Barcelona Centre
ABOUT BARCELONA CENTRE
Set in an enviable location on the shores of the Mediterranean, Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia and Spain’s second largest city. At its heart sits the imposing Plaça de Catalunya, a huge square which connects the historic Old Town and the Eixample district. Home to the iconic El Corte Inglés department store, the square brings together five metro lines and several major traffic intersections. This central point in Barcelona sits at the top of La Rambla, the wide pedestrianised street which runs right through the heart of the city centre from the port.
Explore Barcelona Centre
The city has ten main areas – or ‘barrios’ – each with their own distinctive characteristics, but Barcelona Centre is essentially made up of the districts of the Old
Town and Eixample.
The Ciutat Vella
The Ciutat Vella, the Old Town, at the heart of the city, comprises the Barri Gòtic (Gothic Quarter), El Raval, La Barceloneta and Barri de la Ribera (which includes El Born). The Barri Gòtic has been inhabited since Roman times and is a delightful tangle of winding lanes, with antique shops, atmospheric cafes and bars, that stretch down to the seafront. Packed with history, it tends to be the first port of call for tourists.
El Raval is a vibrant neighbourhood, home to the Centre of Contemporary Culture of Barcelona and the Contemporary Art Museum. Its colourful food market, La Boquería, packed with stalls piled high with olives, seafood, cheese and fruit is a must-see stop for foodies.
The former fishing village that now makes up La Barceloneta is a magnet for locals and tourists. Tempting seafood restaurants, distinctive architecture and lively beaches all add to its appeal.
Eixample
The architecturally-rich area of Eixample, right in the heart of the city, is a highly desirable location and one of the best places to live in Barcelona. The district is the most populated part of Barcelona, with great transport connections, upmarket residences, services, shopping, university campuses and a unique atmosphere. In fact, the neighbourhood of L’Esquerra de L’Eixample area was named the coolest neighbourhood in the world by Time Out last year!
Everyday life in Barcelona Centre
The atmosphere in Barcelona is refreshingly cosmopolitan. Beaches, great weather, a late night scene and a relaxed lifestyle are all a part of everyday life.
Outdoor lifestyle
Barcelona’s typical Mediterranean climate of hot summers and relatively mild winters makes the city an attractive proposition if you enjoy living an outdoor lifestyle. Living in Barcelona’s Centre leaves you well-placed for leisurely evenings sipping mojitos and nibbling on tapas in several of the city’s squares or down in the port.
Sports facilities in Barcelona
There are numerous gyms, swimming pools and other fitness facilities to choose from. You’ll find several VivaGym and Holmes Place gyms in the city centre while for tennis fans, there is a selection of clubs within a 5km drive. If you prefer to be on the water, there are plenty of opportunities for sailing, surfing and kayaking. Several companies, including Anywhere Sports rent paddle surf equipment and run courses in surf and other water sports from their centre on Barceloneta beach.
Family life
Living in the centre of Barcelona is a wonderfully enriching experience for any family. Children are welcomed with open arms and will love the relaxed lifestyle and proximity to the beach. A city centre home ensures that all the best things to see in Barcelona are right on your doorstep and that you have easy access to many of the city’s family-friendly attractions such as the interactive science museum, CosmoCaixa. As many people live in apartment buildings, you’ll find playgrounds on almost every block and several parks such as Ciutadella Park near Barceloneta beach.
Schools in Barcelona Centre
With a central Barcelona base, you can choose from a selection of schools around the city. Public schools are free for all children to attend and the standard is high. There are also around 40 international schools in Barcelona and the surrounding area, including British, American, French and German schools.
Transport in Barcelona Centre
Getting around Barcelona is easy. The city is reasonably compact and has an extensive public transport system including metro and buses.
Public transport
With Catalunya set as the hub for five different metro lines, a central Barcelona base makes it easy to access different parts of the city. The metro, bus and tram network run late into the night and Barcelona Sants, also known as Sants Estación, the city’s main train station, provides an efficient network in and around the city. From here, the high speed Renfe train runs daily between Barcelona and Madrid, with the fastest service taking just 2h30min. Add to that a network of over 230 bus routes which, although initially confusing, is very convenient.
Properties for sale in Barcelona Centre
Property sales have enjoyed a healthy growth over the last year or two, with significant increases in all central locations. The much sought-after central district of Eixample has seen the highest rise recently with many properties for sale including recently-renovated, more modern apartments.
