Where to stay in Barcelona?
Central Barcelona:
Rambla, Gothic District, Psg. de Gràcia and Pl. Catalunya
Rambla
Flower stall on "La Rambla"
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Probably the favorite election of most travelers of all ages and conditions and also the favorite of many Barceloneses. Most of that area is restricted to pedestrians and even though this might present logistical difficulties if you carry a lot of luggage, it is the nicest area to be when on foot. The famous Rambla avenue is a non-stop show. The atmosphere and the crowds change along the day, from very familiar by late afternoon or early evening to frankly weird late at night. |
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The area to the left of the Rambla (on the map) known as Raval is a conflictive area and more so at night. Choose anywhere else... Hotels on or by the Rambla: Rivoli, Royal, Meridien, Montecarlo, 1898, Husa Oriente... Book a hotel by the Rambla of Barcelona |
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Barri Gotic ⁄ Gothic DistrictThis is the historical district of Barcelona and has plenty of important landmarks such as the Cathedral of Barcelona and many others. Its narrow lanes are also rich in hotels.
The whole area is a pedestrian-only "island" and some hotels there can be difficult to reach by car. |
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Hotels in Barri Gotic: Felip Neri (housed in the building shown on the photo), Catalonia Albinoni, Duc de la Victoria, Catedral, Colon... Via Laietana is the only wide avenue open to transit that crosses the Old Town and has several hotels. A nice location, very close to the Gothic District though easy to reach by car. Hotels on Via Laietana: HCC Montblanc, Grand Hotel Central, Confortel Almirante, Eurostars Laietana Palace, H10 Montcada... | |
Book a Hotel in Barcelona's Barri Gotic |
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Plaça Catalunya (Catalonia Square)
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The very heart of Barcelona: Being an articulation between the Old Town and Eixample, Catalonia Square's location is excellent: close to the Rambla, the Gothic district and the shopping streets and within easy reach. |
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The area can get very crowded on special dates as the Square is a favorite to host events, from concerts to demonstrations. Hotels on or by Plaça Catalunya: Olivia Plaza, Pulitzer, Regina, Duques de Bergara, Jazz, H10 Catalunya Plaza, Catalonia Ramblas, H10 Universitat, Avenida Palace, NH Calderon ... Book a hotel by Plaça Catalunya | |
Eixample or Widening:
The largest district in Barcelona, the Eixample was built following a master plan from the 1860s onwards. Easy to spot on a city map: it comprises all that part of town showing a grid pattern.
Psg. de Gràcia, Barcelona's most elegant avenue, home to luxury shops and brand outlets, splits the Eixample in two: rule of thumb: the closer to Psg. De Gracia the better.
Passeig de Gràcia
The hotel offering on Passeig de Gràcia ranges from traditional and classy to designer boutique hotels. Passeig de Gracia also boasts some of the nicest examples of turn of 20th Century Art Nouveau architecture, including two buildings by Gaudí himself. |
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Hotels on or by Passeig de Gràcia: Avenida Palace, Majestic & Spa GL, Condes de Barcelona, Husa Barcelona, Eurostars BCN Design, Omm, Gallery, Alexandra, Claris GL, Prestige Paseo de Gracia. Book a hotel by Passeig (Paseo) de Gracia |
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Plaça d'Espanya
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Still within Eixample though a little farther from the city center, the area around Plaça d'Espanya has a large offering of hotels as it is close by the main trade fairs grounds. Off from the heavy tourist scene of central Barcelona, the neighborhoods around Pl. d'Espanya will offer a more "local" feel. Hotels by Plaça d'Espanya: B Hotel, Vincci Arena, Catalonia Plaza, Fira Palace,Gran Hotel Torre Catalunya, Barceló Sants, Onyx Fira, AC Vilamari ... |
Book a hotel by Plaça d'Espanya |
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Barcelona Seafront: Port Olimpic ⁄ Olympic Marina
Until the 1992 games Barcelona lived with its back to the sea: the land by the sea was occupied by old industrial estates, there was a railway line running along the beach preventing access to it, etc.
Vila Olímpica
On the occasion of the Games, the area was renovated: apartment blocks were built to accommodate the athletes at the "Olympic Village". Other improvements included beaches, a long and wide beach side promenade, a new marina, a shopping mall a luxury hotel, etc.
It eventually became one of the most demanded residential area in Barcelona.
Hotels by the Olimpic Port or Olimpic Villa: Arts, AB Skipper, Icaria Barcelona, H10 Marina Barcelona.
Book a hotel by Barcelona Olympic Port
Diagonal Mar ⁄ Forum Area
It is the newest district in Barcelona, so new that parts of it are still under construction.
Just like the Olympic Village, this former industrial area was developed on a special occasion: the Forum of Cultures in 2004.
The core of that development is the International Convention Center of Barcelona, which hosts huge conventions.
Hotels where first to appear: most are big and of course brand new business hotels.
The drawback is the location: quite a long way from Central Barcelona and other spots of interest, although they are all very close to the beach.
Hotels by the Forum / International Convention Center: Barcelona Princess, Me-Barcelona, Vincci Maritimo, Vincci Condal Mar, AC Barcelona, Husa Barcelona Mar, Hilton Diagonal Mar GL...
Book a hotel by the CCIB of Barcelona
Barcelona Hotels Professional Association
ME Barcelona Hotel
Luxury hotel accommodations in Barcelona. Guests enjoy countless amenities and services that scale the cusp of clean and artistic design, and come pre-equipped with the latest in technology.
www.me-barcelona.com
