The 11 Best Spanish Language Schools in Barcelona for 2024 (original) (raw)
Your guide to the best language schools in the city
By Duncan Rhodes 
Join 570 million people worldwide by learning to speak español. And do it whilst having the time of your life, in one of the best cities in the world! We present some of the academies where you can make it happen.
There’s nothing like the full immersion effect to get you started in your journey towards learning a foreign language, and it goes without saying that the best place to learn Spanish is right here in sunny Spain. And although (as any Catalan will doubtless tell you, whether you ask them or not) Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia and has its own Catalan language, the city’s most widely used tongue remains Spanish, thanks to a large number of residents from other parts of Spain, as well as a sizeable population of South Americans and Spanish-speaking foreigners.
There’s nothing like the full immersion effect to get you started in your journey towards learning a foreign language […] whilst the beautiful city of Barcelona will make your studying feel like a holiday.
The benefits of being able to practice Spanish every day with barmen, waitresses, bus drivers, new amigos, your class mates and your new surrogate family (many language schools in Barcelona can arrange homestays), are huge in terms of supplementing the progress you make during lessons, whilst the beautiful city of Barcelona will make your studying feel like a holiday… hot beaches, Gaudi-designed architecture, tasty tapas restaurants, and scores of hip and happening bars and clubs will prove a welcome distraction to grappling with your dictionary.
If you’re dead set on learning Spanish in Spain, then Barcelona has an appealing array of professional institutions to choose from. With a large selection of different courses – for beginners through to experts, and from private through to classroom tuition, some with homestay or other accommodation options – you’ll have no trouble finding a course that suits your needs.
Barcelona Language Schools
Please find below some of the very best academies in town, along with some details of what they offer. To find out more info on an individual place you can click on the title link, where we’ve got full review, photos, map and more. Or go straight to their own website, as you prefer.
1. Speakeasy BCN
A leading language school in Barcelona, Speakeasy offers a range of Spanish courses from intensive to extensive, and also offers private lessons and evening classes – all at very good prices. Run by a friendly and international team, with professional native-Spanish-speaking teachers and with a great location right in the heart of the city (5 mins from Plaça Catalunya), Speakeasy ticks all the right boxes for you to start learning Spanish in Barcelona. A forward thinking set up means they offer a communicative immersion approach to studying, backed up by modern facilities and services (such as digital interactive boards in classrooms and a student mobile app).
Ronda Universitat 7
www.speakeasybcn.com
Speakeasy Prices & Activities
Intensive courses
No. of hours per week: 20 hours
Price per week: €168 (discounts from 4+ weeks)
Enrolment fee and books: €65
Accommodation cost per week: €283 (student residence, single room)
Max. number of students per class: 12
Extensive Courses
No. of hours of per week: 4 hours
Price per week: €42 (discounts from 4+ weeks)
Activities
Bike tours, weekend trips, winery tours, cultural events, boat trips, ski-trips, trips to parks, parties, cooking classes.
Fun and games during a Speakeasy class…
2. Ole Languages
Ole Languages is a young and highly professional language school centrally located on the left side of the Eixample district, close to the Passeig de Gracia boulevard. Small and friendly they offer an antidote to some of the larger schools, with more emphasis on closer individual attention. Ole’s classrooms are limited to just 9 students, and their teachers are highly qualified, experienced – and passionate about their job. The school has a range courses (intensive, semi-intensive, evening classes and private tuition) and some of the most competitive prices in Barcelona, and they pride themselves on their flexibility and customer service. Not only that but they are accredited by the Instituto Cervantes. WiFi is available throughout the school and all their classrooms have air-conditioning (very important in summer!) Put them on your shortlist!
C/Mallorca 201
www.olelanguages.com
Ole Languages Prices & Activities
Intensive courses
No. of hours per week: 20 hours
Price per week: €165 (discounts from 2+ weeks)
Enrolment fee and books: €55
Accommodation cost per week: €220 (single room, shared apartment)
Max. number of students per class: 9
Extensive Courses
No. of hours of per week: 4 hours
Price per week: €35 (discounts from 8+ weeks)
Activities
Meet ups, tours, movie sessions, wine tasting, football matches.
