Barcelona is divided into several clearly distinguishable neighborhoods. To really get an idea on where you want to stay, read more about traditional neighborhoods like Gracia, Gothic Quarters, La Barceloneta and others below.
The most popular areas to stay in are the Gothic Quarter and El Raval, due to their historic nature and close proximity to the city center.
Barcelona Neighborhoods
El Born of Barcelona has all the beauty of the Barri Gotic… but is just far enough removed from the beaten track to maintain a little more calm, charm and dignity. Despite popular tourist attractions like the Picasso Museum and Ciutadella Park (which is also home to the city’s zoo), the area has maintained a high degree of local life. Stay in El Born if you want a little local charm but still near a few tourist attractions. In my opinion, this is the best neighborhood to stay in to maximize your travel dollar. It’s centrally located between Gothic Quarters, La Sagrada Familia and the beach.
Gràcia is where you can find budget accommodations and hostels. You will find mostly locals here, as its the business district of Barcelona. It’s a great value if you’re willing to travel into the city center. The vibe is casual and relaxed. Attractions include: Park Guell, Mt Tibadabo and Casa Vicens. Gracia is a great place to stay but it’s far from the beach.
The Sagrada Familia, is the single most visited monument in Barcelona. The neo-gothic church is jaw-dropping. Inspired by nature, Gaudí created new shapes and structures, which made others see it as a laboratory of constructive experiments. The exterior of the building depicts religious and natural themes while the inside presents awe-inspiring views filled with stained glass windows and colossal columns. Stay in L’Eixample if you want to be as close as possible to this historic UNESCO World Heritage site.
The historic center of Barcelona is Barri Gòtic, the Gothic Quarter, featuring the oldest buildings in the city. Most of the buildings in this area are neo-Gothic, the result of a massive 19th-century restoration project.
Fine examples of original Gothic architecture can be found in the interiors of La Catedral and La Llotja de Mar.
The narrow, winding streets create a labyrinth which means that it may take a while to get your bearings. Don’t forget to look up and around you or you may miss something! The Gothic Quarter is the best neighborhood for history and culture enthusiasts.
El Raval is a vibrant multi-cultural neighborhood in the heart of Barcelona. The part closest to the old port was also known as Barri Xinès or Barrio Chino (Chinatown). Famous for it’s edgy and bohemian vibe, it has some of the city’s top museums and restaurants. It is surrounded by the neighborhoods of Sant Antoni, the Gothic Quarter and El Poble Sec. Stay in El Raval if you like street art and the hustle and bustle of Barcelona.
La Barceloneta is a triangular piece of land that cuts into the sea boats in the old harbor. Barcelona’s Port Vell, on one side, and sandy beaches on the other. The neighborhood, with its narrow, rectilinear streets, was built on a military grid structure to provide accommodation for the former inhabitants of La Ribera who had lost their homes due to the construction of the citadel. The houses were low-rise and small in scale so as not to obstruct views of the city. Barceloneta is the best neighborhood for visiting the beach.
The Best Barcelona Hotels & Hostels
BUDGET HOTEL – Hotel Ciutat de Barcelona, while not directly in the Gothic Quarter, is just a couple blocks East. So, you situated in a fantastic location, but at half the cost inside the Gothic Quarter. Also, if you fancy a nice little rooftop pool and lounge area, this one is for you. It’s rare to get a rooftop pool in Barcelona. Overall, this hotel is an excellent choice for those who want to save a little money and still be in a great location!
CHEAP HOSTEL – Hostal Barcelona, Just 3 minutes’ walk from Barcelona’s famous Ramblas, Hostal Levante Barcelona offers free WiFi and a 24-hour reception. Air-conditioned and heated rooms have a private bathroom, fan and work desk. Best for backpackers, couples, or group of friends looking to save on their budget.
BEST VALUE HOTEL – Barcelona Hotel Colonial, in the heart of Barcelona is an elegant hotel set in Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter. An impressive, colonial, stone building with a clock tower. It is a 10-minute walk from Barcelona Cathedral and Barceloneta Beach.
Hotel Colonial’s bright, air-conditioned rooms feature wooden floors. They are soundproofed and have a flat-screen TV and mini-bar. You can hire the safe, and the private bathroom comes with a hairdryer and amenities.
A buffet breakfast is served in the Colonial Hotel café. Guests can relax with a free newspaper in the stylish lounge, with its white leather sofas, where Wi-Fi is free of charge.
Barcelona Hotel Colonial has a tour desk. Barcelona Marina and the boutiques of the trendy Born district are 5 minutes’ walk away. Parking is also available within a 5-minute walk of the property.
BEST LUXURY HOTEL – Ayre hotel Rosellón, situated just 650 feet from Barcelona’s famous Sagrada Familia, offers a rooftop terrace with panoramic views of Gaudís famous basilica. Rooms at the Sercotel Hotel Rosellon include flat-screen TV and free Wi-Fi.
All air-conditioned rooms at Ayre Hotel Rosellón feature stylish, modern design. A free bottle of water is provided in the minibar on arrival.
The Sercotel Hotel Rosellon has an elegant restaurant and a café. A varied buffet breakfast is available each morning.
The hotel is a 3-minute walk from Sagrada Familia Metro Station, which offers direct access to Barcelona city centre. City tour buses stop within 800 feet of the hotel.
Barcelona Hotels, Hostels & Apartments
Use this unique map to find hotels, hostels and apartments spread across various sites like Booking.com, VRBO, Expedia, Agoda, Trivago and Hotels.com.
Book Your Trip Now!
Below are my favorite companies I use time and time again when I book my travel.
- Rakuten – Get the Best Coupons & Promo Codes at places like Hotels.com, Expedia, Travelocity, Priceline and many more. Sign Up for a Free Account with Rakuten to Save Today!
- Chase Travel Portal – If you have a Chase account, this is by far the best way to book travel and earn miles/points while doing so. If you don’t have a Chase account, I highly suggest getting the best travel rewards credit card in the Chase Sapphire Prefered.
- CapitalOne Travel – In my opinion, the second best travel rewards credit card. Use the CapitalOne travel portal to book airfare, hotels and rental cars using your points & miles.
- HomeStay – Homestay is a popular form of hospitality and lodging whereby visitors share a residence with a local of the city to which they are traveling.
- SkyScanner – Skyscanner is a great flight search engine which searches a lot of different airlines, including many of the budget carriers that larger sites miss. While I always start with Momondo, I use this site too as a way to compare prices.
- Booking.com – Booking probably has the widest selection of budget accommodation in the world. In our studies, they constantly found the cheapest rooms. I also like their easy-to-use interface and no-money-down policy.
- RocketMiles – Book hotels on Rocketmiles and earn thousands of miles and points per night on every booking. Or, earn gift cards for your favorite purchases.
- Selina Hostel – This is the best hostel accommodation in the world. Their unique CoLive stays, artwork and location are the best. Not to mention, they are a great value travel brand!
For companies, check out my favorite travel companies section that includes even more of my favorite travel companies that will help you value travel!
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