Where to sleep in Barcelona Opinions and advice by neighbourhood

If you're looking for a place to stay in Barcelona, you've come to the right place, because Barcelona and us are a great love story. We have known the Catalan capital like the back of our hand for more than 15 years. Over the years and during our stays, we have slept in all the areas of Barcelona, from the tourist areas to the more confidential areas. It was time to write this blog post with all our advice, tips and tricks on how to find your hotel room in Barcelona or how to rent a flat in Barcelona. Welcome to our travel blog OneDayOneTravel. By the way, we are Franck and Richard.

Barcelona is a city with many faces that you can rediscover an infinite number of times and in all four seasons. We'll avoid the height of summer when the Catalan capital is submerged by tourists. We prefer to visit the city out of season because, in addition to being quieter, on the budget, we can sleep in Barcelona for cheap or at least for much less than in summer. And the weather is always good in Barcelona, not only during the summer. On our last visit, for example, in November 2017, it was a big blue sky for 10 days.

Waterfront between Barceloneta and the Olympic port at sunset, Barcelona.

So it's especially after this sunny stay that we bring you back several good plans where to sleep in Barcelona. Hotels and flats ideally located in tourist areas to to visit Barcelona for the first time (or not) but also in more confidential and still authentic popular areas.

And it all starts with a video!

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Where to stay in Barcelona? Opinions and advice neighbourhood by neighbourhood

Where to sleep in Barcelona? Where to sleep in Barcelona?

Many of you have asked us these questions in the comments of our many articles about Barcelona.

There is no easy answer and in the end, it is not so important because all the districts in the centre are very well connected by a very good public transport network. You are never far from a metro station or a bus stop. Finding a taxi is never a problem in Barcelona and it's still cheap. Uber is not allowed. You can find more information and a map of the metro in our article on transport in Barcelona. If you read this article, you will discover for example our practical and cheap plan to reach Barcelona city centre by bus from the airport.

To fully enjoy the beauty and culture of Barcelona, it is important to choose the right place to stay. Fortunately, there are many options available, and we recommend staying in the Eixample district. This district is divided into two parts, Eixample irquierda and Eixample derecha, and is a great place to stay for its chic and practical location. It's also an easy walk to the Gothic and Born districts, two of the most touristic areas of Barcelona.

To make the most out of your stay, we highly recommend staying at HB Hostel, a highly-rated hostel that offers a great value for your money. Located in the Eixample district, it is close to public transportation and is within walking distance of many of the city's best attractions. With its clean and modern facilities, friendly staff, and affordable prices, HB Hostel is the perfect place to stay for travelers on a budget.

Whether you're traveling alone, with friends, or with family, HB Hostel has a variety of rooms to choose from, including private rooms, shared rooms, and dorms. Each room is equipped with modern amenities such as air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, and comfortable beds.

In addition to its prime location and great value, HB Hostel also offers a variety of activities and services to make your stay in Barcelona unforgettable. From city tours to bike rentals, their friendly staff is always available to help you plan your day and ensure that you get the most out of your stay in this beautiful city.

So, if you're looking for a great place to stay in Barcelona that won't break the bank, we highly recommend HB Hostel. Book your stay today and experience the beauty and culture of Barcelona like a local.

Especially when visiting Barcelona for the first time, it is better to stay in areas close to the Gothic and Born districts, which are the two most touristic areas in Barcelona. The tourist buses pass through there. These are two of the must-see areas of historical and tourist Barcelona. But we prefer another district nearby, the Eixample. So we'll start with that one.

Where should you sleep in Barcelona? In the Eixample district for the chic and practical

Be careful, the Eixample is a large district. It is divided in two, Eixample irquierda to the north of the Gothic Quarter and the Raval and Eixample derecha to the north of the Raval to keep it simple. This district, whose name means "extension", is composed of blocks of buildings forming a grid. It is impossible to get lost here.

Between beautiful shops, cafés, galleries, restaurants, tapas bars, the Eixample district is cosmopolitan and always lively.

The 5 Rooms in Barcelona

The streets in the Eixample district around Plaça Urquinaona are all recommended for finding a well located hotel. There are a number of hotels such as The 5 rooms which, despite its location at 72 in the busy carrer de Pau Claris, manages to offer a very peaceful haven yet within walking distance of the metro and the Urquinaona and Catalunya squares. The hotel is only 1 block from the Aerobus bus stop from the airport! In 2 minutes on foot, we are also in Carrer Laetana which separates the El Born district with its palace of Catalan music for example and the Gothic quarter with its emblematic arch, its majestic cathedral or the Reial square, our favourite courtyard in Barcelona.

