Barcelona student life: a city guide

barcelona student city

More and more international students are flocking to Barcelona for their studies every year. With almost 200,000 students, Barcelona is one of the biggest university cities in Europe and the city’s universities appear at the top of some of the most recognised European rankings.

But there are several other things to attract thousands of international students to the Catalan capital every year. The city is stylish, cosmopolitan, and eccentric!

Regarded as one of Europe’s coolest cities with an avant-garde vibe, Barcelona is a city where students can enjoy green parks, exciting nightlife, impressive shopping, and tasty food. Students deciding to study in Barcelona can soak up the all-around vibrant energy all under the warm Catalonian sun.

student life barcelona

Despite being a very large and highly populated city, Barcelona has a very relaxed and laid-back feel. The multicultural city is a melting pot of many different nationalities, 179 to be exact, and has a big international community and offers warm welcomes to everyone from students to expats, who are all looking to call this place ‘home’. For those struggling with the Spanish language, English is widely spoken in Barcelona, so there’s no doubt you’ll be able to make new friends and get around with ease.

So what’s living in Barcelona as a student really like? The Barcelona student life is fun, exciting and will most likely be a memorable experience and we’ve put together a guide demonstrating why. 

Where to party in Barcelona?

Barcelona never sleeps and this is especially true when it comes to student parties – you can party every day of the week! The city is packed with bars, pubs and nightclubs such as Opium, Pacha, E-clipse, and Jamboree. Besides partying at night, Barcelona also has many parties during the day, which attracts a lot of students. For instance boat parties, beach parties, rooftop parties and many more.

So where to party? There are several popular student areas and the local university crowd tends to stick to the low-key bars around the Plaza de la Universidad, just to the south of Plaza Catalunya, in the Raval area. Along the Carrer de Fernandina, which is the southward street off the plaza in front of the Macba, are numerous bars with a cool, casual atmosphere.

For those looking for Barcelona Erasmus hangouts, check out the clubs in the Plaza Real, just off the Ramblas. Some students enrolled in Erasmus Program, like the Cafe Royal, Nou de Zurbano, 3, don’t charge a cover and play a mix of soul, funk, bossa, and latin jazz, while others, like Jamboree, Plaza Real, 17, are replete with several dance floors and therefore charge a cover, in this case 9 euro. According to many El Born is the trendiest street in Barcelona, here you can find all kinds of trendy bars and clubs especially in the heart of this district Passeig Del Born. But don’t get fooled, El born is very rich in culture and history too! This is where the famous Picasso Museum is located and the Church of Santa Maria del Mar, the district’s most famous building.

Clubbing as a student in Barcelona can be very affordable if you don’t want to put your waller in the red, however, in order to save yourself some money and to enter the clubs for free, you have to stay tuned from organisations like Happy Erasmus Barcelona.

Free things to do in Barcelona 

There are heaps of free things to enjoy as a student in Barcelona. The city is world-famous for its golden sandy beaches. In fact, Barcelona’s universities have a clear advantage over other Spanish universities, as they are just a few minutes away from the city’s beach. Imagine finishing classes and going straight to the beach for a swim and sunbathing. Enjoy beach volleyball or relax on a sun lounger under an umbrella.

Spend the weekend strolling along Las Ramblas – one of the longest and most famous and vibrant main streets in Europe and soak up the vibrant atmosphere. This world-famous boulevard is bordered by trees, stylish shops, and cool coffee shops. Among the restaurants, there are also flower stalls, souvenirs shops and several places to get ice cream and coffee. The Ramblas is hosting La Boquería, the most famous traditional market in the city where authentic local food is served.

Barcelona student city

When it comes to Barcelona, visiting and marvelling over world-famous architect Antoni Gaudí’s impressive designs are a must and can be enjoyed for free. The most well-known building is the Sagrada Família – a Roman Catholic basilica which has been under construction since 1882. Stroll around the city and explore more of Gaudi’s impressive work such as Casa Vicens, Casa Mila and Parc Guell to name a few.

Cost of living for students in Barcelona

So what’s the Barcelona cost of living student? International students will be pleased to know that Barcelona is not nearly as expensive as other big European cities like London or Copenhagen. Food, transportation, and entertainment are cheaper compared to many other Western European cities. In Barcelona, students can enjoy a good quality of life without breaking the bank.

By choosing accommodation in the centre of Barcelona, you’ll be able to walk to most of the places or use bike-sharing services. Anyway, it’s also a good idea to have a monthly public transport card, which costs around 40 €.

studentlife Barcelona

Student Accommodation Barcelona

Where in Barcelona should I stay? The option of student accommodation Barcelona is great. Compared to other major European cities, the cost of living in the Catalan capital is 18.2% lower than in London. The city offers plenty of Barcelona Erasmus accommodation options. At studentroomrentals.com we help students find their student accommodation Barcelona whether it’s student housing Barcelona, student rooms Barcelona, or luxury student accommodation Barcelona. From cosy lofts to private rooms or entire studios and apartments there are plenty of Erasmus student housing Barcelona to choose from.

Take a look at our student accommodation Barcelona to make it easy for you to find the accommodation of choice. Our booking process is easy and our friendly customer support team is always on hand if you need assistance or have any questions.

 

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