Where To live In Barcelona

Hello,
I wish someone would answer your question, because I have the same question myself. The thing I do not like about this site is that you get 100 people viewing your questions, and no one bothers to answer them! I hope that is not the overall character of people in Barcelona.

> The thing I do not like about this site is that you get 100 people viewing your questions, and no one bothers to answer them! I hope that is not the overall character of people in Barcelona.

Wow, aren't we a bit judgemental and such lofty expectations we carry!

Sorry not to get to this earlier Sammie...

Anyway, these are the main areas in the centre, there aren't really many reasons to want to live outside of the metropolitan area unless you're looking for a bit of country bumpkin life or need to be right next to the beach. If you look at housing prices you'll see that some of the outlying areas are actually more or as expensive as the centre of Barcelona. Ridiculous eh?

Ciutat Vella is comprised of the following four barrios:
Barceloneta - next to Barceloneta Beach. Higher crime (organized), lots of immigrants and expats, tons of tourists who walk through to get to the beach. Some very good hidden restaurants and things to do. Very near museums and marina and...
El Borne - or as expats call it, The Born. Everyone's #2 favourite, probably because it's great in so many ways but lacking some of the dirty flavour of other barrios. Top restaurants and top fashion shopping: all around very indie and chique. Note the ubiquitous black turtleneck, it's that kind of area.
El Raval - This word is just fun to say with the Catalan drawl. Musicians love Raval and it's indeed it's full of life. Tons of immigrants, especially middle Asians like Indians/Pakistanis (see the Rambla de Raval). A long history of gangs, drugs and prostitution, Raval has, sadly, cleaned itself up and now people can visit again thinking to themselves how cool they are for hanging with immigrants... or something like that. Tons of nooks and crannies to discover, and in these nooks and crannies you find some of the originally cool bars, clubs, restaurants, museums, trendy stuff, etc. This isn't really where the tourists go but you can still get a hooker at the right cross-street.
Barrio Gotico - Strangely we call this one by its full name in English. This is where all the tourists go to get lost in that *aww* "I love Europe!" sort of way. It's definitely got its appeal, I can't deny it. All the great history of old Barcelona is right there, along with the new Dutch junkies (no, not all are Dutch, but a lot of 'em). A lot of expats set up shop here first and branch out after the first few months of dealing with the noise and belch of non-stop tourism. If you can get a roof-top patio then you are rockin'!

Beyond Ciutat Vella there's, of course, The Expansion of Barcelona, known more commonly as L'Eixample or, in Spanish, El Ensanche, I believe. No, it doesn't mean The Example as we expats commonly believe for years on end (or was it only me?). Pronounced, "ey-sham-pla". It's a massive suburb in the centre of the city. Yep, imagine America's perfectly planned gated communities, and then make all the roads octagonal, 20x the density, dash some Catalan modernism throughout the whole thing, put the buildings in the middle of the blocks out like donuts (reminds me of Sim City) with park in the middle of the donut and, BOOM. You have the perfect example of how to enlarge a city 1890's style. Does this make any sense? It does to me. Regarding living here, it's very downtown New York or London. Big-ass buildings, no community feel (it feels very cosmo), some good shopping and places to go no doubt and quite safe: much less drugs, etc. The tourist spots are real mecas of tourism though. This is where you find all the Gaudi stuff. Eixample is divided into the left and right, "izquierda" and "derecha" respectively, and it's commonly held that the izquierda is higher end. But alas the Eixample is boring for me, so let's move on...

Poble Sec ("Dry Town" I believe) or the Montjuic area is really nice actually. Enough character, good metro connections, the Montjuic area is amazing for running and events and stuff, all around quite safe, not too expensive... the only problem is the total lack of good restaurants! I know that sounds lame but Barcelona has amazing cuisine and if you're not around that good cuisine you're going to be subjected to TOTAL CRAP. I mean, churros? WTF? Have you had a Spanish bocadillo before? The roof of your mouth will hate you for the first few months as you alternate between burning it on overheated cafes con leche and jamon y queso bocadillos. Anyway, Poble Sec rocks, and will be a big hit for anyone needing some good nature and a little more quiet. Please note the presence of great exaggeration in the above bitch fest.

Sants and Les Corts are both cheaper areas with higher crime but may be the new hot areas. I don't know them all that well but people I've met from Sants are nice. Does that help? The main train station is right there people, you can imagine what that does to the area.

Poble Nou, aka New Town (just call it "pob-la no"), is a real mixed bag. This is a zone that perhaps only The Cheat (http://www.spainexpat.com/spain/spanorama/) could love... and other expats I suppose. This is an old industrial district so it carries all of those hallmarks: big old brick buildings with huge frosted windows (now lofts), smoke stacks (not-in-use), wider streets, etc. Poble Nou has seen the most new construction of any barrio in Barcelona though. Tons of new high-rise condos line the highway that runs next to the many beaches. If you go straight south from Poble Nou metro station about 10 min (walking), then at the beach turn right and go around the big grassy knob you'll be at Mar Bella and Bogatell (another fun Catalan word, "bo-ga-teyy") which are total nude beaches. If you like looking at schlong and boobs then this is your spot. Other highlights of Poble Nou include the big penis building, known as Monumental (ironic?)...

(ran out of characters there)... Also, the only real "mall" in Barcelona is here in Poble Nou, called Diagonal. If you're a runner then you'll probably appreciate Poble Nou. I did when I lived there. The proximity to the beaches is great. Big downside: the metro line sucks. The yellow line running through the barrio is old and rickety. Higher crime here too, avoid the parks and beaches at night (pickpockets, scams, and, well, gay predators). If you're into the loft thing then this is your barrio though.

Sarria and Sant Gervasi is at the diagonally opposite side of Barcelona from Poble Nou. Literally, it's on the other end of Diagonal. All apartments start at a million euros. Very nice, very safe, some might say beautiful, with tons of trees and parks. Sarria used to be its own little town so it's got a cool pueblo feel to it. Very few tourists out here. Kinda snobby though. No good metro connections, but if you have the money to live out here then you'll own a car anyway, plus there are the Ferro Carrils which are more like a regional metro, but they go downtown and connect to the metros pretty well. Did I mention how snooty these barrios are?

I've saved my favourite for last. Gracia. Oh Gracia how I love thee, let me count the ways. Artsy, funky, unpretentious. Great expat scene, cool cafes, great plazas, diverse and quality restaurant scene... great metro connections and close to Parc Guell too! It's super urban and hipster but beware of the anarkistas and okupas! No, just kidding, kinda. It's a diverse mix of people though, a great soup of cultures like I've never seen anywhere else in the world. The one problem is the distance to the beaches, but you'll be partying on roof-tops and sipping cafes at Pla?a Vierreina so who cares? I won't go on because I don't want to send too many of the wrong kind of people there. No, it's not for everyone, but nearly everyone finds something to like in Gracia. This is where your second apartment will be and then when you leave it you will long for it again and again.

I should probably take this huge long Ode-to-Living-in-Barcelona post and make it into an article for the main site, but let's hear your feedback first. What did I miss? What other details would you like to hear about? I covered some of the main areas but missed others... which ones did I miss that you'd like to hear about?

Wow! Despite the fact that you think I am judgemental and lofty, I want to thank you greatly for being of immense assistance and describing each area in depth! Thank you so much for your input. It will narrow down my search a great deal, as I am sure it will Sammies. And just for the record, if you knew me, you would like me, because I am probably the least judgemental person you will ever meet! I am just so frustrated and tired, and researching this move has drained me considerably. But I will not give up my dream to move to Europe with my two daughters, and show them life outside of the US. Again, thank you kindly.

Haha, I was just buggin' you. I know how it feels not to find the info you're looking for. Hence the site.

You're welcome!

