If you’re like me you’re sick of hostels.
You also probably don’t see the sense in splurging on a hotel if you’re out all day sightseeing.
Luckily there’s a happy medium to be found: spending less but getting the privacy of your own holiday apartment in Barcelona. And I’m gonna show you how to do it properly.
Also! Make sure you keep reading on to my free apartment finder service.
Don’t need me? Skip ahead to Booking’s Barcelona apartments page clicking the button below:
Barcelona Holiday Apartments
Index
1 – My top 10 apartments in Barcelona
2 – How to book your apartment
3 – Why you should book with Booking
4 – Why rent an apartment in Barcelona?
5 – Barcelona apartment rental hacks
6 – My free apartment finder service
Top Apartments in Barcelona
After being in touch with some blog readers and doing some research myself I’ve made a list of some of the best apartments in Barcelona.
I’ve taken into account the needs of my typical blog reader (location, rating, and price): if these are the top of nearly 2000 holiday apartments there’s surely a good reason!
There’s a €2.48 city tax per person per day not included in online booking portal prices.
All properties have WiFi and towels included.
Blue Apartments
€70.00+ | Rating: 7.9 | Size: 55 m² + | Metro: Selva del Mar | Area: Poble Nou
Families looking for value and relaxation a bit outside of the city chaos should look up this Barcelona apartment which is just 150 meters from the beach and a variety of parks.
In the one bedroom apartment you rarely find such a fully-functional apartment including kitchen and living room at this price. Reviewers have raved about the comfortable beds, tranquility of the area, and friendliness of the host.
Another convenience is its proximity to the convention centre at El Forum, though to get super central to places like La Rambla it’s only a quick €10.00 taxi.
Amenities: flat-screen TV, fan/heater, full kitchen, kitchen, dining area.
From airport: Aerobus to Plaça Catalunya + 20 minute metro to Selva de Mar + walk.
Warm Home
€60.00+ | Rating: 7.7 | Size: 30 m² + | Metro: Verdaguer | Area: Eixample
A very appropriate and straightforward name for this utilitarian apartment which allows any couple or small family the ability to stay really central without taking out a second mortgage.
From here you’ll be able to do most of Barcelona’s main attractions walking. The owner is also super accommodating and has been known to bring you a bottle of wine on check in!
One downside? There is a shared bathroom for the three apartments.
Amenities: flat-screen TV, city view, fan, fridge, microwave, oven, lounge access.
From airport: Aerobus to Plaça Catalunya + walk to Passeig de Gracia + metro to Verdaguer.
Bcn Sagrada Familia Apartments
€110.00+ | Rating: 7.1 | Size: 50 m² + | Metro: SP-Dos de Maig | Area: Eixample
This sleek grey-toned apartment for rent comes in both single and two bedroom versions. Really well-furnished. You’ll hardly find a better holiday apartment so close to the legendary Sagrada Familia and yet it’s just far east enough that you get cafes and restaurants with local prices.
Tourists rave about the balcony and super fast Wi-Fi and it’s another great option for couples – lively during the day but quiet at night.
Amenities: TV, air conditioning, city view, full kitchen, coffee machine, dining area.
From airport: Aerobus to Universitat + metro to Sant Pau-Dos de Maig.
Bordeta Barcelona
€200.00+ | Rating: 9.6 | Size: 85 m² + | Metro: Hostafrancs | Area: Sants
Families looking for something that feels more like an upscale home than an apartment in Barcelona should go for this newly furnished flat that’s received a 9.9 rating for families.
The extra bathroom is a great way to avoid early morning fights and confusion! This huge and clean apartment comes with all the fixings including an amazing welcome pack and some of the best customer service via owner Pilar.
The highlight is the gorgeous balcony.
Amenities: flat-screen TV, fan/heater, kitchen + oven, dining area, Nespresso machine.
From airport: Aerobus to Plaça Espanya+ 10 minute walk.
Be Apartments
€89.00+ | Rating: 7.8 | Size: 20 m² + | Metro: Jaume I | Area: El Gotico
You’ll find all the freedom of home in this cosy super central apartment that has been recently renovated and fully-equipped for all your holiday needs.
