SPANISH REAL ESTATE TERMS YOU NEED TO KNOW
Spanish Real Estate terms everyone needs to know!
We all know that feeling of being lost when moving to another country where you don't understand the language, (been there, done that). If you are moving to Barcelona or Spain soon, and you don't speak Spanish then this blog comes right on time for you, because you are probably going to deal with real estate agencies, this TOP agency is the best in town, or websites like idealista. As we know how complex it can be, we thought of helping you by explain all the relevant Spanish real estate terms that you'll have to deal with when moving to Barcelona or Spain in general. With this blog, you won't run into unexpected surprises!La Cocina
Let's start with, for some of us, one of the most important parts of the house La cocina: the kitchen. However, there are different types of kitchens. A Cocina Americana is an American style kitchen, meaning it's an open kitchen. A cocina independiente is an independent kitchen, meaning that the kitchen is a separate room. Even though most places have their dining area close to the kitchen, some apartments have a separate comedor: dining room.Los Electrodomésticos
Los electrodomésticos are the home appliances. After spending a night full of food and fun with your friends or family, you might not be really in the mood to do the dishes. Solution? the lavavajillas: dishwasher. But to make that delicious dinner you obviously need a horno: oven. Don't want to throw away the left overs? then a congelador: freezer or nevera/frigorífico might come in handy, so you can warm it up next day in your microondas: microwave. If you'd like to wash your clothes at home, than you might also look for a lavadora: washing machine or lavadero: laundry room, and a secadora: dryer.
Una vivienda
A vivienda is what they call a home in Spanish. In a vivienda you will find habitaciones: rooms, dormitorios: bedrooms, salón: living room, baño: bathroom, ducha: shower. If you have any special wishes you might want to know words like balcón: balcony, to enjoy the summer nights on. As we are settled down in Barcelona for quite a while now, we know how hot the summers can be, so an aire condicionado: air conditioning comes in very handy. However, Barcelona is also known for its' pretty cold winters, so a calefaccion: heating on the other hand is also good to have. Then there are habitaciones dobles which are double bedrooms, and un habitacion individual is an individual bedroom. Want to jump in the shower right after you jump out of your bed every morning? then go for a suite con baño: en suite bathroom, saves time and effort! After a hard day of working you might also want to relax in a bañera: a bathtub. Some apartments might have aseos: a separate toilet, and un despacho: an office. Do you like some extra space to store your mess? then a trastero: storage place is perfect. Since Barcelona has some really amazing views you might even ask for an apartment with vistas al mar: sea views, vistas a la montaña: views on the mountain or vistas a la ciudad: visits on the city. If you wanna have nice visits on the city, then you might wanna look for a nice barrio: neighborhood that provides you these nice views. Wanna live in the heart of the city, but also be close to the beach, your work or anything else? Then ask if the apartment is cerca de transporte público: close to public transport.
Amueblado
This means furnished. If the apartment is amueblado, you will find a sofa: couch, mesa: table, cama: bed, and maybe some armarios empotrados: built-in closets. If an apartment is semi-amueblado it is only partially furnished, if they say sin meubles or no amueblado it is not furnished (there are two types of "unfurnished", with or without kitchen appliances. Unfurnished apartments with the appliances tend to be more common). It might also be useful to know whether there are ventanas: windows, in a room to enjoy the Barcelona sun and luz natural: natural light.Un edificio
Un edificio is a building. Some edificios have a portero/conserje: doorman, and some edificios are also con ascensor: with elevator, and some are sin ascensor: without elevator. Most of the times, obras nuevas: newly built buildings have an elevator. This might be good to know if you do or don't want to walk the stairs to your planta: floor. The highest piso: flat, of the building often comes with a terrace, this flat is called an ático: an attic. The flat on the ground floor is called a bajo. Bajos often have direct access to the street. It might also happen that you find an estudio: a studio apartment in which there are no rooms, it is simply open space. Normally, the superfície: surface size of an estudio is smaller than a normal flat. By the way, a 'studio' in Spain means a flat without an independent bedroom. You could technically have a 100m2 studio. If you're looking to compartir: share, a flat with friends or family than you might need a bigger flat with maybe a piscina: swimming pool, a zona comuntaria: communal zone or a jardín comuntaria: communal garden. What also might be useful to know is whether a flat is in buen estado: good condition, or reformado: renovated.
Alquiler
This means rental, maybe you're even looking for an apartment to rent with opcion de venta, this means there is an option to buy. But if you just want to rent a place, then an agency might ask if you're looking for corta estancia: short-term, media estancia: mid-term or larga estancia: long-term rental. When you found the flat of your dreams (which you might find here) you'll have to pay a reserva: reserve fund to the agency, this is the guarantee that your flat is actually yours and the agent will take it down on the portals, and no one else will have it but you. If you're lucky the flat is disponible ya: available now and you can move in right a way. You will also have to pay fianza: security deposit to the propietario: owner, which they pay you back at the end of the contract. In addition to that, you also pay the comisión de agencia: agency fee to the agencia inmobiliaria: real estate agency. They also might talk about the IVA, this means the value-added tax (VAT). In the end you will have to sign the contrato de arrendamiento: rental contract, you get los llaves: keys, and then you are officially the inquilino: tenant and we say congrats with your place!
Are some things still not clear to you? don't hesitate to contact us, we'll be to happy explain everything to you!
SUSTAINABLE URBANISM IN BARCELONA
What is Sustainable Urbanism?
Sustainable Urbanism is nothing more than a fancy word to describe an eco-friendly city. Sustainable Urbanism in Barcelona is a topic that people are finally taking seriously. Ever since the announcement of greenhouse gases and damaging CO2 emissions, Sustainability has become a never-ending craze. We are consistently trying to save and prolong the planet for the future generation (and so we should!).The world is going to end!!
We are constantly being drilled with this idea that the world is going to crumble to its’ core. Perhaps, the media over-exaggerates (hence, the picture below), but it shouldn’t be overlooked. After all, the people that believe Global Warming is a lie also believe that the world is flat.
Climate change, waste patches, toxic plastics, and the overuse of water is becoming an increasing concern to the environment. The ice caps are melting, animals are becoming extinct, garbage circles are found everywhere in our oceans and plastic is STILL being manufactured. When will we learn to change our ways? We need to embrace the latest innovations, and adapt them into society.
Barcelona as an "eco-city"
Sustainable Urbanism in Barcelona has been improving. Recently, they announced that they may try to cap tourism in order to minimise some of its’ negative impacts on the city. Quite a few companies have started to introduce policies and ideas to comply with the newly created notion “Green Tourism”. Within the Urban Mobility Plan of Barcelona 2013-2018, they have also created some restrictive measures on private vehicles, such as increased prices of parking meters. However, there are more effective innovations that could help eliminate the issues that exist within the environment. For example, Barcelona has adopted the recent idea which is to create a "Vertical Garden" as a way to optimise the carbon footprint offset of the city. As well as this, vertical gardens provide a way to reduce the amount of fruits and vegetables that we outsource from other countries (through planting local produce). This piece of architecture in Barcelona is called the "Green Side Wall" and it was designed by Capella Garcia Arquitectura.
But, given Barcelona's excessive use in motorbikes to get from A to B, there needs to be many more vertical gardens to offset those carbon emissions! In fact, in China they have just recently invented a bicycle that filters dirty air as you ride to and fro. This would be perfect to offset the carbon footprint that an urban city creates on its’ day to day basis. On the subject of bicycles, Bicing was introduced in 2007, and now has over 450 stations in the city. People can collect bicycles from these stations to ride to and from work/studies/shops. It has been very successful in terms of getting more people to use bicycles as their first mode of transport. The only issue is that Barcelona needs to become more pedestrian friendly in order to fully embrace the notion of an "emission free" city. A new pedestrian friendly project "Superblock" has been approved by the government, but we are still waiting on the official starting date. It was supposed to start in 2017, but it is becoming more probable that it will begin during the beginnings of 2018. The idea is to increase the green space in Barcelona, and minimise the traffic congestion. This would mean that no vehicles would be permitted into the area unless it is for deliveries for local businesses.
Barcelona should continue to implement different urban mobility policies, in order to increase its' chances of being the next up and coming eco-city. However, Barcelona also needs the help of its' citizens, our homes need to be more sustainable in order to become a more eco-friendly city. Some people are already embracing the need for eco-friendly houses in Barcelona. For example, this gorgeous Catalan Hotel, which pride themselves in Sustainable Living.
Ideas to improve Sustainable Urbanism in Barcelona
Videos of innovative designs are always being shared across social networking portals such as Facebook and Twitter. This section will show you a few of the MOST incredible ideas to build a more sustainable urban city. 1. Have you ever heard of Solar Panel Roadways? This is a new concept which could potentially change the “Urban City” forever. Imagine if we could change all of Barcelona’s road surfaces to solar panels? With the quantity of road space available, we could power the whole city. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlTA3rnpgzU&t=331s 2. Plastic has been an issue ever since its' creation. However, there have been different ideas to re-use/recycle it; using the plastic for insulation in buildings, plastic currency (the coins have just been made official in the North of Amsterdam), and plastic road surfaces. Did you know? There is even a type of caterpillar that eats plastic... This means we finally have some kind of solution to eliminate the world's waste.
3. "Smart Street Lighting System" - A smart networking system of lamp posts that have sensors that can analyse the quality of the air in order to control the amount of traffic in the city. The sensors also allow them to save more energy, dimming lights where necessary in quiet areas. 4. There are loads of different bicycle innovations, however, this next one is making cycling more appealing to the working man. Renewable-battery powered bicycles that charge when you break or as you go down hills. This means that you would be able to cycle to work without breaking a sweat. HALLELUJAH.
5. The research behind BioFuels are improving day by day. They have even found a way to power a car with WATER. Within the next 20 years, it is possible that we could all switch to a more sustainable fuel other than Petroleum and Diesel. These concepts have been based on the “big picture”, but what kind of eco-friendly innovations can we include in our home design. There are a number of cool interior designs that take into account the need to be more eco-friendly.
We would love to hear about any other cool inventions that you have seen, or whether you know of any other projects in Barcelona related to Sustainable Urbanism,
The SuiteLife Team.
