Barcelona
Everyones loves barcelona, don't they?
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The capital of Catalonia, on the northeastern coast of Spain and one of Europe's most popular tourist destinations.
Renowned for its distinctive architecture, including the works of Antoni Gaudí, Barcelona merges its historic identity with a lively Mediterranean atmosphere.
Better suited for a city break. Wouldn't revisit as a working destination.
Better suited for a city break. Wouldn't revisit as a working destination.
Better suited for a city break. Wouldn't revisit as a working destination.
Better suited for a city break. Wouldn't revisit as a working destination.
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Summary
Myself and a friend who was also looking for a destination to work from settled on Barcelona for an adventure in September 2022. I'd visited a couple of times over the past decade so was eager to become more acquainted with the city.
Accommodation
The city has had some flare ups with Airbnbs in recent years in an attempt to combat over-tourism. You may have a greater array of properties open to you if looking for a stay over 31 days but unsurprisingly, prices aren't cheap in a city which has such a demand from tourists.
Places to work
Barcelona has a bewildering array of coworking options. I spent a morning trying to visit some of my preferred options and a lot didn't have any capacity for hot desking. If where you work from is a priority to you, i would suggest booking in advance rather than assuming availability.
Value
If opting for anything more substantive than a Bocadillo, I found there to be a lack of well priced places to grab an informal meal. Drinks in bars were generally good value but it would rank towards the bottom of my list of places to eat out well in.
Working hours
Spain operates on Central European Time (CET), aligning with the rest of Western Europe.
🇪🇺 Consider working European hours from Asia?
Where to stay
Each district has it's own distinct feel, dependent on the length of your stay, I'd think hard about where you would want to be based.
Poble Sec
Gothic Quarter
Vila de Gràcia
El Raval
Where to work
La Vaca Coworking Barcelona
La Vaca is a former converted dairy giving an airy industrial feel throughout the large open plan coworking space.
There is strong emphasis on the community that work there, with numerous options on offer throughout the week for Football and other sports, as well as social events.
The only real drawback I found was a lack of good lunch options in the immediate area, but that was something I felt across the city.
If you are looking for a creative environment with a some good opportunity to meet others, then it's definitely worth checking out.
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Remote work visa
If staying for a prolonged period, you may want to consider a dedicated visa for this destination.
This country is actively working on a visa support for remote workers.
Check your government website for details of how to obtain a tourist visa.
In January 2023, Spain launched their Digital Nomad Visa as part of the new Startup Act, a group of measures designed to encourage entrepreneurship and foreign investment.
New Spain remote work visa allows non-EU/EEA remote workers and freelancers to live and work in Spain for up to 12 months in the first instance, renewable for up to five years.
Citizen Remote is a great source of up to date knowledge for everything to do with remote work visas.
Safety
Off-work
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Watch football at the Camp Nou
Watching Barcelona play at home is a must for any football fan. Even if you're not a fan, the experience alone is worth the visit. With a seating capacity of over 99,000 spectators, it is one of the largest football stadiums globally.
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Explore Montjuic Park
Beautiful urban park landscape, home to several venues of the 1982 Olympic games. An ideal place for morning runs if living close to the area.
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Hike through Parc Natural de la Serra de Collserola
A sprawling natural park situated within an easy walk of the centre of Barcelona. You can head over the top to Molins de Rei and grab the train back to the centre.
Visit Barceloneta Beach
A bustling stretch of golden sand attracting both locals and tourists alike, easily accessible from all parts of the city. Also a popular destination for early morning runs.
Duration & season
Having spent a hot few weeks at the start of September, I wouldn't be in a rush to have spent the peak summer months within the city. Shockingly also, we had managed to book an apartment without A/C for that period which as you can imagine was a regrettable decision.
If you are looking to spend some time on the beach, you'd be best off visiting from May onwards.
One month was a long enough period for me in the city and I was quite happy to move on with little desire to return.
Food & drink
People
The coworking spaces I worked from were full of remote workers from across Europe and Spain with the city also being particularly popular with both North and South Americans.
The city is a huge year round international tourist attraction, with the Gothic Quarter a constant hive of international tourists.
Exercise
Road to Girona
Montjuic Loop
Coast Walk
Verdict
Positives
- The city has a clear identity.The unique mix of distinctive architecture, cuisine, and great weather leaves a vivd memory.
- No shortage of things to do on weekends.An endless supply of museums, galleries and cultural exhibits.
- Strong international demographic.Throughout the year, the city attracts a diverse range of visitors as both a tourist destination and a remote working hub, ensuring a dynamic atmosphere.
- Beaches in close proximity.Incredibly convenient that you don't have to leave the city to access the beach, compared to Lisbon.
- Great nature close by.Within 30 minutes you can be out of the bustle of the city into one of the many green options nearby.
- Ideal surroundings for cycling.The roads leading into the Catalan countryside are the perfect backdrop to explore over the weekend.
- Incredible architecture.Few places in the world can compete with Barcelona's cityscape.
Negatives
- Super touristy.The city feels saturated by it and is a major reason I'm not in a rush to return quickly.
- Some areas are filthy on the weekends.Areas like Saint Antoni and El Raval turn into garbage dumping grounds by Saturday night in a way I haven't seen in another European city.
- Not a great availability of quick, informal dining.I struggled to find reliable inexpensive options for eating that wasn't a bocadillo or an empanada. I love Tapas but in terms of getting an inexpensive full meal, it was one of the worst destinations I've been for that.
- The heat.Even in September, the heat felt unrelenting at times.
- The grid system.The city's grid layout made walking feel monotonous surprisingly quickly. As someone who loves to walk, this started to grate on me quickly.
Tips
- The airport is well connected.You can easily get their via any of the connecting metro lines.
- Girona is worth a day trip. Easily accessible via train.
- Exercise caution around some areas at night.Especially the dimly lit areas around El Raval.
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