There is a basic but modern kitchen with a small dining area. The double bedroom with hardwood floors is a favourite and rates 9 with couples. 400 m from La Boqueria Market and 700 m from the Barcelona Cathedral.
Amenities: flat screen TV, heating/air conditioning, hair dryer, wardrobe.
From airport: Aerobus to Plaça Catalunya + 10 minute downhill walk.
Park Guell Apartments
€95.00+ | Rating: 7.3 | Size: 60 m² | Metro: Alfons X | Area: Guinardó
This huge apartment right near legendary Park Guell is fantastic value families.
Being right up in the mountains gives you fantastic views. The massive terrace is big enough to play host to a BBQ for 20 – but don’t get any ideas! This recently furbished apartment sleeps up to five.
If you’re looking for relaxation without being too far from Barcelona’s attractions this is it.
Amenities: flat screen TV, fan/heater, city view, full kitchen, dining area.
From airport: Aerobus to Plaça Catalunya + bus 24.
BCN-Accommodation
€95.00+ | Rating: 7.9 | Size: 37 m² + | Metro: Catalunya | Area: El Gotico
It doesn’t get any more central than this apartment for rent on the legendary Rambla.
If you’re more interested in value and location than the latest furnishings this is for you. It’d be a great holiday apartment for young couples or people looking for nights out. There are options for 3, 4, or 5 adults (with 3 costing the same as 2).
Tourists have raved about the comfortable beds and cleanliness. Also very efficient Wi-Fi.
Amenities: flat screen TV, fan/heater, balcony, full kitchen, dining area, bath.
From airport: Aerobus to Plaça Catalunya + 5 minute walk.
Apartments Sixtyfour
€300.00+ | Rating: 9.2 | Size: 80 m² + | Metro: Passeig de Gracia | Area: Eixample
When I think of couples looking to spoil themselves with a little luxury my mind goes to this spacious beauty right on Barcelona’s main shopping street Passeig de Gracia.
The high ceilings and super comfy boutique furniture have a habit of keeping you relaxed like home. Looking off the balcony and seeing Barcelona life walk by will get you up off the couch though and into the area’s many amazing tapas bars.
Again, couples have rated this apartment a 9.6 so this could be a great honeymoon option.
Amenities: flat screen TV, fan/heater, full kitchen, washing machine, dining area.
From airport: Aerobus to Plaça Catalunya + 10 minute walk.
Apartamentos DV
€80.00+ | Rating: 8.3 | Size: 26 m² + | Metro: Badal | Area: Sants
You’ll get all you need with a spacious bedroom and modern furnishings. The bigger rooms even have their own jacuzzi. This is the perfect choice for those attending conventions at the Fira Barcelona at Plaça Espanya.
You’ll find this in an accessible yet quiet neighbourhood.
Amenities: flat screen TV, air conditioning/heating, fully equipped kitchen, desk, bath.
From airport: Train from Terminal 2 to Sants Estacio + 5 minute walk.
Midtown Apartments
€55.00+ pp | Rating: 9.5 | Size: 95 m² + | Metro: Urquinaona | Area: Eixample
The three-bedroom one here is ideal for groups or stag dos and is a great jumping off point for something stylish and modern without breaking the bank. With four single beds, a double, and a sofa bed this is also great for clubbing weekends.
Spotless cleanliness and a what’s-what of products from irons to oil for cooking in the slickly fitted kitchen mean no stone is left unturned – there’s even swipe cards for left luggage facilities.
Did I mention the rooftop terrace with city view and private swimming pool?
Amenities: flat screen TV, fan/heater, full kitchen, hardwood floors, dining area.
From airport: Aerobus to Plaça Catalunya + 10 minute walk.
How to Book a Barcelona Holiday Apartment
Once you’ve selected the property at Booking you’ll be taken to the payment page.
At this stage you’ll be able to enter your basic details – and if needed your payment information. Keep in mind for many properties you can simply book no money down.
It’s here that you’ll be able to get in contact with the property to make any special requests.