Ole’s professional team of teachers
3. Linguaschools Barcelona
Linguaschools Barcelona is a medium-sized school which pays great individual attention to each of its students. The school building is located on a car-free street in the city centre and has a pleasant garden and rooftop terrace for students to relax before or after classes. All their teachers are enthusiastic and highly skilled native speakers with university degrees. They offer many different courses for all levels, all year round and for a fair price. The longer you study the cheaper the classes become, and they are one of the few schools that don’t charge an enrolment fee (nice touch!). Definitely one of the better options to check out before you get out your credit card!
Pasaje Permanyer 17
www.linguaschools.com/barcelona
Linguaschools Prices & Activities
Intensive courses
No. of hours per week: 20 hours
Price per week: €195 (discounts from 2+ weeks).
Enrolment fee and books: None
Accommodation cost per week: from €210 (single room, shared apartment)
Max. number of students per class: 10
Extensive Courses
No. of hours of per week: 4 hours
Price per week: €27 (price based on 12 week course)
Activities
Welcome Sangría, tapas tours, Salsa lessons, hiking, weekend excursions.
Linguaschools’ rather lovely building
4. Dinamo Barcelona
This small academy in El Borne district (two minutes walk from Arc de Triomf metro) prides itself on their customer service and places a huge emphasis on honesty, transparency and simplicity – qualities that are reflected in their great value prices for lessons. Their intensive course, where you study for 2 hours a day from Monday to Thursday (who doesn’t enjoy Friday off!?), is just €260 for a month, making these some of the cheapest classes we’ve seen in the city. They don’t even have an enrolment fee or additional cost for books and materials. The school itself is very chic, with stripped back styling and vintage blackboards: their classrooms feel more like a hip cafe or co-working space than a study room, so if you still bear the scars of school day trauma you can find a more relaxing space to study here. Dinamo don’t organise accommodation, rather they are the perfect choice for a more independent student who is happy to make their own flat arrangements, or else for someone already living in Barcelona. They can even help you get your NIE number if you plan on staying in the city. They also offer extensive classes and private tuition for those with less time.
Lluis el Piados 9
dinamobcn.com
Dinamo Prices & Activities
Intensive courses
No. of hours per week: 8 hours
Price per week: €65
Enrolment fee and books: none
Accommodation cost per week: n/a
Max. number of students per class: 12
Extensive Courses
No. of hours of per week: 3 hours
Price per week: €27.5
Activities
Collaborations with cultural tours, wine tasting and hiking companies
One of Dinamo’s chic classrooms in El Born…
5. World Class BCN
If you are looking for a homely place to learn Spanish in the centre of Barcelona, World Class BCN might just be the perfect option for you. Its cosy space invites you to enjoy a coffee before class and chat with your fellow students. They offer a free trial class so you can meet the teacher and the group before you commit to the course. There is no registration fee and you can freeze your classes, meaning it is the perfect opportunity to travel alongside your studies. Their team ensures that their students feel welcome and can participate in a number of cultural activities outside of lessons. In other words, tasting traditional tapas or enjoying a flamenco evening can be part of your learning programme! Their Spanish classes are focused on communication, and you can choose a course that suits your own schedule, with options ranging from 3 to 20 hours per week (including Saturdays). There are even separate groups for those fluent in a Romance Language to enable a speedy learning environment. What’s more, they always keep the class size small for a better quality experience.
C/Bisbe Laguarda 4
www.worldclassbcn.com
World Class BCN Prices & Activities
Intensive courses
No. of hours per week: 20 hours
Price per week: €170 (discounts from 2 weeks)
Enrolment fee and books: Free
Accommodation cost per week: from €200 (single room, shared apartment)
Max. number of students per class: 10
Extensive ‘Part-Time’ Courses
No. of hours of per week: 3-6 hours (you choose)
Price per week: €30-50 (price based on 4 week programme)
Activities
Tapas, language exchanges, beach volley, flamenco, salsa, Barcelona walking tours, bike tours, concerts, open air cinema, weekend excursions
Playing word games at World Class BCN
6. Expanish Barcelona
An accredited Spanish school of the highest quality, Expanish Barcelona offers a range of unique programmes, led by teachers that will get to know you on a first-name basis, in a beautiful building with modern decor and unbeatable facilities. Located in the Eixample district, just a few blocks away from La Sagrada Familia, this award-winning boutique school boasts a range of courses and accommodation options for all its students. Classes start every Monday, with their experienced teachers providing fun, engaging instruction using the communicative method, making learning Spanish an unforgettable experience. In addition to their intensive programmes of both group and private lessons, Expanish’s after-class activities and excursions, such as flamenco classes and day trips to the beautiful Montserrat mountain, are popular favourites among students.
