monument designed and conceived by the Catalan artist Gaudi.

Barcelona Travel Guide

Barcelona is one of the most popular destinations in Europe.
When it comes to the buzzing Catalan capital, a few days’ stay is never enough. These are the experiences that should be on every visitor’s list

Boasting a reputation as one of the most attractive cities in Europe, Barcelona celebrates its role as the capital of Catalonia. The city’s cosmopolitan and international vibe makes it a favourite city for many people around the world. The city is especially known for its architecture and art—travellers flock from around the world to see the iconic Sagrada Família church and other modernist landmarks designed by Gaudí. These Barcelona travel tips just scrape the surface of what can be found in the vibrant city!

Barcelona is separated into many different districts and neighborhoods; each offering a unique flavor of the city! The most popular Barcelona neighborhoods worth visiting are:

For behind-the-scenes tours, check out Get Your Guide.

Ciutat Vella

Also known as the Gothic Quarter or heart of Barcelona, this is the oldest part of the city incorporating the popular area of Las Ramblas. Las Ramblas is usually filled with tourists, as it is the central boulevard that cuts through the heart of the city. Visit the museum, showcasing the first Roman foundations, and enjoy the superb seafront with its boardwalk and beach.

Ciutat Vella is the oldest part of the city and is home to most of Barcelona’s attractions. The history of Ciutat Vella tells the story of Roman Barcino, the first city walls and medieval Barcelona. Barcelona was the city that dominated the Mediterranean as the capital of the kingdom.

The district of Ciutat Vella is characterised by its famous promenade of Las Ramblas, its Gothic Cathedral and the churches of Santa Maria del Mar and Santa Maria del Pi, the trendy shops of El Born, the fishermen of La Barceloneta and the multicultural Raval.

If you want to get to know the district, read this guide to Ciutat Vella, which has all kinds of useful information, interesting sights, and the best tips from locals.

Boutique Hotels in Ciutad Vella

Located in front of Canaletas fountain, the hotel's identity is based on its legend. Whoever drinks its water will fall in love with this charming city and will return to live it again. Because on this promenade that never sleeps, and has been connecting the center of the city with the sea for centuries, you can still breathe all the stories that have filled it.

Yurbban Ramblas Boutique Hotel

Bang in the centre of the Barcelona bustle, Grand Hotel Central provides respite for many a weary traveller, shopper or culture-hound. An imposing 1920s façade masks a warm and well-lit modern retreat, where visitors can watch the city unfold from the eighth-storey roof terrace, then swing back down into the urban action, a doorway’s width away.

Grand Hotel Central

Nestled between two more sedate brick buildings, urbanista boutique stay Yurbban Trafalgar Hotel is for the effortlessly hip creative crowd. The bright and modern rooms have a slightly industrial edge, and the poolside rooftop bar is the stuff nights under the city stars are made of.

Yurbban Trafalgar Hotel

Set dead-centre just a short distance from the famous La Rambla and only 150 metres from the sea, you will find us and our inspiring project: The Boutique Hotel La Pau, the new project which gives new life to the magnificent PASSATGE DE LA PAU.

Hotel La Pau

L’Eixample

Outside the original city walls, this area of the city is where many of the best modernist architecture is to be found. It is also home to many of the best bars and clubs in the city.

Eixample is made up of the following barris (neighbourhoods): L’Antiga Esquerra De L’Eixample | La Nova Esquerra De L’Eixample | Dreta De L’Eixample | El Fort Pienc | Sagrada Família | Sant Antoni. It is a vibrant district with many sights to see, especially in terms of architecture. Eixample also has many restaurants and shops, with some of the city’s chicest addresses.

Boutique Hotels in Eixample

More Scandinavian than Spanish, Ohla Eixample is a cool, contemporary hotel in its namesake district, close to Barcelona's shopping heaven: Passeig de Gràcia. Sundowners are served on the roof, there’s a Michelin-starred restaurant, and avant-garde interiors that are straight out of the pages of a magazine.

