Barcelona, a Spanish and Catalan city beautifully nestled between the mountains and the Mediterranean sea, has now been my home for the past two years. With my prolonged on and off love affair with this city, I’ve come to realize that a pros and cons list needn’t wait any longer. Generally people assume life in Barcelona must be all sunshine and rainbows intertwined with afternoon siestas and evening tapas, but as you can already assume, this isn’t always the case. It may be one of the sunniest cities, but it’s not a perfect place by any means. So whether you’re considering moving or just curious about la vida en la ciudad, here’s my personal pros and cons of living in Barcelona as an expat.
Pros
Mountains and Beaches
Can’t decide between living near the mountains or the beach? Barcelona is a rare city that offers its residents both. Sitting comfortably between the sub-Pyrenees Mountains and the mesmeric Mediterranean Sea, Barcelona gives locals the best of both worlds. Whether you want to spend the day at the beach or go hiking in its gorgeous mountains, both are a walk or a short train ride away, making it a great city for the outdoorsy.
So many types of people
Barcelona is a rather cosmopolitan city, so living here you encounter all sorts of people from all around the world. It brings along an array of restaurants, skills, and atmosphere. It’s definitely one of the pros of living in Barcelona, in my opinion.
Endless things to do
There’s always something to do here. Whether it’s a city festival, concert, or simply exploring a new art exhibit, Barcelona offers something for everyone. From La Mercè to the phenomenal LLum BCN, Barcelona’s incredible light show festival, you’ll never have any reason to find yourself bored in this city. Additionally, you’ll find a variety of classes available to you from free Catalan courses to women’s self-defense, fantastic museums exhibits, music and concerts, comedy shows, dance, sports, and so much more at your fingertips when living here in Barcelona.
Walk-able
Barcelona is a very beautiful and walk-able city. You can get anywhere on foot and you’ll enjoy the scenery while you do it. Not to say it won’t take you awhile if you were to walk from Plaça Espanya to Barceloneta, for example, but it’s designed to be walked and it can most certainly be done. Additionally, the metro is fantastic and well-connected, too.
Creativity
Barcelona is such an artsy place. From street art to ample amounts of local photographers, designers, dancers — there’s always an art event going on in the city. Plus, with dozens of museums, locals get to enjoy vast amounts of art at their fingertips as well as amazing temporary exhibitions are always happening. Some notable ones have been Andy Warhol and Stanley Kubrick, among many other creators.
Cons
Overcrowded with tourists
Of course I knew before moving to Barcelona that it was a touristy city, but I never put into perspective how touristy it actually is. The city centre streets are filled with tourists year-round, but — as expected — at its greatest influx in the summer months. It’s overwhelming and tiring, especially if you live in the very centre. You walk out of your door and you’re instantly surrounded by dozens of people just at your doorstep.
A bit smelly
I’ve honestly never experienced a more smelly city in my life. It’s the kind of smell that will burn your nose and bring tears to your eyes. Whether it’s the smell of the drains wafting up from below or the bins along the sidewalks, it’s a smell you’ll never get used to.
Generally unfriendly
People aren’t necessarily helpful or very friendly in this city. You visit a restaurant or coffee shop and the staff will barely crack a smile. However, let me note that once you continuously go to the same place and the staff recognize you, I’ve noticed that they begin to open up and make more conversational efforts. Every place I’ve lived in prior to Barcelona has been full of friendly and chatty people, so it’s a change of pace to come somewhere that is quite the opposite.
Increasing rental prices
I’ve lived in a few different flats in Barcelona, and each time I move, I notice the rental prices for flats in the city continue to increase. When I was moving to a new flat earlier this year, I had to completely rethink my budget because it simply wasn’t going to align with the increase. Prices in the city are continuing to go up in all aspects, but rental prices are the biggest issue I’ve noticed.
Lacking central green space
I like green cities, and although Barcelona has several nice parks, they’re not scattered throughout the city. They’re either in Montguïc or northwest towards the mountains. Going for a nice stroll in the park means having to hop on the metro first. Ciutadella Park is the only central green space, and although the park is a decent size, it’s full of dirt and walking paths and not so much greenery.
Bureaucracy
There’s nothing more chaotic and tiresome than trying to establish your legality in the Catalan capital. With Spain’s relaxed pace, you’ll spend hours hopping around Barcelona, paying fees at the bank, waiting in seemingly endless queues, only to learn you didn’t do everything correctly. It’s almost impossible to find available appointments, so that’s where the queuing comes into play. Plus, websites and the government employees will tell you different things and it simply just seems to be luck of the draw as to whether or not your documents are correct and accepted, so it might take a couple of tries and visits to several offices.
READ MORE: Non-Touristy Guide to Barcelona
Do you disagree with any of these pros and cons of living in Barcelona or have any of your own to add? Share in the comments below!
