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Where to stay in Barcelona
Where to stay in Barcelona
Picking where to stay in Barcelona depends on your holiday style. While sightseeing is top of everyone’s list – you don’t want to miss architectural masterpieces like Gaudi’s La Sagrada Familia, or visiting the iconic Picasso Museum – consider how you’d like to unwind afterwards. There are many places to stay in Barcelona and each has its own vibe. For a lively social scene, look for accommodation options along La Rambla and around Placa Catalunya. Quieter evenings can be found in the Gothic Quarter or Poble Sec. If five-star is the only way you travel, then Eixample is your home away from home.
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Placa Catalunya
The largest square in Barcelona, Placa Catalunya is considered the heart of the city – it's where many of Barcelona's main streets meet. Stay here and you'll be in the thick of the city, close to the buzzing social scene and popular attractions like La Rambla and the Gothic Quarter. The trade-off: the cost of rooms in nearby hotels tend to be a little bit higher.
La Rambla
Connecting Placa Catalunya with the Christopher Columbus Monument, the tree-lined La Rambla is a thriving pedestrianised street. Enjoy your pick of shopping opportunities, take a trip to the La Boqueria food market, and make sure you stop to admire the Miro Mosaic, created by famous artist Joan Miro. There's a good selection of hotels along La Rambla, but do be prepared for some noise if staying here.
Gothic Quarter
Soak up the culture and architecture of Barcelona in one of the oldest parts of the city: the Gothic Quarter. Let the narrow, winding streets guide you to the many laidback bars, cafes and restaurants. Lodgings range from apartments to boutique hotels, so there's something to suit every style of holiday.
Poble Sec
Poble Sec is nestled between Montjuic and Parallel Avenue (named so as it runs parallel to the equator). A 20-minute walk from La Rambla, book accommodation here and you'll enjoy peaceful, laidback evenings. Reflect on the day's sightseeing over some tapas in one of the many restaurants, or head to one of the nearby theatres, like the El Molino or Teatre Grec.
Gracia
Enjoy an upbeat community feel when staying in Gracia. Until the 19th century, it was an independent town – a proud identity that many of Gracia's residents hold on to. The area attracts a bohemian and artsy crowd, so it offers a very different vibe to central Barcelona. Gracia is well serviced by the Metro and offers a range of guesthouses, apartments and comfortable hotels.
Eixample
Translated, the word ‘Eixample' means ‘expansion' and that's what this area does – it joins Old Town Barcelona with surrounding areas, like Gracia. Make Eixample your base if you're interested in seeing Gaudi's La Sagrada Familia (the unfinished church) or indulging in designer retail therapy. Five-star accommodation is the order of the day when staying here.
Frequently asked questions
When packing for a trip to Barcelona, don't forget the essentials like your visa, passport, chargers, camera, some euros and the correct power adaptor. Clothing wise, check out the seasonality guides and pack to suit the conditions - aka some layers for winter and lighter options for summer. Other necessities include a walking shoes, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and swimwear. Also, when they say it gets hot in summer, they mean it. No one likes sweating bullets as they mince through the streets of Spain. Long story short, invest in a mini fan - it will quickly become your new best friend.
Barcelona boasts fast and affordable public transport and can easily be explored on foot by those hoping to stay in the city centre. Accommodation wise, most travellers will opt to stay in Barri Gotic, El Ravel, El Born, Eixample, and Poble Sec.
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Barcelona enjoys a Mediterranean climate, which generally means wetter months through autumn, spring and winter, with hot and dry summer days. We recommend visiting the Spanish city between May and September, when locals enjoy warm, balmy weather and 9:00 pm sunsets.
If there are two things that Barcelona is known for, it is jaw-dropping architectural feats and balmy nights eating Tapas. Throughout your stay, be sure to visit hotspots like the Picasso Museum and La Sagrada Familia, take a stroll along La Rambla and treat your taste buds to a meal and cocktail in the Gothic Quarter.
Flight Centre's travel experts are well versed in the art of Spanish tapas, and have worked hard to curate the best Barcelona holiday packages on the market. Sign up to get the hottest deals sent straight to your phone & emails here. You can also check out our deals online, or speak to one of our Travel Experts.
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