Ohla Eixample Hotel

The must-see sites of the Gothic Quarter are a short Metro ride away from laidback boutique hotel Ocean Drive Barcelona, but bring your binoculars and you’ll spy a couple of Gaudí’s colourful casas from the roof terrace. In contrast to Gaudí’s OTT tiling, the hotel’s decorated with sleek modern furnishings and natural materials – they've got lots of wood.

Ocean Drive Barcelona

Barcelona is no slouch when it comes to looking sharp, from the bells, whistles and loud sirens of the Modernista icons, to the Gothic Quarter’s spires and reliefs, and contemporary structures resembling spacecraft. And, chic city-pad Antiga Casa Buenavista has straightened up its collar and polished its brogues, with a modernist look of textured glass, industrial ironwork, exposed brick and Catalan floor tiles, plus highly prized furnishings

Antiga Casa Buenavista

The former family home and studio of prolific Modernista architect Enric Sagnier, the eponymous Casa Sagnier cuts a stately figure on Rambla de Catalunya, all wrought-iron balconies and ornamental Gothic parapets. Inside, parquet floors, statement rugs and cane furniture lend bedrooms a polished, modern feel, the cod cheeks and Catalan stew at Café de l’Arquitecte are clinchers, and there’s a leafy rooftop terrace with loungers for sunseeking and sundowners.

Casa Sagnier

Having once been a Catalan town on the outskirts of the city, the growth of Barcelona has seen the area become a suburb, with a significant student population and the beautiful architecture of Gaudi’s Park Guell. Antoni Gaudí created Park Güell, an architectural masterpiece, with tree-shaped columns and undulating forms that merge in perfect harmony. The colours of the broken tile mosaics that cover the surface of the distinct elements is an unprecedented technique of Gaudí that makes the astonishing shapes come to life. It was also built in the middle of the city atop a hill, hence it is blessed with some of the best views in Barcelona.

Boutique Hotels in Gracia

Live like a Catalan local at Casagrand Luxury Suites, a collection of full-service apartments tucked into the hip Eixample district, around the corner from Passeig de Gràcia, Barcelona’s legendary shopping boulevard. Bright and spacious, with plenty of bedrooms, each apartment has original architectural details and is fully equipped with the best mod cons, including a full kitchen and laundry room.

Casagrand Luxury Suites

Elegant Alma Barcelona boutique hotel in the upscale Eixample district is a stylish little number, wrapping its minimally chic interior within a fab Forties building. Design fans will go ga-ga for the pared down but poised assets of this Barcelona beauty, from its sculptural staircase to Gaudi-glam views.

Alma Barcelona

Sir Victor, part of Sircle Collection's design and decor in a nutshell: the straight lines and plain materials are in themselves the art. And, the handsome leather-and-wood steakhouse is quite the charmer too. But the pinnacle of urban living must be an elegant rooftop terrace with a swimming pool looking out across the jumbled horizon of Barcelona and the gorgeous Mediterranean sky.

Sir Victor

Radisson Blu 1882 Hotel, Barcelona Sagrada Familia invites you to experience everything Barcelona has to offer. Located near the historical Sagrada Família and the Sant Pau Modernist complex, very close to Passeig de Gràcia, one of Barcelona's most emblematic neighborhoods. Our hotel boasts 182 comfortable rooms, equipped with modern amenities to ensure a comfortable stay.

Radisson Blu 1882 Hotel

Sant Montjuic

Sants-Montjuïc is Barcelona's largest district, covering a surface area of 2,090 hectares, almost equivalent to a fifth of the municipal territory. It comprises neighbourhoods with extremely diverse populations and their distinct personalities.

The historic village of Sants is located above the Gran Via. Once a rural settlement, it proliferated in the first half of the 20th century when textile mills, factories and shops set up their premises here. Like many other villages on the Barcelona Plain, Barcelona annexed Sants in 1897.

Montjuïc has been, and remains, a superb lookout point over Barcelona. You can enjoy exceptional views of the city, port and coastline from its many belvederes – such as the Mirador del Alcalde, and the Mirador del Migdia and the path that connects them – and unique means of transport, such as the cable cars which run up to the castle and across the harbour.

