Where To Stay In Barcelona: Stay By A Metro Stop
Barcelonas metro system is nothing short of amazing. It works incredibly well for whisking you around the city, especially to the major sights. Even if you end up staying somewhere a little further afield, youll almost certainly be able to get to the city center with minimal fuss.
Your best bets as far as the metro goes:
L1/red line: Universitat, Catalunya, Urquinaona, and Arc de Triomf. Espanya is right near Montjuïc and the sights, and the areas around Rocafort and Urgell are a bit quieter but still give you easy access to the city.
L2/purple line: From Parallel to Passeig de Gràcia, there are tons of things to see. Then of course you have the Sagrada Familia stop a definite must!
L3/green line: Anywhere along the section of the line from Fontana to Espanya is going to be a great place to stay.
L4/yellow line: Perfect if you want to hit the beach. From Girona to Jaume I, youll be in prime sightseeing territory. Barceloneta and Ciutadella/Vila Olimpica are the best for mixing beach and city time.
Keep it simple! Get a 2, 3, 4, or 5 day metro pass,
Poble Sec Varied Dining Options And Vibrant Nightlife
Nestled in the foothills of Montjuïc, the neighborhood of Poble Sec is among the oldest in Barcelona, and was populated by the citys poorest citizens for many centuries. Today the area has enjoyed a well-deserved renaissance, bringing it a long way from its humble origins.
Poble Sec was once notorious for its cabarets and taverns, and visitors can still partake in the neighborhoods vibrant nightlife thanks to its multitude of music venues, clubs, and alfresco-style cafes.
The 17th century military fortress is worth the climb to the top of Montjuïc, and now resides as a municipal facility.
Poble Sec offers an eclectic assortment of dining options, from traditional Catalan cuisine to ethnic fare from around the world.
While lodging is scarce at the moment, the neighborhoods rapid rise in popularity will likely see a similar surge in tourist-friendly hotels.
BEST PLACES TO STAY IN POBLE SEC
Where To Stay In Barcelona: Barceloneta Is The Best Area To Stay For Beach And Sea
Pre-1992 Olympics, Barceloneta was a separate village filled with fisherman and the old ways. In the lead-up to the Olympics, the city undertook a massive modernization initiative in the area, changing the character of Barceloneta from quaint fishing village to bustling beach vibe. Today, low-rise buildings and quiet streets give a hint of what it used to be, and modern hotels, beach bars, and seafood restaurants attract locals and visitors for sun and sea.
H10 Port Vell As the name suggests, this property is a stones throw from Port Vell. Located in a historic building, it has a modern boutique feeling. Features include a rooftop terrace with small swimming pool and views, a lobby bar, and fresh and airy modern rooms. Plus, Nespresso machines! Its an easy walk to the Barceloneta Metro station to get around, and is a perfect spot for mixing beach with city, or for a pre- or post-cruise stay.
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Where To Stay In Barcelona: Getting A Feel For Barcelonas Districts
One of my very favorite things about Barcelona is that each neighborhood has quite a distinct feel to it.
Most of the sights are in the Gothic Quarter , along with its sister neighborhoods the Born and the Raval. This is the oldest part of the city, and it is very charming. Think labyrinthine streets, leafy plazas, and loads of choices to enjoy cocktails or tapas. The Gothic Quarter is in the center of the three neighborhoods, with Born-Ribera lying to its east across Pau Claris street/Via Laietana, and El Raval lying to its west on the other side of Las Ramblas. Together, these three areas comprise medieval Barcelona the most historical and charming part of the city.
The Eixample lies to the northwest of the Gothic Quarter, the Born and the Raval. The Eixample is a long stretch of neatly arranged blocks, an area where youll find lots of modernist works. Because the the Eixample district is so huge, parts of it are calm and residential, whilst others are always buzzing and vibrant.
Finally, there is Barceloneta and the other beachside neighborhoods: Gràcia, a former village that retains the old-school feel, and Poble Sec and the area around Plaça Espanya, which are a bit off the main tourist drags but close enough to everything youd want to see and do.
Where To Stay With Friends: El Raval
For a group of friends who have probed the planet together, an upbeat, exciting neighborhood to crash in is a top priority. After all, once you’ve traveled enough, you know how to look for the right vibe for your tribe.
One area to consider in Barcelona is El Raval. It’s similar to Gràcia, but is more appropriate for friends than families. Here, you’ll find artists performing on the streets a foray of small, genuine restaurants with local flavors and several art museums, including the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art. Since this museum is a popular spot for tourists and natives alike, be mindful of your belongings as you snap Instagram photos.
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Eixample Elegance Luxury And Unesco Buildings
If you dont mind stretching your wallet, Eixample is a fantastic area to stay in Barcelona. North of El Raval and the Gothic Quarter, the district is home to the citys most famous street Passeig de Gràcia.
On it, youll not only find expensive boutiques and world-class diamonds. Youll also discover two of Gaudis most iconic buildings in Barcelona Casa Battló and Casa Milà .