Wow!!! That was amazing. Thank you so much, way more than I could have asked for in terms of a response. That'll really help me while I"m looking! You should totally put that on the website as an article. I think for questions you've answered pretty much everything for now but I have no doubt I'll have more as I get closer to moving day. Is it possible do you think to find a place before I get there (online) or is it best to get there and then find a place?

Thanks again you rock.

Sammie,

You and I seem to have the same questions, and also appear to be at the same stage of progression regarding our move. And her response hurried me along, because I had been researching this for days, with no real results. Like you, I am wondering if I need to be there to find a place, because I am only seeing very expensive short term rentals online. Where are you moving from Sammie?

> Wow!!! That was amazing. Thank you so much, way more than I could have asked for in terms of a response. That'll really help me while I"m looking! You should totally put that on the website as an article. I think for questions you've answered pretty much everything for now but I have no doubt I'll have more as I get closer to moving day. Is it possible do you think to find a place before I get there (online) or is it best to get there and then find a place?

Thanks again you rock.


Hmm, this sounds like the inspiration for another site article.

Before you arrive the best thing you can do is find somewhere comfortable to stay, whether that's with friends, staying at a hostel, a cheap short-stay apartment, etc. The point is that you're going to be (at least a bit) frazzled for at least a few days and finding an apartment is not #1 priority at that point, or even if it is you won't be able to put 100% of yourself into it because you'll be second-guessing yourself over location and other details that would become clear if you'd just spent a week getting to know the city anyway. I'd even venture to suggest that you should find a comfortable place to stay for a couple months. In fact, given the season, this might work in your favour. You don't want to be looking for apartments at the end of August or September. There are thousands of Erasmus students who come flooding the city looking for an apartment. They're northern European and have cash to burn (remember University is (practically) free in Europe). That's competition you don't want. Instead, July and early August can work out well. July might be best overall, although the heights of tourism remain another obstacle... but nevermind that.

So you get here, you've got a place for the cabbie to drop you off at from the airport, and you settle in for the night (enjoy a few tapas and cervezas recommended, do not go to McDonalds no matter how much you crave a taste of home!). Relax, speak English (don't fret about speaking Spanish or Catalan or whatever at this point), revel in your new surroundings and comment to yourself on all the things you like/don't like. Sleep well. Get up in the morning and take your laptop down to a cafe that has wifi (most do now), enjoy a cafe con leche and croissant. You're now living the Barcelona life.

Go to www.loquo.com first. There's no better site - yet - and it's optimized for Barcelona, plus a lot of it is in English. Then open a new tab in your browser and go to Babelfish (http://babelfish.altavista.com/) and keep that open so you can translate (roughly) what you're trying to read. Go through the list (should take a few hours at least but using the search feature effectively makes it better), make a list or send emails (with a copy to yourself) of all the good apartments that you want to see (as per the areas I've outlined above). I used to have a good opener email that reeled them in well but can't find it now. You'll want something that introduces yourself, says where you found their notice, what you're looking for, why you like their ad, and when you'd be available to meet to see the apartment. Yes, 99% of people don't follow this format, and then they wonder why they get no/few responses as a potential customer. Having been on the receiving end of an onslaught of bad emails, trust me, it's like a CV, make yours stand out. It's not difficult. You'll also want to translate it into Spanish which might be a problem. Post it here on the forum though, I'm sure someone can help you out.

So you've sent your email to 30 people. Next you need a cell phone. Close your laptop and go to FNAC at Plaza Catalunya to pick up a Vodafone pay-as-you-go cheap-ass cell phone (do NOT get a Telefonica/Movistar phone!). It will come with some credit, probably enough for a few days. Don't splurge on cell phones yet! You don't know what you'll like in a few months. Anyway, now when you get all the responses from the emails you've sent out you'll have a cell phone for, if nothing else, text messaging (SMS), which Spaniards are really into. Screw talking.

If you need help talking to someone in Spanish, call them through a phone translator. Your friends might be able to help but after the third call they will not be happy. You can also call a friend of mine who can help you through the whole process (she's from Venezuela) for a fee. You can contact [email=victoria@capriles.org]Victoria by email here[/email].

I have to go for now but can continue this later...

Hello, I believe its quite difficult to answer your question if you don?t give us a bit of yourself...

Young: Gracia, Born
30?s : Eixample
35?s + : Pedralbes
Depending if you have family...
Anyway there?s a nice website that can help you find your way around in Barcelona.
Brand new but has a nice expat community.

See u

Wow, so where does a 40+ need to live? Besides one foot in the grave. Hahaha... Does it count if I am a young acting and looking 40+??? And I have a university age daughter, as well as a 10 year old.

Hi,
I'm just wondering in terms of Gracia, is it easy to get to downtown Barcelona from there and does it have good subway access?
Thanks again for your help it's awesome!

How can you be a young acting 40+++++ and having a daughter at university
Send us a photo ,I?ll tell you where you can live!
ja ja ja as laugh spanish people

Wow! How can I be young with a university age daughter, you ask. Where do I send the photo! I feel young and GREAT! I look younger than my real age, and am still youthful and full of life and energy. Just ask my daughter. She has trouble keeping up with me. Her and her friends say I am the cool, hip mom, they wish they had. I have attached a photo.

What a great discussion! Here's my two cents:
Gracia is a great neighborhood for families and young people, but be careful where your apartment is- charming plazas by day often turn into loud drunken, open-air parties late into the night...
I loved the Raval and the Barrio G?tico when I was younger, lots of great bars, clubs and restaurants, but with kids it's not so practical- schools are generally not great and, let's face it, smells like pee in the hot summer months.
Barceloneta is great for singles who want to be near the beach, lots of cheap teeny tiny apartments for rent- but there's the crime/tourist factor mentioned above.
I used to live in Poble Sec, and it was very "Spanish"- lots of chatting with the lady at the bakery, the man who runs the liquor store,etc, which was nice... Some parts closer to the port are a little seedy, though, and yes, not many good restaurants (Although La Bodegueta de Poble Sec on C/Blai does good grilled meat and veggies...)
I used to think the Eixample was boring too, but I think with age I've gotten a little boring myself! Now I think it's great- central, convenient transportation, pretty safe, and nice shops and restaurants.
I don't really like Pedralbes- lots of nice big houses and ritzy stores, but there's not much to do and you have to walk for 5 blocks just to find somewhere to buy milk (although the people who live in this neighborhood probably just send the butler out for milk, right?)
Let us know where you all end up living!

> Wow, so where does a 40+ need to live? Besides one foot in the grave. Hahaha... Does it count if I am a young acting and looking 40+??? And I have a university age daughter, as well as a 10 year old.


Yep, one foot in the grave :)

Not! Come on, one of my best friends lives on the border between north Gracia and St. Gervasi. It's a nice area, very hilly, but safe and good for his kids. St. Gervasi, in general, is full of families, as mentioned above. Very nice, but a bit snooty. Try Sarria as well. The further you get from the centre, the quieter and safer, as a rule. Sant Cugat is probably perfect and is, indeed, well loved by many. I just haven't gotten up there yet. Too far!

> Hi,
I'm just wondering in terms of Gracia, is it easy to get to downtown Barcelona from there and does it have good subway access?
Thanks again for your help it's awesome!


Easy to get downtown? It's a 20 min walk along the Champs Elysee of Barcelona (except it's better: Passeig de Gracia). There is the yellow line (aka crappy line) feeding the eastern half of Gracia (and is also used for getting to the beach) or my fav line, the Green line which, in two stops, plops you in the midst of Pl. Catalunya.

We gotta get a map going around here... anyone?

Hello Ilsprain
It was second degree humor! and on top of that I thought you were a mid forties male showing off! Our username don?t always show our gender..and I don?t know why but I felt ticked off!
My mistake!
Peregrine age 44!

