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Districts of Barcelona

The 10 Districts in Barcelona That Make Up The City

map of districts in barcelona
Written by Brian S

Barcelona is a city that inspires both its inhabitants as well as visiting tourists. This being the case, it doesn’t mean that everyone is aware of the ten districts in Barcelona. That is why today’s article will tell you more on each one of those districts in Barcelona, but also their neighbourhoods.

Find out what is worth visiting in every part of Barcelona, and what part of the city suits you best if you want to move to the Ciudad Condal and rent an apartment here.

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1. Ciutat Vella

This district is made up of the following neighbourhoods:
    • El Raval
    • El Gòtic
    • La Barceloneta
    • Sant Pere, Santa Caterina i la Ribera

Ciutat Vella is the historic centre of Barcelona, and it is also the oldest part of the ten districts that make up the city.

Don’t miss any of the activities in Ciutat Vella, like checking out Plaça Catalunya, shopping on Portal del Ángel, strolling along the Ramblas, viewing the inside of Barcelona’s cathedral, getting some fresh air at Parque de la Ciutadella, and discovering all the district’s museums. You can also decide to take a swim from Barceloneta beach in Ciutat Vella.

Related article: Discover the district of Ciutat Vella

Reasons to live in Ciutat Vella

✅ experiencing the authentic Barcelona cosmopolitan life
✅ being close to the most important parts of the city
✅ living in the centre of Barcelona

Ideal for

  • student who want to live in the heart of the city
  • people that work or study in the centre
  • tourists who are visiting the city

Check out rentals in the district of Ciutat Vella

beach near the district of ciutat vella

Photo via Pexels

2. L’Eixample

This district is made up of the following neighbourhoods:
    • El Fort Pienc
    • La Sagrada familia
    • La Dreta de l’Eixample
    • Antiga Esquerra de l’Eixample
    • Nova Esquerra de l’Eixample
    • Sant Antoni

You are now entering the heart of the city. The Eixample district is where you find the true essence of Barcelona. You will find some of the most wonderful modernist buildings in Eixample, like the Sagrada Familia, La Pedrera and Casa Batlló.

The district was originally a residential zonoe, but over time it has become more commercial, especially if you go to the neighbourhoods that are closest to Ciutat Vella.

The district of l’Antiga Esquerra de L’Eixample, also known as Gayxample, is especially worth mentioning, because this is where you will find many bars and shops dedicated to the LGBTQ+ community.

Reasons to live in l’Eixample

✅ enjoying open-air architectural museums every day of the year
✅ being close to the most important parts of the city
✅ living in a zone that is constantly changing

Ideal for

  • student enrolled in many of the schools in Eixample
  • people wo want to live in a trendy zone 
  • people who work or study in the city centre

Find your rental in l’Eixample

3. Sants-Montjuïc

This district is made up of the following neighbourhoods:
    • Poble Sec
    • La Marina del Prat Vermell
    • La Marina del Port
    • Font de la Guatlla
    • Hostafrancs
    • La Bordeta
    • Sants-Badal
    • Sants
    • Parc de Montjuïc
    • Zona Franca-Port
gaudi's work in barcelona

Photo via Pexels

The Sants districts is divided into eight neighbourhoods and two special areas: Parc de Montjuïc and Zona Franca-Port. 

Don’t leave Barcelona before visiting Montjuïc Castle, because this is your go-to place for the best views of the city. It is also used as an outdoor area (the park around the castle) to get some fresh air and go for a walk.

Inside the park you will find Palau de Sant Jordi, and this is an iconic piece of Catalan culture. International sports events and large music concerts take place here. To the side you will find Barcelona’s Olympic Stadium where the Olympics of 1992 took place and the gardens. 

The last interesting element of Sants-Montjuïc is Estación de Sants, the train station. This is one of the most important stations in Barcelona.

Reasons to live in Sants-Montjuïc

✅ being close to one of the main stations of the city
✅ going to the castle and the MNAC
✅ shopping at Carrer de Sants, the largest shopping street in Europe

Ideal for

  • workers that need to be close to the AVE
  • people that work in Zona Franca
  • families in residential neighbourhoods

Rent an apartment in Sants-Montjuïc

4. Les Corts

This district is made up of the following neighbourhoods:
    • Les Corts
    • La Maternitat i Sant Ramon
    • Pedralbes

The district of Les Corts was originally divided into ten neighbourhoods, but in 2006 it was decided to have only three: Les Corts, La Maternitat i Sant Ramon and Pedralbes.