The Plaça Reial, our favourite courtyard in Barcelona.

By metro, the yellow line takes you directly to the sea in just 10 minutes. Quick access to Barceloneta, Ciutadella and the Forum. The 5 rooms is ideally located for visiting Barcelona on foot, by bike or by metro. The Girona station is only a few blocks away. This line is convenient for visiting visit the Sagrada Familia.

As for restaurants, there are plenty down the street. We recommend the pizzeria with its excellent wood-fired pizzas (from 10 to 12 euros), the Spanish restaurant and its paellas on the corner with Urquinaona. For those on a budget, still on the corner with Urquinaona square but just across the street, go to the 100 Montaditos restaurant that all the students frequent and enjoythe lesbocadillos (sandwiches) for only 1 euro. It's always full and very friendly. There is also a sushi restaurant and a very good café (Il Caffe Di Franceso) just opposite the hotel.

We really like the atmosphere of The 5 rooms hotel as soon as you walk through the big black and white tiled entrance.

The welcome by the owner Jessica on the 1st floor is very cordial. What's more, she knows Barcelona like the back of her hand.

Rooms, flats and suites are available. The atmosphere of The 5 Rooms is both chic and sober.

Our double room is located on the street side of the hotel. We appreciate the small balcony which allows us to enjoy the animation of Barcelona seen from above. Once inside, we find ourselves in the calm of the double window in a spacious room with a contemporary decoration. There is air conditioning in the room. The bedding is also very comfortable. The bathroom has a very pleasant Italian shower. We appreciate the underground style tiles. Everything is there to make you feel at home.

The common areas are also tastefully decorated. It is not uncommon to see a guest taking pictures of this or that part of the house to get some good ideas for decoration. The breakfast room is just like the hotel. Cosy and contemporary at the same time. Its two large tables invite you to chat with the other guests and to meet new people around theexcellent sweet and savoury buffet.

Nothing to complain about in terms of welcome and service. We recommend The 5 rooms 100%.

Hotel Retrome in Barcelona

We tested a second equally cosy hotel 50 metres from the Girona metro station (red line), the Hotel Retrome.

And it all started with a welcome drink.

Located at 81 carrer de Girona, just a few blocks from The 5 rooms hotel, this vintage-style hotel seduced us as soon as we pushed open the door to the adjoining restaurant-café, which is open to all. In the morning, they serve a sweet and savoury breakfast. The coffee is excellent. During the day, you can enjoy tapas or other dishes of the day. If you have dined at the tapas restaurant, we recommend it, and the prices are very reasonable for fresh, home-made food.

The 16 rooms are all unique. Everything is wonderfully well thought out inall the rooms and common areas. Fans of vintage furniture beware. Our favourite is this ground floor room for 2 with a mezzanine and its own private courtyard with outdoor shower. It's almost like being back on a trip to Bali.

Retrome also has 7 flats at number 85 on the same street. It is even possible to privatise a whole floor. This is very practical if you are staying in Barcelona with friends or in a group, as the shared living space is really nice.

We tested a room located on the 2nd floor on the street side. The room is very clean and quite spacious, with air conditioning, well insulated from the outside and very well decorated. It has a small balcony. We appreciate the subdued atmosphere enhanced by the vintage lighting. The bedding is very comfortable and the sheets smell good. The bathroom is equipped with a beautiful Italian shower with black underground style tiles. This hotel has everything to please as it offers a unique experience in the middle of Barcelona. Again, we recommend it 100%.

Once again, the big advantage of these 2 hotels in the Eixample district is that you can walk to the Sagrada Familia in 20 minutes and to the tourist areas of Born and Gothic in 2 minutes.

Find all the availability and prices of hotels in the Eixample district

Where should I sleep in Barcelona? In El Born for its bohemian spirit

El Born, Barcelona's historic district with its maze of old streets lined with Gothic churches, tapas bars and trendy restaurants. We love this neighbourhood because it is home to the city's most famous museum, the Picasso Museum, and our favourite monument, the Palau de la Música Catalana.

It's also the area with the most flat rentals. Have a look at the flat rental websites in Barcelona like Apartment Barcelona, with whom we have already rented a flat. We'll tell you more about them at the end of our travel blog post.

