Best neighbourhoods in Barcelona for families

Discover the best and safest places to live in Barcelona for you and your kids in our guide!

Angelina

6 minute read

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Updated on 12 Aug 2024

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Living

Are you moving to Barcelona with your family? Surely picking the location for your new home is a decision you won’t take lightly. With so many things to take into account, quality of life, safety, infrastructure, and rental prices might be some of your primary concerns. So, to take some weight off your shoulders, we’ve made a list of the 4 best neighbourhoods in Barcelona for families.

The safest and best places to live in Barcelona for families are:

1. Sarrià-Sant Gervasi
2. Gràcia
3. Les Corts
4. Sant Cugat

Read on to find out about each of them in detail!

Parents, take note of which areas to avoid in Barcelona.

Quality of life

Sarrià-Sant Gervasi is often referred to as the “zona alta” of Barcelona. It’s one of the safest and most exclusive districts of the city.

The area covers 6 prestigious neighbourhoods - each of them would make a perfect base for a family looking to relocate to Barcelona, regardless of their age. The district spreads northwest of the city, bordering districts Les Corts and Gràcia which we’ll get back to in a minute!

The main reason Sarrià-Sant Gervasi is so sought-after is because of its luxe, residential and laid back feel. It’s just far enough from the centre to escape the tourist masses and enjoy the tranquillity of the little streets. Nevertheless, the district boasts many green parks, restaurants and shopping areas that will fulfil all your recreational needs!

Infrastructure

Since you’re looking for a place for your family, you’ll be delighted to know that your kids will be in good hands here. Sarrià-Sant Gervasi has one of the highest number of international schools and kindergartens in Barcelona. St. George's British School, Santa Clara, The Benjamin Franklin School and Barcelona Montessori School, to name a few, are all scattered around the district.

You’ll also find some of Barcelona’s best medical facilities in Sarrià-Sant Gervasi.

For a fun family weekend, one of the places you can visit is the interactive science museum CosmoCaixa. Or you can take the antique blue tram up to the historic Tibidabo amusement park and The Temple Expiatori del Sagrat Cor. Without doubt, Tibidabo Mountain offers the most terrific views of Barcelona!

Does your family need to get around by public transport? No problem at all! Sarrià-Sant Gervasi has a great connection with other areas of Barcelona. Some of the most popular ways to get around here are Barcelona’s suburban trains, buses and metro. But cycling through the picturesque streets will probably become your favourite way of getting from A to B!

Internationality

Sarrià-Sant Gervasi is very popular with expats and locals alike because of its exclusive suburban feel, safe environment and amazing infrastructure. That’s also why it’s one of the best neighbourhoods in Barcelona for families.

Rental prices

Finding apartments for rent in Barcelona would normally cost you between €1,600–€2,800, depending on how luxurious you want it to be.

Quality of life

Gràcia is a lot of things. It’s family-friendly, safe, artistic and surely not boring. It’s where hip and tradition go hand-in-hand, ensuring a one-of-a-kind bohemian vibe. The district is very centrally located and borders Sarrià-Sant Gervasi to the west. But, fortunately, Gràcia is way more affordable!

Find out how much is the cost of living in Barcelona for families.

Similarly to Sarria, Gràcia has a village-like, communal feel - probably because it used to be an independent town until the expansion of the city in the late 1800s. Today, it’s an area of quiet narrow pedestrian streets linked by buzzing plazas, where you'll find locally-owned shops, galleries, authentic and vegan eateries, live music spots and bars.

This combination of tranquillity and vibrant atmosphere makes the neighbourhood perfect for a young family that seeks the best of both worlds.

Infrastructure

Gracia is a very walkable neighbourhood and many of its streets are pedestrian-only: making it very safe for young children.

Your kids will also adore the iconic Park Guell - a green oasis with playful architecture and the perfect place for a game of hide-and-seek or a family picnic. Not too far from it is Parc de la Creueta - another park with a large public pool and several playgrounds.

You’ll also find multiple preschools and the English School in this family neighbourhood of Barcelona. Some of the large hospitals such as Hospital HM Nou Delfos and Hospital de l'Esperança are located here as well.

The public transport connection of Gràcia is excellent and you’ll easily get to where you need by subway or bus.

Internationality

Just like the other areas, this neighbourhood is predominantly local, but you’ll come across other expat families and young internationals as you walk through the animated squares and parks!

