Barcelona, second largest city in Spain and the capital of Catalonia, is one of the most popular city to visit in Spain with its historic churches, buildings, open air markets, narrow streets, restaurants, food, cafes, shops and colorful night life. In summer, the city also offers nice beaches for its visitors which is quite easily accessible from the city center.
The best time to visit Barcelona is in April and May during when the temperature is 19 – 20 Degrees Celcius. The high season for Barcelona tourism is August but this is also the popular month for people of Barcelona to go on vacation. So it will be quite crowded in August and many shops and restaurants will be closed. It is also OK to visit Barcelona in the winter months as long as you do not plan your visit to rainy days, since the temperature is around 9 – 10 degrees.
To answer the question in the title of this post (where to stay in Barcelona?) we will look at the most popular districts of Barcelona and their orientation instead of offering individual Barcelona hotel recommendation. The most important place for tourists in Barcelona is its historic center called Ciutat Vella (meaning Old City in Catalan). This place is District 1 and is on the shores of Mediterranean Sea and is considered as the center of the city (see the map below).
Ciutat Vella and the adjacent Eixample are the best places to stay in Barcelona and many popular Barcelona hotels are located in these two areas. But the efficient metro system also connects many Barcelona hotels outside these two Districts well to the center so a Barcelona hotel near metro station or a tram line connecting to metro station will work well as a place to stay.
Before going into details of some of these Barcelona Districts, let’s take a look at the price range for different classes of hotels in Barcelona:
- $35 to $295 per night for up to 3 star Barcelona hotels,
- $68 to $552 per night for 4 star Barcelona hotels,
- $133 to $412 per night for 5 star Barcelona hotels.
Ciutat Vella (Barri Gotic, La Rambla, El Raval, El Born)
Historic center covers La Barceloneta (famous with its beach), Barri Gòtic (the oldest neaighbourhood in Ciutat Vella), El Born a.k.a La Ribera and El Raval (historically infamous for its nightlife and cabarets, as well as prostitution and crime but has changed significantly in recent years and due to its central location has become a minor attraction of Barcelona).
The most famous and popular place in Barcelona is La Rambla Street. This place is popular with tourists as well as locals. La Rambla is actually a series of shorter streets, each differently named (in Spanish it is Las Ramblas). Line L3 of the Barcelona Metro runs beneath the length of La Rambla and you can reach the street from Catalunya, Liceu or Drassanes station.
For a detailed list of Barselona Hotels in Ciutat Vella, you can refer to Barcelona Ciutat Vella Hotels page.
Eixample
Once the city of Barcelona was just Ciutat Vella. Sants, Gràcia, Sant Andreu etc. were small towns near the city. And in between there was this large land behind Barcelona’s city walls, kept empty for defence purposes. Then in 19th century, Eixample (meaning extension) was built. The area is composed of these countless rectangular blocks and streets resembling each other. You can easily get lost here.
Many mid-range to luxury segment Barcelona hotels are in Eixample. It is very near to Ciutat Vella, it offers very easy access to the rest of the city and infamous Sagrada Família is here. Eixample is probably the best place to stay in Barcelona.
For hotels in Barselona’s Eixample District (District 2), you can refer to Barcelona Eixample Hotels page.
Gràcia
Gracia is 1 kilometer north of city center and is probably the most Catalan neighbourhood in the city. The life in this well-heeled place revolves in many squares and the place offers a good taste of everyday life in Barcelona as well as nice hotels to stay in. Gaudí-designed Parc Güell is here.
For hotels and room prices in Gràcia, refer to Barcelona Gràcia Hotels page.
Sants-Montjuïc
Plaça d’Espanya in Sants-Montjuïc is one of the most important squares in Barcelona. The place is full of museums, monuments and festivals. This is another good place to find hotels in Barcelona.
The best time to visit Barcelona is in April and May during when the temperature is 19 – 20 Degrees Celcius. The high season for Barcelona tourism is August but this is also the popular month for people of Barcelona to go on vacation. So it will be quite crowded in August and many shops and restaurants will be closed. It is also OK to visit Barcelona in the winter months as long as you do not plan your visit to rainy days, since the temperature is around 9 – 10 degrees.
To answer the question in the title of this post (where to stay in Barcelona?) we will look at the most popular districts of Barcelona and their orientation instead of offering individual Barcelona hotel recommendation. The most important place for tourists in Barcelona is its historic center called Ciutat Vella (meaning Old City in Catalan). This place is District 1 and is on the shores of Mediterranean Sea and is considered as the center of the city (see the map below).
Ciutat Vella and the adjacent Eixample are the best places to stay in Barcelona and many popular Barcelona hotels are located in these two areas. But the efficient metro system also connects many Barcelona hotels outside these two Districts well to the center so a Barcelona hotel near metro station or a tram line connecting to metro station will work well as a place to stay.
Before going into details of some of these Barcelona Districts, let’s take a look at the price range for different classes of hotels in Barcelona:
- $35 to $295 per night for up to 3 star Barcelona hotels,
- $68 to $552 per night for 4 star Barcelona hotels,
- $133 to $412 per night for 5 star Barcelona hotels.
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| Barcelona Districts Map |
Historic center covers La Barceloneta (famous with its beach), Barri Gòtic (the oldest neaighbourhood in Ciutat Vella), El Born a.k.a La Ribera and El Raval (historically infamous for its nightlife and cabarets, as well as prostitution and crime but has changed significantly in recent years and due to its central location has become a minor attraction of Barcelona).
The most famous and popular place in Barcelona is La Rambla Street. This place is popular with tourists as well as locals. La Rambla is actually a series of shorter streets, each differently named (in Spanish it is Las Ramblas). Line L3 of the Barcelona Metro runs beneath the length of La Rambla and you can reach the street from Catalunya, Liceu or Drassanes station.
For a detailed list of Barselona Hotels in Ciutat Vella, you can refer to Barcelona Ciutat Vella Hotels page.
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| La Rambla el Raval Boulevard, Barcelona, Spain. Seen here is the entrance of Liceu metro station |
Once the city of Barcelona was just Ciutat Vella. Sants, Gràcia, Sant Andreu etc. were small towns near the city. And in between there was this large land behind Barcelona’s city walls, kept empty for defence purposes. Then in 19th century, Eixample (meaning extension) was built. The area is composed of these countless rectangular blocks and streets resembling each other. You can easily get lost here.
Many mid-range to luxury segment Barcelona hotels are in Eixample. It is very near to Ciutat Vella, it offers very easy access to the rest of the city and infamous Sagrada Família is here. Eixample is probably the best place to stay in Barcelona.
For hotels in Barselona’s Eixample District (District 2), you can refer to Barcelona Eixample Hotels page.
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| Eixample is probably the best place to stay in Barcelona. |
Gracia is 1 kilometer north of city center and is probably the most Catalan neighbourhood in the city. The life in this well-heeled place revolves in many squares and the place offers a good taste of everyday life in Barcelona as well as nice hotels to stay in. Gaudí-designed Parc Güell is here.
For hotels and room prices in Gràcia, refer to Barcelona Gràcia Hotels page.
Sants-Montjuïc
Plaça d’Espanya in Sants-Montjuïc is one of the most important squares in Barcelona. The place is full of museums, monuments and festivals. This is another good place to find hotels in Barcelona.
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