gift that will not only impress your friends and family, but will also remind you of your trip forevermore. Thankfully, you're in Barcelona, which is renowned for it's culinary offerings. If you're a cooking amateur there are some top quality cooking schools in Barcelona who typically offer a really great selection of classes to unlock the inner chef within you and get you acquainted with just how amazing Spanish cuisine really is! One such school is Barcelona Cooking located on the Ramblas. Taught by professional chefs, a variety of classes are on offer from a half day cooking class with the option of getting a tour of the Mercat de la Boqueria, a tapas class, a tour of some of the best Spanish/Catalan food shops in Barcelona and more. They also offer customised classes for corporate events and groups. Even better is the fact that all the ingredients are local and organic and support the producers, so you'll have the opportunity to taste and create authentic Spanish/Catalan food. As a guide, a half day class costs around 78 Euros. ¡Buen Provecho!

Barcelona by..........speedboat!

Once in the middle of Barcelona, it's easy to forget that you're near the sea. But an excellent way to not forget is to hop on a speedboat and tour the length of the coastline and take in the skyline of the city. Although you won't hit the big sights, it's still a pretty cool way to see the city. Xmax Speed Boat Tours offers these tours and each tour takes around 50 minutes starting at Port Vell up through the Port Olimpic and to the Port Forum where they spin around and come back. Prices are 12.50 Euros and less for children and run only from April/May to November For something a little more slower paced, Las Golondrinas offers slower paced boat tours along the Barcelona coast. They are undeniably the experts in boat tours in Barcelona and have been involved in Barcelona boat tours since 1888 and explores the history and sights of the Barcelona coast. They offer two different tours - one of the Port Vell area and a 1 hour, 30 minute tour which covers 18 miles of coastline and gives you amazing views of some Barcelona sights! Prices are around 12/14 Euros depending on the tour you take and tours start from the Colom Statue at the bottom of the Ramblas or at Port Forum. Naturally, some trips cannot take place due to the weather so it's worthwhile checking beforehand!

Hot air balloon tours

Ok, this isn't technically in Barcelona and you probably won't see any Barcelona sights but this is still an amazing thing to do while you're here! Ballooning offer a number of trips even including some which even cross the Pyrenees mountains into France! But a trip in a hot air balloon comes at a price - an average of 150 Euros per person! If you're out to impress and money is no object, then this is a perfect way to see the Catalan countryside surrounding Barcelona.

And the list goes on!

These are just the tip of the iceberg on what to do in Barcelona in terms of tours. There are tours for almost any interest. A great company who offer tours tailored to almost any theme are My Favourite Tours. You may just think twice about taking a walking tour now! Have you been on any tours in Barcelona or experienced a really unique way of seeing the city? A Spiderman web-swinging style tour would be pretty cool! If you're coming to Barcelona, then you may want to check out our short term apartments page which offer you a different experience of staying in Barcelona and are usually better value than hotels.
Thanks for reading! - Chris

A Taste of Home - A British Haven in Barcelona!

Being an international city and having a huge expat community, Barcelona has no shortage of shops, restaurants and other amenities to serve the various nationalities living particularly those from the US, Latin American and various countries in Europe to name but a few. But what about us Brits? Is there a 'British Barcelona?' Thankfully, amongst the grid-like streets of the Eixample is a very special shop who specialise in all things British. Aptly named 'A Taste of Home', this is a shop to visit for any Brit living here in Barcelona either for Erasmus or for those here living more long term. Intrigued to find out what treasures are inside? Read our exclusive interview with the owner below!

The Interview

A Taste of Home has been serving the people of Barcelona since 2008 and was started by Inge Barker, an expat from the UK. She also owns another branch of the shop in Sitges which has been open for 11 years. This shop is the real deal and that's not just my opinion. In 2011, A Taste of Home was awarded the accolade of 'Commended British Shop in the World' as part of the 'Best of British Awards' which are sponsored by the Telegraph (newspaper) and John Lewis (one of the biggest retailers in the UK).  Upon walking in, your British blogger here found the staff busy showing some new customers around, but I managed to grab a couple of minutes to ask some questions...... Suitelife - Hi Inge. I really like your shop! Could you briefly tell me a bit about 'A Taste of Home'? Inge - Of course! I started the shop mainly because there isn't really anywhere else in Barcelona that serves the specifically British products. A lot of the small shops and supermarkets offer some basic stuff such as teabags, but nothing compared to what we offer here. SuiteLife - Yes, I noticed that too. It's quite nice to see something which is actually British for a change! Inge - Thanks! We do lots of different things. Obviously, we sell specifically British products such as Marmite, Cadbury's chocolate, different brands of English tea, jams, pies and loads more. We also sell books, greeting cards and do a lot of fundraising for charities particularly animal charities. The vast majority of things we sell are British but we also have food from other countries too notably ingredients for making Indian food as well as some American and Dutch products too. Naturally, we can't provide everything, but we are happy to take requests. If you come in for something and we don't have it, you can go on our Facebook page to request it and we'll do our best to get it for you!
SuiteLife - Wow! Sounds really good and I'm pretty sure I'll be making use of that! Inge - We've also recently started the IPTV service which lets people from the UK who live here in Spain access British channels legally. For years now, we've been using the Freesat channels. This has changed lately and could be really expensive for people who want to continue to access British TV this way which is why we've started offering the IPTV service which streams to your TV from the Internet. We are the sole distributor of this in Catalonia and it's completely legal! You get all the main channels plus even more. It's a great deal. SuiteLife - One thing I definitely miss about the UK is British TV. How much does this service cost? Inge - It costs about 30 Euros per month, but if you sign up for it via our Facebook page, then we will give you a discount on this.
SuiteLife - Excellent. What would you say are your most popular products here, at "A Taste of Home"? Inge - Our baking section is really popular and we sell a lot of British cookbooks too! SuiteLife - Do you get a lot of British people coming to the shop? Inge - Yes, we get a fair amount of people who have heard about us and like to come to see just how British we are. It's fair to say, that people are left pleasantly surprised by the sheer variety we have. We also get a lot of Spanish people come into the shop too and they are pretty curious to see what we're about. SuiteLife - I can vouch for that! Before we round the interview up, is there any advice you'd have for any aspiring Brits reading this? Inge - Check out our Facebook page. We have a lot going on such as competitions and offers. We also publish recipes too! Don't forget that you can also get exclusive discounts and can request those home comforts too. SuiteLife - Thanks a lot for your time!

This is amazing! Where is this gem of a shop!?

Intrigued? You can find A Taste of Home on Carrer Floridablanca 78 in Eixample. You can get there on L1 Rocafort near Plaça Espanya (I'd recommend taking the C/Calabria exit, it's quicker!). The best way to get in touch with them is on their Facebook page or by calling 933 251 797. They're open from 10am - 9pm on Monday through to Saturday, so there's plenty of time to rush and get a box of tea when the worse happens! Looking for more shops for expats living in Barcelona? We've got a list of some of the best in the city for you to check out! Thanks, Chris