Rental prices

You should be able find a 2-bedroom apartment in Gràcia in the range of €1,300–€1,800. It’s one of the cheapest neighbourhoods on our list, even though it’s the trendiest one!

Quality of life

Neighbouring the posh Sarrià-Sant Gervasi, Les Corts is a similarly rich, safe, and tranquil neighbourhood - certainly one of the best places to live in Barcelona for families!

It also used to be a separate town that has now turned into one of the most important financial and business districts in Barcelona. So if you’re planning to work in one of the multinational companies, this district might be just for you.

Despite its busy atmosphere during the day, the neighbourhood becomes very relaxed as the office hours come to an end. Among the glass-covered office buildings and tall apartment blocks, you’ll find a peaceful and secure environment for your family.

Infrastructure

This upmarket Barcelona neighbourhood has a great choice of international schools, including St. Peters, St, Paul’s, and Kensington School. Zona Universitària is also part of this district with its multiple international universities and business schools.

Les Corts is also home to Camp Nou, the football stadium of the famous FC Barcelona. Around it, you’ll find plenty of restaurants and a large shopping centre called L'illa.

Towards the northwest, this family-friendly district boasts Parc de Cervantes with its beautiful rose garden. And as you go further north, you get to the Mirador dels Xiprers - an observation deck on top of the mountains. A perfect weekend getaway for a family with an active lifestyle!

Metro and bus routes are plentiful here. But just as in Sarrià-Sant Gervasi, walking, cycling and driving are more popular.

Internationality

The Les Corts district combines a mix of local and international crowds. Your neighbours will mostly be young families, students and professionals.

Rental prices

Les Corts is a great alternative for those looking to live in a prestigious and safe neighbourhood but with a smaller price tag than you see in Sarrià-Sant Gervasi.

You’ll be looking at €1,500–€2,000 per month for a 2-bedroom apartment in this area. But keep in mind that the Pedralbes neighbourhood is the most expensive one in Les Corts, which is why it’s often thought of as part of the Sarria.

4. Sant Cugat: family paradise in Barcelona’s suburbs

If you don’t need to be close to the action, one of the often-overlooked gems is Sant Cugat.

It’s a small idyllic town north of Barcelona with that same warm character and stunning Catalan architecture, but away from the hustle and bustle of Barcelona. And no worries, living remotely doesn’t mean living in isolation. A 30-minute drive and you’re in the big city!

What’s more, the quality of life here is somewhat higher than in most of the Barcelona neighbourhoods. Here you have cleaner air, plenty of space and every corner seems to offer something for the young ones. If you’re looking for a place with more natural light, apartments in Sant Cugat will treat you with larger windows and less crowded views. You probably see why it’s one of the best places to live in Barcelona for families!

If you come from a bigger city, it might take some time to get used to the slower-paced vibe of this family-oriented suburb. During the day, many shops close for siesta and the rhythm in public places is rather slow. But getting a hang of this relaxed lifestyle will probably pay off!

Infrastructure

Despite it being a small town, Sant Cugat’s got it all.

This quiet hidden gem boasts many hairdressers and beauty salons, a variety of grocery shops and independent clothing brands. And if that’s not enough, a direct metro connection and efficient train routes will make travelling to Barcelona’s centre effortless.

Sant Cugat is also known for its high-quality schools, including international ones such as The Japanese School of Barcelona, Europa International School and Agora Sant Cugat International School. No wonder this area is so popular among expat families!

In addition, here you’ll find a huge Turó de Can Mates Park, known for its play areas with giant slides.

Internationality

With an abundance of international education options at your disposal, many foreigners choose to start their families here. It’s not rare to hear English in Sant Cugat, but that doesn’t mean you’d easily get by without any knowledge of Catalan (or Spanish) here. It’s still a predominantly local area.

Rental prices

Sant Cugat is known to be relatively expensive by Spanish standards, with prices resembling those of Les Corts. But you surely get what you pay for! You can expect the rental prices for 2-bedroom apartments to start from €1,500 onwards.

The housing options in this area vary greatly, from average flats to luxurious detached houses. Many apartment buildings and villas have their own outdoor swimming pools! But it’s worth mentioning that unfortunately there is a very limited offering for rentals in this area.

Do you want to discover more of the best neighbourhoods in Barcelona? Check out our comprehensive neighbourhood guide!

So are you ready to explore homes for rent in Barcelona perfect for your family?

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