THE OKUPA MOVEMENT: THE SQUATTERS OF BARCELONA
The Okupa movement has been gaining momentum ever since the realisation that people could occupy properties freely (and "legally"). It became even more popular after gaining headlines in 1984, when officers rallied into an empty building (in Barcelona) to evict the first ever known squatters in the history of spanish democracy. There is no doubt that the Okupa movement has been rising in numbers due to the impressive amount of vacant buildings in Barcelona. Within this blog, you will find some of the possible opportunities (isn't it obvious? -Higher Profits!!) and complications for investors when buying houses “Okupados” as well as some insight on the possible prevention methods for property owners.
Within the "okupa movement", they have justified various reasons for occupying empty buildings... 1. As mentioned previously, they are strongly against capitalism. They dislike the fact that citizens have to dedicate most of their earnings to a roof over their head. 2. It is a place to reunite as a collective and survive without all of the capitalist institutions that have been put in place by society. 3. To fight back the banks; they hate how the banks force people into a 40 year mortgage, giving them constant fear that if they lose their job at any point, they could also lose their home. Homeless Bankrupt Families After the crisis, many families found themselves without the sufficient funds to finance their loans; resulting in the banks acquiring their properties. Without any other alternative, families moved in with their parents or they occupied empty buildings to rebuild their home. Some never moved from their property that was acquired by the banks; resulting in another form of occupation. The picture below was taken from one of many of the protests against the "desahucios" (the evictions). "Rescatan Bancos, Desahucian Familias" - They save the Banks, They evict the Families.
In some part, this type of Okupa would be the hardest to handle, given that there are huge ethical issues that could arise when evicting these people from their newly found homes. They are not afraid to fight for their home. Nevertheless, with the economy improving, the squatters that you will find in Barcelona will most likely be those from the "okupa movement" or money and con-artists. Money/Con-artists This group of people, purposely occupy empty buildings in a strategy to earn money from the rightful owner. After they successfully occupy the property, the owner would have to pay the squatter in order to convince them to leave... This is preferable to the owner; the legal process to remove a squatter from the property is so tedious, long and expensive that the owner would rather hand the "Okupa" the money outright. And so, these con-artists have been taking advantage of the weaknesses in Spain's judicial system in order to make money. In Spain and in particular, Barcelona, it has become a lucrative sector.
After the first occupation, many other young individuals followed suit. In Barcelona, 1997, they evicted a dozen young individuals from a house that they had named "Casa de los Gatos". The result of which, a few of the police officers were attacked and a total of 40 cars were damaged in an act of rebellion. In 2016, cars were tipped over as the police evicted individuals from the occupied building in Travessera de Gràcia. Most recently, a massive occupation of flats on the street of Sant Francesc de la Llagosta (February 2017) has left many of the property buyers without a home. As you can imagine, this doesn't even surface the amount of occupations and protests that have occurred in the light of the "okupa movement". However, it does give you a taste of how the problem (or opportunity, whichever view you take...) has risen over time.
As a property owner, if you want to reassure yourself that your property is completely safe from being occupied, then you could pay for an "antiokupa" security watch service. They patrol around different neighbourhoods with their listings of empty buildings, every 18 to 20 hours, in order to ensure that nobody remains in a vacant property more than 24 hours. If there are any other methods to prevent "okupas", let us know below in the comment section... We hope you have found this blog insightful, The SuiteLife Team. P.S. if you want to know more about Okupa Properties, Contact Us!
What is the “Okupa Movement"?
Quite simply, an Okupa is a person who seeks empty buildings, taking the opportunity to break in and occupy it. If the incident is reported to the police (which they usually report themselves), they have over 24 hours within the property until it becomes their “own”. The “movement” is more related to the young anti-capitalist figures who occupy the houses in an act to protest their rights. They have created a network in which they have built schools, libraries, accommodation, etc. for young travellers and house seekers. However, there are different types of squatters…The Different Types of Okupas
The reason behind mentioning the different types of Okupas, is solely to introduce the topic. At the end of the day, if you invest in a property with a squatter, you are investing in an issue that has to be resolved. And so, you would need to have an understanding of the people that could be within the property. Okupa Movement They are usually a young alternative group of people aged 25 to 35 that fight for certain opinions and beliefs. In the eyes of an investor, this type of “Okupa” would be undesirable as it would be very hard to convince them to leave the property through a sum of money. They are strong-minded and stubborn, and tend to group loads of people in one property.
Within the "okupa movement", they have justified various reasons for occupying empty buildings... 1. As mentioned previously, they are strongly against capitalism. They dislike the fact that citizens have to dedicate most of their earnings to a roof over their head. 2. It is a place to reunite as a collective and survive without all of the capitalist institutions that have been put in place by society. 3. To fight back the banks; they hate how the banks force people into a 40 year mortgage, giving them constant fear that if they lose their job at any point, they could also lose their home. Homeless Bankrupt Families After the crisis, many families found themselves without the sufficient funds to finance their loans; resulting in the banks acquiring their properties. Without any other alternative, families moved in with their parents or they occupied empty buildings to rebuild their home. Some never moved from their property that was acquired by the banks; resulting in another form of occupation. The picture below was taken from one of many of the protests against the "desahucios" (the evictions). "Rescatan Bancos, Desahucian Familias" - They save the Banks, They evict the Families.
In some part, this type of Okupa would be the hardest to handle, given that there are huge ethical issues that could arise when evicting these people from their newly found homes. They are not afraid to fight for their home. Nevertheless, with the economy improving, the squatters that you will find in Barcelona will most likely be those from the "okupa movement" or money and con-artists. Money/Con-artists This group of people, purposely occupy empty buildings in a strategy to earn money from the rightful owner. After they successfully occupy the property, the owner would have to pay the squatter in order to convince them to leave... This is preferable to the owner; the legal process to remove a squatter from the property is so tedious, long and expensive that the owner would rather hand the "Okupa" the money outright. And so, these con-artists have been taking advantage of the weaknesses in Spain's judicial system in order to make money. In Spain and in particular, Barcelona, it has become a lucrative sector.
Okupa Timeline in Barcelona
The first ever known "urban occupation" took place in December 1984 in Barcelona. However, the occupation merely lasted a couple of hours as they were thrown out almost immediately by the police. When the attempt came to light, it inspired many other young Spanish individuals to occupy houses in Pamplona, Bilbao, Madrid and Valencia. Within this era, the "okupa movement" was largely associated with the "punk" culture that was so popular in the 80's.After the first occupation, many other young individuals followed suit. In Barcelona, 1997, they evicted a dozen young individuals from a house that they had named "Casa de los Gatos". The result of which, a few of the police officers were attacked and a total of 40 cars were damaged in an act of rebellion. In 2016, cars were tipped over as the police evicted individuals from the occupied building in Travessera de Gràcia. Most recently, a massive occupation of flats on the street of Sant Francesc de la Llagosta (February 2017) has left many of the property buyers without a home. As you can imagine, this doesn't even surface the amount of occupations and protests that have occurred in the light of the "okupa movement". However, it does give you a taste of how the problem (or opportunity, whichever view you take...) has risen over time.
An Investment Opportunity?
This type of selling has increased drastically as a result of the crisis. The banks entered into the real estate market aggressively with a plan to sell houses/properties with squatters or any other complicating issues. There is a clear investment opportunity in purchasing estate with "Okupas", as it would reduce the price of the property by half of its' actual value. This would allow for a greater profit than the usual added-value of a renovation project, for example. It is true, however, that there is a greater task at hand to remove a squatter from the building than renovating it. Nevertheless, there are many organisations such as "desokupa" who carry out plans to get rid of these Okupas. That being said, it is a highly risky venture, given that some Okupas may not be willing to move with a simple settlement of money. The Mayor of Barcelona - Ada Colau - is complicating the issue as she is protecting the rights of the squatters. She has made it increasingly harder for organisations such as "desokupa" to pursue the squatters. This means that it is harder to get rid of the squatters; and so, the owner is left with the option to fight a legal battle or to take the matter in his own hands. There are also some other underlying issues with buying a "okupado" house... For example, you would not be able to visit the property before purchasing it. Also, in some cases, the official size and layout plan of the building could be unknown. This, of course, is what makes this type of venture so risky; but, imagine the sizeable REWARD. How do you approach the notion of buying a property that is occupied? To begin with, you have to distinguish the difference between a legal and illegal occupation... As mentioned earlier, as a result of the crisis, many houses were acquired by the banks, and yet the original owners would remain in the property. And so, they are still technically considered legal occupants of the property, and this would make the process of eviction increasingly harder. However, if a person was to seize an abandoned property, it would be considered illegal. The process of eliminating an illegal occupant will be much easier than a legal occupant. In terms of "getting rid" of an Okupa, there are some imaginative options: You could use the laws that protect the Okupas in your favour. If you know that the squatters have gone out for the day, you could break in and change the lock to reoccupy the property. Perhaps, you could use a friend to play the role of the "other Okupa". When the original squatters return, to their surprise you have chucked out their belongings and occupied "their" home. When the police arrive, you can present your documents and the squatters will have nothing to show for the possession of the property. If you are interested in investing,some banks have connecting real estate agencies that openly advertise occupied properties on their website. However, for most real estate agencies, it is best not to openly advertise these type of properties. But, Okupa properties are EVERYWHERE. Unavoidably, even some of our listings have been occupied by squatters. Do not hesitate to contact us if you are interested... Because of the nature of these properties, it is best to contact agencies directly to gain more information on purchasing a squatter house.The Property Owner Perspective: How to Prevent it?
If you own a property in Spain which has been untouched for many years; you should maybe consider taking measures against the Okupa Movement. They have started producing an "antiokupa" security door in order to prevent them breaking into buildings. With these security doors, you will be able to, at least, minimise the risk of a planned break-in to your empty property in their attempts to occupy it.
As a property owner, if you want to reassure yourself that your property is completely safe from being occupied, then you could pay for an "antiokupa" security watch service. They patrol around different neighbourhoods with their listings of empty buildings, every 18 to 20 hours, in order to ensure that nobody remains in a vacant property more than 24 hours. If there are any other methods to prevent "okupas", let us know below in the comment section... We hope you have found this blog insightful, The SuiteLife Team. P.S. if you want to know more about Okupa Properties, Contact Us!
TOP 70 BARCELONA BASED INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS
If you're looking for the best Barcelona Instagram accounts then this is the perfect blog for you!
Instagram has gained more and more popularity over the years. Somehow we all fell in love with the concept of a platform with only pictures, but we mostly fell in love with editing pictures to make them look as perfect as possible. There are many successful Instagrammers who make use of this platform to share their photography skills and in Barcelona there are some super cool accounts!
