When I came to Catalonia, as most expats do, I chose to settle down in Barcelona. I was close to all the action: shops, restaurants, clubs and creating a social life was relatively easy with the extensive MeetUp possibilities I found online.
However, when my now wife and I were deciding to buy an apartment, it didn’t even cross our mind to stay in the city. We knew that if we moved out of the city, (1) we could find a bigger, newer place for less money, (2) avoid the hordes of tourists constantly moving around the city, and (3) begin to feel part of a community rather than as just another face in the crowd.
In the home buying process, we looked around the province of Barcelona. We wanted to find a place that was close to Barcelona but not so close that it was just a place for commuters to sleep at night.
We wanted to find a town that had everything to offer like Barcelona: a bustling Rambla full of bars, restaurants and all the major stores but that also felt smaller and more relaxed. Lastly, we wanted to find somewhere where we could fit into the local community and raise a family.
That is why we decided on Sabadell.
A mere 30 minutes from Plaza Cataluña by train, Sabadell is a charming and lively city of 215,000 + residents with a rich history and vibrant culture.
To its north and east, you will find the River Ripoll and a vast expanse of woods, which are perfect for those who enjoy doing day hikes.
To the south and west, you will find other towns like Terrassa and Sant Cugat, which also have a ton of amenities to offer. There are so many things to love about the area but I just want to tell you a few of my favorites:
Observa Musical Festival
This music festival takes place every year at the end of May and beginning of June at the amphitheater of Parc Catalunya.
The festival organizers try to showcase local Catalan bands so it is a great way to delve deeper into the culture and discover musicians that you wouldn’t typically listen to. That being said, if you don’t speak Catalan, there is also something for you too; last year specifically, a really good Queen tribute band played.
Apart from the music, there are food and drink stands, large canvas tents to lounge in and fun activities, like foosball and mechanic bull rides. This year the music festival will be held May 25 through June 11th. More information can be found on their Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/observafest/?hl=en
English Language Movie Theater
So I have to be honest, both this and the next thing are not directly in Sabadell but rather in the neighboring town of Sant Cugat, a 20 minute car ride away. We were so excited when we found the Cinemes San Cugat because we had always had a hard time finding Hollywood movies in English.
Most theaters only offer such showings on premiere weekends or some obscure day of the week. Cinemes Sant Cugat, on the other hand, offers all of the latest movies in their original version everyday of the week. And it is cheap too! We went to see a Saturday evening showing of Avatar 2 in 3D and we paid 7.50€ for the movie + 3D glasses.
I don’t think I had paid so little for a movie in 15 years. To see what’s playing this week, go to their website: https://www.cinemessantcugat.com/
Mercantic in Sant Cugat
This next thing was a discovery made on an uneventful weekend. We quickly googled “things to do on or around Sabadell” and we were recommended the Mercantic in Sant Cugat. The Mercantic is an expansive antique market running out of an old factory.
The complex is made up of three large buildings, containing both indoor and outdoor shops run by local artesans as well as restaurants and cafes. Our favorite thing to do is go on a Saturday or Sunday morning because we can first shop around peacefully and then around noon, we go take in the live music at a café on the grounds, which has been converted from an old library.
If you are interested in opening times, check out their website: https://mercantic.com/. Keep in mind that if you arrive on Sunday after 11 am, you have to pay a 2€ entry fee but it is well worth it!
La Rambla and city center of Sabadell
Every time someone asks me if I like living in Sabadell, the first thing I have to mention is the Rambla.
Just like in Barcelona, the Rambla is the main drag of the city where all stores, restaurants and bars can be found. Unlike Barcelona though, it is not overcrowded with tourists. The entire Rambla is about a kilometer long, starting in the south and leading north until you reach the town square.
Along both sides of the Rambla, you will find not only cute local shops and boutiques but also the top players: Zara, Mango, Decathlon, Stradivarius, etc. Once in the city center, you will be welcomed by the view of the beautiful town hall and church, Sant Feliu.
The small side streets of the city center lead you down winding paths to great bars and restaurants. Our favorites are the local breweries La Fem and La MicroCeveseria and the cocktail bar Reencuentro.
However, my absolute favorite thing about the Rambla of Sabadell is that from Saturday morning to Sunday night, the road is closed to both car and scooter traffic, meaning that the street is full of people walking. Restaurants even bring their chairs and tables out into the streets to offer more seating to patrons.
It also allows for the city to regularly host small fairs and markets, where venders can set up their booths in the middle of what is normally a street full of cars.
Sense of community
I think my favorite thing about Sabadell as a whole is the sense of community that I feel here. As we English teachers do, I moved around extensively in my 20s, which meant it was not always easy to establish myself as a member of the community and many of my friendships lasted only as long as my stay but here in Sabadell, it feels different.
First of all:
There is a plethora of community activities that you can become a part of. My wife and I go to the local community center and take swing classes. And once a month, we dance in the town square with others from the class.
A friend of mine is part of the Correfoc group in Sabadell and every year at the Festa Major in September and at the Cebafoc in March, he puts on the traditional fireproof cloak and parades through the city spitting fire.
We have yet another friend who is apart of the Castellers club of Sabadell and we love going to watch him build human towers in the town square. There are groups and activities for everyone year-round.
Secondly:
The people in the local shops know us. Pablo from the local fruteria knows my name and greets me when I come in. He even gave me his number so I can ask if the things I want are in stock to save me an extra trip.
Cari and Ricardo from Reencuentro, the cocktail bar I mentioned previously, excitedly greet my wife and me when we show up for our bi-monthly mojitos and ask us about updates in our lives. (Plus, you get a free cocktail on your birthday!) I don’t just feel like another face passing through their establishments.
Lastly and most importantly:
There is a great community of young adults, both local and international, who are open and welcoming. When I came to Sabadell, I knew no one but now a little more than two years later, I have a friend group of about 10 to 15 people, with whom I meet regularly. This is something that I was missing in Barcelona- a sense of community and belonging.
So in conclusion, if you are looking to move out of Barcelona and try something new (or even just take a day trip), I can do nothing but highly recommend Sabadell. It is a city in its own right with so many things to do and see.
At just a stone’s throw from Barcelona, Sabadell will happily take you in and welcome you in its open and charming community.
By Kristen Schuenemeyer
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