As mentioned before, with Booking.com’s intuitive site you should be able to find all the information you need, but if you need any additional help make sure to write me in the comments below and I’ll help you the best that I can.
5 Reasons to Book with Booking.com
Since switching to Booking from Airbnb for my holiday apartments about a year ago I’ve had some pretty cool experiences in cities like Helsinki, Istanbul, and Saint Petersburg.
I don’t see how this would be any different for my adopted city Barcelona.
Here’s why:
1 – You’re Guaranteed the Best Price
Not only is it rare to find a better price on nearly 2000 Barcelona apartments to rent with any other platform, but if you do find one Booking.com has a price match guarantee.
Save a few euros and put it toward one of Barcelona’s great restaurants instead.
2 – 123,550,000 Reviews Can’t be Wrong
There’s no better way to ensure you’re not getting ripped off.
With well over one hundred million traveler reviews on accommodation this is the greatest database of lodging comments ever assembled.
The result is the most democratic and informative ranking system ensuring optimal choice.
3 – You Get Enormous Flexibility
Restrictive owner-imposed cancellation policies of sites like Airbnb make it difficult to change up your itinerary.
With Booking.com you’ll find many properties with free cancellation and no prepayment.
4 – The Perks
Once you’ve made five reservations on Booking you’re elevated to Genius status.
This entitles you to 10% discounts and a dedicated customer service hotline not seen by regular users.
Depending on the property it could also get you:
- Welcome drinks and/or chocolates
- Early check in
- Late check out
- Free airport shuttles
Look for the yellow ‘.genius’ logo next to a property to see what perks you’ll receive.
5 – It Trumps any Other Apartment Rental Site
From its super in-depth holiday apartment filtering system to the massive collection of photos to superior customer service teams it’s no wonder Booking counts 1.2 million room nights a day.
It’s 100% risk-free with no hidden fees and annoyances found on owner-direct sites like:
- Massive security deposits
- Extra guest surcharges
- Cancellation surcharges
- Credit card scams
- Fake photos
Why Rent an Apartment in Barcelona?
Every time I’m in a new city I first look at the holiday apartments on offer because:
- You can do what you want. When you have an apartment to rent you can decide when you come and go, no key leaving, you can invite friends over for dinner etc.
- You have more space compared to a hotel room. This is definitely something to value especially if you’re travelling to Barcelona with kids or with a bunch of friends on a stag do etc.
- You’ve got a kitchen! Another very important point. Once you’ve exhausted Barcelona’s best restaurants maybe you want something cheaper and healthier.
- It’s cheaper and usually of a much higher quality than a hotel, especially booking with Booking.
Cheap Barcelona Apartment Hacks
- Check my article on the best area to stay in Barcelona to select the right neighborhood.
- For Spain the cheapest rates are available about six weeks before your stay.
- When searching make sure to make use of the many filters to the left of the screen.
- Read under the apartment info block to make sure there aren’t any cleaning fees.
- Always write the apartment owner with your arrival time and contact info.
- If you’re still stuck use my Barcelona apartment finding service (below).
My Barcelona Apartment Finding Service
If the options above didn’t make the cut make sure you get in touch ASAP.
I’ll help you find the best apartment to rent for your needs if you simply write me:
- The exact dates of your stay.
- Number of people.
- Type of group (solo, couple, friends, family etc.).
- Budget.
- The type of holiday you want.
Just write in the comments below. The service is free of charge so feel free to go wild with any ridiculous requests, I don’t have anything better to do on a Sunday morning do I? 😉
Get at Me in the Comments Below
Yes, I know I’m sounding like a broken record but please get at me with any questions about your Barcelona apartments in the comments below.
Also – whether it’s question about your Barcelona holiday or a comment about the website I am always here to listen.
Also don’t be afraid to join the Barcelona apartment discussion in my new Facebook group called I’m Off to Barcelona – here you can ask any questions, air out grievances, chat with fellow travelers, and more – anything goes!
Happy travels 🙂
Karen Camilo says
Hi Ash!
