Discover Barcelona’s most exclusive suburbs.
A home in the garden of a great metropolis is a coveted prize for buyers in the premium market. For a growing number of urban families, escaping the din and commotion of traffic-clogged streets for a more peaceful enclave presents the perfect solution for the lifestyle that they seek. Matadepera, Premià de Dalt, Cerdanyola del Vallès and Sant Cugat del Vallès are a few choice addresses in Barcelona province that might just tick all the right boxes.
Matadepera
Some 30 km from the Catalan capital, Matadepera has emerged as one of the most desirable residential enclaves in Barcelona’s orbit. After Pozuelo de Alarcón (Madrid), it is now Spain’s second wealthiest municipality, with an annual per-capita income of €24,814.
As part of the Western Valleys region, Matadepera enjoys an exceptional natural environment with easy access to outdoor leisure. In fact, part of its official extent falls within Sant Llorenç del Munt i Serra de l’Obac Natural Park.
With roughly 10,000 inhabitants, Matadepera offers a choice of neighbourhoods and planned communities, including Las Pedritxes, Cavall Bernat, Can Robert, Rourets and Plan de San Lorenzo. Potential buyers will find an assortment of villas of different styles and sizes and traditional rural homes, all nestled in a spectacular natural landscape.
Culture-lovers will enjoy the neo-Gothic Church of San Juan and the Can Pobla heritage village, both official Sites of Local Cultural Interest.
Premià de Dalt
Premià de Dalt in the Maresme area, some 20 km from Barcelona and just a five-minute drive from the coast, is another highly prized location. A huge plus point is the sprawling forest right on its doorstep, criss-crossed by footpaths offering walkers a glorious view of the Mediterranean Sea.
It preserves some wonderful early 20th-century mansions, now joined by luxury contemporary homes in exclusive residential pockets with every imaginable convenience. Residents have a choice of sports facilities, from golf courses to equestrian centres to several tennis and padel courts.
The town also boasts an intriguing cultural heritage that includes Poblado ibérico de la Cadira del Bisbe, the site of an ancient Iberian hillside villa; Plato de Ulises, a unique artifact portraying two scenes of life in the settlement; and La Poma Bike Park, lauded as the best cycle park in Europe, which attracts athletes from all over the world.
Cerdanyola and Sant Cugat
Just 6 km north-east of the city of Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès stands out for its abundant greenery and rich architectural heritage, with many fine examples of modernist and Noucentista homes. It also happens to be the main site of the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) and its diverse retinue of shops, services and restaurants.
Neighbouring Sant Cugat del Vallès is another top pick for families seeking proximity to Barcelona. A low crime rate, excellent local amenities and a wide choice of cultural attractions — with a special mention for the Monastery of Sant Cugat, a splendid example of the Romanesque style — all add to its appeal. The town is very close to Collserola Natural Park, and is home to several international schools as well as one of the campuses of UIC Barcelona.
