Before moving to Galicia, I didn’t know about these five things. Now that I’ve been living here, in Muxía, Galicia, for 8 years they have become part of my daily life and help me understand better the place I chose to call home.
As a Spanish teacher, I’ve had the chance to see Galicia from two perspectives: as someone who chose to make it home, and as someone who helps foreigners understand the language and culture. I absolutely love living here. The nature, the slower pace, the food, the festivals, the sense of community… there’s a lot to fall in love with. But Galicia isn’t just “Spain with more rain” — and there are definitely some cultural surprises!
Here are 8 things I’ve learned over these 8 years and that I think you need to consider before moving here:
1. Galicia is bilingual
Spanish is spoken everywhere, but Galician (galego) is a huge part of everyday life and local identity. You’ll see it on signs, hear it in conversations and come across expressions that you won’t find in your Spanish textbook. I have to admit, I’m still learning galego myself! But after 8 years here, I’ve realised just how present it is — especially in smaller towns like Muxía. To give you a more concrete idea of what this actually looks like: I speak Spanish, but it’s very common for my doctor, my kids’ teachers, my librarian and even my friends to reply to me in galego. I understand more and more of it as time goes by, and I actually really enjoy that it’s part of my everyday life. You don’t have to speak Galician to move to Galicia, but being open to hearing it, learning a few words and understanding its importance to local culture will help you feel much more connected to the place.
2. Festivals are a BIG part of life
One of my favourite things about Galicia is the number of local festivals and traditional celebrations. They’re not just tourist attractions — they’re part of community life. Some celebrations are religious, some are gastronomic, some are simply an excuse for the whole town to get together — and quite often, they’re a combination of all three!
3. Yes, it rains. A lot
But that rain is also why Galicia is so incredibly green. If you’re dreaming of year-round sunshine, this might not be the place for you. If you love forests, cliffs, beaches, rivers and dramatic skies… you might fall in love with it. Also, the coast has a very variable weather, so it’s not very frequent to have days on end of rain (or sunshine for that matter). I particularly enjoy this, and summers without the extreme heat of the south are A-MA-ZING, but I know it’s not for everyone.
4. Making local friends can take time
Galicians can be incredibly warm and welcoming, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll immediately become part of a close local friendship group. Many people have known each other since childhood. Learning some Spanish (and ideally a little Galician), joining activities and showing genuine interest in local life really helps. At the same time, Galicia has a long history of migration. So many Galician families have relatives who emigrated — to Switzerland, Venezuela, Argentina…— or have themselves experienced what it means to leave home and start somewhere new. I think this can make it easier to find understanding when you’re the newcomer.
5. Having a car can be quite helpful
In the cities and larger towns, public transport can be quite convenient. In rural Galicia, however, you often need a car to get from point A to point B — so think carefully about where you choose to live. But you can also keep in mind I live in Muxía and actually… I don’t drive -long story short: I do have my driving licence but never actually used it. It requires a little more planning, but it’s possible.
One last thought:
Living in Muxía is a completely different experience from living in A Coruña, Vigo or Santiago. Galicia isn’t one-size-fits-all, so before making the move, spend some real time in the place where you think you’d like to live. And if possible, visit in winter too — not just in August!
Most importantly, come with an open mind and be ready for surprises. Don’t move to Galicia expecting it to be exactly like the Spain you imagined. Come ready to discover what makes it uniquely Galician.
After 8 years here, I can honestly say that some of my favourite things about Galicia are precisely the things that felt unfamiliar to me when I first arrived.
And perhaps that’s one of the most rewarding things about moving somewhere new: you don’t just discover a new place — you discover a different way of living..
Would you consider moving to Galicia? What would you be most nervous about?