Boutique Hotels in Sant Montjuic

Hotel Brummell is a chic, contemporary boutique hotel located a few steps from the Miró Foundation and The Grec theatre. Guests will benefit from free and unlimited yoga classes. A running club, for both guests and locals, is organized regularly. The hotel features an outdoor pool, a garden and a sauna. T-training and boxing sessions are hosted at the well-being centre The Loft.

Hotel Brummell

Gothic elegance with rooftop serenity

Amid the historic Gothic Quarter, this charming hotel offers a serene oasis with unique architectural character and intimate ambience. Unwind by the rooftop pool or savour exquisite cuisine at the renowned restaurant, all while enjoying attentive service and tranquil surroundings.

Hotel Neri Relais & Chateaux

Serene elegance in the Gothic Quarter

Stylish and intimate, this beautifully designed hotel in the Gothic Quarter offers a serene escape amidst a bustling city. Enjoy a rooftop deck with a plunge pool, a well-stocked minibar, and an excellent restaurant, all complemented by exceptional, personalized service.

Wittmore Hotel

This stylish design hotel is located 150 metres from Rocafort Metro Station in Barcelona. It offers a trendy rooftop bar and air-conditioned rooms with free Wi-Fi and plasma satellite TV. The soundproofed rooms at Hotel Villa Emilia feature parquet floors and modern décor. Each one has a minibar and a private bathroom with a hairdryer. Hotel Villa Emilia Barcelona’s restaurant serves creative Catalan food, and there is a weekly barbecue. The Villa Emilia Bistrot offers live music.

Hotel Villa Emilia

Tips for Booking a Hotel

Booking the right hotel is one of the most important factors when it comes to getting the most out of your vacation. If you're looking to plan an unforgettable trip, you'll need to find the right place to stay. Learn how Expedia can help you book the right hotel for your needs whether you're taking the family on a vacation, traveling with someone special, or just taking some time away for yourself.

How to book a hotel on Expedia?

When you book through Expedia, the entire process is simple. You'll find a wide range of accommodation options and destinations to choose from, as well as a variety of search filters to help you find exactly what you're looking for. That means you can search exclusively for hotels with a pool, pet-friendly policies, or family-friendly amenities.Las Vegas hotels and New York hotels are especially popular, but you'll also find options for other destinations like Myrtle Beach.

Search stays

Getting to Barcelona

Once you arrive at the airport, the RENFE train service runs approximately every 30 minutes to and from Barcelona airport to the city centre -- it stops at three main stations: Estació Sants, Passeig de Gràcia and El Clot. The travel time is approximately 25 minutes. The second best option is the Airport Express bus! You can find more info on the Aerobus here.

Barcelona Budget Tips

Barcelona isn't known to be a "budget-friendly" destination. Yet it's not too expensive either. Luckily, there are a lot of cheap (and even free) things that you can do while visiting. Read my tips for visiting Barcelona on a budget to see just how you can save yourself some money.

Which airport do you fly to for Barcelona?

Barcelona-El Prat Airport

Barcelona-El Prat Airport is the only airport serving Barcelona. It's only 8 miles southwest of the City Centre and is easily accessible by public transport.

Metro: Barcelona currently has eight metro lines that can get you pretty much everywhere in the city. However, it is a popular spot for pickpockets. If you're traveling on a budget, it's a great option—a single ticket will cost you 2,55€ but a T-10 Card, good for 10 rides, only costs 12,15€.

Taxi: Barcelona's licensed taxis are easily identified by their yellow and black exterior. They have to charge you the amount displayed on the meter. Taxis here are said to be the cheapest in Europe so if it's more convenient, I'd recommend a taxi over the metro.

Walking + Biking: Barcelona is very walkable and accessible to bikes. Save your money and get some fresh air!

When is the best time to visit Barcelona?

With comfortable temperatures and less crowds, March, April, May, and October are perfect for exploring the city. If you want to make the most of Barcelona’s beaches, then summer offers up seven or more hours of daily sunshine. This doesn’t mean the city sleeps in winter. With mild temperatures and snow being rare, Barcelona can still be a good choice for a winter getaway.

Barcelona enjoys a Mediterranean climate with mild temperatures throughout the year. Compared to some popular Spanish seaside resorts, Barcelona is less hot in the summer but warmer in the winter.