@Stoptheroc is linked to Barcelonafacades, but this profile shows more than just Barcelona's beautiful facades. They capture everything that is interesting to look at for every architect lover, from modern buildings to the more typical characteristic Barcelona buildings.
@nicanorgarcia posts pictures of modern and traditional architecture. He travels around the world and captures everything he loves, all related to architecture.
@barrut is an Instagram profile of a photographer and dad (as his description says). His pictures vary in style, and they are not only architecture, but also landscapes. If you're an architecture lover you'll definitely love his profile, since he captures many great looking constructions.
@Joelopez 's profile is very fresh and quite clean. His posts are artificial. He captures beautiful spots in Barcelona including many architectural gems.
@oriolvm this Instagram profile mainly consists of modern architecture in Barcelona and some other places. He even converts ugly buildings into photogenic buildings.
@Catalunya_arquitecta this Instagram profile captures all architectural beauties of the Catalonian region, including the gorgeous gems in Barcelona.
@Jmvidalvia 's Instagram profile is a mixture of different kind of posts like landscapes and urban photos. It's impressive how he captures a kind of tranquil vibe in every picture, even in his urban posts.
@Sanfigjo captures all the beauty of Barcelona in mostly black and white pictures. They're beyond impressive!
@thehangingplants 's Instagram profile is very fresh and light with all the floral pics and pastel colors. When you're on @thehangingplants 's profile it always feels like it's spring!
If you didn't know already about the many gorgeous places Catalonia has, then you'll definitely know after looking at @Barcelonacatalonia 's Instagram profile.
@jblancafort actually is a Catalan architect, but he also posts pictures of landscapes, and art & culture. He is very good at capturing the moment and discovering photogenic places that many don't see.
@nobohome posts the most gorgeous luxurious apartments based in Barcelona and surroundings, each of them are beauties!
@Yaninamazzei posts very unique self made pictures on her profile. You'll find many gorgeous interiors with typical Catalan features in many of her posts.
We are a big fan of @Jaimeberiestain 's work as interior designer. If you want to see an example of his impressive work you can check out The Onsider Apartment, which he designed. Without doubt we had to add this world famous interior designer in this list of Barcelona Based Instagram Accounts, since he is based in Barcelona.
@Sohohousebarcelona posts pictures of stunning interiors. They also have really nice lifestyle pictures and now and then you'll see some delicious food pictures.
@Nasualua is run by Lorena Fernández, her Instagram profile has a bohemian style. When you look at her profile you automatically feel the relaxing vibe.
Want to experience the best food of Barcelona? @barcelonafoodexperience posts pictures of the most delicious food to be find in Barcelona. We'll warn you about the sneak peek, it'll make you hungry!
@barcelonamordiscos is one of these mouthwatering food Instagram accounts. Just looking at all the delicious food pictures makes you wanna eat immediately!
If you haven't heard yet about Eureka Street Food then you should absolutely check out @EurekaBarcelona. You'll love it, especially if you like food trucks. And boy do we love food trucks!
@soydemorrofino is an Instagrammer who just decided to try out as many restaurants in Barcelona as possible. All the nice meals are shared by @soydemorrofino, they look finger-licking delicious!
At @bcnfecstime you can expect a lot of really nice food pictures and the coolest urban pictures, all captured in Barcelona & its surroundings.
@instanaimabarcelona is a digital influencer. She is committed to fashion, beauty and lifestyle. She lives a very interesting life, check it out on her account.
@driftwood_journals_barcelona is run by Ben Holbrook, a travel blogger based in Barcelona. His Instagram profile is all about food, culture & good living as he mentions himself. Highly recommended and a SuiteLife favourite!
@barcelona_barcelona is posting all about the good life of Barcelona, if you didn't love Barcelona yet, then you'll love it now!
@hiamoros 's Instagram profile is very urban, he captures the city from a whole different point of view, a more rough kind of view. You'll like it!
@postcardsfrombarcelona captures all hidden gems and moments that happen in the corners of Barcelona. This account is definitely unique and different from the touristic Barcelona Based Instagram Accounts.
@thebarcelonist is one of the most well known Instagram accounts about Barcelona. They take you on a trip through Barcelona via their Instagram pictures and let you explore the city with them.
Just like @thebarcelonist, @Barcelonacitizen is also a very well known Barcelona Based Instagram Account. They mainly capture the famous parts of the city and make them look even more beautiful than they are in real life.
As @Oscar_bcn being a photographer and Graphic designer, you can expect a lot of his posts. He mainly captures the city and the moments happening inside the city.
@Gobarsa is a more touristic Instagram account that organizes tours and events in Barcelona. They show you the daily life in the Catalan city.
@Zuckerandspice is run by Sam Zucker, definitely somewhat of a Rennesance man who currently works as a social media professional, culinary tour operator, wine educator, social media influencer, private chef, photographer, videographer, and freelance food and travel writer for several outlets. He’s busy! And his Instagram feed is awesome!
On @monicatorne 's profile you'll find a little bit of everything, mostly urban pictures, but also architecture, art, landscapes and culture.
@barcelona.street captures life in the streets of Barcelona. This profile is more focused on the people who live in Barcelona and their lives outside the door.
@ehovu is the Instagram profile of Jonathan Rodrigo. His pictures show all the beautiful sides of Barcelona. He also travels around a lot, so you can even enjoy stunning pics from other world cities.
@bensroom is run by Ben Walker. Most of the times he stays in either Barcelona, London, New York or Los Angeles. When you follow @bensroom , it's like your traveling with him around the world. He mainly posts pictures of his own busy life. Definitely worth a follow!
Ben walker a.k.a. @bensroom is the founder of @thezoomagency, a very interesting company based in Barcelona. They are, as they say themselves,: "A dynamic team of creatives who design digital journeys for your future consumers". Their Instagram shows everything happening in the company.
@jacbcn 's Instagram profile is full of insane urban pictures of the city. He shows Barcelona in a way you probably haven't seen before.
@ernest85bcn escapes the huzzle and the buzzle of Barcelona and mainly captures the city from the side or from above. If you're not yet in the city, then this account definitely makes you wanna go to Barcelona.
With @dani_hm_bcn you jump into the city life of Barcelona. His edit skills are very impressive, the posts make you feel like you arrived in a dream, the Barcelona dream!
@flordefum has some serious awesome photography skills. She captures everything that comes on her way and inspires her. The pictures are very urban, they'll blow your mind!
@gismethmehdiyev 's Instagram profile is full of artificial urban pictures, but also landscapes. He mainly captures the city from the side, giving unique perspectives on Barcelona.
If you want to know about everything that's going on in the biggest neighborhood of Barcelona, Eixample, then you should definitely follow @bcn_eixample. They capture the life and the gems of Eixample.
@galarino gives you a very romantic perspective of the city, with stunning posts of beautiful sunsets and gems of the city. It'll make you fall in love with the city right away.
@martallorbcn mainly captures profile portraits of people just outside Barcelona with really nice background views of the city.
@thecatalanist 's Instagram profile is a very nice welcome to Catalonia, showing the beauties of the region.
@topbarcelonaphoto is an Instagram profile that tries to give the best representation of the city by capturing the famous attractions and best parts of Barcelona.
@amobarcelona show's the good life of Barcelona. You can even send in your own photo with #amobarcelona and they might post it.
The elegance, the fun and the culture of Barcelona captured in pictures by @total_barcelona. From the little streets to the large modern buildings of the city.
If you use the hasthtage #unlimitedbarcelona your picture might end up on @unlimitedbarcelona 's Instagram account. However, they only select the most impressive pictures, as you can see on their feed.
All architectural secrets, the most beautiful and famous buildings and the nicest corners of the city is what to expect when you follow @pepgonella2. Check the little sneak peek below.
For all our wanderers among us it's a need to follow @wonderlust.barcelona. They capture the city from its most fun side! It makes you wanna travel to Barcelona right now!
@lamunicipalbcn posts all photogenic spots of Barcelona. If you need inspiration as a Barcelona based photographer or Instagrammer, you should definitely think about following @lamunicipalbcn.
All well known and gorgeous spots of the Catalan capital are captured by @cityofbarcelona. This account is a must-follow if you currently live in Barcelona.
A big fan of street art? Then @borinot_acuatic is the perfect Instagram account for you to follow, showing the most unique kinds of street art.
@barcelonastreetart is also committed to finding the most unique art pieces in the streets of Barcelona. You'll be surprised of all the talented artists this city has!
Everything related to culture in Barcelona is being posted by @bcncultura. They also keep you up to date on every cultural happening in the city.
@pezbarcelona a.k.a. the one and only El Pez has his own Instagram account where he shares all his art works. If you're a fan of El Pez, you can't miss out his account!
@Macbalife is a very original Instagram account that posts short videos of people skating in front of the famous MACBA museum in the neighborhood El Raval. Perfect account if you're a big fan of skating!
@fotosdebarcelona is not so well known yet among the Barcelona lovers, it's a real gem! On this Instagram account you will mostly find collages of old and new pictures of places in Barcelona.
If you really want to get to know the people of Barcelona, then follow @humans.of.barcelona. This Instagram account basically captures the soul of the humans of Barcelona with short inspiring stories.
@lidpop is a mixture of different kind of posts, most of them are very artificial and cultural. They are very fun and interesting to look at!
Following @articketbcn on Instagram is a perfect way to discover all the cultural events and art museums in Barcelona.
@rescued_tile is one of these very unique Instagram accounts. They literally rescue tiles of old centenary buildings in Barcelona, the tiles were about to be thrown away, although they're very original and beautiful.
We hope you enjoyed each 70 of these Barcelona Based Instagram Accounts, they are all very unique and a real lust for the eyes! Let us know if you know more unique Barcelona based Instagram accounts that are worth checking out.
Instagram has gained more and more popularity over the years. Somehow we all fell in love with the concept of a platform with only pictures, but we mostly fell in love with editing pictures to make them look as perfect as possible. There are many successful Instagrammers who make use of this platform to share their photography skills and in Barcelona there are some super cool accounts!
