Regardless of what are your reasons for moving to Barcelona, planning where to stay in such a diverse city is an important decision to take. The neighborhoods of Barcelona offer different experiences and vibes, from historic buildings by the beach to new world-class architectural luxury, so it really depends on what you are looking for. That is why we have created this guide to help you briefly understand the main neighborhoods of Barcelona and what they have to offer.
Ciutat Vella
Located at the heart of Barcelona (name translates to “Old City” from Catalan), this district is the center of Barcelona and at the same time the busiest and most visited area. Main points of interest are the central plaza “Plaça Catalunya” and the famous “Las Ramblas” street, in addition to many ancient buildings and narrow streets in the Gothic quarter, and tourist attractions such as “El Catedral de Gaudí” and “Arc De Triomf”.
Other subareas are El Raval, El Born and the beach area “Barceloneta”. Ciutat Vella is a hotspot for tourists with many local stores, restaurants and bars and particularly famous for its nightlife. If you’re looking to experience the vibrant ambience of Barcelona, this is the place for you. On the other hand, it might not be the best option for someone looking for a quiet area.
Eixample
Characterized by its wide streets and the famous Barcelona grid design of buildings and avenues, Eixample (which means “Extension” in Catalan) is the foundation of how the new Barcelona took its shape. The district starts from Placa Catalunya at the center up north and is divided into two sub districts by Barcelona’s most famous shopping street “Passeig de Gracia”.
The right side of Eixample includes Gaudí’s architectural wonder “La Sagrada Familia”, while the left side attracts more youngsters as it is filled with cafes and restaurants in the recently renovated “Sant Antoni” area.
Gracía
Being the most artistic and bohemian part of Barcelona, Gracia was originally an independent village before becoming a part of Barcelona and has its very own hippie style and culture. Populated by a blend of young artists, professionals and more senior Catalans, it is considered to be the best place to live if you want to be away from the touristic areas of Barcelona.
“Park Guell” is one of the main attractions in Gracia that brings in thousands of visitors, but also it is big and diverse enough to allow residents and neighbors to enjoy its facilities. Locals will tell you “who lives in Gracia, stays in Gracia”, which is partly true because it has all the amenities, shops and restaurants you’ll ever need and is a particular community in itself.
Sants-Montjuic
One of the biggest neighborhoods in Barcelona, Sants-Montjuic is located at the southern part of the city and is considered as a residential middle-class neighborhood. The district has some attractions like the Montjuic hill and the Olympic village (“Poble Espanyol”), which hosted the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
“Placa Espanya” is located at the bottom of Montjuic and is a well connected area with many towers, shopping malls, restaurants and bars. The area around Plaza Espanya is a strategic accommodation spot, since it is very well connected through Metro and RENFE (train), but it is not considered the city center. You can have a calm life while being only a stone’s throw away from the hustle of the city.
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Les Corts
Located around the western part of Barcelona and home to its famous “Camp Nou” football stadium, Les Corts is a residential upper-middle-class neighborhood. Formed of a blend of old stylish buildings and new commercial towers and shopping malls, this neighborhood offers a great living experience and less attractions for tourists.
If you want to experience the local residential life with necessary amenities in a tranquil neighbourhood, you have found your holy grail.
Sarria-Sant Gervasi
Located on the northwest of Barcelona between Les Corts and Gracia, this neighborhood is an upper-class residential area, bordered by the mountains that surround Barcelona. It is considered as one of the quietest and safest areas in Barcelona.
This neighborhood was the last village added to Barcelona and still has a village-like vibe with quiet streets and parks. The main tourist attractions is the “Tibidabo” mountain, which is home to the Temple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus the summit, which can be seen from all over Barcelona.
The Tibidabo amusement park is located right next to the church and is a great destination for a day walk. Sarria-Sant Gervasi is considered the posh area of Barcelona, where you will find players of FC Barcelona and lawyers as your neighbours.
Sant Martí
The second most populated district of Barcelona, Sant Martí is located on the eastern side of the city and bordered by the Mediterranean. The “Vila Olympica” neighborhood by the Barcelona beach and “Port Olimpic” where you find the seaside attractions such as nightclubs, restaurants and boats, are all part of Sant Marti.
This district has undergone a big transformation over the last decade from an industrial to technological hub, and now it is home for technological companies (Barcelona’s Silicon Valley, a hotspot for Start-ups is called 22@) commercial towers and many shopping malls.
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