No, I am not a male! I am a mid-forties woman showing off. Haha... And I bet you also thought that my user name has something to do with moving to Spain. Actually, that is my real last name. You people are wicked on this forum. As you can see "The Expatriator" tore me a new one early on in the forum as well. I cannot wait to get there and have fun with you people. Ummm, I mean - work.

Guys!


Great advice for living in Barcelona, thank you! I have actually been living in Sarria/Sant Gervasi for 2 years and am ready for achange. I was thinking either Gracia or the Born. I will look on the websites you mentioned but if you know of others please let me know as I need to get a good deal of sharing an appartment with one other person.

Thank you!

Please check out our website for expats (in english and french), it's got all the latest events and tips which the city has to offer:
bcnclub.net

I have been living in Eixample Izquierda for about two months now and it is great. I like the area, though I would prefer Gr?cia over Eixample for the small-town feel (within a big city, to me there is nothing better than that). It is incredibly busy here and most importantly loud (I suppose well-insulated windows would help, haha), and Gracia almost feels like a vacation to me when I'm there. The atmosphere there is just so unique and I love it! If I were to move here long-term at some point, I would definitely try to move to Gr?cia.
I lived in Diagonal Mar for a month and a half and while it was very close to the beach and in a modern building, it was also a pain having to go downtown to my classes by metro every day (which took 35 minutes door-to-door), now I walk there and it takes me 5 to 10 minutes.

Hi, newbie here just about to move to Barcelona. :-) Thanks for a fantastic discussion, I found it extremely helpful.
I have a few questions about more specific details and it would be great if anybody could fill in some of these blanks. Just for context, I'm hoping to rent a 1-bedroom apartment in Barceloneta. I really like the idea of living by the beach, but I also want to be able to walk into town. Don't want to be taking metro if I can help it.

What should I expect to pay for an average 1-bed furnished apartment in Barceloneta?

I noticed some of the adverts on Loquo and other sites mention water, electricity and internet included in the price - what's your best estimate as to how much on average this is worth?
Also it seems that many of the apartments come unfurnished, which isn't much use to a fresh arrivee like me. Is this typical and how much extra would one expect to pay for furnished vs unfurnished?
Another question: what's the typical deposit? I saw one ad looking for 3 months rent which seemed a bit extreme. They also wanted a commitment to a 2 year contract! I hope this isn't typical. I do plan on living for the forseeable future in Barce but I think my first accommodation will just be something to live in while I get a feel for the town before I move to my "perfect" pad!

Is anyone aware of any websites that calculate walking routes for Barcelona? Google maps gives routes but only for driving, a walking one would be fantastic.

Many thanks again for taking the time to read. Looking forward to any responses.

Hey there,

I'm sure you've never been to Barcelona. The whole place is a walking city really, like most good European cities. You have to take the metro but not to get anywhere important, just anywhere specific (meeting a friend, going to a movie, etc).

Barceloneta is an okay neighbourhood, but living close to the beach, especially that one, is overrated. The nicer beaches that you'll want to spend more time at are further away anyway. Barceloneta is mostly overrun by tourists and thieves, yet that shouldn't dissuade everyone. I wouldn't mind it too much.

Go read the apartments in Spain (http://www.spainexpat.com/spain/information/apartments_in_spain/) article, and if you still have any questions and what's normal in apartments then definitely come back and ask (although I think that would be best suited to a different thread).

Good luck!

here a map off the under ground off Barcelona Metro Map (Subway, Underground)

The Barcelona metro map below shows the metro lines, and corresponding stops for each line. The map shows both TMB (L1, L2, L3, L4, L5) and FGC metro lines (L6, L7, L8) along with the Tram Lines (T1 to T4)

here the link http://www.tmb.net/ca_ES/home.jsp
map link http://www.tmb.net/en_US/barcelona/moute/planols/planoxarxametro.jsp#

Thanks for the reply Expatriator, much appreciated! Yes the article was helpful, it helped a lot.

Actually I've been to Barcelona quite a few times. The reason I was thinking about Barceloneta is that I want to live near the centre but also near a beach (even if it's not the best beach - that's not so important). For me, living in or near the centre is very important, and the beach would be a bonus. I don't mind thieves or less "cool" areas, actually normally I prefer poorer areas of cities because of the lower rents!

This gives me another question: in the Cuitat Vella, what area is the least developed or poorest? Is it the Barrio Xino? I hear El Born is expensive.

jurdyr: thanks for the map. That's a very nice map but it doesnt' give me a journey/route planner. Here is an example from Dublin http://www.dto.ie/web2006/jp.htm

thanks again for the help

Oh yes, I forgot to add my job will be near the Universitat Metro, and I like the idea of walking to work from my apartment, so that's why I think I need to live in the centre. :-)

god i have go home soon to dublin that link cool will i fine googleearth is very good for citys

> Oh yes, I forgot to add my job will be near the Universitat Metro, and I like the idea of walking to work from my apartment, so that's why I think I need to live in the centre. :-)


Ah, well this is all helpful information. You like thieves and street life? El Raval is THE place for you! Very central, 5-10 min walk to Universitat and 15 min walk to the beach or one or two metro stops. Tons of culture too - a real mixing/melting pot. Lots of gypsies and south americans. Vibrant music and a lot of good museums. Very interesting restaurants.

>
Ah, well this is all helpful information. You like thieves and street life? El Raval is THE place for you! Very central, 5-10 min walk to Universitat and 15 min walk to the beach or one or two metro stops.


Super! That's good to hear - it sounds cool! Obviously I don't LIKE thieves, but I wouldn't be worried about an area having a reputation. Would El Raval be cheaper than Barceloneta?

Sublime, you can ? fortunately ? be robbed anywhere in this City ? not just in the Raval. Not because Barcelona is a hub of violent crime, but like any urban center there are thieves and pickpockets. I enjoy my visits to the U.S. Consulate here for passport renewals and other issues because I hear all the ?how I was robbed stories?... and not all of the anecdotes involve working-class or underclass areas. Quite a few of our well-heeled Americans were robbed in nice areas of the Eixample or Gr?cia, even one very creative robbery in Sarri? where helpful motorists flag you down to let you know that you have a flat tire, only to rob you blind. The poorer residents of the Raval, I am sure, don?t care much for the influx of hip foreigners who make their rents go up.. or worse, accelerate their evictions because developers are licking their lips waiting to knock down their buildings and put up another ?hip? building. I personally love Poble Sec because it has a good mix of immigrants, local people, both young and old, ?non-traditional? families (as they say in PC), etc. Sants-Hostafrancs is also a nice area with a very "barrio" neighbourhood feel without mod fashionable design people pedalling around on folding bicycles. There is also a very cool mercat or market nearby to buy fresh fruit, etc. The Mercat de Sant Antoni is another very cool barrio to live in. Pedralbes and Sarri? are very quiet, and if a tomblike silence is the best setting for you, then go there. Gr?cia, anywhere near the Pla?a de Sol, is very loud in the summer. The Eixample is very varied in its flora and fauna: from posh monied to more middle-class to areas with more mulcutural mixing... depends on the address.

As far as the outskirts, there's Sitges, a favorite for retired European homosexual couples with money: British men, German men, etc. In the summer, there is a city ordinance that prohibits strolling on the ocean boardwalk or passeig mar?tim without a shirt. Go figure. The City Fathers didn't like the way some homos insisted on exhibiting their sculpted waxed bodies on the city streets. So, if you want to engage in this, you will be frowned upon. It's a cute little town, old fishing village that became chic when the catalan bourgeoisie started building summer homes there back in the 19th century... But once you've gone to the beach... there's not much more to do.

Then there's the other side of Barcelona, the outer areas where the Spanish Andalusian-Galician spanish-speaking immigration settled in the 60s and 70s: Cornell?, l'Hospitalet, Badalona where you have a mixture of immigrants from Latin American, Pakistan, China, Eastern Europe living among people who are children of immigrants from Southern Spain.

