Cultura-On-the-Go: Making Friends in Spain

Welcome back! Are you ready to embark on another cultural journey with us? This time, we’re taking you to beautiful and lively Spain! We are excited to open the doors to our Introduction to Spanish Culture course and share with you a mini-lesson on how to make friends with Spaniards. 

Living in another country can be an exciting and life-changing experience, but it also means being away from home and loved ones. Cultivating meaningful relationships with locals is essential to thriving in a foreign environment and experiencing the full richness of its culture. 

Spain is surely known for its warm and welcoming culture, but what’s the best way to approach Spaniards? Are there any cultural norms and customs related to making friends? What are common interests or activities Spaniards participate in? CulturaGo is here to answer all your questions and help you take the leap to embrace the Spanish way of living!

Interested? ¡Venga, empezamos! 

Making Friends in Spain 

Module 5: Becoming a Local

Let’s see what are the best ways and places to find friends in Spain. Sports, dancing, nightlife and movies make excellent opportunities for meeting people and making friends. Spaniards are well-known for being friendly and open, so don’t hesitate to try new things and speak with locals, even if your Spanish is not perfect! 

_{Jorge’s advice on how to make local friends and immerse yourself in Spanish culture.}

You can find great companions to explore Spain with at work or university. In Spain, colleagues are used to going out after work for drinks anyway, so it is a great opportunity to get to know them and their interests better and just ask them out, whether they would like to visit their favorite museum with you, go hiking or go to one of the street festivals or fiestas. Making friends with Spaniards typically leads to being introduced to their social circle. Be careful not to make only other international friends and when renting a room or sharing a flat, look for local flatmates!

Many Spaniards are eager to learn English from native speakers, so language exchanges are held almost daily throughout Spain. Seize the opportunity to meet with locals in a tapas bar or café to practice your Spanish and make friends. Keep up on events and activities in your city by using social media groups and platforms - even if you want to grab a drink or a bite, you will always find someone to join you. Don’t be shy and take the initiative! 

_{Tian’s advice on how to make friends in Spain.}

 In Spain, people tend to remain passionate and open throughout their life, resulting in groups of friends and colleagues in their 50s or 60s enjoying nights out at bars and hitting the dance floor. Why limit yourself to making friends within your own age group? Broaden your horizons and get to know the culture from a different perspective by hanging out with people older or younger than you! 

We hope you enjoyed our mini-lesson on Making Friends in Spain! Don’t let this be the end of your learning journey. Click here to enroll in the Introduction to Spanish Culture course. 

And if you haven’t done it yet, check out our previous mini-lessons on Wellness and Health in the UK and Being a Non-Asian Foreigner in Japan! 

Are you interested in integrating CulturaGo online cultural preparation courses into your programs? Learn more on our Partner page and get in touch.

CulturaGo. Keep learning, keep connecting.