Moving abroad, to a new country or just to a new city is totally a thrilling thing, do you agree with us?! It’s about adventures, different people, cultures, food, bustling vibes. But there also is an important matter to keep in mind some, such as how to find a room in Barcelona, definitely one of the first things to consider if you’re planning to move there. 

Been there done that! We know what it means, the effort that flat hunting requires for young internationals. That’s why, at helpHousing, we strive everyday to provide you with the best accommodations and customised assistance to make you live a positive and easy housing experience in Barcelona. If you are searching a room in Barcelona you just landed in the right place!

Looking for a room for rent in Barcelona is not easy at all for foreigners that don’t know anything about the city, the costs, the areas where to live and many other important things to keep in mind. Get a look at our guide!

Apartment hunting in Barcelona: when to start?

Our first tip is to start looking for a room some months in advance, just to set up a wide research that will let you have a rough idea of the room rental market in Barcelona. But no worries, you don’t have to book the very first options that you see.

As you may wonder, Barcelona hosts uncountable universities, exchange programs and important companies: this means that it welcomes every year thousands and thousands of young internationals. You could find some competitors during your flat hunting, but there’s enough accommodations for everyone! 

Explore Barcelona: areas, cost of living and much more

Getting informed and collecting information can seem boring or not that relevant to you. But they actually are one of our tips about how to find a room in Barcelona. If there’s the chance to get the best deals on your accommodation, you’ll have it by learning more about the city: check out the best areas where young people stay, cost of living in Barcelona, the public transport services, the universities and other facilities you may need.

Choose a room in the centre of Barcelona

Whether your university is located in the central areas of the city or in the edgy neighbourhoods, when it comes to renting a room, the majority of the young people decide to live in the heart of Barcelona. This is a bustling city, that offers activities all year round and great facilities. If you want to enjoy Barcelona at the fullest, picking a room in the city centre is the best strategy! Moreover, the public transportation here is excellent and you will easily move around the city and explore all the neighbourhoods. 

Check out the features of the room before the reservation

No one is coming after you! Take your time to analyse all the booking process: read all the information and details about the room, such as features that are included, additional costs, etc. Then, read carefully the payment conditions and learn more about the room rental company (trying to find some reviews on Google) or about the landlord.

How to find a room in Barcelona and avoid scams 

Pay attention when you search your accommodation on the Internet: scammers are behind the corner, ready to fool users, especially young internationals that approach for the first time to the room rental market. Our first tip is to make sure to book via trustworthy platforms and websites. You’ll find many ad on Google or on Facebook groups, but you don’t have to stop there: investigate a little bit and discover more about the room rental company (on social media, customer reviews, etc). 

Second issue: they’ll possibly ask you to pay an amount of money in advance (the first month rent, a deposit or an agency fee) and this is okay. But make sure you pay using a safe payment method, especially if you’re directly dealing with the landlord without any intermediator.

Last but not least, we suggest you to set up a visit. If you think that the online content is not enough to book the room, ask to the company  or the landlord to have a home tour (in person - if you are in the city- or a video call).

You are now ready to find out yourself how to find a room in Barcelona!

The most popular neighbourhoods in Barcelona for students 

As we told you before, the majority of young internationals in Barcelona decide to rent a room in the city centre; it is the best way to fully enjoy your experience and have easy access to all the facilities: the best public transport, great restaurants and shops, the most popular nightlife spots and a unique atmosphere.

The most popular neighborhoods in Barcelona for young professionals and students are:

• Ciutat Vella: it literally means “old town” and is the historic heart of Barcelona, a district where to find the ancient roots of this beautiful city. Here you have the chance to enjoy extraordinary landmarks and several cultural and artistic sights.
• Barri Gótic: the gothic neighbourhood of the old city district is located right in the centre of Barcelona. It’s a true medieval beauty that boasts a unique labyrinthine structure where to get lost while exploring the main attractions of the city.
• Gràcia: it looks like an edgy and friendly village with a strong bohemian identity, but it actually is one of the most spotted areas from Barcelona. It’s home to many architectural features signed by Gaudí and it also hosts lovely narrow streets, organic healthy food stores, sustainable fashion boutiques.
• Eixample: created by the revolutionary city planner Ildefons Cerdá, Eixample is a very central area of Barcelona. It is big, bright, modern and here you can find the most famous Gaudí’s buildings. It’s a place that definitely attracts people from all over the World!

But Barcelona doesn’t stop here. The city is quite big and boasts many other areas where you can find the perfect housing solution that suits you the most. Get a look at the rooms, here.

Well, you’re ready to find a room in Barcelona and finally start your adventure in the enchanting Catalan capital. In case you have any question, you can always count on us!