Barcelona is a city where life is good, as the thousands of foreigners who have moved there know. But it also has its own character and contradictions.
The Catalan character
Catalans are said to be more reserved and pragmatic than other Spaniards, hard-working and attached to seny, common sense, but also capable of rauxa, outbursts of celebration and madness. They are very attached to their language and culture: learning a few words, bon dia, gràcies, si us plau, is always appreciated. Politics, and the independence question, are sensitive subjects (see Catalonia).
Neighbourhoods to live in
- Gràcia: a former village with squares, small shops and bars, loved by young people and families.
- Eixample: elegant and central, with wide streets and modernista buildings; the left side is more residential, the right more touristy.
- Poblenou: the former industrial quarter, now the 22@ tech district, with lofts, start-ups and the beach nearby.
- Sant Antoni and Poble Sec: lively, with markets and tapas bars.
- El Born and the Gothic Quarter: charming but very touristy and noisy.
- Sarrià, Sant Gervasi and Les Corts: quiet and affluent, in the upper city.
Daily rhythms
Lunch is between 2 and 3:30 pm, dinner around 9. The weekend noon vermouth is a ritual, as is tardeo, the afternoon drink. In summer life moves to the beach and terraces; in October and November people eat chestnuts and panellets.
Sport and nature
The climate allows outdoor life all year: running and cycling along the seafront, beach volleyball, paddle-boarding and sailing, padel, hikes in Collserola Park, the large wooded hill behind the city. In an hour you reach the Costa Brava, Montserrat or the Pyrenees, where you can ski in winter.
Culture and design
Barcelona is a capital of design, architecture and fashion, with international schools, galleries, bookshops, original-version cinemas and a rich music scene (see festivals and events).
Contradictions
Mass tourism has made the centre very crowded and pushed up rents: the city has restricted tourist licences and announced the end of tourist flats by 2028. To reduce traffic it has created superblocks, pedestrianised blocks with squares and trees. Before moving, consider the cost of living and read moving to Spain.