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Language schools in Barcelona, Spain

21 language schools in Barcelona, Spain. Open a profile for programmes, fees and admission details.

  • Linguaschools Barcelona

    Barcelona, Spain

    Linguaschools is a language school offering Spanish language courses for international students. We have intensive courses, semi-intensive courses, afternoon classes, DELE exam preparation courses and private tuition with native teachers holding language teaching qualification

Barcelona is one of the most popular places in Spain to learn Spanish. It has a large choice of schools, from private academies to university language services and a public official language school, with courses all year. The city is bilingual: Catalan and Spanish are both official in Catalonia, according to the Generalitat de Catalunya. You will hear a lot of Catalan, but Spanish is spoken everywhere and is the language of the classroom in Spanish courses.

What the language schools offer

Private Spanish schools run courses all year and often let you start on any date. Several schools in our Barcelona listings, among them Camino Barcelona, Kingsbrook, Linguaschools Barcelona, OLÉ Languages, Oxford TEFL and Speakeasy, appear on the Instituto Cervantes list of accredited Spanish-teaching centres in Barcelona. Typical options include:

  • intensive and super-intensive morning group courses of 20 to 25 lessons a week
  • afternoon and evening courses for people who work or study
  • DELE exam preparation
  • one-to-one lessons and business Spanish
  • accommodation in student apartments or with host families, arranged by the school

Universities also teach Spanish to foreigners. UAB Idiomes, the language service of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, offers regular Spanish courses in the city, DELE exams and Catalan courses. The public Escola Oficial d'Idiomes (EOI) Barcelona-Drassanes teaches intensive four-month Spanish courses from A1 to B2.2, in groups of 25 to 30 students; passing the A2, B1, B2.2 or C1 course gives an official certificate of the level reached. Places at the EOI require pre-registration in September or January, and the school does not help with visas. Some schools listed here also teach English and other languages, or train English teachers.

Exams and certificates

The DELE diplomas are the official certificates of Spanish proficiency, awarded by the Instituto Cervantes on behalf of the Spanish Ministry of Education. They cover all CEFR levels from A1 to C2 and are valid indefinitely. Many Barcelona schools prepare students for the DELE. A private school's own certificate of attendance is useful as a record of your course, but it is not an official qualification.

Costs

Prices depend on the number of lessons per week and the length of the stay. As an example, Camino Barcelona's 2026 price list gives €249 for one week of its 20-lesson intensive course, before discounts, including the level test and certificates. Accommodation is charged separately. For transport, under-30s can buy the T-jove, which gives 90 days of unlimited travel for €45.50; older students can use the T-usual, from €22.80 for 30 days, according to TMB.

Visa and practical tips

EU citizens do not need a visa. According to the Spanish consulate in New York, study stays of less than 90 days do not require a student visa, although some nationalities need a short-stay Schengen visa. For longer courses, Spanish language studies can qualify for a student visa as a training activity for applicants aged 18 or over, and applications must be made at least two months before the course starts. Ask your school whether it issues the enrolment documents you need; some, such as Speakeasy, offer visa support.

Frequently asked questions

Is Barcelona a good place to learn Spanish if people speak Catalan?

Yes. Catalan is widely used, but Spanish is also official and is understood everywhere, and all Spanish courses are taught in Spanish. Many students also take a short Catalan course.

How much does a Spanish course in Barcelona cost?

At Camino Barcelona, one week of the 20-lesson intensive course costs €249 in 2026 before discounts; longer bookings cost less per week. The public EOI follows a fixed academic calendar with pre-registration in September or January.

Which Spanish schools in Barcelona are accredited by the Instituto Cervantes?

The Instituto Cervantes publishes a list of accredited centres. Schools in our listings that appear on it include Camino Barcelona, Kingsbrook, Linguaschools Barcelona, OLÉ Languages, Oxford TEFL and Speakeasy.

Do I need a visa for a Spanish course in Barcelona?

Not for stays under 90 days, unless your nationality needs a Schengen visa. Longer language courses require a student visa, applied for at the Spanish consulate at least two months before the start.