Expat Communities in Spain: Where to Find Your Tribe
Moving to Spain is easy to picture: the light, the food, the long evenings. What's harder to picture is the first Saturday, when you don't know anyone yet.
The good news is that Spain has plenty of expat groups, online and in person. Here are the ones worth knowing about, and how to use them.
What helped in our own move
When my partner moved from Switzerland to the Netherlands, her first real friends came from work, a group sports class, and the partners of my friends. Locals are open to new people, but most already have their close circle. That's why expat groups and other international couples are often the quickest way in, and why the groups below are worth trying.
Start online, before or just after you arrive
Expat.com (Spain). Expat.com has a Spain network with a forum, guides, classified ads and a place to create events and invite other expats. It's a good place to ask practical questions before you move.
Expat Forum (Spain). A long-running forum with a dedicated Spain section, where people ask about everything from paperwork to everyday life. Reading old threads is useful even if you never post.
Meet people in person
InterNations Barcelona. InterNations runs an expat community in Barcelona, and its Meetup page lists events such as dance nights, cultural outings and dinners. You need to join InterNations to see full details and book a place.
Madrid. Meetup has several expat and international groups in Madrid, including Madrid Expats and Madrid International Club, plus language exchange groups. Browse a few and see which style suits you.
Valencia. Meetup lists groups such as Expats Valencia, International Club Valencia and Global Expats Club, which mixes expats and locals, plus a group for people who recently moved to the city.
Language exchanges. Language exchange groups on Meetup in Madrid and Valencia are a good way to meet Spanish people, not only other expats. You practise Spanish, they practise English, and nobody has to pretend to be good at small talk.
Work and sport. Don't underestimate the people you see every week anyway. Say yes to after-work drinks, and sign up for a sports class or club you'll actually go to. Regular, repeated contact is how acquaintances turn into friends.
Groups change. Member numbers, meeting days and organisers move over time, so check each group's own page for what is on right now.
When you miss the place you left
Finding people helps, but it doesn't make the missing go away. Many expats keep something in their new home that holds both places. A custom artwork can do that: your new city and the one you came from, in one piece. The Two-City Skyline Canvas (from €99) blends both, and the Two City Poster Set (from €69) gives you one print per city, made to hang side by side. You see a free digital preview before anything is printed. Create Your Artwork · See Personalised Poster Sets
Tips for finding your people in Spain
Try several groups before deciding. Go to the same one three times, because the first visit is usually the hardest. Mix expat groups with local ones, so your social life isn't only other newcomers. And learn some Spanish, even a little. It changes how people respond to you.
Also see our guides to expat communities in Portugal, the Netherlands, Germany and Canada, our moving abroad checklist, and blogs and resources for anyone moving abroad. Moving there soon? Our culture shock guide explains what the first months can feel like.
Who we are
We're TwinCity Artworks. We make custom artwork that combines two or more cities into one piece, for people whose hearts live in more than one place: expats, couples in different countries, and families spread across the map. You choose the cities, see a free digital preview, and request changes before anything is printed. Visit TwinCity Artworks
FAQ
Where can I meet other expats in Spain?
Online, Expat.com and Expat Forum both have Spain sections. In person, Meetup and InterNations run events in cities such as Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia.
Do I need to speak Spanish to join expat groups in Spain?
Most expat groups run in English, so you can start without Spanish. A language exchange group is a good way to meet local people and practise at the same time.
How do I make friends in Spain if I live in a smaller town?
Start with the online groups and the nearest big-city events, then look for local clubs, classes and language exchanges nearby. Expat groups are concentrated in larger cities, so a smaller town takes a bit more effort.
Are Meetup and InterNations free?
Meetup groups set their own rules, and some events are free. InterNations requires you to join before you can see full event details. Check the current terms on each site.
Can art help me feel at home in Spain?
Some expats hang a custom artwork of their new city and their old one together, so both places are in the room. Our Two City Poster Set starts at €69, with one print for each city.