Passatge de Méndez Vigo 8
expanish.com/school-barcelona
Expanish Prices & Activities
Intensive courses
No. of hours per week: 20 hours
Price per week: €229 (discounts from 12 weeks)
Enrolment fee and books: €25
Accommodation cost per week: from €294 (single room, shared apartment)
Max. number of students per class: 10
Extensive ‘Part-Time’ Courses
No. of hours of per week: 4 hours
Price per week: €45 (price based on 4 weeks)
Activities
Flamenco classes, student dinners, game nights, football matches, Park Guell
Enjoy a chic reception at Expanish
7. Camino Barcelona
Whereas most schools will be able to help you find a place to stay in Barcelona, Camino is the only academy in the city with its own onsite accommodation, with 10 fully-fitted student apartments on the premises. Not only that, but students can socialise on the three terraces, or take advantage of the library and work stations. Moreover, Camino offers the widest range of cultural activities in Barcelona (7 a week!), including paella parties, wine tastings, salsa classes, guided tours and weekend excursions – all led by Spanish teachers. Camino’s study programme incorporates the music, the culture and the customs of contemporary Spanish life, and is underpinned by their belief that you learn Spanish faster when you enjoy every moment of the journey. They offer intensive, business, private and evening classes, and they are able to offer intensive courses for any level (from A0 to C1) starting any Monday of the year. The latest Instituto Cervantes inspection of the school, awarded them the highest possible accreditation level, putting Camino in the 10% top Cervantes accredited schools in Spain.
C/Diputacio 119
www.caminobarcelona.com
Camino Prices & Activities
Intensive courses
No. of hours per week: 20 hours
Price per week: €225 (discounts from 5 weeks)
Enrolment fee and books: €60
Accommodation cost per week: from €418 (single room in shared apartment)
Max. number of students per class: 14
Extensive ‘Part-Time’ Courses
No. of hours of per week: 4 hours
Price per week: €40 (price based on 12 weeks)
Activities
Paella making on the terrace, wine tasting, salsa & flamenco classes, boat trips, guided tours and weekend trips.
A class trip to Park Guell with Camino
8. Freeda Language Space
This intimate school has two locations, one in the hip central district of El Born (famous for its tapas bars and nightlife), and another in Gracia, a charming and Bohemian district on the edge of town, much loved by locals. At both locations you can find a course for your needs, whether it be super-intensive (4 hours a day, Mon-Fri), intensive combined with grammar / conversation (3 hrs a day), intensive (2 hrs a day), or an extensive grammar or conversation course (1 hr a day). They also have a course to prepare you for your DELE exam, if that’s your goal. The staff at Freeda, from the management team to the teachers, all pride themselves on the dedicated attention they give each student and creating a fun and friendly vibe for learning Spanish.
www.freedaspace.com
Freeda Prices & Activities
Intensive courses
No. of hours per week: 20 hours (Super Intensive Course)
Price per week: €127.5 (discounts from 12 weeks)
Enrolment fee and books: €50
Max. number of students per class: 10
Extensive ‘Part-Time’ Courses
No. of hours of per week: 5
Price per week: €45
Activities
Museum visits, excursions, meals and nights out.
Camaraderie between classmates at Freeda!
