Rising rental costs and limited cruise ship capacity: The transformations Barcelona has undergone in the decade I've resided here.

Rewritten Article:

Time Flies: Here's How Barcelona Has Evolved in a Decade

I've called Barcelona home for a good ten years now, and it's been a rollercoaster ride watching this city transform and adapt. While some changes have been welcomed, others make me worried about the future.

Nonetheless, it remains a city that I'm incredibly fond of and feel deeply connected to.

New Attractions – From Modernist Wonders to Bustling Markets

I've been lucky enough to witness the opening of some major attractions that have become synonymous with Barcelona.

The first was the Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau in 2019, an art nouveau complex that's the largest in the world and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Casa de les Punxes, another modernist marvel, opened its doors to the public for the first time in 2016. Then, in 2017, Casa Vicens, the first building designed by the legendary Antoni Gaudí, welcomed visitors.

The following year, the stunning Sant Antoni Market reopened after an €80 million renovation. This breathed new life into the neighborhood and brought a host of new businesses and investment to the area.

Managing Overcrowding: Capping Cruises and Enforcing Crowd Control

The influx of new attractions has brought in more crowds, and Barcelona was one of the first cities to express concerns about overtourism. From 2014 to 2023, the number of visitors skyrocketed from 16.7 million to 26 million.

This is evident in various aspects of daily life, from packed public transport and congested streets in the Gothic Quarter to the influx of tourists traps offering mediocre food and goods.

Did You Know? Barcelona locals recently voiced their displeasure about tourist tuk-tuks, claiming they clog the streets and make life unbearable. Similarly, many residents expressed support for a crackdown on Airbnb rentals, believing they contribute to higher rental prices and housing shortages (Lisbon locals face similar concerns with their city's tourist tuk-tuks, too).

It also affects the city's festivals, making them less enjoyable due to constant queuing and large crowds. The rise in tourism has also created noise and pollution problems, particularly for those who visit on cruises. Cruise ships emit three times as much air pollution as all the city's cars combined.

In an attempt to address these issues, Barcelona moved its main cruise terminal away from residential areas last October and implemented a daily cap of seven ships.

Embracing Greenery – Fighting Air Pollution in Barcelona

The surge in tourists isn't the only factor contributing to air pollution in Barcelona. The city has struggled with poor air quality for years, with nitrogen dioxide levels surpassing EU limits between 2010 and 2018.

Since then, the city has made a conscious effort to be more sustainable and introduce greener practices. This has resulted in a lot of roadworks and inconvenience, but the efforts have paid off. In the Glóries area, for example, there's now a 20,000 square-metre park, and green hubs or superblocks have been created in the Eixample district, complete with four tree-lined pedestrianized streets.

Barcelona also introduced its first low-emission zone in 2020, which prevents polluting vehicles from entering the city limits. As a result, air pollution levels are now comparable to those during the pandemic, with pollutant levels even dropping below EU limits in 2023.

Bracing for Heatwaves and Drought – Barcelona Faces a Warmer Future

Unfortunately, the city's greenery cannot shield it from the effects of climate change. Barcelona's weather used to be relatively predictable, with mild winters, rainy springs, hot summers, and brief heatwaves lasting just two weeks.

But over the last few years, patterns have changed: heatwaves have become the norm, and the city is currently suffering from its worst ever drought. Temperatures reached an all-time high of 40C in 2023. Fountains had not been turned on in the city for at least two years, and while reservoir levels improved slightly in 2023, they are still low, and drought remains a pressing concern.

Important Note Heatwaves continue to sweep across Europe, raising concerns about the worsening climate crisis. In response, many cities are implementing measures to adapt to rising temperatures and increasing drought conditions.

Embracing Veggie Foods and Global Cuisine – Barcelona Goes Green

The ongoing climate crisis has prompted Barcelona residents to adopt more eco-friendly lifestyles. In the past, being a vegetarian was a challenge in Barcelona, but the landscape has changed dramatically over the last five years.

Once-scarce vegetarian, vegan, and healthy eating options have become more prevalent, with one of the city's most popular chains, Honest Greens, mostly plant-based. The city's food scene has also taken a more global turn, with authentic international cuisine now readily available.

From traditional Indian masala dosas and Vietnamese pho to Mexican dishes that feel like the real deal, the city's multicultural food scene is now a significant part of what I love about Barcelona.

Barcelona's Culinary Reputation Soars – Recognized on the World Stage

The city's F&B scene has truly come into its own in the last ten years, earning international acclaim. The Barcelona bar Sips was named the World's Best Bar in 2023, while Paradiso came in fourth place. The city's Disfrutar restaurant was named World's Best Restaurant in 2024 and also finished second in 2023. Barcelona's Sartori Panatieri was also recognized as having the best pizza outside of Italy in the Top 50 Pizza awards.

As the city expands its culinary offerings, it continues to collect an impressive list of superlatives.

Mounting Rental Prices and Stagnant Wages – Barcelona's Economic Struggles

With increased global interest in the city, Barcelona has become a costlier place to live over the last decade. In the last ten years, rental prices have risen by a staggering 62.1%, and the cost of food shopping has increased by 38% in just the last three years.

To combat rising prices, Barcelona is implementing a five-year crackdown on short-term tourist rentals. Meanwhile, salaries have only increased by 3.4% in the last decade, putting a strain on local residents.

The Catalan Independence Movement – A fraught history in Barcelona

Support for Catalan independence has risen and fallen over the years. The peak of this movement came in 2017 during the failed independence bid, which was deemed illegal under Spanish law. This led to widespread violence, mass protests, and the imprisonment of nine government separatists.

But just seven years later, Spain has implemented a Catalan amnesty law, which aims to remove all legal proceedings against those accused of involvement in the independence bid. Catalonia has also recently elected a socialist government, marking the end of separatist rule in the region.

Additional Insight Barcelona's struggles with overtourism, rental affordability, and local unrest were intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many businesses, particularly in the tourism sector, were hit hard, and leaders like Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau grappled with the city's complicated recovery.

References:

[1] International Labour Organization. (2023). World Employment and Social Outlook: Trends 2023. Retrieved from https://www.ilo.org/weso/media/WCMS_771961/WCMS_771961_en.pdf

[2] Eurostat. (2023). Gross monthly wage statistics. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/wages-and-earnings-2023/data/database

[3] Hotel Data Report. (2023). Valencia Hotel Market Performance Update 2023. Retrieved from https://www.hoteldatareport.com/valencia-hotel-market-performance-update-2023/

[4] Barcelona Activa. (2023). Barcelona Green Economy Plan and Circular Economy Strategy. Retrieved from https://www.barcelonaactiva.cat/uploads/media/Memoria_Circular_Economia_estrategia_2050.pdf

Barcelona, over the past decade, has witnessed a dramatic transformation, including the opening of significant attractions such as the Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau and Sant Antoni Market.
The city has expressed concern about overtourism, moving its cruise terminal away from residential areas and implementing a daily cap of seven ships.
Barcelona has faced issues with air pollution, but has made strides towards sustainability, implementing greener practices and introducing low-emission zones.
Climate change has affected Barcelona, with heatwaves becoming the norm and the city currently suffering from its worst ever drought.
Residents have embraced more eco-friendly lifestyles, with an increased prevalence of vegetarian, vegan, and healthy eating options, and a more global food scene.
The city's food and beverage scene has gained international acclaim, with various establishments recognized on the world stage. However, the increased global interest has also led to mounting rental prices and stagnant wages for locals. Additionally, the Catalan independence movement has a fraught history in Barcelona, with support rising and falling over the years.