Apartments and rooms near Universitat de Barcelona

Tracing its origins to a royal charter of 1450, the University of Barcelona is one of the oldest and largest universities in Spain, home to around 76,000 students and consistently ranked among the country's top institutions for research and teaching. Its iconic Historic Building (Edifici Històric), built by Elies Rogent between 1863 and 1882, stands on Plaça Universitat between the Eixample and Ciutat Vella, and remains the symbolic heart of the university. The UB also spreads across several campuses, including Diagonal in the upper city, Mundet in Horta, Bellvitge and the Clínic medical campus, but the Historic Building on Gran Via is its most central and recognisable home.

According to the Spotahome Rent Index 2026, these are the available accommodation in Barcelona options and their average price by property type.

Best neighbourhoods near the University of Barcelona

These are the four areas closest to the Historic Building on Plaça Universitat, chosen for their proximity to the campus and the amount of accommodation available nearby:

• El Raval: a dense, multicultural slice of Ciutat Vella right beside the campus, packed with bookshops, galleries like the MACBA and a young, creative crowd. It offers some of the best value in the centre, with apartments in El Raval averaging around 1,600 € and shared rooms close to 695 €.
• L'Antiga Esquerra de l'Eixample: an elegant grid of modernist façades and wide pavements just north of the campus, calm yet central. Apartments in L'Antiga Esquerra de l'Eixample average about 2,800 €, with rooms near 700 €.
• Sant Antoni: trendy and sociable, with its renovated market and relaxed café culture a few blocks from Plaça Universitat. Apartments in Sant Antoni average around 1,895 €, the most affordable of the four, with rooms close to 785 €.
• La Dreta de l'Eixample: the prestige side of the district, home to Passeig de Gràcia and the densest metro network in the city, with the largest rental pool nearby. Apartments in La Dreta de l'Eixample average about 3,187 €, with rooms near 775 €.

Across these four neighbourhoods there are more than 2,400 properties available near the University of Barcelona, and every Spotahome listing is fully furnished and ready to move into the day you arrive.

What you should know about the University of Barcelona

The UB is a comprehensive public university teaching the full range of disciplines, from medicine, law and economics to humanities, sciences and fine arts, with most teaching in Catalan and Spanish and a growing offer of master's programmes in English. As Spain's largest university by enrolment, it has a vast and international student community, so the central neighbourhoods around the Historic Building are thoroughly used to students arriving from across Europe and beyond. The Plaça Universitat building houses faculties, libraries and historic courtyards, and its central position means museums, the beach and the old town are all within a short walk or metro ride. For faculties, dates and admissions, the official University of Barcelona website is the best reference.

Erasmus Life at the University of Barcelona and in Barcelona

The UB is one of the most popular Erasmus destinations in Europe, with hundreds of partner universities and a large incoming exchange community each year, all coordinated through its International Relations Office. Living in Barcelona as an Erasmus student means a city that blends Mediterranean beaches with a packed cultural calendar, cheap public transport and a huge population of students spread across its many universities. Student associations and the city's ESN network run constant trips, language exchanges and social events, which makes settling in quick and easy.

How to get to the University of Barcelona from Barcelona city centre

The Historic Building sits on Plaça Universitat, one of the best-connected points in the whole city:

• Metro lines 1 and 2: both stop at Universitat, directly beneath the building, with Plaça Catalunya just one stop away.
• On foot: from Plaça Catalunya the campus is a 5 to 8-minute walk down Carrer de Pelai or Ronda Universitat.
• Bus and FGC: numerous bus lines cross Gran Via and Ronda Universitat, and the FGC at Catalunya is a few minutes' walk.

Common questions (FAQ) about renting near the University of Barcelona

Which are the best neighbourhoods for students near the University of Barcelona in Barcelona?

The top student areas combine a genuine young scene with a short walk or metro ride to Plaça Universitat.

