Keep Calm Blog
Tips and guides for expats, internationals, and newcomers on making the most of Barcelona through sport and community.
La Mercè and the Art of Turning Up: Barcelona's Street Festivals
New to Barcelona? Its neighbourhood street festivals, from La Mercè to Festa Major de Gràcia, are the easiest, friendliest way to meet people. Here's how.
Read more →Barcelona's Free Concrete Ping Pong Tables Are Everywhere
New to Barcelona and want to play table tennis? Here's where to find the free outdoor tables, what to bring, and how to turn a game into new friends.
Read more →Barcelona Runs on Red Clay: Getting Into Tennis Here
New to Barcelona and want to play tennis? A friendly guide to the city's clay courts, municipal centres, booking apps and finding people to hit with.
Read more →Beyond the Seafront: Barcelona's Best Rides Are in the Hills
New to Barcelona and want to ride further than the promenade? A friendly guide to the Carretera de les Aigües, Collserola, Garraf and finding people to ride with.
Read more →Football by the Beach: Where to Play 7-a-Side in Barcelona
New to Barcelona and want a game? A guide to the city's beachside and Montjuïc football pitches, plus how to get on one and meet people.
Read more →Fútbol 7 or Futsal? How to Get a Game in Barcelona
New to Barcelona and want to play football? Here's how fútbol 7, futsal and 11-a-side actually work here, where the pitches are, and how to find a game.
Read more →Hiking Near Barcelona Without a Car: Trails a Train Ride Away
New to Barcelona and don't drive? You can reach real hiking trails by train and metro, from Collserola to Montserrat, and meet people who love it too.
Read more →Intercambios in Barcelona: Where to Practise and Meet People
New to Barcelona and want to learn Spanish or Catalan? Here is where to find free language exchanges, cheap courses and real people to practise with.
Read more →The Free Bars of Barcelona: Where to Train Outdoors
A newcomer's map to Barcelona's free outdoor calisthenics parks, from the Barceloneta beach bars to quiet neighbourhood spots, plus how to start and meet people.
Read more →The Sea Is Right There: Water Sports in Barcelona for Beginners
New to Barcelona and want to get on the water? A friendly guide to SUP, sailing, windsurf and sea swimming, plus how to find people to do it with.
Read more →Where to Cycle in Barcelona (and Meet People)
Traffic-free places to ride in Barcelona, from the Carretera de les Aigües to the Llobregat delta, plus a public velodrome and a 79 km city loop.
Read more →Where to Do Yoga in Barcelona (and Meet People)
A newcomer's guide to yoga in Barcelona: donation-based park and beach sessions, English-friendly studios in Gràcia and Poblenou, and how to find your people.
Read more →Where to Go Climbing in Barcelona (and Meet People)
A newcomer's guide to climbing in Barcelona: indoor gyms like Sharma and Climbat, a free outdoor wall on Montjuïc, and day-trip crags like Montserrat.
Read more →Where to Hike in Barcelona, From City Ridge to Real Peaks
A newcomer's guide to real hiking spots in and around Barcelona, from the Carretera de les Aigües to Montserrat, plus how to find people to walk with.
Read more →Where to Play Padel in Barcelona (and Meet People)
A newcomer's guide to real padel courts in Barcelona, from municipal bargains to indoor clubs, plus how to book and find players.
Read more →Where to Play Tennis in Barcelona (and Meet People)
A newcomer's guide to real tennis courts in Barcelona: municipal clay and hard courts, friendly clubs, prices, and how to book and find hitting partners.
Read more →Where to Play Volleyball in Barcelona, Beach and Indoor
A newcomer's guide to volleyball in Barcelona all year round: free beach courts in summer, indoor pavilions for winter, and how to get into a game.
Read more →Where to Run in Barcelona (and Meet People While You Do)
A newcomer's guide to Barcelona's social run crews and race calendar, from Midnight Runners to the Cursa de la Mercè, and how to find people to run with.
Read more →You Can Dance in Barcelona Tonight, Even as a Total Beginner
New to Barcelona and want to try salsa or bachata? A friendly guide to free beginner classes, real venues and the city's outdoor dance scene.