#Barcelonagram Top 70 Barcelona Based Instagram Accounts
Barcelona Instagrammers love to capture the beauty of the city, because let's face it.. Barcelona is very photogenic! As there are countless Instagrammers posting pictures about Barcelona, it's hard to find the real gems, however, that didn't hold us back. We found for you 70 Barcelona Based Instagram Accounts that post the most amazing and unique pictures of the Catalan capital city, we've categorized them by different types of Instagram accounts: Architecture, Landscapes, Interior Design, Food, Bloggers/Influencers, Urban and Art & Culture. Enjoy looking at our lovely city from different perspectives, it'll make you fall in love with Barcelona & its surroundings all over again!Architecture
The Instagram profile of Barcelonafacades is quite satisfying for the eyes, all pictures are taken from the same angle and they're all showing the facades of buildings located in Barcelona. If you're a fan of architecture and of tight lines, then check out @Barcelonafacades.@Stoptheroc is linked to Barcelonafacades, but this profile shows more than just Barcelona's beautiful facades. They capture everything that is interesting to look at for every architect lover, from modern buildings to the more typical characteristic Barcelona buildings.
@nicanorgarcia posts pictures of modern and traditional architecture. He travels around the world and captures everything he loves, all related to architecture.
@barrut is an Instagram profile of a photographer and dad (as his description says). His pictures vary in style, and they are not only architecture, but also landscapes. If you're an architecture lover you'll definitely love his profile, since he captures many great looking constructions.
@Joelopez 's profile is very fresh and quite clean. His posts are artificial. He captures beautiful spots in Barcelona including many architectural gems.
@oriolvm this Instagram profile mainly consists of modern architecture in Barcelona and some other places. He even converts ugly buildings into photogenic buildings.
@Catalunya_arquitecta this Instagram profile captures all architectural beauties of the Catalonian region, including the gorgeous gems in Barcelona.
Landscapes
@msubirats mainly posts pictures of places in Catalunya. He captures the most beautiful landscapes of the Catalonian region.@Jmvidalvia 's Instagram profile is a mixture of different kind of posts like landscapes and urban photos. It's impressive how he captures a kind of tranquil vibe in every picture, even in his urban posts.
@Sanfigjo captures all the beauty of Barcelona in mostly black and white pictures. They're beyond impressive!
@thehangingplants 's Instagram profile is very fresh and light with all the floral pics and pastel colors. When you're on @thehangingplants 's profile it always feels like it's spring!
If you didn't know already about the many gorgeous places Catalonia has, then you'll definitely know after looking at @Barcelonacatalonia 's Instagram profile.
@jblancafort actually is a Catalan architect, but he also posts pictures of landscapes, and art & culture. He is very good at capturing the moment and discovering photogenic places that many don't see.
Interior Design
When we talk about the Best Barcelona Based Instagram Accounts we of course cannot forget about our own awesome Instagram account @suitelifebcn. As we're a real estate agency we love to post photos of interior designs in the city and of our listings that inspire us. So if you want to enjoy the prettiest interiors, the most luxurious Barcelona apartments and other amazing pictures then check out @suitelifebcn!@nobohome posts the most gorgeous luxurious apartments based in Barcelona and surroundings, each of them are beauties!
@Yaninamazzei posts very unique self made pictures on her profile. You'll find many gorgeous interiors with typical Catalan features in many of her posts.
We are a big fan of @Jaimeberiestain 's work as interior designer. If you want to see an example of his impressive work you can check out The Onsider Apartment, which he designed. Without doubt we had to add this world famous interior designer in this list of Barcelona Based Instagram Accounts, since he is based in Barcelona.
@Sohohousebarcelona posts pictures of stunning interiors. They also have really nice lifestyle pictures and now and then you'll see some delicious food pictures.
@Nasualua is run by Lorena Fernández, her Instagram profile has a bohemian style. When you look at her profile you automatically feel the relaxing vibe.
Food
Big fan of the famous Patatas Bravas? Then you absolutely cannot miss out @Bravasbarcelona 's Instagram account. He hunts the best places in Barcelona for Patatas Braves. Such a fun account!Want to experience the best food of Barcelona? @barcelonafoodexperience posts pictures of the most delicious food to be find in Barcelona. We'll warn you about the sneak peek, it'll make you hungry!
@barcelonamordiscos is one of these mouthwatering food Instagram accounts. Just looking at all the delicious food pictures makes you wanna eat immediately!
If you haven't heard yet about Eureka Street Food then you should absolutely check out @EurekaBarcelona. You'll love it, especially if you like food trucks. And boy do we love food trucks!
@soydemorrofino is an Instagrammer who just decided to try out as many restaurants in Barcelona as possible. All the nice meals are shared by @soydemorrofino, they look finger-licking delicious!
At @bcnfecstime you can expect a lot of really nice food pictures and the coolest urban pictures, all captured in Barcelona & its surroundings.
Bloggers & Influencers
With 1.7 million followers, @dulceida is one of the most popular Instagrammers of Barcelona. She mainly posts about her life, very intriguing!@instanaimabarcelona is a digital influencer. She is committed to fashion, beauty and lifestyle. She lives a very interesting life, check it out on her account.
@driftwood_journals_barcelona is run by Ben Holbrook, a travel blogger based in Barcelona. His Instagram profile is all about food, culture & good living as he mentions himself. Highly recommended and a SuiteLife favourite!
Urban
@Davidarmengou is one of these Instagram accounts on which you can enjoy the beautiful face of Barcelona. His photography and edit skills are impressive.@barcelona_barcelona is posting all about the good life of Barcelona, if you didn't love Barcelona yet, then you'll love it now!
@hiamoros 's Instagram profile is very urban, he captures the city from a whole different point of view, a more rough kind of view. You'll like it!
@postcardsfrombarcelona captures all hidden gems and moments that happen in the corners of Barcelona. This account is definitely unique and different from the touristic Barcelona Based Instagram Accounts.
@thebarcelonist is one of the most well known Instagram accounts about Barcelona. They take you on a trip through Barcelona via their Instagram pictures and let you explore the city with them.
Just like @thebarcelonist, @Barcelonacitizen is also a very well known Barcelona Based Instagram Account. They mainly capture the famous parts of the city and make them look even more beautiful than they are in real life.
As @Oscar_bcn being a photographer and Graphic designer, you can expect a lot of his posts. He mainly captures the city and the moments happening inside the city.
@Gobarsa is a more touristic Instagram account that organizes tours and events in Barcelona. They show you the daily life in the Catalan city.
@Zuckerandspice is run by Sam Zucker, definitely somewhat of a Rennesance man who currently works as a social media professional, culinary tour operator, wine educator, social media influencer, private chef, photographer, videographer, and freelance food and travel writer for several outlets. He’s busy! And his Instagram feed is awesome!
On @monicatorne 's profile you'll find a little bit of everything, mostly urban pictures, but also architecture, art, landscapes and culture.
@barcelona.street captures life in the streets of Barcelona. This profile is more focused on the people who live in Barcelona and their lives outside the door.
@ehovu is the Instagram profile of Jonathan Rodrigo. His pictures show all the beautiful sides of Barcelona. He also travels around a lot, so you can even enjoy stunning pics from other world cities.
@bensroom is run by Ben Walker. Most of the times he stays in either Barcelona, London, New York or Los Angeles. When you follow @bensroom , it's like your traveling with him around the world. He mainly posts pictures of his own busy life. Definitely worth a follow!
Ben walker a.k.a. @bensroom is the founder of @thezoomagency, a very interesting company based in Barcelona. They are, as they say themselves,: "A dynamic team of creatives who design digital journeys for your future consumers". Their Instagram shows everything happening in the company.
@jacbcn 's Instagram profile is full of insane urban pictures of the city. He shows Barcelona in a way you probably haven't seen before.
@ernest85bcn escapes the huzzle and the buzzle of Barcelona and mainly captures the city from the side or from above. If you're not yet in the city, then this account definitely makes you wanna go to Barcelona.
With @dani_hm_bcn you jump into the city life of Barcelona. His edit skills are very impressive, the posts make you feel like you arrived in a dream, the Barcelona dream!
@flordefum has some serious awesome photography skills. She captures everything that comes on her way and inspires her. The pictures are very urban, they'll blow your mind!
@gismethmehdiyev 's Instagram profile is full of artificial urban pictures, but also landscapes. He mainly captures the city from the side, giving unique perspectives on Barcelona.
If you want to know about everything that's going on in the biggest neighborhood of Barcelona, Eixample, then you should definitely follow @bcn_eixample. They capture the life and the gems of Eixample.
@galarino gives you a very romantic perspective of the city, with stunning posts of beautiful sunsets and gems of the city. It'll make you fall in love with the city right away.
@martallorbcn mainly captures profile portraits of people just outside Barcelona with really nice background views of the city.
@thecatalanist 's Instagram profile is a very nice welcome to Catalonia, showing the beauties of the region.
@topbarcelonaphoto is an Instagram profile that tries to give the best representation of the city by capturing the famous attractions and best parts of Barcelona.
@amobarcelona show's the good life of Barcelona. You can even send in your own photo with #amobarcelona and they might post it.
The elegance, the fun and the culture of Barcelona captured in pictures by @total_barcelona. From the little streets to the large modern buildings of the city.
If you use the hasthtage #unlimitedbarcelona your picture might end up on @unlimitedbarcelona 's Instagram account. However, they only select the most impressive pictures, as you can see on their feed.
All architectural secrets, the most beautiful and famous buildings and the nicest corners of the city is what to expect when you follow @pepgonella2. Check the little sneak peek below.
For all our wanderers among us it's a need to follow @wonderlust.barcelona. They capture the city from its most fun side! It makes you wanna travel to Barcelona right now!
@lamunicipalbcn posts all photogenic spots of Barcelona. If you need inspiration as a Barcelona based photographer or Instagrammer, you should definitely think about following @lamunicipalbcn.
All well known and gorgeous spots of the Catalan capital are captured by @cityofbarcelona. This account is a must-follow if you currently live in Barcelona.
Art & Culture
@philmusical is one of the funkiest Barcelona Based Instagram Accounts. This Instagram profile is full of fun art & culture. You'll enjoy it!A big fan of street art? Then @borinot_acuatic is the perfect Instagram account for you to follow, showing the most unique kinds of street art.
@barcelonastreetart is also committed to finding the most unique art pieces in the streets of Barcelona. You'll be surprised of all the talented artists this city has!
Everything related to culture in Barcelona is being posted by @bcncultura. They also keep you up to date on every cultural happening in the city.
@pezbarcelona a.k.a. the one and only El Pez has his own Instagram account where he shares all his art works. If you're a fan of El Pez, you can't miss out his account!
