Planning to study at IESE Business School in Barcelona, and not sure how to look for housing? Here, we’ll try to help make the process of deciding where to live and finding a great flat a lot easier! We’ll cover the best neighborhoods for IESE students, as well as show you how to do a search for the perfect accommodation!
Where is IESE?
IESE, one of the most prestigious business schools in Spain (and the world) is located in Barcelona’s upscale Pedralbes neighborhood. Pedralbes is a very green neighborhood on Barcelona’s west side, and in addition to IESE, it is also home to several other universities including Institut Borja de Bioética and Universitat Politécnica de Catalunya.
The IESE campus is only a 20-minute walk from the Palau Reial metro stop on the TMB Line 3 (TMB Línia 3), giving you easy access to other neighborhoods such as Les Corts, Ciutat Vella, and Gràcia. You can also access the Palau Reial Metro stop via municipal bus service.
Best neighborhoods in Barcelona for IESE students
Pedralbes
Pedralbes is home to many university campuses, not just IESE, and it is also one of the richest neighborhoods in Barcelona. It is full of beautiful, green parks and is in a very safe location. However, Pedralbes is not the liveliest of neighborhoods, nor is it the most affordable. Finding cheap groceries or fast food can be a challenge!
Some thoughts on Pedralbes from the IESE housing group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/768306543219485/):
“Pedralbes is perfect for IESE students for the location but unless you’re a recluse, living there can be a challenge. It’s quiet enough during working hours but after about 17:00, it flatlines; basically, there is very little life on the street, unlike Sarrià, Les Corts or the other neighborhoods mentioned.”
“The area is very calm — sometimes too calm, especially in the summer with fewer students around! But for MBA students who have to do group work all the time, I think it makes sense to live close to campus. The center is a short metro, bus or taxi ride away.”
Sarrià- Sant Gervasi
Sarrià-Sant Gervasi is known as the “high zone” of Barcelona, not only for its location at the foot of the Collserola Mountains, but also for being one of the most expensive, affluent areas in all of Spain. As the sister neighborhood of Pedralbes, Sarrià-Sant Gervasi has enchanting parks and gardens and is also a little more happening. Sarrià-Sant Gervasi also offers access to the renown bakery Foix and Bar Tomás, where you’ll have to try the spectacular Patatas Bravas. The area is home to the L’Illa Diagonal shopping mall, with a huge El Corte Inglés for all of your other shopping needs.
Sarrià-Sant Gervasi is just a 15 minute walk or a short bus ride away from IESE’s Pedralbes campus.
Les Corts
Less upscale than Sarrià and Pedralbes, Les Corts offers diverse shopping and cheap food options. Les Corts has the distinction of being home to Camp Nou, the largest football stadium in Europe and home of the famous Barça team. In the north, shopping addicts can get their fix at the Illa Diagonal and Pedralbes Central malls. And for those who choose to live in this area, IESE is just a 20-minute walk away.
Here’s an example of a great studio in Les Corts that was available at the time of this post! Availabilities of properties on Spotahome.com change frequently, so to see all of our currently available properties, do a search at www.spotahome.com/Barcelona!
http://www.spotahome.com/Barcelona/Great-one-bedroom-apartment-in-Les-Corts_ad82702.html
Gràcia
According to its residents, La Villa de Gràcia is like a small village in the middle of the city. Known as the artsy, bohemian neighborhood, Gràcia is full of small shops, boutiques, and restaurants that serve cuisine from around the world. Flooded with young people every day, Gràcia boasts famous modernist buildings. It is known for Gaudí’s Parc Güell, which is always great for a morning stroll.
Even if you choose to live elsewhere, make sure to visit Gràcia in August! During the Festa Major de Gràcia, residents decorate their neighborhood, fighting over which is the best-decorated street. Their incredible designs will leave you speechless!
Gràcia is a bit farther from IESE. Taking the TMB L3 (TMB Línia 3, green line) from the Lesseps station, the commute to IESE is about 45 minutes.
Eixample Esquerra (Eixample West)
L’Eixample was founded at the beginning of the 19th Century as the city’s population outgrew the limits of Ciutat Vella. Here, you’ll find historic landmarks such as the Antaño bullring and Barcelona’s oldest market, the Mercat de Sant Antoni. You can also find the home to the rapidly growing gay community, “Gaixample,” which offers many stores, businesses, and a bustling nightlife.
From L’Eixample, you can easily reach IESE by taking the TMB L3 (Línia 3, green line) from Passeig de Gràcia for a 30 minute commute.
For those interested in finding a place here, this apartment is an ideal option that was available at the time of this post. To see currently available listings, visit www.spotahome.com/Barcelona.
How to find a great apartment in Barcelona
Spotahome offers hundreds of rooms and full flats in Barcelona. Our aim is to make it super easy to secure your housing before your arrival to the city. We provide video tours, floor plans and detailed descriptions of every property. At www.spotahome.com/Barcelona, you can put in the exact address of IESE (Avinguda Pearson 21, 08034 Barcelona, Spain), and calculate the commute time from each flat.
To see how it’s done, check out this video on how to search for a home on Spotahome.com: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdNJFwACz3Y
We hope this post was helpful! If you’re an IESE student looking for housing in Barcelona, we’d be happy to help you with your search. Get in touch with us at [email protected]. You can also interact with us on Facebook and Twitter. We’re looking forward to hearing from you!