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El Raval
Architecture: El Raval is a melting pot of old and new.
One of the must-see sights is the Gothic Revival Church of Sant Pau del Camp, with its pretty gardens and tranquil cloister.
You’ll find medieval streets, historic buildings, and modern art spaces like the MACBA (Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona), which is also the unofficial skate park of BCN.
Origins: Dating back to the Middle Ages, El Raval was historically outside the city walls and has long been a working-class area.
Pros:
Cultural Diversity: A rich blend of cultures and cuisines.
Art and Nightlife: Home to many galleries, dive-bars, and live music venues.
Cons:
Safety Concerns: Some parts can feel unsafe, especially at night.
Overcrowding: High tourist traffic can be overwhelming.
My Two Bits: I like El Raval and have a few investment properties there. The ROI is one of the best in Barcelona. It also has a lot of authentic restaurants, most of the ethnic restaurants in Barcelona cater to the local palate, so nothing spicy or particularly strong. In Raval, they are cooking for ‘their’ people so the flavors are authentic and bold. It is a mixture of Eastern Europeans, Middle Eastern, African, Spanish, and whomever else. It is slowly being gentrified, and in the heart, you can find beautiful million-dollar lofts, and 2 streets away, tiny, old, decrepit flats.
Pro Tip: Late at night it gets seedy. Travel with friends and stay on well lit streets.
The 10 Most Popular Neighborhoods for Expats in Barcelona:
Barceloneta, Barcelona
Architecture: Characterized by narrow streets and traditional fishermen’s houses, Barceloneta is a unique neighborhood that perfectly blends history and modernity. In recent years, the influx of tourists and locals alike has brought more modern apartments to the beachfront. It is quite popular with foreign students.
Origins: Developed in the 18th century for displaced residents of La Ribera, (Interesting chapter in Barcelona history).
Pros:
Beach Access: Beach access is unbeatable. Though it is not the best beach, but it is a beach!
Seafood: Renowned, rightly so for excellent seafood restaurants.
Cons:
Tourism Overload: Extremely crowded in the summer.
Noise: Constant hustle and bustle can be tiring, and if you’re looking for peace and quiet, this would not be the ideal neighborhood for you. However, if you thrive on energy and excitement, Barceloneta is the perfect place to be.
The 10 Most Popular Neighborhoods for Expats in Barcelona:
Eixample, Barcelona
Architecture: Known for its grid layout and Modernista architecture, including Gaudí’s Casa Batlló and La Pedrera.
Origins: Developed in the mid-19th century as an extension of the old city.
Pros:
Architecture: Stunning buildings on every corner. Beautiful sgraffito on many of the buildings. (A decorative technique that involves scratching through a surface layer of plaster or stucco to reveal a different colored layer beneath, creating intricate patterns and designs.)
Amenities: Plenty of shops, restaurants, and public transport options.
Cons:
Expensive: One of the pricier areas to live in.
Traffic: Busy streets can be noisy and polluted.
My Two Bits: Eixample is huge, in fact, it is so huge it is split into left and right Eixample, there is even a Gay Eixample. It is hard to generalize, as there are so many parts. The one thing they have in common is the grid-like layout. There is a lot of old money in Eixample, and the prices in the most desired areas are sky high.
Pro Tip: Eixample is a busy area with a lot of traffic. Look for properties on quieter side streets or higher floors to minimize noise.
The 10 Most Popular Neighborhoods for Expats in Barcelona:
Gothic Quarter (Barri Gòtic), Barcelona
Architecture: A labyrinth of narrow medieval streets, filled with gothic buildings, churches, and hidden squares.
Origins: The heart of the old city, with structures dating back to Roman times.
Pros:
Historic Charm: Living history with ancient buildings and cobblestone streets.
Central Location: Close to major attractions and transport hubs.
Cons:
Tourist Density: Always crowded with tourists.
Living Space: Most Apartments are small and in a state of disrepair.
My Two Bits: It is fun to walk through the ancient streets. It has a medieval vibe, but there are throngs of tourists forever wandering through the narrow streets. The smell of weed and piss forever waft through the air. There is a drug dealer on every corner who are interestingly usually older Spanish guys…. And a lot of the apartments (most?) are lived in by people on the dole or social security. There are a few nicely refurbished apartments, but not that many.
Pro Tip: In my opinion, it is a fun place to visit, but not ideal to invest in.
The 10 Most Popular Neighborhoods for Expats in Barcelona:
Gràcia, Barcelona
Architecture: A mix of bohemian, modernist, and traditional Catalan buildings. Known for its vibrant plazas and community feel.
Origins: Originally an independent village until it was annexed by Barcelona in the 19th century.
Pros:
Local Vibe: Strong sense of community and local culture.
Cultural Events: Frequent festivals and neighborhood events.
Pedestrian Friendly: They randomly close streets to car traffic. This neighborhood has the least amount of traffic
Cons:
Limited Parking: There is almost no street parking or parking garages (could also be a Pro)
Pricey: Increasingly expensive due to its popularity.
My Two Bits: This is the hipster neighborhood. Strange, laid back, be your weirdest self and be welcomed neighborhood. I like Gràcia, it would be a nice place to live. It really has a distinct vibe. It feels like you have ‘left’ Barcelona. I love doing a lazy Sunday tapas crawl through Gràcia. It is a popular area to live, and the prices reflect that. I would recommend this as a good place to buy a home if you like the vibe, but it is difficult to find an investment property here with a good ROI. It is a very bike and pedestrian-friendly neighborhood.
Pro Tip: For finding a home – Look for a side street that is not near a bar. There are a lot of bars, and a lot of bar noise.