@Macbalife is a very original Instagram account that posts short videos of people skating in front of the famous MACBA museum in the neighborhood El Raval. Perfect account if you're a big fan of skating!
@fotosdebarcelona is not so well known yet among the Barcelona lovers, it's a real gem! On this Instagram account you will mostly find collages of old and new pictures of places in Barcelona.
If you really want to get to know the people of Barcelona, then follow @humans.of.barcelona. This Instagram account basically captures the soul of the humans of Barcelona with short inspiring stories.
@lidpop is a mixture of different kind of posts, most of them are very artificial and cultural. They are very fun and interesting to look at!
Following @articketbcn on Instagram is a perfect way to discover all the cultural events and art museums in Barcelona.
@rescued_tile is one of these very unique Instagram accounts. They literally rescue tiles of old centenary buildings in Barcelona, the tiles were about to be thrown away, although they're very original and beautiful.
We hope you enjoyed each 70 of these Barcelona Based Instagram Accounts, they are all very unique and a real lust for the eyes! Let us know if you know more unique Barcelona based Instagram accounts that are worth checking out.
LOS DOMINGOS EN BARCELONA: UN GUíA ESENCIAL
Los domingos en Barcelona, en verdad, están llenos de actividades y pasatiempos. La ciudad es tan vivo y concurrido que siempre encontrarás algo que hacer en tu día libre.
¿Que puedes hacer un Domingo en Barcelona?
Para eliminar el estrés de hacer tu propio lista, este blog te ayudará a encontrar el plan perfecto para TU domingo. Así evitaremos que os quedáis encerrados en la casa todo el día.Terapia de compras
Entre los turistas y la gente local, es necesario que algunas tiendas, restaurantes y otros empresas de ocio permanezcan abiertas. Está claro que la mayoría de las tiendas y supermercados están cerrados, pero no os asustéis! Hemos creado una lista de algunas de las tiendas y supermercados que podréis visitar durante los domingos en Barcelona. O sea que si eres una comprador/a compulsiv@, esto es perfecto para ti. Vamos a empezar por el centro comercial de Anecblau: está abierto desde las 10h hasta las 22h todo los días, y tienen un gran portafolio de tiendas. Además, puedes disfrutar de muchos restaurantes y cafeterías para tomar un té, café o sentar a comer. Otro centro comercial que está abierto durante los domingos es Maremagnum. Tiene algunas de las mismas franquicias que Anecblau, y también unas otras marcas como Lacoste, Natura, etc. Además, por las calles alrededor de la Catedral, hay muchos boutiques abiertos que tienen diferentes estilos de ropa. Si esto no te satisface tus compras compulsivas en un domingo, me daré por vencido. Mientras que estamos en el asunto de tiendas en los domingos o días festivales, lo último que añadiré será un poco de información útil por si acaso te falta unos ingredientes para una receta, o si te apetece algo de chocolate (es lo más probable en mi caso) y no hay en casa! Los SuperCOR exprés están abiertos cada día de 8h a 2h. Hay muchísimos más tiendas como el SuperCOR (hasta incluso de 24 horas) que seguro que habrás visto al pasear por la calle, pero aquí podrás ver una lista de todos los SuperCOR exprés en Barcelona. Entonces, ahora que sabes que hay algunos supermercados abiertos en Domingo, significa que también podrás planear una barbacoa espontánea.Disfruta de la Comida en los Restaurantes
Los restaurantes están abiertos en los domingos igual que todos los días. Y como no hay nada mejor que disfrutar de buena comida con tus amigos y familia, ¿porque no salir a comer a un restaurante? En Barcelona, hay muchos diferentes estilos de restaurantes que cocinan maravillas de otras culturas a la misma vez que la comida tradicional de Catalunya. Unos restaurantes que recomendaríamos para aprovechar de la comida Catalana son “7 Portes”, “Senyor Parelleda”, Taverna el Glop” y “Can Culleretes”. Los platos son alrededores de 20 a 30 euros. También, gracias a su localización a la costa, Barcelona tiene bastantes marisquerías que prometen unas delicias frescas. En particular, “La Paradeta” es considerada un restaurante bastante asequible, y pleno de pescado y marisco delicioso.Museos
Hay bastantes museos que ofrecen entradas gratuitas para los domingos en Barcelona. Sí, lo has leído bien, son GRATIS, entonces no hay excusa. Hemos preparado una lista extensa para que podéis hacer un plan que convenga tus intereses. - Museo Nacional de Arte de Cataluña (MNAC) Parc de Montjuïc, Sants-Montjuïc, 08038 Hay entrada gratuita todos los primeros domingos de cada mes. - Museo de la historia de Barcelona (MUHBA) Pl. del Rei, Ciutat Vella, 08002 El primer domingo del mes, todo el día o el resto de los domingos a partir de las 15h. - Museo de Música Padilla 155, Eixample, 08013 El primer domingo del mes, todo el día o el resto de los domingos a partir de las 15h. - Museo Frederic Marès Plaça de Sant Iu, 5, Ciutat Vella, 08002 El primer domingo del mes, todo el día o el resto de los domingos a partir de las 15h. -Virreina Centre de la Imatge La Rambla, 99, El Raval, 08001 Siempre es GRATIS. - Museo Picasso Montcada, 15-23, Ciutat Vella, 08003 Es gratis el primer domingo de cada mes y a partir de 15h a 19h todos los domingos. - Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona Montalegre, 5, Raval, 08001 Todos los domingos de 15h a 20h (aforo limitado) gracias al patrocinio de Moritz. - Museo Marítimo de Barcelona Av. de les Drassanes, Raval, 08001 Todos los domingos a partir de las 15h. - Jardín Botánico El primer domingo del mes, todo el día o el resto de los domingos a partir de las 15h. - Museo de Diseño de Barcelona Plaça de les Glòries Catalanes, 37, 08018 Barcelona Todos los domingos de 15h a 20h, y cada primer domingo del mes. Hay otros museos que no ofrecen una entrada gratuita pero igualmente son interesantes y divertidos para visitar... - Museo Blau Pl. de Leonardo da Vinci, 4-5, Sant Martí, 08019 No tienen una entrada gratuita pero hacen entradas reducidas para jóvenes entre 16 y 29. - Museo de la historia de Cataluña (MHCAT) Plaça de Pau Vila, 3, Ciutat Vella, 08039 No es gratis, pero ofrecen una entrada reducida si eres menor de 25 años. - Museo de la Xocolata Carrer del Comerç, 36, 08003 Barcelona Es un museo de chocolate, vale la pena gastar el dinero con o sin entrada reducida!Playa, Mar y Cascadas!
En Barcelona, es verdad que las playas como la Barceloneta e Icària se llenan de personas bastante rápido a causa del turismo. Sin embargo, si vais andando por el paseo, verás que hay un gran ambiente, entonces si os da igual estar pegados toalla a toalla como sardines, merecerá la pena. Aunque, creo que la mayoría queremos estar tranquilos en la playa tomando el sol sin interrupciones. Entonces, ¿porque no ir a otras playas alrededor de Barcelona? Como Sitges, Tossa de Mar, Sant Pol de Mar o Castelldefels. También, hay compañías que alquilan tablas, remos y neopreno para hacer paddle, o surf. Los precios comienzan desde €15 para una hora hasta €25 para dos horas. ¿No queréis ir a la playa? No os preocupéis, hay muchos pueblos hermosos que quedan a una hora o dos de Barcelona en coche. En particular, la cascada de Foradada (esto es un secreto) es una maravilla que sería perfecto para las personas que son amantes del senderismo. Tarda una hora y media para llegar en coche, pero si quieres coger el transporte público tardarás unos 3 horas.Arquitectura y Cultura de Barcelona
Si no quieres viajar a otros sitios alrededor de Barcelona, podrías pasar tu domingo paseando por las bellas calles que ofrecen la ciudad. Barcelona está lleno de las obras de Gaudí: el palacio de Güell, la Sagrada Familia, Casa Milà, Casa Batlló, etc. Cada uno de sus creaciones son vibrantes, vistosos y atractivos; todos sus obras merecen una visita. De todos modos hay mucho más arquitectura en Barcelona que Gaudí, por ejemplo, el torre Agbar. Es un edificio increíble. Los domingos está cerrado, pero, igualmente puedes pasar por el camino a ver su impresionante altura. Durante la semana, se puede entrar al vestíbulo del edificio (el resto es privado!!); da la impresión que acabas de entrar en una iglesia antigua con vidrieras.Festivales y Eventos
Siempre estamos escribiendo y publicando sobre eventos de interés en nuestros redes sociales. Entonces, siguenos en Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Linked In y Pinterest para ver los mejores eventos que asistir en Barcelona. Hay un evento que se llama Eat Street Barcelona que normalmente ocurre durante los fines de semana en Barcelona. Es un lugar donde se reúnen "food trucks" (camiones de comida). A lo mejor, si tienes la suerte, pillarás uno de sus eventos en un domingo. Hablando de mercados temporáneas, echa un vistazo al Mercado Palo Alto. Atención: ocurre el primer fin de semana de cada mes. También, estarte pendiente de los festivales tradicionales como la Merce (24 de Septiembre). Este año caerá en un domingo, entonces, estarte atentos para otros días festivos que podrían caer en domingo. - A finales de Febrero hay Carnaval ! La fecha depende del año. -Semana Santa y Pascua es el tiempo de gran procesiones alrededor del Catedral y la Ciudad Antigua. -23 de Abril es la Fiesta de Sant Jordi (el patrón de Cataluña). -Los finales de Junio empiezan las Fiestas de "el Grec". -15 de Agosto son las Fiestas de la Asunción. -11 de Septiembre es la Fiesta Nacional de Cataluña. -12 de Octubre es la Fiesta de la Hispanidad y Santa Pilar. Espero que os haya gustado este blog! Si crees que hemos faltado algunas otras actividades, comenta abajo. FELIZ DOMINGO CHICOS!BLUE PROJECT FOUNDATION – THE VEGAN CAFé
Probably one of the more unique vegan cafés in Barcelona, the Blue Project Café is part of the Blue Project Foundation which is a contemporary art foundation situated in the beautiful el Borne. The idea behind it, is that the art carries through to the gastronomy. The café is the reflective art, but in this case chef Karlos is the artist with the way he delicately picks and assembles his art pieces – his dishes.