Thank you for all the great tips! I will be traveling to Barcelona the second week of June ( 6/6-6/11) along with 4 other females. We were looking into AirBnBs but are crazy expensive. Could you give me some advice as of what do you think would be the best place to stay? For budget I would say no more than 120-150 per night.
Thank you so much!
Ash says
Hi Karen,
This is unfortunately the bad time about coming in high season… 120-150 a night for something central is pretty tough to swing. Airbnbs really like to gouge around this time… I would recommend looking for an apartment on Booking a bit further out perhaps in Eixample or further.
I see some around your budget like Apartments Gaudi and Lodging Sagrada Familia which aren’t too far out and have decent ratings. There are also the Camp Nou Apartments which I see are reasonably price.
In all there are 245 properties more or less within your budget in the area (including some very far out)… I would suggest toggling the amenities menus on the left for what you’re looking for and then simply use the map function to find the most central ones. Hopefully you can get something good 🙂
Ash
Shane says
Hey Ash, your site is awesome! I can’t believe how well organized and robust the information is. I can really sense your passion for the city with each article I’ve read.
Three of us (American males aged 32-33) are coming for a week between June 8th and June 13th, and having a fourth friend meet up with us June 14th & 15th. I’ve been to Barcelona twice before, and absolutely loved it each time. Last time I stayed in El Born with my wife, and it was awesome for that, but this trip I think we could use a bit more energy/nightlife.
I hesitate to stay in Eixample because I’d like to be walking distance to the beach, so I’ve been looking in Gothic Quarter/El Born for stuff but it is pretty thinned out on Airbnb & VRBO. Wanted to reach out to you here in case you know of something that I haven’t looked at that would fit our group better.
I haven’t spent a ton of time in Eixample, but it seems like maybe there are some more posh cocktail bars up there based on your site? That could be cool, but I also want to make sure we have the most walkability possible, and leave some time for some (slightly) more energetic spots (not 18-year-olds puking at the clubs) but just a bit more of a house party feel if that even exists in Barcelona, which is why I think I like the idea of Gotico based on your blog.
Hope that’s not too exhaustive! Thanks for making such a wonderful site!
Ash says
Hi Shane,
Thanks so much for the great compliments on the site, makes the work worthwhile 🙂
You’re on the right track with El Gotico because here you’ll have your pick of the litter as far as bars and it’s close enough to walk to most major places. I would find something in that area… that said, Eixample is a great choice because it’s got tons of bars but it is a very big area…. you should be looking to stay in “Dreta Eixample” or the “Sant Antoni” area to make sure you’re not so far out.
As far as a house party vibe goes though I’m thinking of Raval – but keep in mind that this area is also famous for quite a bit of petty crime. Shouldn’t be a problem for 3-4 men walking around and in control of their faculties, but a lot of people prey on drunk people so I’d be careful.
Hope this helps 🙂
Ash
Shane says
Thanks for the quick response Ash! Also thanks for the tip on the subset of Eixample – that is very helpful.
Regarding El Raval – I’ve heard in several places now that the area is “seedy” or “the most dangerous in Barcelona.” In your opinion, is it really worth visiting or are you better off hitting up every other area and leaving it for last. Really just wondering what I’m missing out on if I don’t go? For instance, I see that you are from Vancouver (prob my fav city in North America btw), and I believe Downtown East Side is considered the most dangerous part of town there, but it intersects with Gastown – which was probably my favorite neighborhood in the whole city. Long story short, just wondering if you think there are truly any can’t miss parties/restaurants in El Raval that would be worth risking the pick pockets (assuming that’s the worst of the crime there?).
Thanks again for all your insight!
Ash says
Hi Shane,
That’s a very interesting parallel you make there… you are totally right that the amazing Gastown can become shady in just a 30 second walk around the corner.
Raval is much less concentrated and the whole drug addict element is more hidden (thank god)… it’s more of a purse snatching/take advantage of drunks area. For four guys I wouldn’t suspect you’d have any trouble, in fact if you’ve been on La Rambla it’s kind of the same deal. Be on your guard and nobody will mess with you.
