Living in Barcelona
Barcelona: The city that has it all
Getting Around
Barcelona today is a bustling, modern hub built on a human scale. Getting around is fast and efficient. High-speed trains connect you to major Spanish cities and France. Barcelona’s Metro system is one of the best in Europe and the newly modernised bus system runs 24 hours a day – so you can get home no matter what time your event finishes. But the best way to move around is often on foot. In Barcelona, there are delights to discover around every corner.
A city for cyclists, sports enthusiasts, culture vultures, foodies, and art lovers, Barcelona is an exciting, diverse, dynamic, and affordable place to live, study and feel inspired.
Where to live in Barcelona
Barcelona boasts wonderfully distinctive districts or barrios. Wherever you live you’ll find abundant charm, from the old town with its medieval streets, to the multicultural plazas of Gràcia – the perfect spot for a drink with friends – to the art-deco cool of downtown Eixample, with its stunning architectural façades, abundance of shops, and restaurants, and tree-lined boulevards.
Testimonial
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![nouhad]()
Lebanon
MSc in International Management 2022
Barcelona is a must-see destination. You meet a lot of international people and can enjoy many cultural events around the city year-round.
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![furan]()
MSc in International Management 2021 & MSc in Marketing Management 2022
I really liked the energy of the city, the happiness of the people and, especially, the good food. All the memories we made together in Barcelona will always have a special place in my heart.
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![emma]()
MSc in International Management 2022
Barcelona is a cosmopolitan and dynamic city that gave me an all-round experience. It is a melting pot of different cultures and ways of living and thinking, a destination that offers a huge variety of professional and working opportunities, activities, services, innovation and leisure. It was a wonderful experience that I would gladly repeat many more times.
Many Esade students choose to live in:
Old Town
The barrios of the Old Town (La Ciutat Vella) – el Raval, el Gòtic, and el Born – are the perfect contrast of old and new. Bustling with life and energy, the narrow, winding streets of the Old Town contain wonderful bars, boutiques, and restaurants, and connect you to the city’s largest park, la Ciutadella.
Eixample
Home to Barcelona’s finest art nouveau architecture, the Eixample (which literally means ‘extension’) grew out of the Old Town in the late 19th century. Now it is an elegant, leafy barrio with its own distinct charm – from the iconic Sagrada Familia to its thriving traditional food markets.
Gràcia
The open, sunlit squares of Gràcia make it a top choice for young, hip city dwellers. This lively barrio is an eclectic mix of bohemian and traditional with some of the best restaurants and bars in Barcelona.
Sarrià
Sarrià enjoys a tranquil, smaller town feel. With its charming plazas, narrow streets, and gentle pace of life, this uptown barrio is great for escaping the bustle of the city.
Les Corts-Pedralbes
Home to the Esade Law School, Les Corts-Pedralbes is a large district that stretches from the hilly Collserola natural park that rises behind the city to the urban areas around the Camp Nou stadium, home to FC Barcelona. From hillside mansions to hipster cafes, you’ll find it all here.
Events not to miss in Barcelona
Mobile Word Congress - February
The world’s premier global gathering of the mobile industry, Mobile World Congress brings together start-ups and entrepreneurs, investors, accelerators, incubators, and corporations from right across the global mobile ecosystem.
080 Barcelona - February
080 is where Barcelona becomes a benchmark for creativity, innovation, design, and projection generation in the global fashion industry.
Barcelona Open BancSabadell - April
Spain’s longest established tennis tournament and one of its most prestigious, the Barcelona Open is a major sporting, and social happening, and a symbol of this vibrant city.
Music Festivals - June
Music lovers from all over the world congregate in Barcelona twice a year to celebrate the latest in indie and electronica. Primavera Sound brings together the biggest names, and the latest sounds in independent, and underground music. Also in June, Sónar is a vibrant celebration of all things techno, dance, electronic, experimental, and avant-garde. Simply unmissable.
Culture
Barcelona has a long and fascinating history thanks to the different cultures that coexist within the city. Multicultural, multilingual, and home to a vibrant community of native Catalans, Spaniards, and residents from overseas – 20 percent of the population – Barcelona is a warm, open, and diverse hub.
The city is also home to many world-class museums and art galleries, as well as many of the world’s greatest Modernist architectural treasures. Great artists like Miró, Dalí, and Picasso enjoy dedicated galleries and spaces around the city.
Leisure
One of the Mediterranean’s most cosmopolitan cities, Barcelona offers endless opportunities to enjoy your free time – all of them drenched in an average 4.5 hours of warm sunlight every single day.
For sports enthusiasts, Barcelona is home to Barcelona Football Club – one of the most successful soccer teams of the last century. The city also boasts Spain's premier Formula 1 motor racing circuit at Montmeló. Golfers can enjoy a number of world-class golf clubs, while cyclists and hikers can enjoy unparalleled views over the city from the forests of Collserola Park and Mount Tibidabo.
A shopping and foodie paradise, Barcelona has it all: from tapas to Michelin stars, haute couture to the latest high street trends and styles.
Staying In Barcelona
Planning your stay
Careful planning is the key to a successful stay in any city and Barcelona is no exception. You'll receive information on how to plan your time here once you've been offered a place on the program but there are some important things you should know before applying.
Visa
Before coming to study in Barcelona, overseas students should pay careful attention to what visa requirements are necessary to stay in Spain for an extended period. We recommend you check this with the Spanish embassy in your country.
Accommodation
Finding somewhere to live near Esade takes a little time and you will need to decide if a family home, shared accommodation or student digs are right for you. Almost all MSc Program in Management participants opt to live in the centre of Barcelona and travel out to the campus by metro.
Estimated living expenses
Estimated monthly budget for single students:
| Accommodation (shared flat) | €400* |
| Utilities | €80 |
| Groceries | €200 |
| Esade Cafeteria | €115 |
| Transport | €60 |
| Sports | €45 |
| Misc. Expenses | €300 |
| Monthly Budget | €1,200 |
*The cost of a shared flat may vary from €300-550 depending on location, room size, etc.
Please bear in mind that this is a very general estimate. What you spend is up to you and Barcelona can be as inexpensive or costly as your own tastes or needs dictate.