9. BLAU Student Housing & Language Academy
Freshly opened in 2024, BLAU is a stunning new residence in the beachside district of Poblenou, designed for the needs of international students. Set over 10,000 square meters, this epic complex boasts 250 studio apartments (which can be rented privately, or as a shared apartment), along with every facility you could wish for: indoor and outdoor gyms, cinema, swimming pool, chill out areas, bar, restaurant, gaming room and mini-market. BLAU also has an onsite language academy with 11 classrooms and study room, making it perfect for anyhow planning to stay in Barcelona for a month, a semester or entire year, and learn Spanish at the same time.
Discount code: BLAU have offered our readers a very generous €150 discount per month on all their accommodation and language class packages. Just enter BCNLIFE when booking, or quote the same code via Whatsapp or email.
Not a bad place to hang out between classes!
Location Map
All of the schools we recommend are situated centrally in Barcelona, and you’ll be able to take advantage of everything the city has to offer in between classes. Click on the purple place markers to reveal each individual academy.
Even More Schools…
Still haven’t found the perfect academy for you? Here are the best of the rest…
10. Dime Language School
A young and innovative school, based in the trendy district of Gracia, Dime offers an innovative approach to learning Spanish here in Barcelona. For example classes consist of no more than nine students, and all lessons follow a communicative style of teaching, designed to help you get speaking in real life situations as quickly as possible. Courses on offer include intensive and extensive courses of all levels, as well as private conversation classes and even Saturday morning lessons – great if you’ve got a hectic work schedule. Dime also teaches Catalan (Barcelona’s other official language, spoken by around 9 million people).
11. Oxford House
Founded in 1998 by two Englishmen, Oxford House has literally decades of experience when it comes to teaching Spanish to foreigners, and they do so from their lovely school near the Passeig de Gracia boulevard, focusing on oral communication. As the name and history suggests they also run English courses, as well as TEFL courses for those who want to become teachers themselves.
12. Barcelona PLUS
This well-established and reputable language school enjoys an enviable location right on the border between two central districts: the Gothic Quarter and El Born. Meaning you can enjoy some of the city’s foremost attractions, restaurants and shops on your doorstep. What’s more beach bums will be delighted to hear that Barceloneta is only a short walk as well, opening up the tantalising prospect of going for a dip in the sea after class. Talking about class, Barcelona PLUS offers professional teaching, accredited by the Instituto Cervantes, with a passionate, open and highly experienced team of profesores, whether you’re looking for intensive, part time or private lessons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Finally, here’s the answers to some frequently asked questions you might have about studying Spanish here in BCN.
Is Barcelona good for learning Spanish?
Yes, Barcelona is a fantastic place to learn Spanish for the following reasons: 1) It has a large number of Instituto Cervantes accredited language schools. 2) The city has regular language exchange social events, attended by people who want to practice Spanish and English. 3) Barcelona is an incredibly social city where you can easily make friends with native Spanish speakers, not only from Spain but from Latin American countries.
What is the language of Barcelona?
Barcelona has two official languages: Catalan and Spanish (often referred to as 'castellano'). But whereas everyone in Barcelona speaks Spanish ('castellano'), only those born in Barcelona tend to speak Catalan. The large number of people living in the city, who arrived from other regions of Spain or from Latin America, generally don't speak Catalan. Most foreigners living in the city also choose to learn Spanish when they arrive, and the everyday language of the city is Spanish.
How can I find a good language school?
Easy, check our article (hint: you're on it now!) which lists 11+ of the best language academies in the city, and compares courses, prices and locations so you can make the best decision based on your specific budget and needs.
How long does it take to learn Spanish?
Learning a language is a gradual, lifetime process that never ends (I'm still learning new English words everyday, despite being a native Brit!). But for practical purposes, a 1 month intensive course is enough to get you from zero to basic Spanish (level A1), while survival level (A2) can be achieved in 2-3 months. Fluency (C2) usually requires around 9 months of intensive study.
How much does it cost to learn Spanish?
In Barcelona, the cost of intensive courses (20 hours of Spanish classes a week) range from €150-200 a week, while extensive courses (3-6 hrs of classes per week) can range from €25-60 a week. The high number of language schools make the prices competitive vs. some other locations in Spain.
Hopefully this page has inspired you to sign up for some lessons and start your journey towards mastering a language spoken by over half a billion people worldwide. If you want a little head start check out our guide to Spanish.
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