Dangerous? I have never felt in danger and I lived in Raval for 6 months.
I would recommend having a walk through during the day and maybe checking out the CCCB or MACBA if you’re interested in museums.
Also, the street Joaquin Costa has a ton of cheap but delicious fast food type places (I recommend Bishmillah Kebabish if you want a decent sit down kebab/basic curry place… €5-6 gets you full) and cool bars like Betty Ford’s (amazing name eh? haha) and Almirall (one of the last throw back speak easy type bars of it’s time and a great place to try a vermut)…
ALSO! Sorry for being so long winded… two of favourite restaurants in the whole city are in this area and they’re owned by the same guy Edu. They are Louro and Arume… they’re super popular (the cocktails and tapas are sick) and often packed out but you can reserve a table no money down using the form you’ll find in my article: https://www.barcelonahacks.com/best-restaurants-in-barcelona/
I wouldn’t really party the night away in this area as it’s lacking clubs (aside from Moog) but a good aperitivo/drink in the early evening before moving on to greener pastures is recommended… especially if you’ve already been here and seen the other neighbourhoods. I wouldn’t skip Raval.
Ash
Lauren says
Hi Ash. Firstly, I just wanted to say thank you so much for all the advice on your blog – it’s been so useful and helpful in planning our trip. Really appreciate you taking the time to put together a hub of information for us first-time travellers.
Me and my mum are planning our first trip to Barcelona – we are currently looking at staying for a week from Saturday 6th July to Saturday 13th July. We want to stay somewhere central, within walking distance of all the major tourist attractions (or within close walking distance to metro/transportation links) but also somewhere that’s quiet to sleep at night.
I’m currently looking at private rooms in an Airbnb centrally-located which are around €60-70 a night so around £450 for the two of us for a week. I was just wandering if you possibly know of any centrally-located apartments that would suit our criteria and within our budget? Do you have any good Airbnb recommendations? I did check out some of your recommendations in this post but unfortunately a lot of them within our budget are all booked up.
Thanks very much in advance!
Lauren says
Further to this, and doing a little bit more research, we were at first considering staying in the Gothic Quarter for its central location. However, after reading your replies to some of the other comments, I’m thinking perhaps it may be a bit too noisy for what we are looking for.
As I mentioned, me and mum are going for a girly city break, and whilst we definitely will be trying your tapas and bar recommendations, we are not interested in wild nightlife.
To clarify, we want to say somewhere central, safe, and somewhere that is quieter at night for us to get a good sleep after a long day of sight-seeing. Which, on reflection, I think the gothic quarter may not be the best option now for us. Based on this, which neighbourhood would you recommend that we stay in?
Sorry to ramble!
Thanks Ash.
Ash says
Hi Lauren,
Thanks so much for the kind words 🙂
Let’s see, you’ve given me quite a bit of information and so I’ve convinced myself that you should probably go for El Born. It’s super central and got some hustle and bustle but it’s also pretty devoid of nightlife so it’s a peaceful place. It’s also near Ciutadella Park and closer to the beach than say the Gothic Quarter.
Unfortunately living in the city I don’t have a lot of holiday apartment experience… in my article on the best area to stay in Barcelona I’ve got info on the Born area and if you click the buttons there you’ll be taken to Booking which you can sort for apartments only in the review database… you’ll be able to filter results by budget and amenity etc.
Unfortunately it being high season I don’t see much central that will be terribly agreeable with your budget, though you’re on the right track by going on Airbnb because that’s usually where the deals are. That said, toggling the budget function on the Booking website may unearth some deals as well.
Please let me know if you have any more questions
Allison says
Hi,
We are a family of 5 (kids are 19, 16 and 14) and we are planning a quick visit to Barcelona in mid-June for a few days before we head north by car. I have two questions. First, which of your suggested apartments would you recommended for our family (we are fit, happy to walk, would love to be close to main sites and restaurants). Second, where would you suggest picking up a rental car–should we head back to the airport for the best deal? We plan to return the car in Madrid. We would love to make the most of 2 1/2 days max in Barcelona. Thanks very much for your help–I really appreciate it. Take care.
