Tourist flats in Barcelona are concentrated in Eixample, Gràcia and Poble Sec, according to mapping reported by El País Barcelona on 15 July 2026.
The concentration matters most to residents in those neighbourhoods, where neighbourhood associations have warned that some tourist-apartment owners may be able to extend licences and continue operating if they make investments.
“If tourist-apartment owners invest, they can extend their licences and keep operating.”Warning reported from Barcelona neighbourhood associations
Three neighbourhoods identified as the main concentrations
The reported map places the highest concentration of tourist flats in three areas of the city:
- Eixample, the central district known for its grid of wide streets and apartment blocks.
- Gràcia, a district north of the city centre with dense residential streets and public squares.
- Poble Sec, the neighbourhood below Montjuïc in the Sants-Montjuïc district.
The associations’ warning concerns the possibility that investment could enable licence extensions. The material supplied does not identify the specific investments, licence conditions or individual associations involved.
Residents seeking information about a particular tourist flat should check the relevant licensing and accommodation records with the Ajuntament de Barcelona, the city council.
Reported by El País Barcelona.