This is one of the most expensive and wealthier parts of the city, but it blends in well with the many university students that join the many campuses, like UB, IESE, and Abat Oliba.

You mustn’t skip a visit to F.C. Barcelona’s stadium, Camp Nou. It is visited by millions of fans and other curious people each year.

You should also check out Jardines de la Maternitat with areas to relax in the gardens, do some sports or listen to others in a special place dedicated to lecturers. The other gardens worth paying a visit are Jardines del Palacio de Pedralbes. Its elegance and huge iron gate are characteristic for this park.

Reasons to live in Les Corts

✅ being close to one of the exit points of the city
✅ living close to Zona Universitaria
✅ being able to relax in the Collserola mountain range

Ideal for

  • wealthier families in Pedralbes
  • students at one of the campuses
  • F.C. Barcelona fans who don’t want to miss a single match

Find your next home in Les Corts

camp nou in les corts

Photo via Unsplash

5. Sarrià-Sant Gervasi

This district is made up of the following neighbourhoods:
    • Vallvidrera, Tibidabo i les Planes
    • Sarrià
    • Les Tres Torres
    • Sant Gervasi-Bonanova
    • Sant Gervasi-Galvany
    • El Putxet i Farró

Together with the district of Les Corts, the district of Sarrià-Sant Gervasi is otherwise known as Barcelona’s ‘Zona Alta’. This is the richer corner of the city. Try to visit Tibidabo mountain if you’re in the neighbourhood, because you will get some amazing views of the city from up here.

There is also an amusement park and the Collserola mountain range is also closeby if you want to go for a walk.

We highly recommend strolling through this special district to take a look at the extravagant villas and enjoy the panoramic views of Carretera de les Aigües.

Reasons to live in Sarrià-Sant Gervasi

✅ living in a family-friendly and wealthier part of the city
✅ having access to exclusive and environmentally-friendly shops
✅ living in a district with much nature

Ideal for

  • wealthier families
  • university students
  • entrepreneurs and expats

Discover rentals in the district of Sarrià-Sant Gervasi

6. Gràcia 

This district is made up of the following neighbourhoods:
    • Vallcarca i els Penitents
    • El Coll
    • La Salut
    • Vila de Gràcia
    • El Camp d’en Grassot i Gràcia Nova

The most bohemian and student-friendly part of the city must be the district of Gràcia. If you are only in Barcelona for a couple of days, don’t skip Parc Güell, because we promise you will fall in love with Gaudí‘s spectacular work and the surrounding gardens.

Don’t forget to take a walk on Gran de Gràcia and visit the beautiful Plaça del Sol and Plaça del Diamant. You can also choose a bus ride through Barcelona’s hills and discover some of its highest points, like Parque de La Creueta del Coll.

Reasons to live in Gràcia 

✅ living in a young zone
✅ doing your shopping in local and organic shops
✅ enjoying the neighbourhood’s traditions and local fiestas

Ideal for

  • young students
  • people with a bohemian lifestyle
  • families with older children
gracia district in barcelona

Photo via Pexels

Rent your next place in Gràcia 

7. Horta-Guinardó

This district is made up of the following neighbourhoods:
    • Baix Guinardó
    • El Carmel
    • El Baix Guinardó
    • Horta
    • La Teixonera
    • Can Baró
    • Font d’en Fargues
    • Sant Genís dels Agudells-Montbau
    • Montbau
    • La Vall d’Hebrón – La Clota

The district of Horta-Guinardó has no less than eleven neighbourhoods! It is the part of the city with the most green spaces, and with Tibidabo nearby it is ideal for walks with the family, doing a bit of cycling, or taking the dog out for a walk in Parque del Guinardó.

We can recommend wandering through its steep streets, and this is where you will see stately villas that will take your breath away. This area is suitable for people that walk regularly, and they will enjoy it being a more quiet part of the city with more fresh air and less stress from the busy city centre.