Blue Project Café is a vegetarian, vegan and raw food haven which is different from others, in the sense that it takes food to that another level. Priding themselves on the theory of slow food, we paid a visit to the café to find out more and taste some of the creations.
When we arrived to the vegan café, the very first thing that stood out was the cosy environment. The café has beautiful wooden touches, filled with cookbooks. The waiter – Jonathan welcomed us with a smile.
To start, Jonathan recommended that we try their smoothie and fresh juice. You can make your own smoothie, so we went ahead and had a banana, almond milk, acai & cinnamon smoothie which was absolutely delicious and a beetroot, apple, carrot, ginger and lemon freshly squeezed juice. For starters, we had a little taster of their hummus, Essene bread, enzymatic crackers and their cashew cheese.
Quick note, I love cheese. Like, love it. To my surprise, the cashew cheese was actually fairly close to the usual taste of cheese and it was really well seasoned with different herbs. The hummus was deliciously smooth, but my favourites were the bread and the crackers (they’re both completely gluten free). Typically, crackers tend to be fairly bland and dull, but the dehydrated bread and crackers were absolutely mouthwatering and packed with flavor, I could eat them all day every day.
The idea behind the next dish was slow food. Slow food is a philosophy that honors the appreciation of the producers and users whilst being good for the planet at the same time. Therefore, this dish was assembled with ingredients that grow nearby to Barcelona, meaning that less food is imported and because it’s so close, it doesn’t need to be frozen and it’s still full of nutrients. What came next, was truly a piece of art.
The dish was made with fluffy quinoa, broccoli, grilled asparagus, artichoke, mushrooms and decorated by some edible flowers, which added a colour pop. This was not only well seasoned and really well cooked, but it was made fun with much thought put behind it and this is why we loved this dish that was made with a local produce of seasonal vegetables.
So after this marathon of food, we had one last dish to try – desert. For desert, Karlos brought us a little mix of bits and bobs to try, with a signature strawberry cheesecake.
Along with the strawberry cheesecake, we had the joy of trying some handmade chocolate delight with a mango puree, some sweet banana chips, dried strawberries and handmade chocolate. Karlos revealed that he tempers with chocolate himself, which is one of the hardest technical skills in desert – tempering chocolate to the point where it glistens. Normally in restaurants I refrain from deserts, because you leave feeling heavy and feel like you have (once again) over eaten. However, because the food here is so light, the desert really hit the spot and safe to say, we did not regret having it at all. So after all this food tasting, we felt super good. The food was delicious, the service was amazing, the aura and the vibe in the café was refreshing. If you’re looking for a place that even your non-vegan or vegetarians friends would enjoy eating in, this definitely is the place to go. The café also sells some raw snacks, bites and different various foods which you can buy to take away. If you loved the dishes and feel inspired, chef Karlos also runs cooking classes on Saturday’s, but be aware, they sell out VERY quickly.
More information about El Café For more information on Slow Food Tell us your opinion in the comments below!
Blue Project Café is a vegetarian, vegan and raw food haven which is different from others, in the sense that it takes food to that another level. Priding themselves on the theory of slow food, we paid a visit to the café to find out more and taste some of the creations.
When we arrived to the vegan café, the very first thing that stood out was the cosy environment. The café has beautiful wooden touches, filled with cookbooks. The waiter – Jonathan welcomed us with a smile.
Starter
To start, Jonathan recommended that we try their smoothie and fresh juice. You can make your own smoothie, so we went ahead and had a banana, almond milk, acai & cinnamon smoothie which was absolutely delicious and a beetroot, apple, carrot, ginger and lemon freshly squeezed juice. For starters, we had a little taster of their hummus, Essene bread, enzymatic crackers and their cashew cheese.
Quick note, I love cheese. Like, love it. To my surprise, the cashew cheese was actually fairly close to the usual taste of cheese and it was really well seasoned with different herbs. The hummus was deliciously smooth, but my favourites were the bread and the crackers (they’re both completely gluten free). Typically, crackers tend to be fairly bland and dull, but the dehydrated bread and crackers were absolutely mouthwatering and packed with flavor, I could eat them all day every day.
Main Course
The idea behind the next dish was slow food. Slow food is a philosophy that honors the appreciation of the producers and users whilst being good for the planet at the same time. Therefore, this dish was assembled with ingredients that grow nearby to Barcelona, meaning that less food is imported and because it’s so close, it doesn’t need to be frozen and it’s still full of nutrients. What came next, was truly a piece of art.
The dish was made with fluffy quinoa, broccoli, grilled asparagus, artichoke, mushrooms and decorated by some edible flowers, which added a colour pop. This was not only well seasoned and really well cooked, but it was made fun with much thought put behind it and this is why we loved this dish that was made with a local produce of seasonal vegetables.
Desert
So after this marathon of food, we had one last dish to try – desert. For desert, Karlos brought us a little mix of bits and bobs to try, with a signature strawberry cheesecake.
Along with the strawberry cheesecake, we had the joy of trying some handmade chocolate delight with a mango puree, some sweet banana chips, dried strawberries and handmade chocolate. Karlos revealed that he tempers with chocolate himself, which is one of the hardest technical skills in desert – tempering chocolate to the point where it glistens. Normally in restaurants I refrain from deserts, because you leave feeling heavy and feel like you have (once again) over eaten. However, because the food here is so light, the desert really hit the spot and safe to say, we did not regret having it at all. So after all this food tasting, we felt super good. The food was delicious, the service was amazing, the aura and the vibe in the café was refreshing. If you’re looking for a place that even your non-vegan or vegetarians friends would enjoy eating in, this definitely is the place to go. The café also sells some raw snacks, bites and different various foods which you can buy to take away. If you loved the dishes and feel inspired, chef Karlos also runs cooking classes on Saturday’s, but be aware, they sell out VERY quickly.
More information about El Café For more information on Slow Food Tell us your opinion in the comments below!
BEST CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTS IN BARCELONA
Ever wonder who are the best architects in Barcelona? Don't look any further, in this article we give you the best contemporary architects Barcelona has to offer. They are all very successful architectural firms, some of them even work on an international level. Looking at their portfolios, we can assure you that they deliver impressive work, go check it out yourself below!
Alventosa Morell Arquitectes is an architectural firm based in Lleida and Barcelona founded by Josep Ma. Alventosa Cuadrat, Marc Alventosa and Morell Jané. They are in particular specialized in making eco-friendly houses, for example the Green Roofed home that we showed you in this blog about eco-friendly houses in Barcelona. The eco-friendly aspect is reflected through designing houses that save more than 70% of energy, but most of all they focus on increasing the comfort of their clients. They are experienced in residential projects, schools, medical centers, hotels and restoration of buildings. We want to show you a small part of their impressive portfolio, you definitely feel the relaxing vibe with all the wood they used.
Impressed by these architects and their portfolio? Do you want to know more about their projects? We have listed their contact info below: YLAB Arquitectes www.YLAB.com Calle Pallars 85-94 34 934864807 info@ylab.es Alventosa Morell Arquitectos www.AlventosaMorell.com Calle Rocafort 67-69 Local C-9 08015 Barcelona 93 182 07 89 Arquitectes@alventosamorell.com 08023 Arquitectos www.08023.es Calle Copèrnic 3, 1º 2º 08021 Barcelona 93 417 37 23 info@08023.es/ Velezcarrasco Arquitecto www.velezcarrascoarquitecto.com Calle Pals 1 17200 Palafrugell 34 872 006 208/34 628 948 552 Info@VelezcarrascoArquitecto.com OAB Office of Architecture Barcelona www.ferrater.com Calle Balmes 145 Bajos 08008 Barcelona 34 93 238 51 36 oab@ferrater.com BC Estudio www.bcarquitectos.com Plaza Equilas 10 Entresuelo 3a 08017 Barcelona 34 93 204 42 06 javbarba@bcarquitectos.com DNA Barcelona www.DNA-Barcelona.com Gran Via de Les Corts Catalanes 794 08013 Barcelona 34 93 539 75 66 info@dna-arq.com Let us know what you think of these top architects of Barcelona! Which architect would fit the best with your style and needs? Did we miss any really important ones? Let us know in the comments!
YLAB
YLAB Arquitectos is based in Barcelona, but most of their work is being presented worldwide with projects in Europe, Africa and Asia. They work on residential, commercial, corporate, hospitality and healthcare projects. Not only do they provide architectural services, they also take care of interior and furniture design. They focus on every detail, provide the finest craft work and they create timeless spaces. While focusing on that, they always keep in mind functionality and the personal needs and wishes of the client. You can tell that YLAB is a very renowned architect as they are included in The New York Times, Architectural Digest, El País, Archiportale and Houzz. Check out one of their residential projects below:
Alventosa Morell Arquitectes
Alventosa Morell Arquitectes is an architectural firm based in Lleida and Barcelona founded by Josep Ma. Alventosa Cuadrat, Marc Alventosa and Morell Jané. They are in particular specialized in making eco-friendly houses, for example the Green Roofed home that we showed you in this blog about eco-friendly houses in Barcelona. The eco-friendly aspect is reflected through designing houses that save more than 70% of energy, but most of all they focus on increasing the comfort of their clients. They are experienced in residential projects, schools, medical centers, hotels and restoration of buildings. We want to show you a small part of their impressive portfolio, you definitely feel the relaxing vibe with all the wood they used.
08023 Architects
08023 Architects is based in the Sarriá-Sant Gervasi neighborhood of Barcelona and specialized in designing incredible places to live in, to work in, to dream in, and so on! They combine architecture and design with the emotions, needs and desires tailored to each client. In order to create a dream house for someone, 08023 not only works FOR their client, but most of all work WITH their client by interviewing them to find out exactly what they want. They guide their clients throughout the whole project, or 'experience' as they like to call it. 08023's main focus is achieving dreams and solve needs, which is reflected in their amazing projects! In which of these luxurious properties would you like to wake up?
Velezcarrasco Arquitecto
The man behind Velezcarrasco Arquitecto is Óskar Vélez Carrasco, born in the Basque Country but ended up working as an architect in Barcelona. In the Catalan city he worked on large and massive projects such as hospitals, office buildings, and even golf court headquarters. However, for him the most rewarding part of his job was the eye-to-eye contact with the client, getting to know their exact wished and needs and then work from there. He thought over everything and finally decided to start his own firm as an architect, so he could be directly in touch with the person that eventually would end up in his project. He wants to experience the challenge of building a project, the good moments and the bad moments together with his client. His close relationship with his clients has resulted in some really awesome work! Can you imagine laying in that pool, enjoying the sunset?