Ash says
Hi Allison,
The family one above that I’d recommend if you’re a fit family would be the Blue Apartments since it’s quite near the beach and will give you more of an outdoorsy feel. It’s also better value than the Bordeta (also above)… that said, if you want a great city experience the Bordeta is a fantastic option.
I have never picked up rental cars at the airport… generally there are most of the companies near Sants Estacio as it’s a major hub… I would try and pick it up there especially if staying at the Bordeta as it’s very close. Also, picking it up from the airport will tack on extra time and money which seems unnnecessary… did you see a really good deal or something?
Ash
Dana says
Hi Ash,
My husband and I will be coming to Barcelona in June with our 2 year old son (he will be two months shy of turning 3) and (at the time) almost 8 month old daughter. We will also be bringing our 22 year old niece to help watch the kids while we get some time to ourselves. We prefer to not schlep two car seats, is it realistic to think we can get away without bringing car seats and rely solely on public transport?
Tentative itinerary – June 2019
1.BARCELONA (2 nights) – ideally something easy to get to from the airport using public transport, I’m thinking El Born? But also needs to have easy public transport (no car seats) to get to the train station (to go to San Sebastian). (Prefer an apartment)
2.San Sebastian (4 nights)
3.BARCELONA (1 night) – we will be coming from the train station on the 15th and needing to be at the cruise port on the 16th. Recommendations on where to stay that is convenient for both? (Apartment or hotel are fine)
4.Cruise (7 nights)
5.BARCELONA (2 nights) – we will be getting off the boat and spending two more nights before leaving Spain. Where to stay? (Apartment or hotel are fine)
Thanks!!
Ash says
Hi Dana,
The public transport system here covers a ton of ground and if you don’t mind carrying your kids or pushing a stroller I don’t see how there would be any issues. Renting a car can also be a pain as the city wasn’t designed for cars, parking ix expensive and quite restricted, and as mentioned the metro gets you pretty much everywhere.
For striking distance to the airport transport as well as super convenient transport to the train station I’d recommend the Be Apartments.
For the cruise port it would be super convenient to book Bcn Accommodation as it’s really close.
For any of the options I would recommend the Gothic Quarter considering your specifications and I’ve got a general hotel search here with Booking that you could jump off of by toggling the amenities etc in the left hand column.
I don’t have a lot of experience staying in places as I live here, but using the world’s greatest hotel review resource at Booking can give you all the info you’ll need!
Hope this has been of help 🙂
Ash
Daniela says
Hi Ash,
Great article and site! Gracias!
I’m planning to go to Barcelona with my sister from Jan 2018-March 2018. Would love to find something fairly central, but can be outside the tourist spots- would be great if we could easily get around on the metro from wherever we are. We prefer a 2 bedroom and to spend as little as possible while still having something nice and clean. We’re happy to pay more for something really lovely, although not looking for luxury, just functional, clean, safe. A balcony would be really nice! Would love to get your thoughts!
Mil gracias! Dani
Daniela says
I mean Jan 2019-March 2019!
Ash says
Hola Daniela,
Gracias por escribir! I appreciate your comments on the site and it’s always nice to hear from a fellow Canadian – according to your email address 😛
For starters I’m thinking that you should probably pick a neighbourhood like Gracia or maybe El Born as a spot to start looking. Both are super safe and not right in the middle or things, but really accessible.
If you’re still in doubt make sure you check out (if you haven’t already) my list of best areas to stay.
Are you actually staying there for the full three months?
I’ve done a basic one week search for you and sorting out apartments in El Born and also Gracia.
Honestly since I live here I don’t have much apartment experience but with the links above you’ll have access to perhaps the greatest database of apartment reviews on the internet via Booking.
I am actually in the process of updating this article (to launch next week) in conjunction with some of the advice from my many readers as well as friends and acquaintances in the city. Please check back because it’s very possible something on the new list could tickle your fancy.
Please let me know if you have any more questions.
Ash
Rose says
Hi Ash,
First, thank you so much for putting all your knowledge online and helping the rest of have the best experience possible in your city!
