What do Sarrià-Sant Gervasi, Pedralbes, and Les Corts all have in common? These are some of the suburbs in
Barcelona. There's a lot more to the Catalan capital than its central districts. El Raval, Eixample, Gràcia, and El Born may have proven to be some of the most exciting parts of the city, but people need peaceful and safe neighborhoods too. These suburban areas are the most suitable places for families with young kids, senior citizens, and the like. A fair distance away from Barcelona's hustle and bustle, it's easy for anyone to live a fairly peaceful life in any of them!
El Poblenou
El Poblenou means “The New Town” and it's more than an accurate name for it. From what used to be an industrial hub filled with factories and warehouses, the area has transformed into one of the trendy, residential
neighborhoods of Barcelona. The brick buildings that once served as workhouses now have loft apartments, chic office spaces, art studios, and the like. Its most popular point is Rambla de Poblenou Boulevard, lined with countless hotspots on both sides. Here, you can check out cool tapas bars, hang out in chill cafes, shop at indie boutiques, and more.
Source: Flickr.com/ Naotake Murayama
Les Corts
While it’s best known for the Camp Nou Stadium, Les Corts is actually one of Barcelona's suburban neighborhoods. It's a largely residential area with many great homes, prominent schools, bustling markets, and more. Families looking to raise their kids here will be glad to know that Les Corts is home to some of the finest
international schools in Barcelona. They're the best educational institutions for your little ones, especially if they can’t speak and understand Spanish or Catalan. Moreover, while Les Corts is an upscale district, you'll still see a few affordable homes to rent here too.
Source: Flickr.com/ Oh-Barcelona.com
Horta-Guinardó
Horta-Guinardó is perhaps the quintessential suburb of Barcelona. Firstly, it's a residential district that has a lot of great
luxury homes in Barcelona. From apartments to townhouses, real estate reigns supreme here. The best part? They range in price! There are several places here that cost a lot less than in other parts of the city. Secondly, the area is known as one of the Catalan capital's greenest districts. You'll find numerous parks and gardens in Horta-Guinardó, many of which are perfect for spending quality time with family and friends on weekends.
Source: Wikimedia Commons/ Districte d'Horta Guinardó
Pedralbes
Elegant villas and ornate gatehouses define Pedralbes, another of Barcelona's main suburbs. If you can afford to
move to Barcelona with your entire family and you prefer to stay in an upscale and peaceful place, look no further than this area. Not only is this one of the more affluent parts of the city, but it's among the safest too which is saying something since Barcelona is far from the safest city in the world. Apart from the Monastery of Pedralbes, there are barely any tourist attractions in Pedralbes. It's not even one of Barcelona's most popular spots too.
Source: Wikimedia Commons/ Canaan
Sant Andreu de Palomar
Sant Andreu de Palomar is technically part of the bigger Sant Andreu district, but it practically operates as its own district. It helps that the place used to be an independent old town for centuries, only becoming officially part of Barcelona on April 20th, 1897. Even then, Sant Andreu de Palomar remained relatively independent from the rest of the city. Part of what separates it from other Barcelona suburbs is how peaceful it is. A fair distance away from the Catalan capital's tourist-heavy districts, the tranquility here is such that it almost feels like it's in a different city altogether.
Source: Wikimedia Commons/ User:1997
Sants–Montjuïc
Is Sants–Montjuïc a suburb of Barcelona? Technically, it is. The area around Montjuïc Hill may be famous, drawing in tourists who want to relish in the past glory of the Barcelona 1992 Summer Olympics, but this is only one part of the area. The rest is a largely residential district filled with family-owned homes, small businesses, serene parks, nice schools, and more. It does get lively from time to time, but for the most part, Sants–Montjuïc remains a peaceful neighborhood in Barcelona. It's pretty affordable here too, with apartments going for as low as €900.00 to €1,500.00 per month.
Source: Wikimedia Commons/ Year of the dragon
Sarrià-Sant Gervasi
Since it's Barcelona's biggest district, it's not to consider Sarrià-Sant Gervasi as one of the city's suburbs. The area has garnered popularity with its tapas bars, cool pubs, hipster cafes, and indie boutiques, drawing in both tourists and locals alike. This doesn't exactly sound like a family-friendly suburb, doesn't it? In truth, all of this is just one part of the Sarrià-Sant Gervasi. The rest of the neighborhood is mostly residential, complete with great homes, beautiful green spaces, and some of the finest schools in the city. You can easily settle down here with your kids and have them go to the nearby international schools.
Source: Wikimedia Commons/ Enric
If you're moving to Barcelona soon, especially with your entire family, get to know the city's suburbs. They include central neighborhoods and outer districts, all offering peaceful areas with beautiful homes and more.