Let me knw if you have any more questions...

**************
The Expatriator - 14 January 2008 04:58 AM
Ah, well this is all helpful information. You like thieves and street life? El Raval is THE place for you! Very central, 5-10 min walk to Universitat and 15 min walk to the beach or one or two metro stops.

Super! That?s good to hear - it sounds cool! Obviously I don?t LIKE thieves, but I wouldn?t be worried about an area having a reputation. Would El Raval be cheaper than Barceloneta?

Hi,

Barcelona is a cosmopolitan city that has a special and unique charm. The city is prosperous, dynamic and enchanting; but most of all full of contrasts and surprises. People who live in Barcelona become part of its activity and movement; and with this they offer a very diverse atmosphere, where culture, communication and entertainment are a part of everyday life. I have in Spain in Spain more than a year. But I lived in Barcelona and Tenerife. The best place in Spain, most Like Malaga, Marbella, Granada, Seville, Gibraltar, these are the best place to live in Spain.

Your discussion on Barcelona is really interesting for me.

I am planning to move to BCN in July/August '08 with my 6 year old :) And now I have heard from a Spanish woman also moving with her family to Barcelona that the only good school area is Sarria/St. Gervasi.. and now I read here that it is a snobby area, and that you should preferably have a car if living there!
Well, that is no good news for me. As a young single mom without a driving licence I really would need to live in an area where I do not need to have a car, but still I would like it to be a kid friendly area.. Anybody have any suggestions?

Some time ago I read an article about the quality of public eduction in Catalunya, and that it is quite low, especially in the center of Barcelona. In the article there were some teachers that had worked in some public schools in BCN that said there were violence even towards the teachers in the classrooms at times. So I got quite scared..

Now I am wondering if anyone has views on this? I still want to put my child in a public school, so maybe I should try to move to an area where the schools have a good reputation after all. What about Garcia? Anyone know anything about the public primary schools there?

The Expatriator, do you know anything about the neighborhood called El putget i Farro, 08023?

> The Expatriator, do you know anything about the neighborhood called El putget i Farro, 08023?


Nope, sorry. Maybe someone else?

Tonia: El Putxet is right is near Sant Gervasi La Bonanova, which means you are still in a posh silent clean area of Barcelona where you will not be near the Metro. Most likely, you will need a car. The pluses of the Zona Alta (the term used to refer to Sant Gervasi, Sarri?) are: (a) silence, (b) silence, (c) silence :-) (d) cleanliness (e) extreme cleanliness (f) silence (g) people have domestic help ... and yes, there are good private schools there. But it is possible to live elsewhere in the City and send your child to a good private school, whether in Sarri? or elsewhere.

About public schools, there are good public schools here but I'm not the person to answer your question. I know several public high school teachers here in Barcelona and I'll ask them if they can suggest a place... are you looking for a primary school or a secondary school ?

Does your child already speak Spanish ?

Primary school education here is conducted almost exclusively in Catalan. Only castellano is taught in castellano.

I'll get back if I hv more info

bye

oops, reread your post and saw your child is 6 years old. I'll ask my teacher friends and get back with you if I get any pointers..

Hi albaqaahuna!

That would be great if you could ask your teacher friends about schools!
I do want to put my son in a public school and not a private school. Possibly a semi private one.

I heard that for the public schools they are assigned to you in the area you live, and that's why I thought it would be important to live in an area where there are a few good public schools..
So please ask your friends, maybe they have heard about some good one and I can start looking at apt's in that area :)

So the neighbourhood I asked about is silent and clean.. But it is right on the border to Gracia though.. Is the part of Gracia close to the border of St. Gervasi also clean and silent?

Thanks!

Hi Tonia, I will ask my friends after Holy Week or Semana Santa Vacations finish.

The semi-private school you refer to would be an escuela concertada, that is, a private school that receive some state funding and therefore obliged to accept some students that would otherwise go to a public school.

If I had a choice, I would live in an area of St.. Gervasi as close as possible to Gr?cia in order to have a more 'normal' neighbourhood closer at hand: one where people walk on the streets and walk to shops.

I'll get back when I find out.
best


> Hi albaqaahuna!

That would be great if you could ask your teacher friends about schools!
I do want to put my son in a public school and not a private school. Possibly a semi private one.

I heard that for the public schools they are assigned to you in the area you live, and that's why I thought it would be important to live in an area where there are a few good public schools..
So please ask your friends, maybe they have heard about some good one and I can start looking at apt's in that area :)

So the neighbourhood I asked about is silent and clean.. But it is right on the border to Gracia though.. Is the part of Gracia close to the border of St. Gervasi also clean and silent?

Thanks!

hello all

thanks for all the info. I'm new to the forum, but will be moving to Barcelona next month.

I was told by a friend, who lives in Raval, that it's the place to be, seeing as I'll be living on a budget.

Other than that, I have no idea what neigbhorhoods are desirable or why.

I'm a 25 yr old American, and i do like cleanliness (my friend says lots of flats will have roaches. no thanks!), but i wouldnt wanna live in a "silent" neighborhood, certainly.

I was lookin around the net for apartment listings and whatnot, and found a nice place in ALELLA-MASNOU.

I realize this is a town not in Barcelona proper, but about 15 km away, which to me, coming from LA, doesnt sound very far at all.

What is that area like? would it be easy to get to and fro Barcelona without a car?

I don't realistically think I would live there, but I am curious.

anyway, thanks a lot in advance. any recommendations of areas to live in would be appreciated.

Best District for schools? Please help !!!

We are family of 3 making our move to Barcelona in Sept 2008. Our main concern is what district to live in that will have a good educational system for our 10yrs old daughter as well as a nice, good transporation system , hip and safe neighborhood. We are young professionals in our Mid 30 's , we own and manage an IT Network Consulting Co(self employed) so we will be working from our home.

Do you have any info on Poble Nou ? ...We are very interested in renting a Loft ( Warehouse style) .

Looking forward to hearing from you ... your input is GREATLY APPRECIATED !!!

Muchas Gracias

Aleida

Hi guys,

Very good thread regarding Barcelona.

Would it be possible though to get some information on surrounding areas that are outside the city of Barcelona itself. Perhaps a short train journey away?

I am not sure that with a young child we would want to live in an apartment in Barcelona city centre. Could someone advise as to what locations would be good to look at buying a house with a short commute?

Hey, been in Barcelona for just over a month now, slept in various parts and traveled the whole city on numerous occasions, finally settled in Gracia and i couldn't imagine living anywhere else just yet, especially with the festival coming up, a roof top view of placa Diamont for me!! Gracia is by far the coolest and most chilled out place i've been, the people are great and friendly, it's just brilliant!! all i need is a job now!

just thought i'd get my say in!!

thanks.

