There are thousands of hotels, hostels, bed and breakfasts, and apartments in Barcelona where you can stay during your visit. What is a nice neighborhood to stay in? Which type of accommodation should you choose? And where can you find a good deal? On this page, you will find all the information for a super nice place to stay for your night in Barcelona, including my personal tips for a pleasant stay in Barcelona!
Nice Neighborhoods to Stay In
Where to stay is perhaps one of the first questions you have when planning a trip to Barcelona. There is a lot to choose from in Barcelona: the city is large and has a wide range of accommodations, as well as many different neighborhoods. But which of these is nice to stay in and explore?
Some of the nicest neighborhoods in Barcelona to stay in are Barri Gòtic and El Born, both located in the old city center. Another beautiful and practical place to stay is l’Eixample. If you’re coming to Barcelona in the summer, you might prefer a hotel by the beach, such as La Barceloneta.
Option 1: The Old City Center
Most tourists stay in the old center of Barcelona, the so-called Ciutat Vella. In the neighborhoods of Barri Gòtic, El Born, or El Raval, you are very central, within walking distance of most sights (think of the Ramblas, the Cathedral, and the historic Gothic quarter), and well connected by public transport to the rest of the city.
As fun and practical as it may be, staying in the old city center also has its downsides: the area is flooded daily by tourists, has some less pleasant areas (especially in El Raval), and its narrow streets can be a bit intimidating at night. Most streets are also pedestrian areas, making it very difficult to get here by car.
Of all the neighborhoods in the old center, I find El Born the most beautiful and fun area to stay: you are here among the old warehouses and medieval palaces, a stone’s throw from the Ramblas and Parc de la Ciutadella, with numerous hidden streets with the coolest bars and cafes, excellent restaurants for dining out, and trendy shops and boutiques for endless shopping. All in a very beautiful, lively, and inspiring environment.
Tip: If you want to stay in the center, I advise asking for a room at the back of your lodging address for a good night’s sleep.
Option 2: The Modernist Eixample
The Eixample, literally translated as “expansion,” was the block district that broke with Barcelona’s medieval past and began to build outside the city walls.
Compared to the old city center, it is a very ‘new’ neighborhood, orderly and yet very central: in my opinion, the ideal base for a city trip. Here you are a bit more among the locals and experience the daily life of the city dwellers.
The Eixample is also an open-air museum in itself: it has the most modernist buildings per square meter (including the world-famous Sagrada Família!) and also has numerous nice shops and eateries.
Because of its central location and good connection to public transport, you can easily explore all of Barcelona from l’Eixample.
The area known as Gayxample is particularly popular with the gay community and has some hotels that cater to this demographic, such as Axel Hotel.
Option 3: The Beach and Harbor Area
A hotel on the beach in Barcelona is a beach holiday and city trip in one! Especially in the summer, this is recommended if you plan to spend a lot of time on the beach.
You can choose accommodation in La Barceloneta, the old fishing district of Barcelona and the most famous strip of sand in the city, the Port Olímpic, with its two famous skyscrapers and the modern yacht harbor, and Poblenou, where you really sit among the locals in a very nice and upcoming neighborhood.
Or go all the way to the north to the more modern Fòrum, where many luxury hotels and skyscrapers are emerging.
Option 4: The Folkish Gràcia
If you want to be among the locals in one of the nicest and most inspiring neighborhoods of Barcelona, you should book a hotel or apartment in Gràcia.
Especially the area of Vila de Gràcia, the old village center of Gràcia, is very worthwhile.
Here you will find numerous cozy squares with terraces to have a drink, car-free streets where children can play, small-scale boutiques of local designers, and many places to eat out. In this Bohemian neighborhood, you will also find the famous Park Güell.
Option 5: Upcoming Poble Sec
On the edge of Montjuïc lies the neighborhood of Poble Sec, an area of Barcelona that is on the rise, partly because of its favorable location to the old city center and the lower prices (which are now becoming increasingly higher).
On the so-called ‘pintxos street’ of Barcelona (Carrer Blai), you can still eat for very little money and end your evening festively at one of the many theater and concert halls on Avinguda Paral.lel.
Foodies can also indulge themselves at one of the many trendy eateries at the intersection of Avinguda Paral.lel with Carrer del Parlament.
If you plan to hike or run during your visit to Barcelona, this is the place to be, as Montjuïc, with its fantastic walking paths, parks, and viewpoints, is just around the corner.
