Living in el Coll, Barcelona
Alquiler de habitación en piso compartido Living in el Coll, Barcelona - sin agencia - Barcelona
A small hilly neighborhood in the Gràcia district, near Park Güell: views over the city, the Parc de la Creueta del Coll and more affordable rents. Uphill.
el Coll is a small hilly neighborhood in the Gràcia district, perched in the upper part of Barcelona, near Park Güell and the Turó de la Rovira with its bunkers and panoramic views over the city. Its jewel is the Parc de la Creueta del Coll, carved out of a former quarry, with a large pond and the suspended sculpture by Eduardo Chillida. It's a working-class, residential neighborhood, steep and a bit out of the way, but repaid with views, greenery and an authentic neighborly life.
Who lives here
Long-term locals, families, an immigrant component, and a few young people drawn by rents lower than in the center of Gràcia. Little tourism and little nightlife: it's a neighborhood lived in by its residents.
What it's like during the day
Quiet and uphill. You walk (a lot) among steep streets, stairways and little squares, with the Parc de la Creueta del Coll as the big green space and meeting point. Nearby are Park Güell and the trails toward Carmel and the Turó de la Rovira, with some of the most beautiful views over Barcelona.
What it's like in the evening
Quiet and neighborhood-style. Working-class bars and small restaurants, a few terraces. Nightlife is down below, in the heart of Gràcia or in the center: here the evening is intimate and silent.
Getting around
The L5 metro stops at the El Coll-La Teixonera station, one of the deepest in the network because of the hill. Several bus lines climb the neighborhood, important given the slope, and in some spots the open-air escalators typical of the upper neighborhoods help. For the center of Gràcia or the lower city you still need a few minutes.
Eating and shopping
Neighborhood shopping at honest prices: small supermarkets, greengrocers, bakeries. For eating, bars and unpretentious home cooking. For more choice you go down toward Gràcia.
When NOT to pick it
If you can't stand slopes: here you live on an incline and the elevation change makes itself felt every day. If you want nightlife and bars at your doorstep. If you're after a central, flat neighborhood with everything within walking distance.
el Coll is the right choice for those looking for more affordable rents, greenery and spectacular views, and who don't fear living uphill a bit far from the center.