Top things to do in Barcelona
Attractions, tours and activities in Barcelona
Recommended museums in Barcelona
Where to discover culture and the arts in Barcelona
Barcelona: the city's best neighbourhoods
Find a great area to stay in Barcelona
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Ciutat Vella
0.5 miles from city centre
Ciutat Vella (‘old city’) is comprised of several neighbourhoods - El Barri Gòtic, El Raval, El Born and Barceloneta (all detailed here in separate descriptions). As a whole, the district’s characteristic features are narrow, winding streets that reach from Las Ramblas to the coastline.
Places to stay from £10 per night
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Eixample
0.4 miles from city centre
L’Eixample’s large, grid-like avenues (modelled after New York) are easy to navigate. Passeig de Gràcia (at the centre) is a tourist hot-spot, with Gaudí's Casa Batlló and La Pedrera, and Puig i Cadafalch's Casa Amatller in easy reach. Carrer Balmes is a safe and tolerant area for travellers of all persuasions.
Places to stay from £7 per night
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Gràcia
1.3 miles from city centre
There’s a youthful energy in this dynamic area. Plaça de la Virreina, Plaça del Sol and Plaça de Rius i Taulet, are charming squares to relax and people-watch. Take a stroll through Gaudí’s Park Güell, with its unusual architectural spaces that offer wonderful views of the city.
Places to stay from £11 per night
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Sants-Montjuïc
1.4 miles from city centre
This district retains a lot of its traditional character. Tourist hot-spots surround Montjuïc Hill, next to Plaça Espanya. Visit the Joan Miró Foundation and Catalonia National Art Museum (MNAC) in the Palau Nacional. The 17th-century Montjuïc Castle stands on the hill, or enjoy the colours of the Magic Fountain below.
Places to stay from £7 per night
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Sarrià-St. Gervasi
1.7 miles from city centre
Accessible only via train or bus, this primarily residential district has a range of local restaurants. For families travelling with younger children, the CosmoCaixa science museum offers a range of exhibitions. At the furthest edge of the district is Les Planes, an outdoor picnic area.
Places to stay from £8 per night
About Barcelona
Including tips for the best time to visit Barcelona
Cultures melt together in Barcelona, a lively metropolis of mesmerising architecture, medieval streets and top museums on the coast of Catalonia. Its most celebrated figure, Antoni Gaudí, takes all the credit for the city’s most outstanding monuments. From the twisting facade of stone-hewn Casa Milà to the monumental Sagrada Familia, the work of this world-famous architect can be found all over the city.
In the Gothic Quarter, you’ll find centuries-old tapas bars set among old haunts and a gargoyle-adorned cathedral. Fill up on staples like ground-beef stuffed croquettes and salt-cod fritters under this dramatic backdrop, and wash it all down with a glass of fruity Rioja. Nearby, an amble along the lively, tree-lined promenade of La Rambla will bring you to the coast, where the crowds start to thin out.
Find a slice of beach in Barceloneta or a shady patch of grass in Parc de la Ciutadella, and soak up the year-round sunshine. Alternatively, take a stadium tour of Camp Nou, or climb Carmel Hill for sweeping views and the iconic mosaics of Park Güell – another of Gaudí’s fantastical creations.
Tonight
From £137 per night
Next weekend
From £272 per night
| Most popular time to visit | October–December |
| Cheapest time to visit | January–March |
| Local currency | € 10 = £8.46 |
| Language | Spanish |
| Average weekend price | £149 per night |
| Average weekday price | £130 per night |
| Typical stay | 2 nights |
Points of interest in Barcelona
Stay near the top sightseeing spots in Barcelona
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Camp Nou
2.5 miles from city centre
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Plaça Catalunya
In the city centre
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Sagrada Familia
1.2 miles from city centre
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Plaza Espanya
1.4 miles from city centre
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Passeig de Gracia
0.2 miles from city centre
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Cathedral of Barcelona
0.4 miles from city centre
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Arc de Triomf
0.6 miles from city centre
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Plaça del Sol
1.2 miles from city centre
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Palau Sant Jordi
1.9 miles from city centre
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Plaça Reial
0.6 miles from city centre
Barcelona reviews
What other travellers say about Barcelona
Barcelona is a lovely city with wonderful architecture.