Hi all,
just been looking through all the info on here about where to live in Barcelona and it has been really helpful as well as a good laugh to read. I have been thinking about moving to Barcelona for a while and have not really been able to get any good advice on places to live so finding this forum has been great! I have to say that The Expatriator needs to write for a living you are tops! Being a single mum with 2 boys moving over there has seemed like a nightmare to find where i need to be but think that I will start looking for apartments :-) soon so that can be there in the New Year. The info on schools has been great but wondered if anyone has more info on any schools in San Cugat and also what the rent is like for that area?
Another thing, being 39ish i have felt a bit old to be moving abroad please tell me there is life for a new 40 year old over there? I am not ready for my slippers and fluffy nighties yet!!! Is babysitting available or can that be a problem like it is here in the Uk? I dont want to leave my kids with just anyone so any help on that subject would be great too.
Thanks

phew ! Hey guys some good stuff there, but it would be great to hear of those posters earlier in the year what they decided upon?! For the record (and I'll try and keep it short) I moved here in 1999 with another friend and we were english teachers. It took us 10 weeks to find an apartment, during which time we slept on various people's florrs and saw aparetments in almost every area. Neither of us spoke spanish and I think we were taken on a very face value attitude (read:football hooligans). We were not in the slightest picky, as we soon saw that Barcelona is relatively small compared to other European cities. I have since been here for 9 years and again have lived in Gracia, Les Corts, Hostafrancs, Eixample Izqdo, Barceloneta, Gotico, Raval and I ended up staying in.....Raval. I'm 50% of the votes for living in the Raval on the poll here!! Gracia - ok, cool, but it totally depends on where in Gracia. It's very noisy, small buildings often wth no lift, and although it's relatively safe, sometimes it can be a bit boring (sorry guys!). Eixample is a ghost town from 5pm onwards Saturday until Monday at 10am. also very dark apartments unless you're really high. Gotico - verrrrryy dark apartments, and too much noise/tourism. Barceloneta - great if you're by the beach on a weekend (as I was) horrible from Monday to Friday if you're by the beach (no sleep, people with bongos/guitars until all hours, tourists having sex below my balcony, etc.) also in winter, everything closes. Also Barceloneta has those small teething problems like the stairway was about 30cms wide, so when the washing machine broke and we had to get a new one it literally took about 1 day to get it up 2 flights of stairs, and we had to take the staircase hostage all day! Les Corts - I thought far too snooty, as although we were really making an effort with our spanish, absolutely everyone spoke to us in Catalan (knowing fine well we were brits). also an alarming amount of brotels for such a "nice" area. Hostafrancs was ok, but I just knew that we could get something downtown. Which leads me to Raval. It's now almost 2009, and I have to be completely honest and say that I have seen some rough things and it's had a complete makeover in the time I've been here, but el Raval is one of the most multi cultural neighbourhoods in the world (recent census had a 4 block radius with the most registered nationalities in the world for such a small space) so maybe that's why I feel I fit in, too (being an expat). There are no pretentions here, everyone is hard working and here for the life it could bring them. I don't denty that there are also a fair few crooks but I've never felt in danger, and my wife lived here for 3 years alone before we were married and she also has the same opinion. Today el Raval is no more dangerous than any other part of the old town I would say. In fact, through my job, over 9 years working in the company, I can safely say that the unfortunate incidents that happen have more or less been all over the city. My uncle was wiped out with the bird poo scams in Park G?ell, my gran on Gran Via (no pun there, seriously), and the worst robbery (in terms of booty)was on paseo de gracia metro station.

I now have 2 small children and I would not move from this neighbourhood. 1 goes to school the other is only 1 so not yet. For people asking about schools, I honestly beleive that this has a lot to do with what you would xpect from where you are taking them from. I didn't grow up in a city, and initially was worried about bringing up mu kids in a city as for me the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. However, I have some great friends here who are perfectly rounded individuals and who thoroughly enjoyed their childhood and have been given ome extra opportunities and seen things at an early age that I have had to wait until now to experience. I think it's important for my kids to experience life in a multi cultural space (we all know that Spain is wayyyyy behind on racism issues as a whole - look at recent Hamilton GP events, Football in La Liga and also International as far back as 2004) and I hope that they enjoy living in the Raval as much as I'm doing.

Well, I said the short version, but that was a little long winded, sorry! 9 years is hard to fit into a short post! I'd be happy to answer any specifics about the areas I've lived in, and I repeat that it wuld be great for some of the earlier posters to get back to us with any updates about what you guys decided upon, etc.

Great discussion. I am hoping to make a move from London to Barcelona in February/March of next year (2009). From my own research and the opinions on this forum Gracia seems like a good location for me. I do have a couple of questions.

1) What would a 1 bedroom rental in a decent area of Gracia cost? I don't want to break the bank but something mid-range to upper-mid-range -- a decent bachelor pad if you know what I mean. What are the lease/contract terms like (I'd prefer 6 months).

2) What are the good areas in Gracia? I would guess some are better than others -- any pointers on areas, streets, landmarks, etc. that are good to be around?

About me:
I'm a 30 year old professional (web development) and I guess I will be able to earn a decent wage. I'm a musician (guitarist) and fairly liberal minded. I prefer a quiet place to live that is within short travel distance of a vibrant place to socialize.

reggieband. Not to be a spoilsport, but you'll find it very difficult to find anywhere in Gracia for less than 850 Euros, and it'll be very tough to get a 6 month contract. Normal contracts are 5 years but you can get out after say a year. You best bet might be to look for someone who's going away for say 6 months (try loquo.com) as there's no time limit on the contract. Flat hunting in Barcelona (and especially Gracia) is notoriously tough, and with the rising prices of mortgage repayments, owners are having to put rents up, too.

with regards areas - don't stay too close to a pla?a (sol, for example) as you'll get no sleep mid week or at a wekeend (even if you plan going out!).

don't let me put you off though, as it's a great place and I'm sure you'll love it!

BCN rentals has some good advice there!

I'm guessing 850 euros sounds cheap compared to London, no?

Definitely don't say on a pla?a. Get at least a block away. But yeah, Gracia rules. You'll love it.

I was going to reply that 850 EUR is a steal compared to London. I pay 750 EUR for a share with 3 other people. I was looking at 1850 EUR for one bedrooms in decent areas of London. On the places I've looked online I see places I would be happy with in Barcelona Gracia for 1200 EUR which is not too far out of my budget. I think I could handle a 1 year contract but the best case scenario would be 8 months from Feb to Sep. loquo.com looks great -- like gumtree in London so I am sure I will use that to find a place when I move.

My plan is to find a place for 1-2 months before I leave (like a vacation rental) and then explore the area to become familiar.

Looks like a lot of places available near Lesseps and Paseo de Gracia. Something tells me I'd rather be near Fontana, Verdaguer, or Joanic although I'll know for sure once I get there.

> I was going to reply that 850 EUR is a steal compared to London. I pay 750 EUR for a share with 3 other people. I was looking at 1850 EUR for one bedrooms in decent areas of London. On the places I've looked online I see places I would be happy with in Barcelona Gracia for 1200 EUR which is not too far out of my budget. I think I could handle a 1 year contract but the best case scenario would be 8 months from Feb to Sep. loquo.com looks great -- like gumtree in London so I am sure I will use that to find a place when I move.

My plan is to find a place for 1-2 months before I leave (like a vacation rental) and then explore the area to become familiar.

Looks like a lot of places available near Lesseps and Paseo de Gracia. Something tells me I'd rather be near Fontana, Verdaguer, or Joanic although I'll know for sure once I get there.


Excellent dude - if you can go up as high as 1200 Euros you'll be able to find something easily. Be aware though, that Gracia is a traditionally small neighbourhood, so you'll either be looking for a studio apartment at around 45m2 or maybe even a 1 or 2 bedroomed place with the same square metres.

Don't commit yourself to a 2 week rental at a tourist rental - you might only need 1. If you can check out places available on loquo and even line up a couple of viewings for as soon as you arrive, you'll be surprised at how quickly you get the pricture. Go for a week, and you can always move the following week (gives you another chance to "live" (and more importantly "Sleep" in another part of the neighbourhood or even city. I know it sounds like I'm harping on about sleep but I lived in Gracia for around a month and it's very important!!

Paseig de Gracia is a great place to be living (although no supermarkets at all, so maybe not as logistical), and Gran de Gracia is the street which follows and that's where Fontana metro is - you sound like you're getting a good idea. Hope you're not disappointed by Gracia.

Hi.
This is a fantastic thread. Very useful for newcomers. Thanks everyone.

We will be moving to Barcelona in march/April and our situation is not typical.
Late 30s. 3kids (8/4/2). I will be working near Castellbisbal and will have to travel a lot to Girona and Barcelona airports.