Barcelonas most popular attraction Sagrada Familia is a few blocks north of Avinguda Diagonal. Other landmarks in Eixample include the Castle with Three Dragons and the Triumphal Arch , which you can find near the Parc de la Ciutadella.
Most accommodations are boutique hotels and luxury apartments, but there a few budget options, too.
Our recommendations: The four-star establishments El Avenida Palace and Room Mate Anna combine deluxe design with affordable prices.
Best Hostel In Barrio Gotico: Be Ramblas Hostel
This hostel is located in the heart of Barcelona surrounded by beautiful historic buildings. It is a short walk from Las Ramblas, the beach, and all the neighbourhoods top attractions. It is quiet and comfortable and has a kitchen, common room and excellent facilities. They even host free walking tours to help guests explore and better understand the city.
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Eixample One Of The Safest Areas To Stay In Barcelona
Casa Mila
Eixample along with Gràcia and El Poblenou is the safest place to stay in Barcenola. This is an upscale residential neighborhood which was designed as an extension of the old town in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It is the newer neighborhood of the city, that starts from north of Plaça Catalunya spreading left and right of Passeig de Gràcia.
Eixample district has two main area inluding the left side Esquerra de lEixample and the right side Eixample Dreta. The left side is home to Modernist Architecture, the labyrinth streets, Parc de Joan Miró, and the Arenas shopping mall which was built inside an old bullfighting ring on Plaza España.
Locally known as the Modernist Quarter, Eixample is dominated by Catalan Art Nouveau and Modernist buildings. Its home to masterpieces of Antoni Gaudí, Lluis Domenech i Montaner, and Josep Puig i Cadafalch including Sagrada Familia, Casa Batllo, Casa Milà , and Casa de les Punxes.
La Sagrada Familia and Casa Milà are both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Casa Mila was the last residence designed by Antoni Gaudi and was completed just before World War I. There are more than 3 million visitors go to La Sagrada Familia each year.
The urban plan of lEixample was based in a planned street grid with long wide avenues and square blocks. Part of Eixample is a wealthy residential areafor those wanting to live close to the heart of Barcelona.
Best Places to stay in Eixample:
Best Neighbourhood For La Sagrada Familia And Park Gell Eixamplegrcia
The two bear the masterpieces of the surrealistic signature of the famous Spanish architecture Antonio Gaudis. If you wish to take a trip to the two places, then Eixample and Gracia are the best neighbourhoods to find accommodation respectively. La Sagrada Familia is a district in Eixample, so why stay anywhere else if you are not on a budget? If you wish to explore the Park Guell and enjoy other bohemian charms, then reside at Gracia. The best time to be here is in August when the barrio comes to life with a month-long bohemian festival.
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Where To Stay In Barcelona: A Complete Guide
Wondering exactly where to stay in Barcelona for an upcoming trip to the capital of Catalonia? On our latest trip, we spent a week in Barcelona, stayed in two different neighborhoods, and explored just about every corner or at least as much ground as we could cover in just a week- of the city center on foot.
In this guide to the best places to stay in Barcelona, were going to go through five of our favorite neighborhoods, with pros and cons for each, the neighborhood highlights that we enjoyed, and some specific places to stay that we like. In the end, we hope that this detailed guide helps you find the perfect place to stay in Barcelona, whatever your travel style and budget might look like.
We have done our best to think about different styles and budgets, with accommodation options ranging from hostels to boutique hotels, because we recognize that your particular needs might be different than ours.
One strong perspective we have is that you should focus on finding the right neighborhood first, based on what characteristics you are looking for then look for the right specific place to stay within that neighborhood. Thats how this guide is organized starting at the neighborhood level, then drilling down into specific hotels, hostels, and apartments.
Sound good to you? Lets find you the perfect place to stay for your trip to Barcelona!
Guide And Handpicked Selection Of Hotels In Barcelona Spain City Centre
When we talk about the centre of Barcelona we are actually talking about all the districts around La Rambla or Las Ramblas, that long avenue that crosses the city from the sea. It is the historical heart of Barcelona. Downtown Barcelona is called Ciutat Vella. It is the old town and its districts such as the Eixample, El Raval, El Born, El Gótico and the Barceloneta. In this town, residing in the centre offers many advantages for a tourist such as being able to discover almost all the attractions by foot. For us it is the ideal area to be during vacation in Barcelona. And you will see that even if you are very demanding on the quality and categories of hotels, there is no shortage of low prices!
Our quick guide to the best hotels in Barcelona’s city centre to help you book the most attractive hotel for your holiday:
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Grcia: Our Favorite Neighborhood In Barcelona
We stayed in Gràcia for the majority of our latest foray into Barcelona, and loved it. It will 100% be the place we stay the next time we find ourselves in the Catalonian capital, which is about as good an endorsement as we can give.
At one point, Gràcia used to be a completely separate town from Barcelona, and its easy to imagine that being the case as you stroll the streets early in the morning, before the hustle and bustle of Barcelona really gets going.
