Moving to Spain: expectations and reality

Many people dreaming of moving to Spain have a certain image in mind, but reality sometimes turns out to be quite different. The country evokes visions of sun-drenched beaches, endless tapas, and a laid-back lifestyle. However, it’s only when you actually live here that you realize some expectations hold true, while others play out very differently in reality. There are surprises you only encounter once you take the leap and make Spain your new home.

“Spain is one country… right?”

On the map, Spain looks like a unified country, but once you live here, you quickly realize how vast the regional differences are. In Catalonia, many people identify as Catalan rather than Spanish, in the Basque Country, the local language plays a much bigger role than Castilian Spanish, and in Galicia, people often feel more connected to Portugal than to Madrid. Officially, Spain is one country, but in practice, it often feels like a collection of small kingdoms, each with its own culture and pride.

“Just ordering a coffee… how hard can it be?”

For those used to simply ordering “a coffee,” visiting a Spanish café can be surprisingly confusing. There’s a vast selection to choose from: a café solo for the purists, a cortado for those who prefer a smoother taste, a café con leche for the morning, and a café bombón for those with a sweet tooth. In some regions, there are even more variations, like the sombra or nube in Málaga. Learning to order the right coffee is a skill you develop over time.

“Spanish bureaucracy? Hopeless!”

De verhalen over Spaanse bureaucratie zijn legendarisch. Er zijn blogs over volgeschreven, zoals deze. En deze. En zo kan ik nog wel even doorgaan. De een is vooral een klaagzang, de ander komt met oplossingen.

They all revolve around the same issues: long queues, an overwhelming amount of paperwork, and officials sending you from one desk to another. But then you realize that a smile and a little Spanish can work wonders. While in Northern Europe you often get stuck behind a digital wall of emails and chatbots, here a friendly conversation can sometimes give you that extra push to get things sorted much faster. Bureaucracy in Spain is certainly a challenge, but not always the nightmare everyone warns about.
In fact, expecting the worst when moving to Spain might not be such a bad idea—because in reality, things often turn out better than you’d think.

“Everyone in Spain eats at 10 PM”

For visitors, it may seem like Spaniards don’t start eating until the rest of Europe is getting ready for bed. But once you live in Spain, you realize this varies greatly by region. In Valencia, lunch often happens around 1:30 PM, in the north, dinner at 8 PM is perfectly normal, and many older Spaniards eat just as early as people in Northern Europe. The idea that the whole country is still enjoying tapas at 10 PM is mostly a stereotype found in popular tourist destinations.

“Living in Spain is always cheaper”

You assume everything is cheaper here—until you start looking at rental prices in a popular coastal town and realize the market has skyrocketed in recent years. Yes, a cup of coffee is still cheaper than in Amsterdam or London, but groceries can cost more than you’d expect. In areas with a high number of expats, rent and dining out aren’t always the bargains you might have imagined.

“Sangria and tapas… every day!”

Anyone who thinks Spaniards spend their days drinking sangria and eating tapas is in for a surprise. Tapas are usually just a small snack rather than a full meal, and in many parts of Spain, they’re not even served automatically with a drink. As for sangria? It’s mostly a tourist favorite. Locals are far more likely to order tinto de verano, a much simpler mix of red wine and soda.

“In Spain the sun always shines”

Yes, Spain has a great climate, but that doesn’t mean it’s always sunny and warm everywhere. Winters in Madrid and Granada can be surprisingly cold, and in Valencia and Málaga, it can rain for days on end. The first time you find yourself shivering in a poorly insulated apartment, you realize that “warm and sunny Spain” isn’t as guaranteed as you might have thought.

“Spain is exactly how I imagined it”

Some stereotypes turn out to be true, others are completely off the mark, and then there are things you only discover once you actually live here. Spain is a beautiful and diverse country, but to truly understand what living in Spain is like, you have to experience it yourself. Because when moving to Spain, reality is always just a little different from what you expected.

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