• El Raval: central, creative and affordable, with a big student presence next to the campus. Rooms in El Raval average around 695 €, and the Historic Building is a 5 to 10-minute walk away.
• Sant Antoni: fashionable and sociable, one of the most popular districts among students, with rooms in Sant Antoni near 785 € and a 10-minute walk to class.
• L'Antiga Esquerra de l'Eixample: central and full of shared flats, with rooms in L'Antiga Esquerra de l'Eixample close to 700 € and the campus a few blocks south.
• La Dreta de l'Eixample: lively and very central, with the biggest pool of shared rooms in the area, rooms in La Dreta de l'Eixample around 775 € and an easy 10-minute walk to campus.

All four put you within walking distance of the UB, with El Raval and Sant Antoni offering the friendliest student prices.

How much does student accommodation near the University of Barcelona cost?

The Spotahome Rent Index 2026 gives clear price ranges for the neighbourhoods around the Historic Building.

A room in a shared flat is by far the most popular choice near the UB, with the largest number of listings and the lowest entry cost for a student budget. If you want your own space, a studio in El Raval is a central, self-contained option next to campus, with an average price around 1,240 € and bills included in a share of the listings, so check what each monthly figure covers.

When should I start looking for accommodation near the University of Barcelona?

Start as early as you can, because the central areas fill up fast before term.

• The UB's main academic year begins in September, so the best central listings go over the summer.
• Booking two to three months ahead secures the widest choice in El Raval, Sant Antoni and the Eixample.
• Reserving online before you arrive lets you sign from home and move straight into a furnished flat.

A spring or early-summer search gives you the broadest, calmest selection.

How does Spotahome verify properties and what happens if the apartment doesn't match the listing?

Each home goes through a listing verification process before it goes live, so the photos and details reflect the real property.

• If the flat doesn't match the listing when you arrive, report it within the first 24 hours.
• The Spotahome team then helps resolve it, by mediating with the landlord or arranging alternative accommodation.

It is a reassuring safeguard when you are booking a home in a city you may not have visited.

How much deposit do I have to pay? And when is it returned?

The deposit is set by each landlord, usually one or two months' rent.

• On listings tagged "Deposit protected", if the landlord fails to return it within three months of move-out and you met the contract terms, Spotahome refunds it to you directly.
• There are also many properties with no deposit at all, which you can filter for in the search.

Check the listing before booking to see which option applies.

Do I need a guarantor to rent on Spotahome?

No, you do not need a local guarantor or a Spanish payslip to book.

• To reserve, you usually only need your ID or passport, your acceptance letter or student or worker credentials, and a payment method.
• Once the landlord accepts your booking, they may ask for proof of solvency and a bank direct debit to finalise the contract.

Having these ready in advance keeps the final step quick and smooth.

What is included in the monthly rent? What is not?

The monthly rent always includes the rent itself, the property tax and the building service charges. Utilities (electricity, gas, water and Wi-Fi) are included in many listings but not in all of them. In some properties a fixed monthly amount is applied instead. What's never included are personal items or food. Optional services like weekly cleaning or a parking space are usually paid separately. Always read each listing's description carefully to know exactly what each property covers.

Why is Spotahome the best option for Erasmus and other students at the University of Barcelona?

Spotahome is the ideal platform for University of Barcelona students because it offers:

• A wide choice near the UB: more than 2,400 homes in areas like El Raval, Sant Antoni and the Eixample, many less than 15 minutes from campus.
• Affordable options: over 1,600 rooms in shared flats, with an average price around 700 €/month and bills included in many cases.
• 100% online booking: you can rent from any country or city before you even arrive in Barcelona.
• Flexible contracts: stays of 3 to 11 months, ideal for Erasmus, with room for shorter or longer periods too.
• Lower cost: commissions are lower than those of traditional estate agencies.

Spotahome has been helping students find accommodation since 2014, and more than 200,000 have already booked with us.