Lifestyle in Barcelona

Expat life in Barcelona is filled with exciting cultural events, attractions, fine food and great shopping as well as nightlife. The city has seen significant growth in tourism in recent years, and local tensions around overtourism have emerged. However, this reflects the city’s popularity rather than any fundamental safety concerns.

People in Barcelona generally place equal importance on working and living well. Most shops and businesses in the city open around 9am or 10am and are open until late. The busiest time for restaurants in Barcelona is between 9pm and 10pm, while clubs and bars can still be filling up well after midnight.

Evenings out in Barcelona often start with alfresco dining in the city squares or sundowners at the yacht marina, or a local chiringuito (beach bar). Afterwards, people typically proceed to trendy bars and clubs in areas such as Barri Gòtic, Las Ramblas or nearby Port Olimpic, which also hosts some of the best seafood restaurants in Spain.

There is plenty for expats to see and do in Barcelona, with ballet, music, dance and opera performances at venues such as the Greek Theatre, the Joan Miró Foundation and the Liceu Opera House. Barcelona also hosts several annual events to entertain the population each year.

Given the city’s Mediterranean climate, it is no surprise that life in Barcelona is often characterised by cafés, long lunches, late-night parties, festivals and other outdoor attractions. You can also expect to soak up the sun along nearly three miles (4.5km) of golden coastline.

Areas and Suburbs in Barcelona
Kids and Families in Barcelona

Shopping in Barcelona

For the best shopping in Barcelona, head for the Las Ramblas pedestrian mall, Placa de Catalunya (Catalonia Square), Passeig de Gracia and Avenue Diagonal.

There is also a bus from Placa de Catalunya that stops at retail centres throughout the city. If you’re looking for something a bit more refined, you can head to El Born, which is packed with trendy boutiques and tasteful shops.

Barcelona’s malls and shopping centres have many upmarket shops that sell fashion by world-class designers such as Armani and Burberry, as well as Spanish outlets, including Zara and Mango. Bargains can be found during the winter sales in January and the summer sales in July.

Shops are often open from 9am to 8pm, with a siesta between 2pm and 5pm. Large department stores are usually open from 10am to 10pm. Almost all the shops in Barcelona are open on Saturday morning, but many are closed in the afternoon and on Sundays and holidays.

Holidays in Barcelona

Entertainment and eating out in Barcelona

The nightlife in Barcelona is as varied as it is famous. With a workday that usually ends at around 8pm, most restaurants and bars are at their busiest late in the evening. The trendiest clubs in the city are also known to only really get going at 3am, as revellers party until dawn.

You have a wide selection of choices when it comes to nightclubs and bars in Barcelona. You can lounge around with a designer mojito at upmarket clubs or have a few drinks at a hole-in-the-wall pub. Both Las Ramblas and the Gothic Quarter are packed with as many partygoers at night as they are with shopaholics during the day. The more bohemian Raval area is an edgier nightlife spot, although you should be aware of the neighbourhood’s seedier parts.

If you’re new to Barcelona, consider taking one of a few club or pub tours that show the best the city has to offer visitors and residents alike.

The meeting point for Europe, the Mediterranean and Northern Africa, Barcelona has become a melting pot of international culinary influences and its own distinct flavours. The city is home to a host of world-class restaurants where you can sample a range of local and international cuisines. The Catalan capital also boasts an impressive offering of fresh seafood thanks to its exquisite coastal position.

If you’re looking to experience traditional Catalan cuisine, you’ll be delighted by the scores of tapas bars and traditional eateries dotted in and around the city. Eating out forms an essential part of its culture, and an authentic Barcelona experience would be incomplete without sampling delectable regional specialities such as crema Catalan, paella, and sangría.

Outdoor activities and sports in Barcelona

You can spend time in one of the city’s numerous parks looking for fresh air. Barcelona’s location and clement weather allow you to take part in plenty of outdoor activities, such as hiking and mountain biking on its many mountain trails that overlook spectacular views of the city.

The high season for Barcelona’s beaches is from early April to the end of September. The city’s beaches are well equipped to handle the throngs of tourists and locals, with sunbeds, facilities for the disabled, and plenty of lifeguards. Recent improvements include enhanced accessibility features and new swimming support points, including a dedicated facility at Bogatell Beach.

The most popular beaches in Barcelona include Barceloneta and Nova Icaria, both of which are within walking distance from the city centre. A little further away, Mar Bella and Nova Mar Bella beaches are popular with water sports enthusiasts, while cyclists and joggers make use of longer, quieter parts of the shore.

You’ll be able to access all the beaches in Barcelona with public transport if you use a combination of buses and the metro and are prepared to walk a short distance.

The gorgeous coastline, dotted with stunning beaches, also provides you with snorkelling, diving and kayaking opportunities, and there are also plenty of adrenaline-inducing activities available, such as bungee jumping and skydiving.

You can also get involved in the sporting scene in Barcelona as a spectator, with football matches and Formula 1 racing events taking place in the city each year.

Public Transport in Barcelona

See and do in Barcelona

You can enjoy vast municipal parklands and sun-flooded beaches in Barcelona. The views from the surrounding mountains take in the entire city, including the tree-lined Las Ramblas avenue that stretches from the city centre to Port Vella, Barcelona’s oldest harbour. There is also a wealth of ancient and modern architecture to discover, with many of the local buildings designed by famous architect Antoni Gaudí having been declared World Heritage Sites. Below is our list of favourite things to see and do in Barcelona.

La Sagrada Família

Known as the Church of the Holy Family, this is an unfinished but fascinating Modernista Basilica designed by Antoni Gaudí in the late 19th century. It has been under construction since 1882 and is expected to be finished in 2026.

Park Güell

Discover the delightful designs of Gaudí in the fascinating gardens of Park Güell. Located on Carmel Hill, it is the city’s most popular recreational park.

Las Ramblas

A pedestrian avenue in Barcelona’s old city, Las Ramblas, is one of the most famous streets in Europe and is home to numerous cafés, restaurants and boutiques to enjoy.

Barri Gòtic

Dating back to the Roman era, the Gothic Quarter or Barri Gòtic is the oldest district in the city. The medieval streets are filled with trendy bars, clubs and restaurants, as well as many gothic buildings and cathedrals that are worth discovering.

Picasso Museum Barcelona

Five medieval palaces from the thirteenth and fifteenth centuries in one of Barcelona’s greatest Gothic areas have been converted into the Picasso Museum. This site houses an impressive collection of the great artist’s early work, consisting of more than 4,200 pieces – a fantastic find for art-loving visitors.

FC Barcelona Museum and Stadium

Camp Nou is one of the world’s greatest football stadiums, and the largest in Europe. The stadium is currently undergoing major renovation until 2026, with Barcelona temporarily playing at Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium. The New Barça Museum is open and houses an impressive collection of photographs, trophies, memorabilia and documents connected to the city’s beloved football team, although stadium tours of the field and dressing rooms are not available during construction. The Barça Immersive Tour offers an alternative experience during the renovation period.

Meeting people and making friends in Barcelona

The main ways of meeting people in Barcelona include shared interests such as particular sports, hobbies or cultural events, volunteering for local charities, joining expat clubs, and using online portals. Business networking events are also popular among professionals looking to expand their social circles. Social media groups and local meetup platforms can help you connect with like-minded individuals in your area.

Useful links

• Meetup Barcelona
• Barcelona Connect
• The Local Barcelona
• Barcelona City Council