You just landed in the city and are now heading to the hostel (or a hotel if you are lucky enough). You made a reservation for the first days in Barcelona, while you manage to find a place to live during a couple months (or even years). Can you relate? Even though you did some research before enrolling to the adventure, the question pops up again: which are the best neighborhoods to live in Barcelona?
And we did our best to answer that question through this new article ;-)
Gràcia
We don’t start highlighting this neighborhood first by chance: Gràcia is actually our favourite neighborhood in Barcelona. It feels like a little village really close to the city center. Definitely one the best neighborhoods to live in Barcelona (if only rent was lower…). It is also one of the best Barcelona neighborhoods for families.
Pros of living in Gràcia
- Narrow streets and beautiful squares of this neighborhood will make you feel as if you were living in a little village, but at the same time being able to reach the city center in just a 10 minutes walk.
- Sense of community: many neighborhood associations and neighbours’ gatherings.
- Artisans market the first Saturday of the month.
- Delicious restaurants: La Bicicleta or La Pollería among them. Gràcia is also a great neighborhood to dive into international cuisines: Syrian, Japanese, Lebanese, Chinese…
- A high percentage of Catalan people live in this neighborhood. So if you want to dive into the Catalan culture deeper this neighborhood will be probably one of the best choices.
Cons of living in Gràcia
- Due to its tourist attraction, sometimes the squares of this neighborhood can get a bit crowded, making it difficult to find a table in a bar to have drinks.
- Rent is high in this neighborhood, specially when compared to other districts.
(Take into account that there might be some bias in our description, since we just LOVE this neighborhood. Many beautiful memories there (L)) ;-)
Poblenou
Among the nicest neighborhoods in Barcelona we also find Poblenou, a neighborhood by the sea. Many technology companies are giving this district a go to deploy their expansion strategy. And this is also reflected on how this (sometimes forgotten) neighborhood is starting to get its attention not only from investors but also for families who see a great opportunity to settle down in this peaceful area. Definitely one of the nicest neighborhoods in Barcelona, and also one of the best neighborhoods for families.
Pros of living in Poblenou
- You will live by the sea, and this is a big pro if you are a sea lover in need of vitamin Sea periodically.
- Rent is not that high as it is in neighborhoods such as Gràcia or Sarrià-Sant Gervasi. Actually you might find nice opportunities in this area, without paying that much as in other districts.
Cons of living in Poblenou
- This neighborhood is a bit far away from the city center. It will take you around 20-25 minutes by public transport to get there.
- In aesthetic terms, Poblenou has been historically more of an “industrial” area. But this is changing lately, since this neighborhood has been hosting nice cultural and cutting-edge events. There is also a powerful cultural community growing little by little.
L’Eixample
If you like to get a feel for the city on a daily basis 24/7, Eixample will probably be your best option. Many shops, restaurants offering cuisines from around the world, people-people-people, to sum up: the place where frenetic activity takes the stage. In this case, the neighborhood.
Pros of living in l’Eixample
- You are right in the center of the city (this could be a “con” though, depending on what you really want).
- The services offer is huge.
- You have everything handy.
Cons of living in l’Eixample
- Lots of tourists and crowded spaces.
- Rent is pretty high in this district.
Sarrià-Sant Gervasi
You love Barcelona, but you also love getting away from the city crowd after a long day at work. In that case, Sarrià-Sant Gervasi might be one of the best neighborhoods to live in Barcelona which fits your needs. It offers a peaceful environment without leaving the city, and it is definitely one of the best Barcelona neighborhoods for families.
Pros of living in Sarrià-Sant Gervasi
- One of the most peaceful neighborhoods.
- You are pretty close to nature, since you can reach Collserola and Parc de les Aigües by foot.
- Many locals live in this neighborhood.
- Probably one of the safest neighborhoods when it comes to pickpockets.
Cons of living in Sarrià-Sant Gervasi
- You will have to take FGC (Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya to get to the center of the city).
- Rent is really high in this area.
El Born
A classic neighborhood in Barcelona. Specially because there are references which prove that this neighborhood hosted some of the first urban settlements in the city, a thousand years ago. The neighborhood to be if you love modernity but also historical references: el Born offers the perfect integration.
Pros of living in el Born
- A nice neighborhood in the city center.
- It is a chic neighborhood.
- You will find little charming shops, designer’s boutiques, bohemian cafes…
- You will be surrounded by History.
Cons of living in el Born
- Lots of tourists at any time of day.
- The opposite of a peaceful environment: its narrow streets are noisy and usually pretty crowded.
Now you might have a more clear idea about which area you should start searching. But here it comes the next question: how do I get started with the research? We suggest you to keep reading the article we wrote How to find an apartment in Barcelona.
This past year’s stand-out neighborhood: Sant Antoni
Sant Antoni is the trendy neighborhood in Barcelona, at the moment we are writing this post. The hipster’s land where the coolest bars and art galleries are located. Mercat de Sant Antoni’s opening was also held recently, adding more charm to this neighborhood which is taking all the attention lately. If you ask someone which is the coolest neighborhood in Barcelona at the moment, Sant Antoni will probably be the answer. One of the nicest neighborhoods in Barcelona, especially for young people.