Read more →No Team, No Problem: Casual Football in Barcelona
New to Barcelona and want a kickabout? Here is where to play casual, drop-in football across the city, from beachfront pitches to free park courts.
Read more →Cycling in Barcelona: You Don't Need a Road Bike to Start
New to Barcelona and want to get into cycling? A friendly guide to the city's flat coast, Collserola climbs, group rides and where to meet people.
Read more →Running in Barcelona: Beaches, Collserola and a Free Saturday 5K
New to Barcelona and want to run? A friendly guide to the city's best routes, seasons and races, plus how to find people to run with as an English speaker.
Read more →Hiking in Barcelona: A Newcomer's Guide to Trails & Trail Friends
New to Barcelona and keen to hike? A friendly guide to Collserola, Montserrat, Garraf and coastal trails you can reach by train, plus how to find people to walk with.
Read more →Social Events in Barcelona: An Expat's Guide to Meeting People
New to Barcelona and want to meet people? A friendly, practical guide to the city's best neighbourhoods, seasonal festivals and social scenes for English speakers.
Read more →Ping Pong in Barcelona: Where to Play and Meet People
New to Barcelona and keen on table tennis? Here's where to find free outdoor tables, clubs and friendly games across the city, plus how to meet people while you play.
Read more →Hiking in Barcelona: A Newcomer's Guide for English Speakers
Where to hike near Barcelona as a newcomer: train-reachable trails in Garraf, Montseny and Montserrat, what's currently closed, and how to find people to walk with.
Read more →Beach Volleyball in Barcelona: A Newcomer's Guide
Where to play beach volleyball in Barcelona, from Nova Icària to Mar Bella, plus how English-speaking newcomers can find friendly games and meet people.
Read more →What 2,400 Expats Actually Do to Make Friends in Barcelona
We looked at our own anonymised community data, from 2,400+ members and 75,000+ messages, to see what actually works when it comes to making friends as a newcomer in Barcelona.
Read more →Climbing in Barcelona: A Newcomer's Guide for Expats
New to Barcelona and want to start climbing? Here's where to boulder indoors, where to head outdoors, and how to find your first climbing partners.
Read more →Padel in Barcelona: A Newcomer's Guide for English Speakers
New to Barcelona and curious about padel? Here's how English speakers and expats can find courts, learn the basics and meet people through the game.
Read more →Yoga in Barcelona for English Speakers: A Newcomer's Guide
New to Barcelona and looking to start yoga? Here's where to practice, how to find English-friendly classes, and how to meet people while you flow.
Read more →Tennis in Barcelona: A Newcomer's Guide for English Speakers
New to Barcelona and keen to play tennis? Here's where to play, how to find courts and partners, and how to meet people while you do it.
Read more →The Best Ways to Stay Active and Find Sports in Barcelona for English Speakers
From padel and football to hiking and running, here's how to stay active and find your sport in Barcelona as an English speaker - even if you've just arrived and know no one.
Read more →Padel vs Volleyball: Which Is Better for Meeting People in Barcelona?
Padel or volleyball for meeting people in Barcelona? We compare the two most social sports for English-speaking newcomers - on cost, learning curve, and how easy it is to make friends.
Read more →How to Meet People in Barcelona as an Expat (Without the Awkwardness)
Just moved to Barcelona and don't know a soul? Here's a practical, no-nonsense guide to making real friends as an expat or international - and the easiest place to start.
Read more →Join a Football Team in Barcelona as an English Speaker
Want to play football in Barcelona but don't speak Spanish and don't know anyone? Here's how to find a friendly, mixed, all-levels game - every Friday on Montjuïc.
Read more →Padel in Barcelona: A Newcomer's Guide for English Speakers
New to Barcelona and curious about padel? Here's a friendly, practical guide to picking up the sport, finding courts and meeting people as an expat.
Read more →Best Beginner Sports in Barcelona for English Speakers
New to sport or just new to the city? These are the best beginner-friendly sports in Barcelona for English speakers - easy to pick up, social by design, and welcoming to total newcomers.
Read more →How to Make Friends in Barcelona as an English Speaker
The ultimate guide for expats and internationals on making friends in Barcelona through sports and social activities.
Read more →