Your First Week in Barcelona: Complete Checklist (2026)

Overview: Your First Week

Day	Priority Tasks
Day 1	Arrive, settle in, SIM card, rest
Day 2	Explore neighborhood, groceries, empadronamiento appointment
Day 3	Empadronamiento, transport card
Day 4	Bank account, TIE appointment booking
Day 5	School orientation, explore city
Day 6-7	Settle in, prepare for classes

Day 1: Arrival Day

At the Airport

• Clear immigration (have documents ready)
• Collect luggage
• Get cash from ATM if needed (€100-200)
• Buy SIM card at airport shop (Vodafone, Orange)
• Get to accommodation (Aerobus, metro, taxi)

Transport from airport:

• Aerobus: €6.75 to Plaça Catalunya (35 min)
• Metro L9: €5.15 (45 min)
• Taxi: €39 fixed rate

At Accommodation

• Check in, get keys
• Inspect room (document any issues)
• Connect to WiFi
• Activate Spanish SIM card
• Message family you arrived safely
• Unpack essentials
• Rest!

Evening

• Find nearby supermarket (Mercadona, Consum)
• Buy basics: water, snacks, breakfast items
• Download useful apps:
  • Google Maps (offline Barcelona)
  • TMB (public transport)
  • WhatsApp (essential in Spain)
  • Google Translate

Don’t overdo Day 1. Jet lag is real. Rest and start fresh tomorrow.

Day 2: Orientation & Planning

Morning

• Have breakfast, adjust to time zone
• Walk around your neighborhood
• Find key locations:
  • Nearest metro station
  • Supermarket
  • Pharmacy (farmacia)
  • Your school (if nearby)

Afternoon: Book Appointments

Empadronamiento appointment:

• Go to ajuntament.barcelona.cat/cita
• Select “Empadronament”
• Book earliest available
• Note: May be 1-2 weeks wait—book NOW

Gather empadronamiento documents:

• Passport
• Rental contract (or landlord authorization)
• Landlord/roommate’s ID copy (if needed)

See our empadronamiento guide for full requirements.

Evening

• Bigger grocery shopping
• Set up your room
• Explore local area
• Find a good café (your new study spot!)

Day 3: Empadronamiento & Transport

Empadronamiento (If Appointment Available)

If you got an early appointment:

• Arrive 10 min early
• Bring all documents
• Complete registration (15-30 min)
• Get certificado de empadronamiento
• Keep this safe—you need it for everything!

Get Transport Card

If under 25 (T-Jove):

• Go to TMB service center (Diagonal, Universitat, Sants)
• Bring: passport, empadronamiento, money
• Get T-Jove: €40/month or €80/3 months
• Unlimited metro, bus, tram!

If no empadronamiento yet:

• Buy T-Casual (€11.35 for 10 trips)
• Upgrade to T-Jove once you have empadronamiento

See our transport guide for details.

Afternoon/Evening

• Explore a different neighborhood
• Have your first “menú del día” lunch (€10-14)
• Check email for school communications
• Start planning Day 4 tasks

Day 4: Banking & TIE Appointment

Open Bank Account

Option 1: Digital Bank (Easiest)

• Open N26 or Revolut (if not done already)
• Complete verification
• Order physical card
• Done in 15 minutes!

Option 2: Spanish Bank (After Empadronamiento)

• Visit CaixaBank, Sabadell, or BBVA
• Bring: passport, NIE/TIE (or visa), empadronamiento
• Open student account (cuenta joven)
• 30-60 minutes process

See our banking guide.

Book TIE Appointment

Critical task! Must apply within 30 days of arrival.

• Go to sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es
• Select Barcelona province
• Choose “Expedición de tarjeta de identidad de extranjero”
• Book earliest available date
• Appointments fill fast—do this TODAY

See our TIE card guide.

