What are the Pro's & Con's of Barcelona?

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Lucia Miki

Barcelona is one of the most beautiful cities in the World! Thanks to a diverse population that changes constantly, and the huge influx of people from all over the world, this gorgeous, ever-evolving city by the sea is a unique blend of the past and present. Moreover, the nightlife, with hundreds of places open till dawn, will keep even the most indulgent people busy every day of the week. There are some disadvantages, such as gated communities. Gated communities can create social paranoia due to the security-oriented life-style. Overall, Barcelona is the right choice!

guiri

It is a great and fun city. I chose to live here after a fair bit of world travel.

THE CONS.

Too many tourists

Petty crime. Nobody gets hurt but......

Smog when there is no sea breeze.

Too civilised. You used to go to eat shellfish in shacks on the beach. Not now.

Too many quaint shops are closing.

High prices. Housing is worse than in London. (Just look at Sitges prices!). Food prices are high and the inflationn rate must be higher than they say.

Catalan. It is really messing up my Spanish.
There IS language fascism.
Before Catalan was discouraged, now you get local government notices ONLY in Catalan. This is difficult for foreigners because Catalan is a tiny language. Only 7 million or so speak it. Try getting Catalan lessons ANYWHERE outside the barrio. (Des Moines, for example!)

Catalan is beginning to annoy me. This is unreasonable but I can't help it.

I hope that you have been put off coming here. There are too many foreigners here already and it is diluting the local culture.

Wedge

Hi Balbina

Barcelona is a great City...I came here to live for 2 years, and that was 7 years ago. Saying that, though....I moved out of the city centre to a town about half an hour away down the coast by train.

It's one of the most densely populated cities in Europe. Second only after Paris, I believe.

There's lots to do here, and there's work, though for really poor wages. Do not expect to be able to afford a place to rent on your own...You'd be looking from between 300-500 Euros pcm to rent a room...Renting apartments is upwards of 1250 Euros pcm, for anything decent.

Like any city, there are places to avoid and places that are safe as houses. Avoid Las Ramblas and Raval at night, but also go to Raval is you are with a safe crowd, 'cos there's some really good nightspots there.

Also, like any city - If you stay in the city you might stagnate. There's so much to do around Catalunya. There's the pyrenees about 2 hours drive north...there is the coast, of course....and there are some special beauty spots not far from the city at all.

If you are coming here to learn Spanish, like I did...Be prepared to hang out with Argentinians and other folks who will be willing to a) hang out with you and b) speak in spanish with you. The Catalans are a prettty closed race and very much prefer to speak in Catalan.

If you are looking for a Party town, Barcelona is pretty much a have fun and get out...The music/gig/club scene is really dire, but it's easy to find fun nights out.

If you are looking for a city where you can - with the same amount of effort as any other city - find a wonderful counterbalance to other lives you might have lived Barcelona is a great city to start with...It's an opener to the rest of Catalunya, and might be a good startingplace to go somewhere else in Spain if you have the time/inclunation if Catalunya is not to your taste.

Why listen to me, lass...come and have a look...come for a weekend a week an fortnight and have a taster yourself...

Whatever choice you decide on, I wish you a happy life!

catalunya07

I've been living in Barcelona since 2001 and love it here. More relaxed lifestyle than London, plenty to do etc.

I don't agree about the cost of apartments that one person mentioned though - we rent a large, modern apartment for 800 euros a month with 20m terrace so it is easily affordable and the pressure on property prices at the moment is strongly downward.

Jane S

It's a huge city...millions of people live there. They must NOT be thinking it's a have fun - get out city!

It really depends on what you expect to get out of the experience. If you plan to have fun and get out, you go to the sorts of places where others are doing the same.

If you plan to live there, you find an apartment, and you hang out in your neighborhood, and do things with people who live there. You probably wouldn't meet as many tourists.

Pros and cons (no apostrophe for plural, btw) would be...It's a big city. That actually is both.

lavidasigue40

I'm from barcelona but i live in the USA for the last 6 years
Pros:Lots of fun,very diverse city,great weather,nice history,friendly people,nice shops,great public transportation,good healhtcare,lots of things to do.
Cons:Low salaries,precarious jobs,crime,expensive city,imposition of the catalan languaje

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