I was told by my perspective employer that I should be enrolling kids to American school as apparently British school is not good and that I should be able to find a house near school for smth like EUR2500-2800 pm.

But people here tend to recommend to live in the city. We have a car (actually will have to get another one for school runs) so distance should not be a problem. But also hear about traffic problems in Barcelona.

Would appreciate advise on where would be the best for us to live and what do you think about local schools (fees for American school come to above EUR30k pa).

Thanks in advance

The area you'll be working in is a fairly high class neighbourhood, so maybe it's just that the American schools in that particular area are better than the British ones. If you live in Barcelona, depending on what time of day you need to get to work, it would take you around 30 minutes in a car through the tunnel de Vallvidrera (toll), but sometimes if you leave it 5 minutes more, then it'll take you over an hour. My wife used to work in Sant Cugat (next door) and travelled there evry day.

One small point. You mention maybe having to get 2 cars. This will be a nightmare and very expensive, UNLESS your rented accomodation has 2 car parking spaces. Parking in the city is very expensive and often difficult to find (we park about 4 blocks from where we actually live, and that's considered normal). It all depends on what you want from the move - if you're used to living in a city, and don't want to sacrifice that then stay in Barcelona itself. You might spend more time travelling than you'd like but you live right in the centre of the city. If your kids are used to having a garden or some free space and clean air, then stay near the school (but be prepared to pay).

With regards travelling to the airports, I don't really think it would make much of a difference living in BCN or near Castellbilbal - Girona is 1hour 15 minutes from the centre of Barcelona, and El Prat (BCN) is 20 minutes.

Local schools are all in Catalan, and Spanish. If your kids speak absolutely no Catalan (I'm guessing they don't!) then it may be a little difficult for them, but so is any move. If you think that the move is not going to be too long, then I don't know if I'd disrupt their schooling just to learn a language that isn't spoken anywhere else in the world. This all comes down to personal prefernece, though I think. I hope i'm not confusing matters!

hello all! may i firstly say brilliant forum!

i am a 34 year old single mum who is planning on a month or two month stay in barcelona with my 16 year old son, when he finishes school in june.

although i have read most of the above posts i am still unsure of where might be best for us to reside! i speak enough castillian to get by and would like to take this opportunity to polish it up a lot! we are both into art, i am a tattooist, so this will influence our decision greatly. however, i know that my son will be in his element if he can get to and from the beach when he fancies, with or without me!

we'll be doing this pretty much on a shoestring, and therefore i can no way afford a holiday apartment which charges per night, for example. i know barcelona isnt cheap but i'm sure that here, just like most places we have travelled, money can be saved AND a more real experience had, by sticking with the locals and avoiding stuff set up for tourists.

i am basically asking for any advice on which areas might be good for us and also if anyone knows of a cheap apartment that might be available for 1-2 months (i am about to trawl the websites mention on this site but it wouldnt mind renting direct from an individual).

thanks in advance for any help :)

> hello all! may i firstly say brilliant forum!

i am a 34 year old single mum who is planning on a month or two month stay in barcelona with my 16 year old son, when he finishes school in june.

although i have read most of the above posts i am still unsure of where might be best for us to reside! i speak enough castillian to get by and would like to take this opportunity to polish it up a lot! we are both into art, i am a tattooist, so this will influence our decision greatly. however, i know that my son will be in his element if he can get to and from the beach when he fancies, with or without me!

we'll be doing this pretty much on a shoestring, and therefore i can no way afford a holiday apartment which charges per night, for example. i know barcelona isnt cheap but i'm sure that here, just like most places we have travelled, money can be saved AND a more real experience had, by sticking with the locals and avoiding stuff set up for tourists.

i am basically asking for any advice on which areas might be good for us and also if anyone knows of a cheap apartment that might be available for 1-2 months (i am about to trawl the websites mention on this site but it wouldnt mind renting direct from an individual).

thanks in advance for any help :)


Hey there!

I hope your move to BCN goes well......it's a great city! I live in Viladecans, but places like Castelldefels, Gava etc outside the city tend to be cheaper than the centre. It takes 20 minutes in the train from Viladecans to Sants but it's not that bad, depepnding on how much rent you want to spend a month. The areas round the baix llobregat are normal and residential and reasonably priced if you're willing to travel......and they're close to nicer beaches as opposed to the BCN city beaches.

The Expatriator, nice list of where to live.... I think I will choose gracia also, but which of these neighborhoods inside gracia do you prefer? el camp d?en grassot i gr?cia nova, vila de gr?cia, la salut , vallcarca i els penitents, el coll

reggieband, where did you end up living?

Guys, this is a very good forum, and I noticed people actually get detailed feedback.

I would be grateful if you could also answer my questions.

I got a surprising offer from my boss about a new position opening in Barcelona. And I have zero idea about real salaries and spending in BCN.

I am a technical writer with a 10 years experience and a good wage (circa 2X average) living in Gdansk, Poland (I am Polish).

My question is what wage should I expect to get, to live comfortably in Barcelona with a wife (who will not have a job at the beginning) and a 6 year old. By comfortably I do not mean excessive, I mean, a 2 bedroom flat close to the city or lively area, restaurants once/twice a week, or so. Internet, mobile phones, cable TV etc.

What the best areas to look for flat for us and what would be the average price (in Gracia, for example). I am 30-late-something, my wife is 30, and we like to go out and enjoy life.

What is the cost of a school, and does it have to be international? Is it easy, safe, to find somebody to look after a kid, if we want to go out one day during the weekend?

I know this is a lot, but although at the age of 26, I moved from Sydney Australia to Gdansk Poland, I was by myself, now I have a mortgage and a wife and a kid. So need to be more careful. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Julian

PS. One last point. I am living comfortably here in Poland, so do not want to move if I will struggle financially from day to day in BCN . But on the other hand, Gdansk is not Barcelona. So the salary should be high, but not excessive.

Hi,
I can get you in contact with my former roomate she is polish - shoot me a pm with your email and I will forward it to her!
other than that I would say Barcelona became expensive as hell (alcohol, tabacco haircuts and taxi are still cheap though LOL)

check out http://www.loquo.com and idealista.com for flat prices and you can find further information here:
http://www.barcelona-metropolitan.com (they have an extensive classified section with a huge amount of expat meeting groups for different countries)

First language is catalan here so your child will learn catalan if you send it to a public school/kindergarten!

Well, if I am going to move in Barcelona, I will surely skip Barcelonita, because of high crime, I would try to choose from the rest of the barrios. dentists in bolton (http://www.freshdental.co.uk/)

Hello all, I suppose I should have posted this here first

I?ve read many of the articles and forums about housing but I have a few specifric questions that I hoped I could get some help with.

I?m moving to Barcelona in September, going to be there for about a year for grad school. I went to school for a semester there and just had to go back. I lived in Eixample. My questions are:

1. How quickly can I expect to find a decent apartment in Barcelona?

2. I know a bit about the different barrios, but I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations as to a section that is popular amongst English-speaking students/ young persons.

Thanks for any help.

I love Barcelona and I have already spent a vacation there. If I would move to Barcelona I would like to live in Eixample Derecha.
Loved the surrounding there and the beach is very close.
Barcelona is such a great city and I liked the people there. I was very impressed by the Sagrada Familia and all the other buildings built by Gaudi.

I came to Barcelona 2 weeks ago. Now I live in Eixample. It is a nice destrict to live,the best of the area is in my opinion the area around sagrda Familia. It not that loud, but with the metro or bus you can go so easliy in the citycentre and to the Rambla. I can recommend you. But I tell you it is so hrad to find a room that is nice and affordable. This you could not when you want to live near the port or the beach... I glad, that I got my room from barcelona-home. Did you guys found your rooms by yourself or also with the help of a company???