TIE Preparation

Start gathering TIE documents:

• Passport + copy
• Empadronamiento
• Visa copy
• Passport photo
• Form EX-17 (download and complete)
• Fee payment (Tasa 790-012, ~€16)

Day 5: School & Exploration

School Orientation

• Visit your school
• Complete any registration steps
• Meet staff, ask questions
• Get class schedule
• Tour facilities
• Meet other students if possible

Explore Barcelona

Now that essentials are handled, enjoy the city:

Must-see (free or cheap):

• Walk Las Ramblas (but watch for pickpockets)
• Gothic Quarter (Barri Gòtic)
• Barceloneta beach
• Park Ciutadella
• Gràcia neighborhood

Save for later:

• Sagrada Família (book in advance)
• Park Güell (paid zones)
• Museums (many free on Sundays)

Days 6-7: Settle In

Practical Tasks

• Set up room properly
• Buy any remaining essentials
• Learn laundry situation
• Establish daily routines
• Find gym if needed
• Locate healthcare (Centro de Salud)

Social

• Connect with roommates
• Join school WhatsApp groups
• Look for language exchange events
• Download Meetup app for events
• Message contacts from home about settling in

Prepare for Classes

• Review school materials
• Get school supplies if needed
• Plan your commute
• Set sleep schedule for class times
• Prepare first-day outfit

Essential Apps to Download

Must Have

App	Purpose
WhatsApp	Everyone uses this in Spain
Google Maps	Navigation, save offline map
TMB	Barcelona public transport
Google Translate	Camera translate is useful

Very Useful

App	Purpose
Citymapper	Alternative transport app
Badi	Housing search
Idealista	Housing search
Glovo/Uber Eats	Food delivery
Meetup	Find events and groups
Tandem	Language exchange partners

Banking

App	Purpose
N26	Digital bank
Revolut	Multi-currency
Wise	International transfers

Important Numbers & Contacts

Save These Numbers

Service	Number
Emergency	112
Police (non-emergency)	092
Medical info	061
Your embassy	Look up
School	Get at orientation
Landlord	Get at check-in

Useful Websites

• TMB (transport): tmb.cat
• Town hall appointments: ajuntament.barcelona.cat
• Immigration appointments: sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es
• Health appointments: catsalut.gencat.cat

Common First-Week Mistakes

Avoid These

❌ Trying to do everything Day 1 — You’ll burn out. Pace yourself.

❌ Not booking empadronamiento immediately — Appointments fill up. Book Day 1-2.

❌ Forgetting TIE deadline — 30 days goes fast. Book appointment early.

❌ Not getting Spanish SIM — You need local number for verifications.

❌ Carrying passport everywhere — Keep it safe at home after getting TIE.

❌ Ignoring jet lag — Rest properly. You have time.

❌ Not asking for help — Your school and Interlink are here to help.

First Week Budget

Expected Expenses

Item	Cost
Airport transport	€6-40
SIM card	€10-20
Groceries	€50-80
Transport card	€40-80
TIE fee	€16
Essentials (bedding, etc.)	€50-100
Eating out	€30-50
Total	€200-400

Have at least €300-500 accessible for first week.

Week 1 Complete Checklist

Day 1

• Arrive safely
• Get to accommodation
• Buy SIM card
• Rest

Day 2

• Explore neighborhood
• Book empadronamiento appointment
• Grocery shopping
• Download apps

Day 3

• Empadronamiento (if appointment)
• Get transport card
• Continue settling in

Day 4

• Open bank account
• Book TIE appointment
• Gather TIE documents

Day 5

• School orientation
• Explore Barcelona
• Meet other students

Day 6-7

• Settle in completely
• Prepare for classes
• Relax and enjoy!

Need Help?

Interlink Barcelona provides arrival support for students.

We help with:

• ✅ Airport pickup
• ✅ First-day orientation
• ✅ Empadronamiento assistance
• ✅ TIE appointment help
• ✅ City navigation
• ✅ Any questions or problems

Book Free Consultation | WhatsApp: +34 635 994 844

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Related guides:

• Spain Student Visa: Complete Guide
• Empadronamiento Guide
• TIE Card Guide
• Cost of Living Barcelona
• What to Pack for Spain