Ciutat Vella
0.5 miles from city centre
Ciutat Vella (‘old city’) is comprised of several neighbourhoods - El Barri Gòtic, El Raval, El Born and Barceloneta (all detailed here in separate descriptions). As a whole, the district’s characteristic features are narrow, winding streets that reach from Las Ramblas to the coastline.
Places to stay from £10 per night
Eixample
0.4 miles from city centre
L’Eixample’s large, grid-like avenues (modelled after New York) are easy to navigate. Passeig de Gràcia (at the centre) is a tourist hot-spot, with Gaudí's Casa Batlló and La Pedrera, and Puig i Cadafalch's Casa Amatller in easy reach. Carrer Balmes is a safe and tolerant area for travellers of all persuasions.
Places to stay from £7 per night
Gràcia
1.3 miles from city centre
There’s a youthful energy in this dynamic area. Plaça de la Virreina, Plaça del Sol and Plaça de Rius i Taulet, are charming squares to relax and people-watch. Take a stroll through Gaudí’s Park Güell, with its unusual architectural spaces that offer wonderful views of the city.
Places to stay from £11 per night
Sants-Montjuïc
1.4 miles from city centre
This district retains a lot of its traditional character. Tourist hot-spots surround Montjuïc Hill, next to Plaça Espanya. Visit the Joan Miró Foundation and Catalonia National Art Museum (MNAC) in the Palau Nacional. The 17th-century Montjuïc Castle stands on the hill, or enjoy the colours of the Magic Fountain below.
Places to stay from £7 per night
Sarrià-St. Gervasi
1.7 miles from city centre
Accessible only via train or bus, this primarily residential district has a range of local restaurants. For families travelling with younger children, the CosmoCaixa science museum offers a range of exhibitions. At the furthest edge of the district is Les Planes, an outdoor picnic area.
Places to stay from £8 per night
Cultures melt together in Barcelona, a lively metropolis of mesmerising architecture, medieval streets and top museums on the coast of Catalonia. Its most celebrated figure, Antoni Gaudí, takes all the credit for the city’s most outstanding monuments. From the twisting facade of stone-hewn Casa Milà to the monumental Sagrada Familia, the work of this world-famous architect can be found all over the city.
In the Gothic Quarter, you’ll find centuries-old tapas bars set among old haunts and a gargoyle-adorned cathedral. Fill up on staples like ground-beef stuffed croquettes and salt-cod fritters under this dramatic backdrop, and wash it all down with a glass of fruity Rioja. Nearby, an amble along the lively, tree-lined promenade of La Rambla will bring you to the coast, where the crowds start to thin out.
Find a slice of beach in Barceloneta or a shady patch of grass in Parc de la Ciutadella, and soak up the year-round sunshine. Alternatively, take a stadium tour of Camp Nou, or climb Carmel Hill for sweeping views and the iconic mosaics of Park Güell – another of Gaudí’s fantastical creations.
Tonight
From £160 per night
This weekend
From £352 per night
Next weekend
From £312 per night
Most popular time to visit | October–December |
Cheapest time to visit | January–March |
Local currency | € 10 = £8.58 |
Language | Spanish |
Average weekend price | £141 per night |
Average weekday price | £143 per night |
Typical stay | 2 nights |
Camp Nou
2.5 miles from city centre
Plaça Catalunya
In the city centre
Sagrada Familia
1.2 miles from city centre
Plaza Espanya
1.4 miles from city centre
Passeig de Gracia
0.2 miles from city centre
Cathedral of Barcelona
0.4 miles from city centre
Arc de Triomf
0.6 miles from city centre
Plaça del Sol
1.2 miles from city centre
Palau Sant Jordi
1.9 miles from city centre
Plaça Reial
0.6 miles from city centre
Barcelona is a huge city, so unless you're staying here...
17 May 2024
Barcelona is a huge city, so unless you're staying here a long time, you'll only see a fraction of the city. That might be okay. The transportation infrastructure is fantastic. There are very few gaps in the coverage and often metro lines crisscross in ways that make it possible to get to the same place in multiple ways. The multi-day pass cards are kind of fragile, so consider buying them for one or two days at a time, not for the maximum length, just in case. A lot of the major tourist attractions are overrated. If I went back, I think I would spend more time exploring the city without a goal in mind and seeing more niche sights. That said, do try and see the Museu Marítim de Barcelona.
Barcelona is amazing!
14 May 2024
Barcelona is amazing! Some of my favorite things are the skate spots, like the parks, but also lots of street spots. The Raval area has some great vintage stores, indy shops and cool bars and nice restaurants. For Mexican food and great cocktails check out El Pachuco. Carrer Joaquin Costa is great for food/snacks and drinks. If you're a picky or vegan eater you might want to do some research before you go into a restaurant, or ask the staff nicely for vegan options. Vegan find of the week: Vrutal in Poblenau, great food and super friendly staff. The people are super friendly and I made new (skate) friends instantly. If you fly into Barcelona El Prat you can go to the city with a shuttle bus, the metro, train or a taxi. I found the cheapest way is to take the metro (€5,50 for a single ticket), next to cheapest is the bus (€7,25) and then the taxi, which is probably around €25-€50 into the center.
Our first time in Barcelona was a very pleasant experience.
13 May 2024
Our first time in Barcelona was a very pleasant experience. The town is beautiful, the sights outstanding, the streets very clean (although marred by the giant rubbish bins on every street corner) and the people gracious and friendly.
It’s a fun lively place to visit with loads of cultural...
13 May 2024
It’s a fun lively place to visit with loads of cultural attractions, the beach, shopping, great food and drink in friendly restaurants. The only draw back is it’s popularity because the most famous places to visit are quickly sold out.
There are so many beautiful places to see that it would take...
13 May 2024
There are so many beautiful places to see that it would take weeks to see it all. I was so glad I got to see the Palau Música which is an outstanding venue. I wish we could have attended a musical performance there. And the tapas are so delicious that I am going to try to make some at home. Food is all fabulous! Barcelona is a wonderful adventure and I can’t wait to go back.
Two days wasn't enough time for us.
12 May 2024
Two days wasn't enough time for us. The Ramblas district was lovely, vibrant, and elegant with restaurants and bars easily available. The food was tourist orientated but authentic. The Gothic quarter was the cultural centre. It had a number of art exhibitions including Banksy, and an extensive zpicasso collection. Fabulous. It was here we watched a Flamenco show. The hop on hop off open-topped tourist bus is brilliant and we spent two hours travelling around the city. There is such to see and do. The Sagrad Familia was stunning and Gaudi's vision was evident on so many buildings. Having the facility to book ahead is imperative. We also booked ahead for our other activities, including the tourist bus. Taxis are plentiful, and the train station is easily navigated. We arrived via the bullet train which travelled at 300 km. It was comfortable and convenient. Barcelona is a fabulous city and I look forward to returning.
Eixample, Barcelona
From £177 per night
Ciutat Vella, Barcelona
From £231 per night
Sarrià-St. Gervasi, Barcelona
From £268 per night
Ciutat Vella, Barcelona
From £197 per night
Eixample, Barcelona
From £441 per night
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