:( Diagonal Mar is not on the list. If you like big roads, free parking and all important shops near by then this area is pretty good. It?s not as lively as eixample and well... it?s very spaced out so you don?t have that neighborly feel of gracia. But it?s new, modern, well communicated to the east of BCN (meridiana, rondal litoral, connects to rondal dalt), subway is also not bad and many buses. Taxis fly down Garcia Faria every 5 minutes.

Vila olimpica is about a 20 minute walk (3km) west along Garcia Faria. Rent depends, can range from 1000? to quite pricey. Flats are usually larger in the 60m to 120m. I?ve been here since August and it?s very quiet, no issues at all, very safe. It?s just like Toronto sometimes. I stayed in eixample for 2 months and I just couldn?t handle the traffic (I drive to work.).

Diagonal Mar? I didn't put that on the list because I don't really consider it to be Barcelona. I mean, if you want that kind of lifestyle then stay in Toronto.

Just kidding! Well, sort of. I don't want to be harsh on you and if you're looking for skyscraper condos, car culture and shopping malls then there are much better countries to live in. I'm sorry if this is coming across offensive - feel free to disagree! Really! I'm just putting my (albeit harsh) opinion out there. :)

No hard feelings, it?s a nice place to live! Love it. Love seeing the ocean. Our eixample flat was absolutely beautiful but for the life of me I just couldn?t get out to rondal dalt in the mornings or coming home in the evenings. Everyone has different needs and preferences, that?s what?s so great about this city!!! Most of the people are welcoming and friendly... Have a great day friend.

Just made this account so I could post in this awesome thread.

I'm a 20 year old Norwegian, thinking about moving to Barcelona (for a year) in august or september. My plan is to work as a bartender at some place (will take a bartending education this summer), and on my spare time I'll be taking some Spanish classes in order to learn the language. Anyways, a lot of people have posted here but I'm still a bit confused...

Seeing as I'm young, and want to work as a bartender, I want to live in a die-hard clubbing area:P No kids, just me!

Ideally I want to find an apartment shared by lots of people (but with my own bedroom) (whats the English word for that anyways? "kollektiv" in Norwegian...) However if I can find a really cheap small studio-apartment I'd be up for that aswell. My absolute maximum rent would be 500 euros a month.

Firstly, what area would best fit me as all I'm gonne be doing is partying? Secondly, do you have any tips as to sites I could check out in order to find a shared apartment online?

Thanks in advance!

Hey Zeph,
Lots of options for you. Since you want clubs, the mega club areas are really in Eixample (both left and right) and near Port Olympic. Eixample also has a lot of huge shared apartments with lots of young people. That said, it's not my favourite area just because the streets are huge and therefore the noise is a problem. Not a lot of parks or really nice attractions to Eixample either (IMHO). Some of the areas of Eixample closer to Universitat or Urquinaona are ideal however, because they are close to the centre, plus close to the clubs, plus close to the metro. Alternatively you could look for a big flat in El Borne or Barceloneta or Poble Nou to get close to Port Olympic while having a great neighbourhood too. Barceloneta has a lot of petty crime though. I'm surprised it's ranked so highly in our poll above.

El Raval may be a good option too, but I know a lot less about it and it's been changing drastically in the last few years.

Don't rent a small studio. Go for shared accommodations. You'll have a great time.

*ah, to be 20 and moving to Barcelona again...*

Thanks a lot! I'm certaintly going to check it out. Going on a weeklong trip in may, I'll definitely check out all those areas then. :)
However... The last week I've been having second thoughts about moving to Barcelona... Not because of the city, but because I really want to learn Spanish next year, and I had no idea the Catalan language was that different from Spanish...

The thing is... I really don't speak a lot of Spanish, and I figured I might learn more if i moved to Madrid. I really don't know though, because my first choice would be Barcelona for sure... What do you think?

The Catalan is great, the Spanish is great. Most people speak Spanish in Barcelona, at least those you'd be hanging out with. Just make sure you focus on learning it as too many young expats get by without putting in the effort as it IS possible to get by on just English for the most part. Jump right into some intensive Spanish lessons for a month or so. You'll meet lots of people too. I recommend International House in the Borne.

The Ciutat Vella is a unique place to live, but it has problems too. Street noise may be a bother, and getting a car through the narrow (if picturesque) streets is a nightmare. The abundance of awed tourists means that crime is higher here than in other areas of Barcelona, and you'll have to watch your wallet.

I have just been offered the chance by my company to move to our office in Barcelona. I am very interested and read the posts on where to live, my issue is that I would like to take my dog with me and I would like to know which areas would be best. The office's zip code is 08003. I don't want to be too far out of the city but would like somewhere I can feel safe taking the dog out early morning and at night. I am a 45 year old woman.

After reading the post, it looks like Eixample might be a good option and would it be pet friendly. Also are the Spanish more torelant of pet owner, i.e. sitting with them in/outside of cafes?

I would appreciate any feedback.

They're relatively tolerant of pet owners. I don't see a lot of people bringing their dogs into bars or cafes, but since most cafes offer outdoor seating it's not usually a problem. Eixample is probably alright, but not a lot of parks. You might want to look at Poble Nou for the access to the beaches and some of the larger parks. Close to Ciutadella would be ideal I'd think.

I lived in Ciutat Vella for a few years. It is probably one of the best places you can live if you are only staying a few months or years in Barcelona - if you stay longer you will get tired of it and move to a more calm zone in the city like Eixample or Sarria.

Thanks for your responses, this gives me some good ideas on where to start looking.

see, at least the administrators bother to answer! thanks a lot for the comment, it was very informative. i think everybody would like to live close to the beach, that would be just too nice! i went to Barcelona once and i found it quite "small". by this i mean that everything can be reached quite easily, if you don't live in the farthest suburbs. so, don't worry about the beach and the city center, you will get there. ;)

hello. i saw this thread and i had to register.
i currently live in ljubljana,slovenia and i'd like to move to Barcelona.
im 20 and just like Zeph said, im thinking about being a bartender (i know it wont be easy for me to get this job bcs im a man:) thats why id take actually any job avaliable just to get regular money for room/apartment...
the problem is i don't speak much spanish/catalan but im ready to learn!
i have some money aside for this adventure bcs i know myself and usually if i like it somewhere im stayin for a little longer than expected.
id also like to find a shared apartment with young people who are ready to enyoj every second in this wonderful city.
thx for ur answers&ideas;!

Hello. I am considering to move and buy an appartment or house in Barcelona or its viscinity for my family. I have two little boys; so preferably the living place should be safe and socially developed (I mean school, medical services, sports, etc). Can anyone recommend me a good place for family stay in Barcelona (or its viscinity)? Thanks.

Hi,

I'm moving to Barcelona from the UK in October and am trying to work where to live.

My girlfriend and I are looking for a 2 bed furnished apartment with parking and our budget is between 1000-1500 euro p/m.

I'll be driving to work near the airport and am looking for somewhere noise won't keep me awake but has good bars/restaurants and low crime rate.

Any suggestions and/or recommended estate agents would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

El Putxet is right is near Sant Gervasi La Bonanova, which means you are still in a posh silent clean area of Barcelona where you will not be near the Metro. Most likely, you will need a car. The pluses of the Zona Alta (the term used to refer to Sant Gervasi, Sarri?) are: (a) silence, (b) silence, (c) silence (d) cleanliness (e) extreme cleanliness (f) silence (g) people have domestic help ... and yes, there are good private schools there. But it is possible to live elsewhere in the City and send your child to a good private school, whether in Sarri? or elsewhere.
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I've been living in the Sagrada Familia area and its perfect in my opinion. A lot less noisy and hectic than Las Ramblas but still very central and with easy access to the beach. Its not the cheapest area but |I love living in this area.

Exiample is a very good alternative and certainly worth considering.

