Idealista. /i.ðe.a.ˈli.sta/ Language: Spanish. Meaning: Idealistic, which we all are when searching for a Barcelona flat. Then we grow desperate after crashing in a 12-bed hostel for a week, and settle for a windowless room and half a working burner in the kitchen. Also, the name of my favorite flat-searching website in Spain, idealista.com.

I know, most Open Houses happen on Sunday, but since I’m in Spain I’m allowed to do things late—eat lunch at 3:00, show up very fashionably tardy for drinks, host Open Houses on a Monday.

So welcome to my Barcelona flat. Here are some pictures, if you’d like to see!

El baño

El salón

La cocina

El comedor

And my favorite part. . . . la terraza, also known as my living room, dining room, and office

I snagged a great Barcelona flat, and luckily I didn’t have to “settle,” as I implied in the opening definition. My place is a 4-bedroom ancient building in Barcelona’s El Raval district. Once current roommates head home and old roommates return from vacation, we will be 4 girls: 2 Russians, an Italian, and me. Spanish is the common language, although they all speak English as well.

I only spent one day searching, and looked at 6 places. This one was the first I saw, and easily the best. It was a combination of strategy and luck that got me this great place among the vast pile of mierda that is many Barcelona flats.

Helpful Tidbits for Finding a Barcelona Flat

(Note: Though this list has some general advice, it is more directed towards those looking for flats in Barcelona. For things to keep in mind when looking for flats in all of Spain, as well as other websites to use, check out my post 10 Tips for the Spanish Housing Hunt.)

First, some general advice. . . .

• Scour the websites weeks in advance so you get an idea of what’s out there. Some may post a room in July for entry in September, so it may be available even when you arrive weeks after you first saw it.

• Use the “favorites” button on Idealista.com and leave yourself notes using the feature they provide—room is big but smokers; appointment to see it at 9:30 on Thursday. This will help you easily comb through the next time you enter the site.

• I can’t stress enough how helpful it is to have the smartphone app Whatsapp. Spaniards swear by it, and many respond to Whatsapp much faster than email. I saw a place I really liked and sent an email right away, and then hopped on Whatsapp ten minutes later—and oh ya, I’m living there now ;)

• Research neighborhoods before you arrive, and then narrow down your search of where you think you’ll want to live so you can check out 2 or 3 neighborhoods on foot. Trying to see the entire city, plus flats, in a few short days will be too overwhelming.

• This time around, I put much more importance on flatmates. I instantly clicked with the people living here. They were the only ones, from the 6 places I saw, who invited me to coffee and to chat—this showed me that it was important to them to get to know me before allowing me to move in. They weren’t just looking for someone to pay the bills, but someone to live with. If a good relationship with your roommates is important to you, I’d recommend chatting with them for more than 30 seconds before agreeing to move in.

Some Barcelona-specific advice. . . . 

• Things go fast in Barcelona. I had agreed on Tuesday to see two places on Thursday, and by the time I arrived from Bilbao to Barcelona they were both already rented. Disappointing, but also means new ones will open up.

• Most Barcelona flats require a month’s rent as a security deposit, so come prepared. 250 euros/month is about the cheapest you can find, but that will most likely be in the outskirts of the city, or in a tiny interior room. I looked at one for 290 euros in the center, only to discover that the room’s only “window” was a tiny square that opened into the living room. Not sure if that’s even legal. In my place now, I pay 350 euros with all utilities included, which is a very reasonable price for the city center. Rooms in El Barri Gòtic and El Born (the two “nicer” neighborhoods in the center) can get closer to 400 or 450 euros.

• Don’t settle, but also don’t be unrealistic (or idealistic!). Flats in general in Europe are smaller, older (it’s kind of an old continent, remember?), and don’t have all the amenities you may be used to in the U.S. In Barcelona in particular, I was really surprised at how small the flats could be—I guess it’s natural that in larger cities, space is limited. I’ve never seen so many tiny kitchens. But mine has a dishwasher, so can’t complain!

• Much like the city itself, the Barcelona flat hunt was much more fast paced than any other housing search I’d done in Spain. Some renters even held visiting hours, where they would tell all the respondents to show up between X and Y hours for a visit. I went to one tiny place and was among 10 people looking at the same time—and the apartment wasn’t even that great! So it’s much more competitive than other places in Spain, but also there are a huge number of flats available. You just have to find the good ones.

• Barcelona is teaming with foreigners and exchange students, and landlords know this and may try to take advantage. If you see flats specifically advertised to “Erasmus” or exchange students, be a bit wary. It’s not a given that they’ll overcharge you, but it’s highly likely. Jessica of Barcelona Blonde has a great post on what housing to AVOID in Barcelona.

I’m really happy in my Barcelona flat, and have begun nesting. Meaning Ikea trips and too many visits to boutiques in my neighborhood selling posters that may have been printed specifically for me:

P.S. For the third year in a row, I didn’t follow my own advice. My flat has no central heating. Stay tuned for January’s rants.

Have you every moved abroad? What tips do you have for finding flats in your city? 

About The Author

Jenny

Jenny Marshall studied Language, Culture, and Society at the University of California Santa Barbara, and now teaches English in Spain. Here she writes about the intersection of language and culture, and lives a life translated by travel.