Barcelona neighborhoods and areas to live
Barcelona’s neighborhoods offer a range of areas to live in, each with its own unique personality!
L’Eixample, Ciutat Vella, Gràcia, Sarrià…, are some examples of the variety of districts that make up the city of Barcelona.
Thousands of foreigners and tourists fall in love with Barcelona every year, and many of them end up looking for a home in the area that best suits their budget, family size, or lifestyle.
L’Eixample
L’Eixample or “Ensanche” It occupies the central space of the city. Designed at the end of the 19th century, it is one of the most populated districts of Barcelona, and is home to some of its most famous streets and squares such as Passeig de Gràcia, Rambla de Catalunya, Plaça Catalunya…
As well as some of the most well-known points of interest such as the SAGRADA FAMILIA, the CASA BATLLÓ, the PEDRERA, the MONUMENTAL bullring, etc.
Unlike many neighborhoods, l’Eixample boasts wide avenues and a modern, grid-patterned urban layout. A district brimming with shops and restaurants, l’Eixample properties are among the most sought-after and exquisite in the city. Not for every budget!
Ciutat Vella
Ciutat Vella or the “Old Town”, corresponds to the historic center of the city.
It is made up of 4 neighborhoods that form the oldest part of Barcelona and offers basically everything: culture, history, entertainment, gastronomy, etc.
Among the most notable: Barceloneta and El Born
Barceloneta
To the south of the city, we find the Barceloneta neighborhood: the seaside neighborhood.
This coastal neighborhood, a must-visit for beach lovers or those who enjoy traditional seafood restaurants and tapas bars, boasts a long, palm-lined promenade. It’s home to a luxurious marina filled with yachts, and its cable car will whisk you up to Montjuïc hill.
Historically, this fishing neighborhood was the destination for humble migrants. To accommodate this working-class population, the decision was made to divide the houses into four. Thus, the “quarts de casa” (house quarters) were born! The name is still used today for apartments in Barceloneta.
And that explains why most apartments do not exceed 35m2, in buildings with narrow staircases and no elevator.
Over time (and the 1992 Olympics!), this area near the sea gained more prominence and ended up being a trendy neighborhood highly sought after by “expats”, with a rental price per square meter among the most expensive in Spain.
El Born-La Ribera
In the city center, we find one of the best neighborhoods to live and invest in Barcelona: el Born-La Ribera.
This central area, one of the oldest in the city, has become one of the most sought-after by foreigners wanting to settle in Barcelona.
A prime location not far from the sea, the Born offers countless small, narrow, and irregular streets whose names refer to the trades that occupied them from the 12th to the 15th centuries: Flassaders, Esparteria, Agullers, Sombreres…
Its Gothic basilica Santa Maria del Mar, the Paseo del Born, the old market converted into a cultural center, the Picasso Museum, are some of the many gems hidden in a neighborhood full of bars, restaurants and shops, with a vibrant nightlife and exceptional charm.
Gràcia
The district of Gràcia.
Time Out magazine named it the best neighborhood to live in Southern Europe, and also placed it 24th in the world ranking. But what makes Gràcia one of the most sought-after residential neighborhoods?
Until the beginning of the 19th century, this area was little more than a small agricultural center, made up of a few farmhouses.
Gràcia was located exactly 1,250 meters from the walls of the city of Barcelona.
A distance that corresponded to the path of a cannonball, launched from the walls of Barcelona; and it was the minimum legal distance where construction was allowed at that time.
A distance that made Gràcia the closest population center to the city.
Over time, its population grew and the development and expansion of Barcelona made its integration increasingly logical and necessary.
At the end of the 19th century, projects such as the Passeig de Gràcia were born, which ended up uniting the “village of Gràcia” with the city, following the old road.
A network of pedestrian streets, low-rise buildings, boutiques, bistros and wine shops, cozy cafes, squares and a range of various services…, today, Gràcia is a real village within the city.
Without a doubt, buying or renting an apartment in the Gràcia neighborhood is a very good option for living and enjoying Barcelona, with or without children.
Sarrià
Located in the upper part of Barcelona, it is a residential district considered one of the best areas to live in the city.
In the 15th century, the rural population center consisted of little more than a church and a few farmhouses.
It gradually transformed into a more urban center, and from the 16th century onwards the first summer chalets appeared.
At the beginning of the 20th century, this neighborhood was already considered one of the wealthiest in Barcelona. Its incorporation into Barcelona occurred despite the opposition of its residents.
Historic, quiet and safe, Sarrià offers a range of quality services and high-end homes.
It is also one of the districts with the lowest supply of real estate!
In short, a stately neighborhood with beautiful green areas and a family atmosphere, Sarrià is one of the most exclusive and elite neighborhoods in Barcelona.