The 10 Most Popular Neighborhoods for Expats in Barcelona:
Poble Sec, Barcelona
Architecture: Traditional 19th-century buildings, with a growing number of gentrification renovations. (Some nice, some not)
Origins: Developed in the late 19th century, it’s one of the city’s older working-class neighborhoods.
Pros:
Authentic Feel: Less touristy, with a genuine local atmosphere.
Tapas Bars: It has the best concentration of affordable tapas (pinchos) bars in the city on Calle de Blai. Expect to wait to be seated. When the weather is nice is get’s busy.
Cons:
Pricing: Some very unrealistic sellers in this area
Noise: Busy nightlife can be loud.
My Two Bits: I like the area, it is a good location at the base of Montjuïc. The best tapas street in the city, and out of the touristy path. You will notice some tapas bars have a line of people waiting and others are deserted. There is a reason. Go get in line, and avoid the empty tapas bars. I really wanted to live here at one point. 10 years ago I imagine was the time to invest here. The prices I see here are mostly sellers who are dreamers, asking 30%-50% over what I think the fair-market value should be. I would live there if I found a reasonably priced property.
Pro Tip: Many of these properties are being marketed and priced as though they were refurbished, when the only refurbishment done was some paint. If they claim to have been refurbished, ask specifically what was refurbished and ask to see receipts.
The 10 Most Popular Neighborhoods for Expats in Barcelona:
Sant Antoni, Barcelona
Architecture: Eixample-style grid layout with modernist influences. The Mercat de Sant Antoni is a highlight.
Origins: Grew significantly in the 19th century with the construction of the market.
Pros:
Trendy: Up-and-coming with many new restaurants and cafes.
Market: One of the prettiest food markets in the city.
Cons:
Prices: Rising rapidly due to its newfound popularity.
My Two Bits: Sant Antoni is one of those neighborhoods that was off the radar for a long time. Sandwiched between El Raval and Poble Sec, it has its own vibe. Fairly affordable middle-class neighborhood. Recently, it has become more popular, with some trendy bars and cafes popping up. There is a lot of variety in the buildings so doing comparable sales can be difficult. The food market is beautiful and big, and also ½ empty. Though recently refurbished, its glory days are long gone.
Pro Tip: There are several small parks in Sant Antoni if you are lucky enough to find one nearby for sale.
The 10 Most Popular Neighborhoods for Expats in Barcelona:
El Born (also known as La Ribera), Barcelona
Architecture: Medieval streets with gothic and baroque buildings, mixed with trendy boutiques and bars.
Origins: Historically a merchant district, it has roots going back to the medieval period.
Pros:
Vibrant: Great nightlife and cultural attractions.
Central: Close to many key city sights.
Cons:
Tourism: It is overcrowded and over commercialized.
Cost: Expensive.
My Two Bits: I love El Born – to visit. I would not want to live there. My partner on the other hand is actively looking for a place to buy and live there. The location is undoubtedly great. But it is crowded and noisy, too much for me to live happily. But it is walking distance from the beach, Parc de la Ciutadella, Palau de la Música, and tons of other fun places.
Pro Tip: I would suggest renting an apartment before buying. For an investment property, you can definitely find a fixer-upper, but with those old buildings, you never know what it’s going to cost once you start the refurbishment. I have seen 100,000€ refurbishment budgets turn into 200,000€ projects, once city inspectors start passing by.
The 10 Most Popular Neighborhoods for Expats in Barcelona:
Sarrià-Sant Gervasi
Architecture: Elegant mansions, modernist houses, and spacious apartments. A more suburban feel within the city.
Origins: A former independent village, annexed in the early 20th century.
Pros:
Peaceful: Quiet and residential, ideal for families.
Green Spaces: Lots of parks and outdoor areas.
Cons:
Isolation: Can feel disconnected from the city’s hustle and bustle (could also be a Pro).
Costly: One of the most expensive areas to live in.
My Two Bits: This is a proper suburb of Barcelona. It is a beautiful affluent neighborhood. In most of the city, having a car is optional but not in Sarrià-Sant Gervasi.
Pro Tip: Figure out your logistics if you are living here. If you work in the city, figure out your commute, and where you will park in the city.
The 10 Most Popular Neighborhoods for Expats in Barcelona:
Poblenou, Barcelona
Architecture: Former industrial area now revitalized with modern apartments, lofts, and tech company offices
Origins: Historically an industrial hub, now a tech and innovation district.
Pros:
Innovation: Tech and startup hub, great for young professionals.
Beach Access: Close to the beach and has a relaxed vibe.
Cons:
Transformation: Ongoing construction and development with no end in sight.
Distance: Slightly removed from the city (Could also be seen as a Pro).
My Two Bits: This was one of my favorites for a long time – before 22@. Now it is the hub of Barcelona’s tech start-ups, and all of those old warehouses are being converted into offices and lofts. Prices are very speculative. Often referred to as ‘Barcelona’s Silicon Valley’. The public transportation could be better, but it has a nice stretch of beach, that is less touristy. It is very livable, but for an investment… You would have to have a long-term strategy. The quick bucks have been made, but if the tech sector really explodes, it could be like owning a property in Silicon Valley before those tiny homes were being sold for millions of dollars… Too risky and too long for my taste.
Pro Tip: If you have the budget, this is one of the few places you could actually buy a warehouse and convert into lofts, and turn a profit.
By no means an exhaustive list, these are the neighborhoods our clients are most frequently interested in. If you have any specific questions feel free to reach out to us. We are more than happy to help.
