Social life for your situation

It is for anyone thinking about, planning or already carrying out a move to Spain. You will find the routes, pitfalls and expectations that match your own life, not generic advice.

Start with "Meeting people and dating as a single newcomer in Spain". It deals with friendships and dating together, which is a good base whatever your situation. Then go to the article that matches you. Each one stands alone, so you can read only what applies.

Partner alignment and family adjustment, remote work rules, study matters and discrimination rights are covered in other Topics.

Key rules

• Drinking age: You must be 18 to buy or drink alcohol anywhere in Spain.
• Stay without a visa: Without a visa, a tourist-style stay is limited to 90 days in 180.
• Auxiliar year: Language assistants work from 1 October to 31 May, about eight months, so the programme circle ends then.
• Try before you pay: Book a day pass before committing to a monthly desk, because venues and prices vary a lot.
• Mix your circle: Combine nomad meetups with weekly Spanish-speaking activities so your friends do not all leave.
• Flatmates: Living with Spanish flatmates is the most effective way to meet locals.

Social life for your situation: questions that cross several articles

Can I join local Spanish clubs if I am a foreign retiree or newcomer?

Yes, foreign residents can join local clubs and associations, and membership is not restricted by nationality. Senior centres (hogares del jubilado) usually ask for a minimum age of 60 or 65 and registration on the town's padrón, the local residents' register. Read "Retiring in Spain without becoming socially isolated" and "Making friends in Spain as a Spanish-speaking newcomer from Latin America" next.

Which settings help me meet Spaniards rather than only other foreigners?

Regular repeated activities at the same place work best, such as language exchanges, sports clubs, choirs, hiking groups, volunteering and neighbourhood or school parent associations. Join through Spanish-language channels, and expect friendships to take months because Spaniards often build them through existing circles. See "Making friends in Spain as a Spanish-speaking newcomer from Latin America" and "Making friends in Spain in your 40s and 50s".

Which Spanish cities have the best coworking spaces and nomad communities?

Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia and Málaga have the biggest scenes, and Alicante, Seville, Bilbao, Granada, Las Palmas and Tenerife also have established coworking spaces. Venues open and close often, so check that one is still running before you commit. Read "Remote workers: building an offline social life with no local colleagues" next.

When does the social circle from a programme usually end?

It ends when the programme does: language assistants work from 1 October to 31 May, and Erasmus stays last one semester or a full academic year to June. Start building contacts outside the programme early, since dates vary by university and region. See "Students, language assistants and au pairs: life beyond the programme".

How much free time do au pairs usually get for friends and language classes?

Au pairs usually get at least one full free day a week and time to attend a Spanish course, with about 25 to 30 hours a week of light childcare and housework. See Students, language assistants and au pairs: life beyond the programme.

Should I live in a coastal expat enclave or a Spanish-majority town?

Enclaves on the Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca or around Torrevieja make daily life easy in English, but you will meet few Spaniards. Spanish-majority towns give you more contact and more Spanish, though they can feel isolating at first. Many people pick a Spanish town near an expat hub; see "Retiring in Spain without becoming socially isolated".