I would also recommend the Sagrada Familia (http://www.interactivearchitecture.net/temple-sagrada-familia-barcelona-spain/) area if you can. Its a popular area to live in so it may be quite hard to find a suitable place but I would definitely advise allowing yourself plenty of time to find somewhere as it can be pretty competitive over there!
I would recommend casamundo.co.uk (http://www.casamundo.co.uk/) if you're looking for an apartment to tie you over. They have quite a few accommodation options available in Barcelona so may be worth having a look about.

I've been in Barcelona for 10 days and it's really wonderful. Wanna come back soon.

I recommend Sagrada Familia area too. I've friends living there and it's nice to live. Sants is a good option if you can afford and need to travel around Spain/other countries because the train and bus station are there.

Is there are anyone here lining in Sant Cugat Del Valles. Want to learn more about this town.

Hello, I live in San Francisco and would like to have a second home in Europe. A cosmopolitan city, close to water, great weather and food, with art and culture. I was considering Barcelona. i would love your opinions about it, compared to other cities in Europe, like Amsterdam, Prague, Geneva, Zurich, Paris, Rome.

Also if money is not an issue where would one live in Barcelona. i am single 54 years old and a writer. Would love something very safe, quiet but walking distance to restaurants and shooping, museums etc.

thanks

> Hello, I live in San Francisco and would like to have a second home in Europe. A cosmopolitan city, close to water, great weather and food, with art and culture. I was considering Barcelona. i would love your opinions about it, compared to other cities in Europe, like Amsterdam, Prague, Geneva, Zurich, Paris, Rome.

Also if money is not an issue where would one live in Barcelona. i am single 54 years old and a writer. Would love something very safe, quiet but walking distance to restaurants and shooping, museums etc.

thanks

Compared to those other cities, it's the only one with a all year great weather, beach life, sea city cosmopolitanism, with some of the most exciting food and culture experiences available in Europe (only competing with Berlin and Paris IMHO). I'm biased though, after traveling much of the world it's still my fav city to live in. It's still more affordable than other major Euro cities.

District-wise, I think Gracia is ideal, especially for the artistically inclined. I'd also take a look at Poble Sec, tucked between Montjuic and downtown, still quiet with smaller streets and historical buildings but easy access to the best of BCN (bonus that it's closer to Sants train station to get away when necessary).

Thanks a lot!. I have been doing my research and the following neighborhoods jump out. Can you compare the following neighborhoods for me please if it is not too much of an effort. The intent is to live there.

1. Pedralbes
2. Sarria
3. Sant Gervasi
4. El Born
5. La Ribera
6. Gracia

I like a quiet neighborhood so that I can concentrate on my writing, but with close proximity to great restaurants, cafes, greenery, parks etc. Water views and hill top would be great. Also if you could rank these neighborhoods also given what I have stated. I love elevation and water views.

Thank you

>
1. Pedralbes
2. Sarria
3. Sant Gervasi
4. El Born
5. La Ribera
6. Gracia

I like a quiet neighborhood so that I can concentrate on my writing, but with close proximity to great restaurants, cafes, greenery, parks etc. Water views and hill top would be great. Also if you could rank these neighborhoods also given what I have stated. I love elevation and water views.

Thank you

1. I don't know Pedralbes well actually, but geographically it could offer you elevation and distant water views.
2. No sea views but nice old town with history. Very upper class.
3. Sant Gervasi can offer distant sea views, not well communicated with transport so you should own a car.
4. El Born - not so quiet anymore but a wonderful neighborhood. Similar to North Beach in SF. Very close to the beaches but hard to get a view because it's low. Top floor apartments might have one though.
5. La Ribera - similar to El Born.
6. Gracia is my favorite. My old attic apartment had amazing views, fairly easy to access all the best that BCN has to offer. Great restaurants and lots of artists. Can get a bit rowdy at times but is probably the most young and progressive neighborhood with tons of culture.

Your'e going to have to make an extended visit and check out some apartments in these areas, no doubt.

Hola tothom,

Great thread, and interesting to see that it's still live after 4-5 years!

I moved to Perpignan from Paris last year to be closer to Barcelona yet without the complications of switching all my tax, social security, banks accounts, etc. But after a year here I've found that it's not really close enough to BCN to practically spend much time there, and additionally, the city is quite quiet and doesn't really offer much of a vibrant lifestyle in-itself.

So, less than a year later, I've started the search for apartments in BCN. I just came across this site, and this thread offers some really great insight, so I just wanted to ask a few questions on the off-chance there's someone who's willing and able to answer!

I'm a single guy in my late twenties who knows the city center reasonably well to walk around/spend time in, but I'm not very familiar with the different districts to live in. I have a few criteria I want to include with my search, so I would also be interested to see whether you think they're possible!

In an ideal world, I'd like to live somewhere with a reasonably friendly/vibrant atmosphere, but no so crazy as I work from home (I'm a web designer). I have a car (necessary in Perpignan!) and I love to go snowboarding, so somewhere with easy-ish parking and access to one of the Rondas, though not miles away from the center would be great.

When I come to BCN, I usually park near by Sant Marti, as there's a decent amount of places to park, and it's quite practical to get into the center. So I wondered if anyone has any knowledge of this area as it seems a reasonable place to start looking. It also seems that Gracia would be a good option based on the opinions in this thread, though perhaps more expensive?

Price-wise, I've seen some pretty good deals on some of the rental search websites, with prices around 10? per 10m2 for unfurnished apartments. I have a 60m2 apartment here in Perpignan, so it would be great if I can find something similar around the 600? mark. It seems possible, as so many apartments are being reduced due to the crisis, but is that being overly optimistic?

Anyway, my apologies for the long post, but any responses would be truly appreciated. Many thanks in advance.

Moltes gr?cies!

Hola,

Couple of questions I'm moving to Barcelona in a week.
25 years old, male, 180cm, London, UK


* I want to live in the city centre, preferable near the beach. How "safe" is La Barceloneta? How's this area as far a noise and crime?
* What are the demographics of Cuitat Vella/ La Barceloneta? Like average % of Catalans/ Spanish, expats, immigrants, middle class/ upper class.
* Average rent for a studio or 1 bedroom apartment?
* Is 1700 Gross salary per month. Is that enough to live on? (no kids, no car, maybe party once a week).
* Spanish or Catalan? Which language is more "useful", from a foreigners perspective. Do expats tend to learn/ speak Catalan or Spanish?
* How widely is English spoken?

Gracias.

holla and nice to meet you
my name is lee im 23 years old single from Tel aviv israel .
i searching for the best place to live in BCN.
i was in barcelona for two weeks and lived at Cituat Vella .
from my research i understand that the good places to me is Eixample or Gracia .
im searching for good place, central , near Gym , Resutrands and bar and near the "heart' , where is all the young. i hope i explain my self good .

i have my own bussniess throw internet and my slary is like 1200-1500 euro per month . this will be easy to me to live in BCN? (appartmento 700-800euro i guess, no car and just me)

gracias
lee

My personal top picks of places to live would be

Barceloneta if you're looking for a typically sun, sea, and sand lifestyle (and don't mind paying more for it)
Eixample if you're searching for a well located and connected, central apartment in the city
Gr?cia/Sant Gervasi if you want a typically laidback Barcelonese lifestyle with a strong culture in a quiet area

Living in Barcelona has its perks, and there are many distinct neighbourhoods to choose from when house hunting. On the Mediterranean, just two?three hours from Andorran ski slopes and the French border, Barcelona is famous for its excellent weather, relaxed lifestyle and historic buildings. Constant renewal and renovation over the last 150 years mean the city has a real mix of styles and neighbourhoods, making it easy to find the home that suits you, whether it's an 18th-century town house or a new-build apartment.

We help to everybody who want to move to Barcelona.
We would be happy to help with any questions you may have.
www.bllrelocation.com

Would it be possible though to get some information on surrounding areas that are outside the city of Barcelona itself. Perhaps a short train journey away?