OAB: Office of Architecture in Barcelona
The Office of Architecture in Barcelona (OAB) was established in 2006 by partners Carlos Ferrater, Savier Martí, Lucía Ferrater, Borja Ferrater and Núria Ayala. OAB is a renowned architecture firm. They received several awards such as the City of Barcelona Award for the Barcelona Botanical Gardens and Mediapro Building projects, the Brunel Award for the Zaragoza-Delicias Transportation Station project, the City of Madrid Award for the Benidorm Waterfront Project for which they also got the FAD Award, WAN Award and the Spanish Architecture Award. The list of awards goes on and on, so you definitely don't have to doubt about the quality of this successful firm! OAB works on different projects from renovation projects to residential projects. Although they are based in Barcelona, they work on an international level. Curious how their residential projects look like? Check them below, the oval house is mind blowing!
BC Estudio Architects
BC Estudio Architects is also a Barcelona based architecture firm that works on an international level in Spain, Greece, USA, Arabia, Portugal, France, Andorra, Indonesia, Mexico, Australia, Italy, India, Morocco, Norway, Poland, Russia and Qatar. So if you're ever thinking of leaving Barcelona (although why would you) then you can keep on using the services of BC Estudio Architects. If you value environmentally friendly designs, then this may be the perfect architect for you because one of their most important values is Green Architecture. They want to integrate cultural, social and environmental values into their architectural design. Not only are their projects beautiful, but they are also designed with functionality in mind. The second house is a perfect mixture of old and modern architecture.
DNA Barcelona
DNA Barcelona is an Architecture studio, but they also do Planning, Landscape, Interiors, and Design. Just like some other architects, DNA also works on international level as they are involved in projects throughout Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Their range of projects goes from multi functional buildings to luxury single family houses. Their main focus is the future, they try to understand how their projects can adapt to future needs. They even have a special program called "Luxury Solutions" in which they take care of the whole process of the development of the project, from the beginning to the end, they basically take you by the hand throughout the project. Below you can check their luxurious projects.Impressed by these architects and their portfolio? Do you want to know more about their projects? We have listed their contact info below: YLAB Arquitectes www.YLAB.com Calle Pallars 85-94 34 934864807 info@ylab.es Alventosa Morell Arquitectos www.AlventosaMorell.com Calle Rocafort 67-69 Local C-9 08015 Barcelona 93 182 07 89 Arquitectes@alventosamorell.com 08023 Arquitectos www.08023.es Calle Copèrnic 3, 1º 2º 08021 Barcelona 93 417 37 23 info@08023.es/ Velezcarrasco Arquitecto www.velezcarrascoarquitecto.com Calle Pals 1 17200 Palafrugell 34 872 006 208/34 628 948 552 Info@VelezcarrascoArquitecto.com OAB Office of Architecture Barcelona www.ferrater.com Calle Balmes 145 Bajos 08008 Barcelona 34 93 238 51 36 oab@ferrater.com BC Estudio www.bcarquitectos.com Plaza Equilas 10 Entresuelo 3a 08017 Barcelona 34 93 204 42 06 javbarba@bcarquitectos.com DNA Barcelona www.DNA-Barcelona.com Gran Via de Les Corts Catalanes 794 08013 Barcelona 34 93 539 75 66 info@dna-arq.com Let us know what you think of these top architects of Barcelona! Which architect would fit the best with your style and needs? Did we miss any really important ones? Let us know in the comments!
CHIC Y TIN: THE BEST EVENT FOR KIDS IN BARCELONA
We want to present you the best event for kids in Barcelona: Chic y Tin. Did you move to Barcelona with your children? Then you should absolutely stick with us, because you and your kids definitely don't want to miss out this day full of fun!
Chic y Tin is THE event of the city for most children. It takes place twice a year in April and October on a Saturday from 11.00 – 20:00 @ Jardins de Clara Campoamor, Avenida Diagonal 615. The entrance for Chic y Tin is € 5 and in return you can enjoy all day long with your children. It is a very unique and innovative event, as they try to make every edition different from previous editions. They do everything necessary to surprise the kids every year again.
Chic y Tin is set up by a team of mothers and businesswomen sharing one common goal: to have wonderful moments with their chiquitines/Chic y Tin (little ones in English) and share it with others. They wanted to create something new, something fun but also educational and family entertainment with the purpose to encourage play time between parents and children. With Chic y Tin they want to create 'magical' moments for children and parents.
The main goal of this event is to enjoy quality time with family on a day full of original activities. There are lots of fun individual and collective games, concerts, shows, animation, and many more things are created for families. Everything is led by artists and entertainers. Kids are able to play, learn, act, but above all have the time of their lives! Chic y Tin has certain very important values on this day in order to make the best out of this event. It is all about solidarity, respect, creativity, healthy living, education, cooperation, team play and most of all: kids having fun together with their parents!
Let us know what you think of Chic y Tin or if you know any other fun events for kids and families in Barcelona!
Chic y Tin is set up by a team of mothers and businesswomen sharing one common goal: to have wonderful moments with their chiquitines/Chic y Tin (little ones in English) and share it with others. They wanted to create something new, something fun but also educational and family entertainment with the purpose to encourage play time between parents and children. With Chic y Tin they want to create 'magical' moments for children and parents.
The main goal of this event is to enjoy quality time with family on a day full of original activities. There are lots of fun individual and collective games, concerts, shows, animation, and many more things are created for families. Everything is led by artists and entertainers. Kids are able to play, learn, act, but above all have the time of their lives! Chic y Tin has certain very important values on this day in order to make the best out of this event. It is all about solidarity, respect, creativity, healthy living, education, cooperation, team play and most of all: kids having fun together with their parents!
Let us know what you think of Chic y Tin or if you know any other fun events for kids and families in Barcelona!
ENGLISH HEALTHCARE SERVICES IN BARCELONA: TURó PARK MEDICAL CENTER
English Speaking Doctors All Under One Roof: Convenient!
Did you just move to Barcelona or are you planning to move to the Mediterranean city? If so, then English healthcare services in Barcelona are probably right up your ally. I mean, have you ever wondered how the health care system works here? It's basically a two tiered system, with both public and private routes available. For newcomers to the city, and especially people who would need to communicate with their doctor in English, we highly suggest private health care coverage for your family. Receiving medical assistance in English is not too common, so if it's important to you you would normally need to find hunt around for the appropriate doctor. We're going to share a gem of a tip with you and tell you about a great center in Barcelona that offers tons of medical services in English! Turó Park Medical Center (TPMC) is where you should go it you're looking for English speaking doctors and great variety of different services. They have a multilingual team, offering services such as a Family Doctors, Paediatricians, Dentists, Infectious Diseases and Travel Medicine, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Orthodontists and even Speech Therapy. Below we will tell you exactly about these services, which doctor provides them and what languages they speak. Continue reading to meet the international team of TPMC!
Family Doctor
If you have a family then you know that having a general family doctor is important. Dr. Victoria Howe is waiting for you! She is the family doctor of TPMC, devoted to comprehensive health care for the individual and family across all ages, genders, diseases, and parts of the body. She obtains knowledge of her patients in the context of their family and community. She also is specialised in women’s health, focusing on primary care for women. Besides speaking English, she is also fluent in Spanish, Catalan and fair in French and Italian. So you don’t have to worry about being misunderstood. A first visit with Dr. Howe is 90/120€.
Pediatrician
Do you have children? Then the pediatrician is necessary. Dr María Dolores Terradas is the pediatrician at TPMC. She doesn’t only care a lot about children, she also understands cultural differences and particular circumstances in a family. For everything related to the health, growth or development of a child, you can go to the pediatrician. With Dr. Terradas we can guarantee you that your child will feel relaxed, and as parent you can share your doubts and questions without any rush. A first visit with Dr. Terradas is 70€
Dentist
Everyone needs a dentist, but most people find it difficult to find the right dentist. In particular when you are in another country and city. If you’re looking for a good dentist in Barcelona who is not only taking care of your teeth very well, but also speaks English, than you should go visit dr. Patricia Filippi (fluent in English, Spanish and Catalan) or dr. Allan Smelt (speaks English, French, Dutch, German, Spanish and Catalan). They focus on the prevention and treatment of diseases that affect your teeth and the rest of your mouth (tongue, cheeks etc.). You'll have no worries about your teeth when you are under the wings of dr. Filippi or dr. Smelt! A first visit with Dr. P Filippi or Dr. A Smelt is 70€
Infectious Diseases and Travel Medicine
Are you a lover of traveling like us? Than we highly suggest to meet up with dr. Ambrosioni, specialized in Infectious Diseases and Travel Medicine. If you’re planning to travel to a developing country or the tropics, you are at a risk of infectious diseases. Therefore we want to recommend a visit with dr. Ambrosioni at least two weeks before you leave for a pre-travel consultation. Oh wait, you don't speak Spanish? Do not panic. Dr Ambrosioni speaks, as all the other doctors, English. A first visit with Dr. J Ambrosioni is 70€
Oral, Maxillofacial Surgery and ENT Specialist
Having health problems around the area of your head? Do not hesitate to contact dr. Alejandro Mazarro, specialized in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Sounds complicated right? Let’s just say that dr. Mazarro knows everything about the parts around your head: neck, face, jaws or mouth. Besides, he speaks fluently Spanish, Catalan, French and English. For ear, nose and throat problems you can go to dr. Eduardo Lehrer, he is a specialist in these parts of the body. Dr Lehrer speaks fluently in English, Spanish and Catalan. A first visit with Dr. A Mazarro or Dr. E Lehrer is 120€
Aesthetic Medicine, Facial Cosmetic Surgery and Dermatology
Dr. Alejandro Mazarro also stands at your service as a specialist in Aesthetic Medicine and Facial Cosmetic Surgery. If you want to improve the quality of your skin, you might consider to meet dr. Mazarro. A better quality skin, might even improve the quality of your life, your psychological well being and social function. Furthermore, TPMC offers dermatology related services. They are specialized in dealing with the skin, hair, nails and its diseases. Whether you want to do a visit for medical or cosmetic problems, at TPMC you can come for both problems. A first visit with Dr Mazarro for Aesthetic Medicine and Facial Cosmetic Surgery is FREEOrthodontist
Besides being the owner of TPMC, dr. Madeleine Smit is also an orthodontist. Dr Smit speaks English, Dutch, French and Spanish. She is a dental specialist focusing on the diagnosis and treatment of improper bites and un-aligned teeth. If you have children as young as 7 you might be interested in her service, because children of this age need to be routinely examined to prevent any trouble with their teeth when they get older. Not only the younger ones, but also the adults can be treated. So don’t hesitate to do a visit for yourself, you never know! A first visit with Dr Madeleine Smit is 70€
Speech Therapy
TPMC also offers speech therapy. They have a speech pathologist, Sofia Zelou, who treats speech, language and voice disorders. Besides, she is specialized in swallowing disorders caused by brain damages or neurological injuries. You can visit Sofia for both your child and yourself, she works with both. The treatment sessions are held in the languages she speaks: Spanish, Catalan, English and Greek. A first visit with Sofia Zelou is 50€
How about insurance?