Reasons to live in Horta-Guinardó

✅ living in an area with more nature
✅ shopping at commercial zone Passeig Maragall 
✅ living in a large villa

Ideal for

  • families with smaller children
  • people with dogs that love to visit the parks
  • young couples looking for affordable homes

Find an apartment in Horta-Guinardó

8. Nou Barris

This district is made up of the following neighbourhoods:
    • Vilapicina i la Torre Llobeta
    • La Prosperitat
    • Les Roquetes – Canyelles
    • Porta
    • Verdún
    • Ciutat Meridiana – Torre Baró – Vallbona
    • Trinitat Nova
    • Can Peguera – El Turó de la Peira
    • La Guineueta

Barcelona’s districts come in all shapes and sizes, but the largest one is without any doubt Nou Barris. It has thirteen neighbourhoods! Some of the more well-know are: Canyelles, Roquetes, la Prosperitat, la Trinitat Nova, Torre Baró, Vallbona and Ciudad Meridiana.

Nou Barris’s terrain is crossed by streams in riverbanks and these have clearly left their marks. There are the aqueducts of Ciudad Meridana and Parc Central, and there is Casa de l’Aigua.

Reasons to live in Nou Barris

✅ living in a more affordable part of the city
✅ staying in a neighbourhood that still feels like a small village
✅ living is a cosmopolitan neighbourhood

Ideal for

  • families with children
  • young couples that want to save money
  • workers that don’t spend much time at home

Find your rental in Nou Barris

small street in nou barris

Photo via Pexels

9. Sant Andreu

This district is made up of the following neighbourhoods:
    • Sant Andreu del Palomar
    • Navas
    • La Sagrera
    • El Congrés i els Indians
    • Trinitat Vella
    • Bon Pastor
    • Baró de Viver

The district of Sant Andreu still feels like a more traditional part of the city with a village atmosphere. It has cobbled streets, squares with large entrances, and shops of over one hundred years old.

Hidden beneath the surface are Roman ruins, but you will still be able to discover some old farmhouses that refer to the district’s rural past. The original village became an urban nucleus and was then added to the city of Barcelona once it started growing and growing.

Reasons to live in Sant Andreu

✅ living in a part of the city with a village feel
✅ the option of leaving Barcelona easily from here
✅ cheaper living than in the centre of the city

Ideal for

  • couples that want to save on living expenses
  • families with children
  • retirees that wish to live in a more quiet neighbourhood

Find your rental in Sant Andreu

10. Sant Martí 

This district is made up of the following neighbourhoods:
    • Camp de l’Arpa del Clot
    • El Poblenou
    • Diagonal Mar i el Front Marítim del Poblenou
    • El Clot
    • El Besòs
    • Sant Martí de Provençals
    • Provençals del Poblenou
    • El Parc i la Llacuna del Poblenou
    • La Verneda i la Pau
    • La Vila Olímpica del Poblenou

The district of Sant Martí is one of the largest districts in the entire city and it exists of ten neighbourhoods. It doesn’t only have a great number of neighbourhoods, because depending on the location you are at, you will feel that the atmosphere can differ greatly. There are beaches, old factories, large office buildings, and parks. Everything is within walking distance.

If you walk through the streets of this district, you will see many large factory chimneys (although some of them are not in plain sight), and if you can, go and take a closer look. What you see here is a part of the industrial past of Sant Martí, as it was once the manufacturing centre of the city. 

Although there was a time Sant Martí didn’t like being close to the sea, it has now embraced its coastal character.

Reasons to live in Sant Martí 

✅ district with much variety
✅ living close to the beach
✅ living close to Barcelona’s technological district: 22@

Ideal for

  • families
  • retirees
  • businesses
square in sant marti barcelona

Photo via barcelona.cat

Find your rental in Sant Martí

We hope you have enjoyed this tour through the city of Barcelona, discussing each of the districts and its neighbourhoods. Now it’s time to share your opinion.

Tell us about your experience discovering the city of Barcelona!

About the author

Brian S

Brian Susbielles is a freelance writer who loves global politics, foreign movies, and Led Zeppelin

1 Comment

  • Well done I feel like I can make an Educated decision where i could afford to live in Barcelona.

    Thank You

    .

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