Ive seen the word bohemian used a lot to describe Gràcia, and Im still not quite sure exactly what the word means. I think Gràcia is a little hipster, a little family-oriented with plenty of plazas and green spaces full of locals going about their days, and a lot charming and packed full of amazing food, drinks, and shops.
Gràcia is hip without falling into hipster cliches, managing to be both quiet and pedestrian friendly, yet also atmospheric and buzzing, as exemplified by the districts infamous Festa Major, a raucous week-long street party that takes place every August.
In short, we loved Gràcia, and think it would be a great home base for exploring Barcelona, especially if you want to stay somewhere that isnt exclusively for tourists .
Pros and Cons of Staying in Gràcia
Pros:
Cons:
Gràcia Highlights
Here are some of our favorite discoveries in Gràcia.
Viblioteca.A cozy spot for a wide range of Spanish wines and cheeses, which happen to be two of our favorite things on planet Earth.
Best Hotel In Barceloneta: H10 Port Vell
Conveniently located in Barceloneta, this four-star luxury hotel is ideally situated for exploring the city. Close to the beach, restaurants, shops, and attractions, this hotel is a short walk to all of Barcelonas most famous sites. Enjoy swimming in the pool or lounging on the rooftop terrace at this modern and beautiful hotel. Its one of the best hotels for direct beach access and its super close to some great tapas bars.
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Where To Stay For Luxury: Eixample
If you like Gaudí, modern design, and high-end shopping, Eixample is where you should be hanging out while in Barcelona. The elegant neighborhood, known for its 19th-century street-grid design, has avenues flanked by upscale restaurants, cafés, and boutiques. Many of Gaudís works can be found here too, including Casa Milà, Casa Batlló, and La Sagrada Familia .
Best places to stay in Eixample
- BUDGET: St. Christophers Inn This is one of my favorite hostels in Europe. It has co-ed and female-only dorm rooms, free Wi-Fi, and complimentary breakfast. Theres also a laid-back bar on the premises and a shared kitchen, so its easy to hang out and meet people.
- MID-RANGE: Hotel Praktik Vinoteca Got wine? This sweet hotel does. Plenty of it. You can arrange to have a tasting of four different wines, led by the in-house master sommelier and accompanied by cheese and snacks.
- LUXURY: Cram Yeah, its kind of an odd name, but once you scan your card key and open the door to your ultra-comfy room, complete with huge beds, plush robes and slippers, and all the other trappings of luxury, you wont care what the name of the hotel is. Bonus: the in-house restaurant has two Michelin stars.
Best For First Time : City Centre
Gothic Quarter is right in the middle of the city. Secondly, it is the home of Las Ramblas, which is the citys social hub and the iconic Place de Catalunya. Close by are some luxury hostels and hotels. You can also find affordable accommodation around here, but it will take some searching. Eixample is another commonplace for first timers who are looking for a quiet weekend in the citys most affluent hotels and bars.Tip: If you need a quiet night rest, then you might need to find a different neighbourhood other than the Old Town as it has a very active and noisy nightlife.
Recommended Hotels in Barcelona City Centre
- Best Luxury Hotels in Barcelona
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Where To Stay In Barcelona: El Raval Is The Best Area To Stay For Up
The grittiest of the three districts that make up the old city center, the Raval historically hasnt had a great reputation, and youll find a large concentration of the citys most talented pickpockets here. Still, its currently undergoing massive revitalization, making it attractive to a young and alternative crowd. There are also many cultural attractions, including contemporary art museums, and lots of restaurants and bars to choose from.
Hotel España Ramblas This hotel started its life way back in 1859, opening as an inn under the name Fonda de España. Over the years, it has been refurbished as a modernist property by Lluís Domènech i Montaner, and then refreshed again in 2010 to restore it to that modernist glory. Its a beautiful space and building, with lovely rooms, and frequently makes the list of best boutique hotels in Barcelona.
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Best Hotels In El Born
Hotel Catalonia Born
This 19th century building has been restored into a charming hotel that offers rooftop views, a central courtyard, and easy access to numerous sites. If there’s room in your budget, consider booking a terrace room so you have a private place to uncork some wine and detox from the day.
Address: Rec Comtal, 16-18
K+K Hotel Picasso
This recently-opened hotel features avant-garde architecture that draws from the nearby Picasso Museum. Luxurious, but at an affordable nightly rate, you can choose from the classic to the executive level when you book your stay. Don’t miss a dip in the rooftop pool, if the weather allows it.
Address: Passeig de Picasso, 26-30
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Best Area For Foodies In Barcelona El Bornel Poble
El-Born offers the full taste and feeling of what it is like to stay in Barcelona. It has several cultural sites and has an unlimited supply of eating places and food markets. Other locations for food-focused visitors are San Antoni and Poblesec. The life in the leafy streets of these places comprises primarily of eating, drinking, live music and night partying.