Barcelona

1. Bunkers del Carmel: This hidden gem offers one of the best panoramic views of Barcelona. Originally built as anti-aircraft bunkers during the Spanish Civil War, it has become a popular spot for locals to relax and enjoy the sunset while avoiding the tourist crowds. 2. The Secret Labyrinth of Horta: Located in the Horta-Guinardó district, this historical garden is home to a beautiful neoclassical labyrinth. It dates back to the early 19th century and provides a unique escape from the city's hustle and bustle, complete with fountains and sculptures. 3. The Magical Fountain of Montjuïc: While many visitors know about the fountain's light and music shows, fewer realize that it was built for the 1929 International Exhibition and designed using over 3,000 different colors of water. The fountain's impressive engineering allows it to produce spectacular displays that dance to a variety of music genres.

Barcelona’s housing market in mid-2025 is marked by high demand, short supply, and continued upward pressure on both rental and purchase prices. The city’s average apartment purchase price is about €4,350 per square meter, with prime districts like Eixample and Sarrià-Sant Gervasi exceeding €6,000-€7,000/sqm. More affordable areas such as Nou Barris offer prices between €2,700 and €3,200/sqm. For rentals, the officially declared average is €16.19 per sqm, but actual asking rents have reached €23.60 per sqm. A typical one-bedroom flat rents for €950–€1,300 per month, while a three-bedroom can command €1,800–€2,600. Renting is prevalent in Barcelona: about 37–40% of residents rent their homes, while home ownership is around 60–63%, lower than the national average due to high prices and urban density. Publicly owned housing, or “vivienda pública,” plays a limited but increasing role. By the end of 2023, Barcelona had over 12,300 municipally managed social housing units—about 2% of the total housing stock, compared to the 15% European average. The city is investing heavily in expanding this, with plans to reach 15,000 units, but capacity remains far below demand. In Barcelona, public housing and social housing (“vivienda social”) are often used interchangeably, both targeting those with the greatest need, although some publicly owned rental offerings may not always qualify as social housing if they serve broader income ranges. The core difference lies in eligibility and rental criteria: social housing is specifically subsidized and allocated to vulnerable populations, while public rental housing may have broader, though still regulated, access.

Barcelona’s housing crisis is severe, with **rental prices rising 68% over the past decade** and far outpacing income growth. **Home prices have increased by about 47% since 2015**, while household incomes grew only about 33%. The surge in tourism and the growth of short-term rentals—especially through platforms like Airbnb—have reduced the number of homes available for long-term residents, driving prices higher and forcing many locals out. The supply of new homes lags far behind demand, with **three times more households forming than new homes built in 2023**. This gap is worsening affordability, particularly for low- and middle-income residents. Over the past two decades, the **cost of new buildings has risen by 150% and rents by 100%, while disposable household income grew only 25%**. Evictions due to rent arrears have also surged, rising by 30% between 2019 and 2020, and the majority of recent evictions are linked to rental defaults. **The most affected groups are low-income families, young people, immigrants, and women—particularly single mothers.** These groups face rising displacement, crowding, and in some cases, homelessness. The crisis has exacerbated social inequality, deepening the divide between the city’s wealthiest (who often live mortgage-free) and its poorest, who struggle to access affordable housing or are forced to leave the city. En català: La crisi de l’habitatge a Barcelona es manifesta en l’augment desmesurat dels preus de lloguer, una oferta insuficient d’habitatge i unes pujades salarials molt menors. Els més afectats són famílies amb pocs recursos, joves, immigrants i dones, especialment mares solteres. L’escassetat d’habitatges accessibles ha incrementat els desallotjaments i forçat molts veïns a marxar de la ciutat, agreujant les desigualtats socials.

The city of Barcelona is addressing the issue of affordable and sustainable housing through several initiatives: 1. **Reform of the 30% Affordable Housing Rule**: The current administration aims to reform the policy requiring developers to allocate 30% of new units to affordable housing. The reform seeks more flexible options, such as offsite units or fees to support public housing expansion. 2. **Barcelona Right to Housing Plan 2016-2025**: This plan focuses on increasing public housing stock, with a goal of constructing 8,000 new public rental properties. About 80% are slated for social and affordable rents, while the remaining 20% are long leases. 3. **Habitatge Metròpolis Barcelona (HMB)**: A public-private partnership creating affordable housing units on public land, ensuring perpetual affordability. 4. **New Housing Plan for Catalonia**: Announced by President Salvador Illa, this €500 million initiative offers 0% interest loans to cover 20% of a property's value for young people's first homes, ensuring these properties remain affordable. 5. **Housing Plan 2026-2033**: This forthcoming plan aims to reassess and update housing policies in light of recent social and economic changes, focusing on current and future housing challenges. These initiatives are part of broader efforts to tackle Barcelona's severe housing crisis, characterized by high demand, short supply, and rising prices.

La vivienda cooperativa en Barcelona ha emergido como respuesta a la crisis de acceso y especulación inmobiliaria, estructurándose principalmente bajo el modelo de cesión de uso. Este sistema evita la especulación porque los residentes no adquieren la propiedad, sino el derecho a uso colectivo indefinido, lo que mantiene los precios asequibles y promueve una gestión democrática y comunitaria. Destacan iniciativas como Sostre Cívic, con más de 500 viviendas gestionadas y otras 350 en desarrollo, y La Borda, referente en autogestión y sostenibilidad. El desarrollo del sector es reciente, con fuerte dinamismo y creciente interés social; la mayoría de proyectos han surgido tras 2008 y se concentra en barrios tensionados por gentrificación. Sin embargo, el peso de la vivienda cooperativa sigue siendo muy bajo: en 2024 había 158 viviendas cooperativas registradas en la ciudad, una fracción ínfima respecto al parque total. El Ayuntamiento y la Generalitat impulsan el sector mediante cesión de suelo público a largo plazo, subvenciones, asesoría técnica a cooperativas, y promoción de redes de apoyo e intercambio de conocimientos. Estas políticas buscan escalar el modelo y garantizar su viabilidad, enmarcándose en planes estratégicos como el Pla d’Habitatge 2026-2033 y colaboraciones público-cooperativas. El objetivo municipal es consolidar la vivienda cooperativa como alternativa estructural dentro de la oferta asequible y sostenible en Barcelona.