Where to stay in Barcelona? The Gothic Quarter, to be in the heart of the historic centre

This is the central district of Barcelona. Here, the history of the city is written with a capital "H". Between the Gothic cathedral, the charming churches, the romantic squares, the city history museum, the bars and restaurants and the art galleries, there's really nothing to get bored of! On the other hand, this is not the area where we necessarily like to stay and yet... We often come here to stroll and get lost in the maze of old streets. We love the magnificent square Reial with its tall palm trees. And if you want to go shopping, the area is ideal for buying tourist souvenirs but also for doing business in the many shops present.

It's precisely this overly busy tourist scene that makes us not want to sleep there. However, there is one hotel that we like. It is theHotel DO Plaça Reial G.L.in Plaça Reial. The view from the rooms and the rooftop pool is really crazy according to a friend who has stayed there before. If you know this hotel, tell us your opinion in the comments.

Where to stay in Barcelona? Barceloneta, to be close to the sea

Barceloneta is THE closest beach to Barcelona city centre and is also the old fishermen's quarter. It is a good option to stay here if you want to sleep in Barcelona with a view of the Mediterranean Sea. And there is something for every budget.

You can't miss the imposing and emblematic W Hotel which overlooks the entire bay. We've never tried it, but we dream about it. What about you?

We like to stroll through the narrow, perpendicular streets of the fishermen's quarter, walking along Passeig de Joan de Borbo which faces Maremagnum. Nearby, the cable car takes you to the top of Montjuic and gives you a view of all of Barcelona. The Olympic Port area(Vila Olímpica) is also nearby with its casino, bars and restaurants for tourists. The walk along the waterfront to the two towers is just a must. You can even continue to the Forum on foot or by bike.

Where to stay in Barcelona? At the Olympic Port to be close to the party

From Barceloneta, following the seafront, with its beach, bars and palm trees, you arrive at the Olympic Port. During the day, people come here for its beaches. In the evening, the Port Olympique is a meeting place for more or less chic party people. The Mapfre Tower and the Hotel Arts are the two symbols of the district. Both towers are visible from all over Barcelona and face the sea.

Find all availability and rates of hotels in Barcelona's Olympic port(Vila Olímpica).

Where to stay in Barcelona? El Raval and Gracia to live like a Barcelonaer

This is a more typical neighbourhood that could still be classified as part of the real Barcelona. There are few neighbourhoods that have kept their soul over the last 20 years.

Sleeping in the Raval district of Barcelona

Along with the Gracia district, El Raval is one of them. And it is precisely in this kind of neighbourhood thatwe like to rent a flat or stay in a hotel.

Once unsafe, the streets and main buildings are being renovated little by little. L'Casa Camper Hotel or the Barceló Raval Hotel opened their doors only a few years ago.

Barcelo Raval Hotel, Barcelona.

The cosmopolitan rambla del Raval has been created and is home to many restaurants and tapas bars. Let's not forget the famous sculpture " Big Cat" by the famous artist Botero. The area has even become trendy with the opening of conceptual shops, art galleries and trendy clubs. Another asset is that El Raval is home to MACBABarcelona's Museum of Modern Art.

Botero's big cat - Visit the Raval, Barcelona.

Sleeping in Barcelona's Gracia district

The Gracia district is the second most popular district where we like to stay. It is the not so touristy, traditional and also bohemian area, where all ages mix and where we like to have a drink especially Plaça del Sol. The district of Barcelona is located north of the Avenida Diagonal and down the hill from the Parc Guëll. The most convenient metro stations to get to the district are Fontana and Lesseps (green line). To find the original route to visit Gracia on foot we invite you to find us in the dedicated article.

To sleep there, we have always opted to rent a flat. There is of course a wide choice of offers.

Where to stay in Barcelona? El Carmel to experience the Authentic Barcelona

El Carmel is a popular neighbourhood. It is far away from the city centre and therefore more suitable for people who already know the city well. Built in the heights of Barcelona, it is quite far from the tourist sites except the Guell Park Park, but it is easily accessible by metro. From up there, you can also enjoy the most beautiful view of Barcelona, El Bunker del Carmel.

A viewpoint off the beaten track that is free and much less crowded than the famous Güell Park. A park accessible in 10 minutes on foot from our flat rented last November.

A spacious, very clean and very pleasant flat to live in, with a practical kitchen, a nice living room, a bedroom and a bathroom with a walk-in shower. What we loved was the large balcony that runs the length of the flat and allowed us to enjoy the sunshine.

In conclusion on this blog post to know in which area to sleep in Barcelona,

Barcelona is a very pleasant city to visit on foot, by bike, by metro and by taxi, but it's better to choose the area that minimizes your steps, especially if you are visiting Barcelona for the first time.