No matter what doctor you choose to go to, you will get 80-90% reimbursed with the following insurance policies: ADESLAS Pymes Reembolso AEGON Salud Reembolso ALLIANZ Saludo Reembolso ASEFA salud Top (y TOP Familia) ASISA Integral AXA Optima Plus CIGNA Global CIGNA Saludo Blue / Gold DKV Mundisalud, Top Health y Residentes MediaFIATC Salud RACC Seguros Elección SANITAS Mas, Premium y Blue MAPFRE Salud Reembolso
As you see, Turó Park Medical Center offers an ever lasting long list of services with doctors being able to speak many languages. Don't hesitate to contact TPMC for a consult, you can easily book an appointment on their website. How is your experience with English Healthcare Services in Barcelona? We'd love to hear about your experiences or recommendations in the comments!
RANKING: MOST EXPENSIVE NEIGHBORHOODS TO BUY AN APARTMENT IN BARCELONA
Only 1 in 5 Apartments for Sale in Barcelona are 200.000 Euros or less!
If you are thinking of buying an apartment in Barcelona, you obviously need to be up to date about the current Housing Market in order to make the right decisions. We know how complicated reports and updates can be, as the figures presented can be heavily biased or influenced. Don’t worry! Because in this article we are going to explain the current situation in each district in a succinct and clear manner. [caption id="attachment_4815" align="aligncenter" width="341"]
2007 until about just recently...[/caption] As the Catalan city just recovered out of its worst of the economic crisis (everything went south in 2007), prices finally started recovering and increasing again. Obviously this means that many once affordable apartments have become more expensive. If we look at the sales market today, only one out of five apartments in Barcelona costs less than 200.000 euros ! That number itself seems startling, but if you take into account that the majority of apartments within this price range are located in Nou Barris, Sant Andreu and Horta-Guinardó (some what 2nd tier neighborhoods in terms of investment) then the number is even more startling. Barcelona is a very popular city for investors. Even taking into account the hard economic times that we had in Spain, Barcelona was always special, not representative of the rest of the country, and hence a good investment. They say that up to 20% of the city is actually foreign born. There are many foreign investors who buy apartments and rent them out. As the capital appreciation in Barcelona is very good, this has always been a good and safe model to follow. The majority of buyers of course are looking for apartments normally within the price range of 200k-220k euros. However, lately as the demand is starting to creep passed the levels of the supply... And that means that prices are starting to rise, and quickly. Apartments that do fall in this coveted price range of 200.000 are gone within days. This keeps the demand growing, the supply not so much, and hence the prices start rising like the tide.
One of the most sought-after types of property in Barcelona are apartments from 80 - 150 square meters situated in prime districts (such as Eixample, Ciutat Vella, Gracia) in a historical renovated building, however these apartments can cost between 700k - 1.5m euros. If you want to know exactly what the possibilities are for buying an apartment in each district of the city within a certain price range (based on 2016 results), than keep on reading! It's in chronological order: from the most expensive district to the least expensive district.
1. Eixample and La Zona Alta (Les Corts and Sarriá-Sant Gervasi)
Eixample and La Zona Alta are the most expensive most expensive neighborhoods to buy an apartment in Barcelona. It used to be feasible to buy an apartment for less than 200k euros in the areas of Eixample, Les Corts or Sarriá-Sant Gervasi. However, since little over a year ago this has become a mission impossible. Only a small percentage of sales offers on Idealista is below 200k euros in this area. If you do find a house within this price range it is most likely a 'bajos' or an uncertified apartment. Or you may find them in this price with small footprints (if a flat for 200k is only about 30-50m2, it's still quite expensive per m2, especially if you need to renovated). Because this district is one of the most wanted areas of Barcelona, Eixample has seen the most growth in demand and therefore prices have increased here the most. In 2016 the average price in Eixample per square meters was 4610 euros. Meaning that you pay 200k euros for an apartment of 43 square meters in Eixample, which basically doesn't exist. In La Zona Alta the situation is quite similar, you have an 41 square meter flats for that price. Do keep in mind that the prices also differ from one district of the Eixample to another. There are 6 districts in total, and some of them (for example the newly trendy area of Sant Antoni) are more in demand than other (Sagrada Familia for example). An example of what you can buy for 220k euros in the heart of Eixample: 55m2 and 3 bedrooms (FYI, 3 bedrooms in only 55m2 is VERY tight).
2. Ciutat Vella
In Ciutat Vella 18.5% of the total offer is below 200k euros, but most of them are very small. For example, in La Barceloneta, you will have to pay at least 170k euros for 30 square meters (almost 6.000 a m2). In Raval the situation is quite the same. On top of that, the majority of buildings often don’t have an elevator and are in bad shape. In the Gothic and Born districts there has also been increased demand for properties, mainly investment properties. The most popular buildings are the renovated historical buildings with stylish apartments. The average price in Ciutat Vella in 2016 was 4100 euros per square meters, so for around 200k euros you have an apartment of 50 square meters. Of course the 4 neighborhoods that make up Ciutat Vella differ wildly, with the Borne being the most expensive and trendy and the Raval being the cheapest of the four although that is quickly changing as investors snap up property there. An example of what you can buy for 190k euros in La Barceloneta: 35m2 and 1 bedroom (Bajo)
3. Sant Martí
The beach side part of Sant Martí is very popular (read Poblenou, Vila Olimpica and Diagonal Mar). The other parts of Sant Marti are not really sought after at all (Provenciales, Clot, Besós, Etc...). There are many residential projects in this area. Most properties in this area are being bought for investment purposes, because the potential rental yields here are higher than average. In 2016, the average price in Sant Martí per square meter was 3900 euros. So for around 200k euros you would have an apartment of approximate 52 square meters. However on the beach side the apartments are more expensive. If you want to have spectacular views and live across the street from the beach you can easily pay at least 650k euros. The investment properties are mainly in demand by Asian and Middle Eastern investors. In the El Camp de l'Arpa del Clot neighborhood you will find more apartments below 200k euros, most of these apartments are about 75 square meters, but you'd also have almost no chance of getting an interesting rental income as the area doesn't appeal to the right crowd. Here is an example of what you can buy on the beach side in Sant Martí for a modern apartment with spectacular views for 669k euros: 110 square meters and 2 rooms
Here is what to expect for 199k euros in the more affordable neighborhood El Camp de l'Arpa del Clot: 75 square meters and 3 bedrooms
4. Grácia
OK, it'll be a bit of a shocker that somehow San Martí came in as more expensive than Gracia. The reason why is that Diagonal Mar's prices can be so exorbitant that it jumped the neighborhood a whole spot on the list. In the Grácia district one out of seven apartments are below 200k euros! In this district the average square meter price in 2016 was 3600 euros. Meaning that for 200k euros you will have an apartment of around 56 square meters. The neighborhoods Vila de Gracia and La Salud are the most expensive parts of Grácia. The more affordable neighborhoods in Gracía are Vallcarca i els Penitents, El Coll and El Camp d'len Grassot i Grácia Nova. In those areas it's easier to find apartments of 80 (or more) square meters for a price of 170k - 200k euros. Read carefully: If you're buying an investment property in Gracia ONLY consider Vila de Gracia. An example of what you can get for 190k euros in Vallcarca i els Penitents: 80m2 and 3 bedrooms
5. Sants-Montjuïc
Just over a quarter of the apartments in Sants is below 200k euros, but you are practically limited to Zona Franca and the smallest houses in Poble Sec. In 2016 the average price per square meters was around 2900 euro per square meters, meaning that have an apartment of approximate 70 square meters for 200k euros. There are not many apartments available for less than 100k euros, but the ones you do find for that price are mostly studio sized apartments, meaning that are nog bigger than 35-40 square meters. Just two years ago you could snap up apartments in Poble Sec for under 100k. Those days are gone and this is one of the up and coming neighborhoods in Barcelona. An example of what you can get for 209k euros the neighborhood El Poble Sec in Sants-Montjuïc: 70m2 and 2 bedrooms.
6. Horta Guinardó
In the district of Horta Guinardó the average square meter price in 2016 was 2500 euros, so for 200k euros you will have an apartment of 80 square meters. In the neighborhoods El Carmel and El Guinardó you will find a lot of options for apartments below 200k euros. In the neighborhood La Vall d'Hebron there are a lot less options for apartments below 200k euros. For a normal/modern apartment of 80 square meters you could easily pay between 250k-300k euros in La Vall d'Hebron. Not a top choice, or even distant one, for investors. An example of what you can buy in El Carmel for 217k euros: 85m2 and 4 bedrooms.
7. Sant Andreu and Nou Barris
In this area you will have a lot more options. Almost half of the apartments are priced below 200k euros. However, the majority of these apartments are in the Nou Barris part, you will even find apartments for less than 100k euros in this area. In 2016 the average price in Sant Andreu per square meters was around 2300 euros, so for 200k euros you would have an apartment of 87 square meters. In Nou Barris the average price in 2016 was the lowest of all districts, around 1900 euros per square meters. So for 100k euros you would have an apartment of 53 square. These prices sound pretty fair right? But keep in mind that many new buyers or investors are less attracted to this area (and by less attracted we mean no at all so). It is further away from the city center and is basically a working class normal suburb. An example of what you can buy in Nou Barris for 99k euros: 60m2 and 3 bedrooms.
Hopefully this article has given you some insight on the current housing market situation in Barcelona and will help you taking the right decisions, as you now know what to expect in each district of the city. Please feel free to leave us your thoughts in the comments. What do you think is the most interesting neighborhood to buy in Barcelona?