Average house prices in Barcelona centre
Average house prices in Barcelona have remained fairly steady, with a slight increase in prices per square metre in the city’s Old Town and a slight increase in Eixample. Prices naturally fluctuate but you can expect to pay between €3,988 and €4,594/m² in the centre.
Real estate availability
There are currently some excellent buying opportunities in central Barcelona, with properties ranging from studio apartments to luxurious duplex units. Property in Barcelona, and particularly in the city centre, continues to be a profitable asset.
Work opportunities
Barcelona’s geographical location as a port city and its huge tourism industry ensures plenty of work opportunities. Naturally, living in the city centre provides easy access to many hotels, restaurants and attractions for anyone employed in the leisure and recreation sectors.
Gastronomy in Barcelona Centre
Barcelona is home to some exceptional eateries, ranging from unassuming tapas bars to world-renowned Michelin star restaurants. While La Boqueria market tops the list of most foodie-seeking tourists to Barcelona, living in the heart of a city allows you plenty of time to track down those tiny restaurants frequented by locals and to enjoy areas such as Gràcia with its many family-run restaurants and bodegas.
Best restaurants in Barcelona
In L’Esquerra de L’Eixample, Besta features a weekly seafood-based menu with wine sourced from small producers. Berbena is a wonderfully unpretentious restaurant on the edge of the Gràcia quarter, while for an haute cuisine experience in Eixample, head for Cinc Sentits.
Top things to do in Barcelona Centre
As with any major city, Barcelona’s atmosphere shifts and changes as you move from one area to another. The Gothic Quarter is one of the city’s oldest neighbourhoods, encircled by city walls, crammed with ancient Roman ruins and medieval buildings, and home to the Cathedral, while neighbouring Eixample is elegant, upmarket and refined.
Top attractions in Barcelona Centre
The district of Eixample is home to three of the top attractions in Barcelona. The iconic Sagrada Familia, Antoni Gaudí’s unfinished masterpiece, is surrounded by tranquil residential streets that are very different from the narrow jumble of streets in the Gothic Quarter. His two other most famous works, Casa Batlló and La Pedrera (also known as Casa Mila), are just 10 minutes’ walk from each other, and around 2km from La Sagrada Familia.
Other Barcelona attractions include the exquisite concert hall, the Palau de la Música Catalana, at the top end of El Born neighbourhood, and Gaudí’s Parc Guell in Gracia.
Barcelona beaches
Although not a classic attraction, Barcelona’s beaches certainly feature amongst the top things to do in Barcelona centre. Stretching over 4kms of coastline, top beaches in Barcelona include Barceloneta, the city’s most famous beach, where you can rent sun beds and umbrellas and enjoy leisurely lunches at the seafront restaurants. Offering over 1km of sand, Sant Sebastià beach, next to the port and within walking distance of the city centre, provides wonderful views of the Barcelona coastline.
For a change of scene, hop on a train to the vast expanses of powder soft sand in the attractive town of Sitges, also one of Spain’s top carnival spots.
Best day trips from Barcelona
When you want to explore Catalan life outside of the city, you can take your pick of the best places to visit near Barcelona. Take the car or make use of the excellent transport links to get from central Barcelona to a selection of locations. For a complete change of scene, take the train from Plaça de Catalunya out to the Parc de Collserola, a pine-scented nature reserve where you’ll find walking trails, rural Romanesque chapels and farmhouse restaurants.
Top nearby towns include Girona, home to a charming old town with magnificent churches, a stunning cathedral and ancient cobbled streets. Trains from Barcelona take from 40 minutes, running every half-hour.
Barcelona nightlife
If you are wondering about things to do in the evening in Barcelona, there is so much more to its nightlife scene than booming nightclubs. The city centre is home to everything from cheap cava cafes and jazz clubs to elegant cocktail bars.
Top spots include Eixample’s sophisticated Dry Martini cocktail bar which has been around for some 30 years, setting the benchmark for other bars. Café del Centre, complete with marble-topped tables and iron pillars, is an atmospheric bistro which first opened in 1873, set in the Born district,. On the outskirts of the centre, the area of Gràcia is a nightlife hub with bars, cocktail joints and traditional spots with live music.