The Best Suburbs to Live in Barcelona  

The beach of La Barceloneta in Barcelona Photo By Ralf Roletschek – Wikimedia

The Best Suburbs to Live in Barcelona  

Barcelona is the capital and largest city of Spain and it lies on its northeastern coast. The city is good for business and trade, plus it’s a major financial and industrial center with modern industries dealing with IT and biotechnology.   

With a population of 1.6 million, Barcelona is a busy, dynamic and cosmopolitan city. It is a friendly city with around 20% of the city’s population made up of foreigners. Being along a coast with beaches, tourism is vibrant. 

What’s more, it has a very attractive climate that is mild all year round with constant temperatures, nothing too extreme. 

This city has many interesting and unique neighborhoods with quiet residential areas. Here are the best suburbs to live in Barcelona. 

1. Gracia 

This is a family-friendly neighborhood with lots of green spaces and public transport. The district is located in the north of the city and is like a little village-like town. 

Recently, it has become one of the trendiest areas to live over the central areas because it is much less touristic. Property rents range from affordable apartments to expensive homes.  

The district is famous for its markets and shops as well as restaurants and bars. People prefer it here because of the quiet, charming plazas while still being in a very well-connected and well-developed area with a great number of shops, services, and cultural and leisure facilities. 

Gracia is a perfect neighborhood to discover the traditions of Barcelona, especially during the annual Garcia Festival in August, one of the activities and festivities in this lively area. 

2. L’Eixample 

A beautiful house. Photo by R ARCHITECTURE on Unsplash

North of the old city, is this popular most central residential area where the modern Barcelona was born. It is best for couples and families especially because it has good schools, good services and a great choice of restaurants. 

It is a very safe area with organized wide streets, sidewalks, beautiful buildings, and green areas. When it comes to moving around, there are multiple excellent link options available. 

Although there are many expensive properties, cheaper options can also be found. This neighborhood is the most modern area of the city. 

3. Barceloneta 

This roughly triangular neighborhood is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea, the Moll d’Espanya of Port Vell, and the El Born neighborhood. It is close to famous sites such as La Rambla, the Gothic Quarter, or the Park Ciutadella. 

With a sleepy village atmosphere, Barceloneta is the best place to live for beach lovers. Living here will make getting to the beach incredibly easy and so spending a couple of hours at the beach will easily fit into your day. 

The area has many restaurants and nightclubs along the boardwalk and is also popular for its nightlife. 

4. Saint Marti 

Sant Martí is a large district with huge stretches of beach and modern living amenities. It is home to Barcelona’s Olympic village and is very popular with those who enjoy water sports because it gives easy access to the beach.  

The area has modern shopping centers as well as more traditional shopping streets. It is the home of new technology businesses that are transforming everyday life. 

Previously, it was home to more traditional industries and so it is regarded as an up-and-coming area. Here, apartments tend to be large but it is possible to find smaller and more affordable homes. 

5. El Raval 

Suburbs. Photo by FilterGrade on Unsplash

El Raval is a trendy neighborhood with a thriving arts scene. If you are looking for affordable housing, this is it. it has some of the city’s top museums and restaurants.   

This area wasn’t always this way, it was viewed as a dangerous neighborhood, but the local government has transformed it into a vibrant, multicultural neighborhood with great nightlife. 

The area is famous for its boutiques selling vintage clothing and accessories plus it is home to La Boqueria, a world-famous food market.  

6. El Born 

El Born is one of the most popular areas to live in Barcelona. This place is home to an ample array of bars, restaurants, and museums. This area is very popular with tourists and the local international community. 

The neighborhood is one of the most fashionable and historic parts of the city. It has the advantage of being both very central and close to the beach. 

While the setting has a great deal of charm, the majority of apartments in El Born are not as spacious and detailed plus they often lack modern amenities such as elevators. 

You get to know the neighbors during the regular twilight-balcony gatherings that take place to watch over fights bursting out in plazas beneath or witness the guy living opposite throwing buckets of water on intoxicated youths. 

7. Sarria – Sant Gervasi 

A cool neighbourhood. Photo by FilterGrade on Unsplash

This is the most exclusive and expensive area in Barcelona. The wealthy live in this neighborhood which has spacious homes with pools and attractive gardens. The area attracts families, executives, young professionals, and students sponsored by their rich families.  

With its laid-back lifestyle, excellent top-performing schools, high-end shopping places, bars, and restaurants, this area offers green spaces, a small-town feeling, and a quiet environment.   

It has some nice 20th-century apartment blocks generally offering more space, light, and comfort than those in the old town.  

8. Poblenou 

This area is an Up-and-coming former industrial neighborhood with chic living spaces and quick access to the beach. 

A former industrial hub and home to hundreds of factories, this area has many warehouses that are being transformed into trendy flats and artists’ studios.  

While the streets of Poblenou don’t have the same buzz as you’ll find closer to the center of town, you get a lot more space for your money in this area, and there are still plenty of shops, bars, and restaurants around.  

9. El Clot 

The neighborhood is mostly a residential area with everything you need for everyday life. These include shops, bars, restaurants, and a park. for cheaper rent. 

As prices hike in one neighborhood after the other, this place has cheaper rent. It is the area to live in. El Clot has no major tourist sites which means the area doesn’t get too mad in the summer.  

10. Sants-Montjuic 

The suburbs. Photo by Michael Tuszynski on Unsplash

One of the greenest residential areas popular with locals. This area has a small-town atmosphere, is popular with families,s and has affordable property and rentals. It also has great views of the city and the ocean.  

Sants is not as attractive as many parts of Barcelona but is well served with shops and easily navigated with good connections to other parts of the city.