Barcelona is great until you want a garden, a pool and a bit of quiet. That's the moment most expats start looking north, towards the coast. Maresme is the strip of towns between the city and the sea, and each one feels completely different. So what are they actually like to live in?
Most of our clients say the same thing: they loved central Barcelona, then they needed more room. In Maresme you get a house instead of a flat. Gardens, pools, sea views, parking you don't have to fight for.
You give up the late-night buzz and the tapas bar downstairs. For families, that's usually the whole point.
Alella is the closest premium town, right where the vineyards start. It has a genuine international community and some of the smartest villas on the coast, and you're still close enough to the city for a normal commute.
Sant Andreu de Llavaneres is where the luxury market lives. Big homes, sea views, and the El Balís golf club — one of the best courses on this stretch of coast. People come here for privacy more than anything else.
Sant Vicenç de Montalt sits right next to Llavaneres and quietly has some of the highest rents in Maresme. Residential, calm, very family-oriented.
Teià is the commuter's pick — closer to Barcelona, with easy access to the highway and the train. You can still get a house here without the top-end price tag.
Cabrils is greener and more relaxed. Good value compared to the coast, with quiet urbanizations and a slower pace.
It usually comes down to three questions:
Answer those and you're down to one or two towns.
Once you've picked, the next step is renting. Our guide on how to rent a villa in Barcelona covers documents, budget, lease terms and how to move fast when a good place appears. How to Rent a Villa in Barcelona: Full Guide for Expats (2026)
We work across Maresme every week, not from a map. Tell us what you're looking for and we'll send a shortlist of homes that fit your actual life.
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