28 April 2024
Barcelona is a lovely city with wonderful architecture. It's very walkable and safe, however, we were warned about pickpockets. Travelers need to be very cautious and not carry unnecessary items when walking in crowded areas or when taking public transit. Pickpockets work in teams to distract people. Unfortunately, major tourist attractions such as Sagrada Familia and Park Güell require timed tickets. Unless these are purchased at least 2 weeks in advance, it's not possible to visit these sites at short notice. It's best to plan an itinerary in advance not to waste time and avoid disappointment.
I looove barca Love the ambiance the weather and the people.
27 April 2024
I looove barca Love the ambiance the weather and the people. Its a friendly city and the beaches are amazing people walking cycling enjoying the weather......just the general energy is so pleasant. Would l9ve to go again! Walking around is the best way to see through city. Buses are great too Food is yum
Barcelona really exceeded my expectations.
27 April 2024
Barcelona really exceeded my expectations. The city is absolutely beautiful, the people there are very friendly and helpful and it's very easy to walk pretty much anywhere. I only stayed there for one day and a half, but I will definitely come back and stay a few more days so I can enjoy everything this wonderful city has to offer.
Very rude unfriendly and very unhelpful people.
26 April 2024
Very rude unfriendly and very unhelpful people. Beautiful city but disgusting hotel ruined my trip so I left Barcelona after one night. Most of my time was spent trying to find a different hotel, complaining to booking.com, making dozens of phonecalls and crying alot. As a solo female traveller I would never go there again and would not recommend to anyone, despite my Mum being Spanish and having lived in Barcelona in her youth.
Enjoyed the city and enjoyed the historic culture and the...
26 April 2024
Enjoyed the city and enjoyed the historic culture and the sights I saw. Did not however enjoy my experiences as a solo female traveller in Barcelona. Any time I was not in the company of at least one other person, I was hassled by men to an unbelievable degree. Whether it was comments on my appearance, inappropriate touching, attempts to follow me to my accommodation or even predatory-style men waiting outside venues at night, my experiences have definitely led me to recommend that females not walk ANYWHERE unaccompanied from sundown to sunup. Not even a very short distance. The amount of revoltingly creepy men I encountered was simply unparalleled by anywhere else I’ve travelled to and, despite being a very capable female, I definitely felt unsafe and took evasive action on multiple occasions. I wanted to love this Barcelona, and I did in part, but this particular subset of the population really tarnished my experiences in what is actually a wonderful city.
Nice architecture, clean city.
25 April 2024
Nice architecture, clean city. Beach is very nice. But on top of these 3 things, nothing really stood out. Generally a nice city, but felt like I could spend 3 days instead of 7 days and fully discover the city.
Popular places to stay in Barcelona
Stay in some of the best accommodation Barcelona has to offer
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Petit Rosselló Eixample, Barcelona
From £184 per night
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Casa Camper Barcelona Ciutat Vella, Barcelona
From £187 per night
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Hotel El Palace Barcelona Eixample, Barcelona
From £435 per night
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H10 Madison 4* Sup Ciutat Vella, Barcelona
From £288 per night
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Yurbban Ramblas Boutique Hotel Ciutat Vella, Barcelona
From £194 per night
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Other accommodation in Barcelona
Choose from a wide variety of places to stay in Barcelona
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Apartments
From £24 per night
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Villas
From £164 per night
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Cottages
From £81 per night
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Glamping Sites
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Serviced Apartments
From £36 per night
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Holiday Homes
From £81 per night
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Guest Houses
From £10 per night
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Hostels
From £7 per night
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B&Bs
From £7 per night
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Homestays
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Boats
From £25 per night
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Self Catering Accommodation
From £7 per night
