When I'm exchanging e-mails with my clients during the booking process for their guided tours, I often get asked about recommendations where to stay. And while this is a very personal choice, there are a few things you need to take into account when you select the area where you want to stay.
Here are my thoughts:
*** In the old town: This is a good idea
if you’d like to be surrounded by a medieval setting and if you don’t mind
walking (some hotels are located in pedestrian streets and you won’t be able to
get to the door by taxi). The is divided in four different areas:
- Gothic Quarter. Monumental area around the Cathedral and the Jewish Section.
- Born. Hype district with plenty of shops and tapas bars.
- Ramblas. I have mixed feelings about this vibrant street: in one hand, there are some nice hotels and it’s a lively area (and I love being close to the Boqueria Market!), but in the other hand it can get too busy specially at night, it’s a quite touristy area and pickpockets might be around. The lowest part of la Rambla (closest to the Port) at night gets an unpleasant atmosphere.
- Raval. The dark side of the Old Town… although some areas have improved a lot these last years, there are still many streets that are not at all recommendable. Check my Raval Googlemap for more info. I’d rather avoid to stay around here.
*** In the Eixample district (city center): The
Expansion area is the modernist part of the Barcelona, and is considered the
city center. Choose a place to stay around Plaça Catalunya, Passeig de Gràcia
and Rambla Catalunya. In my opinion, if you are staying more than 4-5 blocks
from them… it’s already too far to be considered the city center! In this area
you’ll be walking distance from the Gaudí apartment buildings, right in the
heart of the best shopping area, and you’ll have lots of food options nearby.
*** By the seaside: I’d only choose a hotel
by the waterfront in the summertime, as in the winter you’d be better in town
(unless you have a strong preference for one of the international hotels
located here). There are three areas:
- Old Port and Barceloneta. This is the area nearest to the Old Town. It’s lively, there are lots of seafood restaurants and the beach starts here, however, it’s not so well communicated (specially the W hotel, at the very end of everything…) and you’ll end up using taxis all the time or walking a lot.
- Olympic Village. This area is quieter than Barceloneta, but it’s even further from the city center. The good point are the restaurants along the beach and the marina, as well as the beach nightclubs if you are planning to go out at night.
- Poblenou / Diagonal Mar. Although some international hotels are located here... That’s really far from any site (at least for the Barcelona scale… maybe for L.A. people it feels so centric!). I see it more of a business hotel destination: if you stay there be ready to take taxis all the time (or spend a lot of time in the subway). There aren’t even fun restaurants: the only two remarkable points are a huge shopping mall and the award-winning contemporary architecture of the area.
*** Pedralbes (end of Diagonal Avenue): A good choice if you are looking for big hotels from well-known international chains, but take into account that you'll be far from the city center and you'll need to take cabs or a long subway ride everytime you want to go sightseeing. In the other hand, the area is quiet, safe and local, and you'll be near two top shopping areas where the local high society goes: Corte Inglés (Maria Cristina) and L'Illa.
I hope this was helpful!
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