Myself and two friends will be coming to Barcelona February 13-17, 2019. We are planning on doing the major tourist attractions, some good dinners, and – of course – some great wine/cocktails. We’re not afraid to walk/wander on foot, as long as the area is relatively safe and will have some neat spots to drop into. I had already booked at Hotel Barcelona Center through Booking.com prior to finding your site. When I look again Catalonia Atenas is also recommended in my search for 3 adult travelers. Do you have any insight on which may be better for our plans ?
Thank you in advance!
Ash says
Hi Rose,
Thanks so much for your kind words! 🙂
My initial reaction would be Hotel Barcelona Center because it’ll allow you to explore more on foot – the Eixample area just has so many bars and restaurants around every corner. Catalonia Atenas is in a neighbourhood I honestly really love… but I love it just because it’s peaceful and has a more local feel. For tourists I wouldn’t recommend it over the other one unless I got an amazing deal.
My two cents 🙂
Ash
Pamela Leong says
Hi, we (me,husband and 2 teenage daughters) will be in Barcelona from Dec 14-25. It’s our first time to Barcelona. Hope you can help me in our planning.
1. Accommodation
We would like to stay in an apartment with cooking facilities. And we would like to split our stay in areas such as Gracia, Eixample, Gothic Quarter (would that be a good idea?). Your recommendation would be appreciated. Budget is not more than Euro100 per night.
2. Day trips
I think we will have extra days to cover outskirts such as Tarragona, Girano, Montserrat. Would you recommend?
3. Transportation
Which card works best for us? We plan to visit the major attractions as you suggested, with one or two museum is enough.
Thank you 🙂
Ash says
Hi Pamela,
Thanks for writing 🙂
First off I would have to say that selecting an apartment in the Gothic Quarter is probably the least attractive choice for families of the three – yes, it’s close to the action but it’s a bit chaotic and more for couples or people looking for easy access to nightlife. Also, since it’s the most central point you’ll be sacrificing on quality since a budget of a max of €100 won’t get you as much as a bit further out.
That said, there are some amazing apartments in this area so if you get one that just looks too good to pass up then there’s no shame in booking. I have taken the liberty of doing a Booking search and found that there is one a reader has talked to me about in the past and that is Friendly Rentals Mozart.
Again though, feel free to take a look at my search and toggle the amenities buttons on the side for something more specific. It does look however that for your budget there are only a handful of apartments and most have average reviews.
I’ve conducted similar searches for Gracia and also for Eixample and a couple that I recognized as being reviewed positively by past readers are Lodging Apartments Sagrada Familia and Friendly Rentals Gracia.
Again, feel free to sort through my neighbourhood searches that I set up there and list them by amenities and budget. The check boxes on the side can be really handy.
As for day trips I can wholeheartedly recommend Girona especially if you’re fans of Game of Thrones. If you’re looking for a mountain getaway on a clear day then Montserrat can’t be beat. If you’re more of a beach family I would recommend a trip down to the much quieter beach side town of Sitges.
For the transportation if you’re staying super central I would recommend first starting off with a Hola BCN card for the first three days… as you get accustomed to the city and start checking off attractions though I find that the need for an unlimited transport pass becomes less and less.
If you’re looking at visiting Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, and coming in on the Aerobus (super fast/convenient etc) plus think a day on the Bus Turistic is a good way to get to know the city… I would recommend getting the City Pass because it’ll allow you to book everything online, skip the lines, and they’ll even throw in a 20% discount pass to pretty much anything else you can imagine.
If you’re still a bit confused by all means let me know which attractions you’re looking to see and I can suggest better. But for 11 days this is usually the best value for attractions.
OK, that was a bit long winded and I apologise! Please let me know if you have any further questions 🙂
Ash
Pamela Leong says
Hi Ash,
Thank you so much for the great information. You are amazing…. Barcelona should be proud of you!
Ash says
Thank you Pamela! What a great compliment, I hope Barcelona feels this way 😉
joanne says
Hi Ash
your site is amazing if only you were in every country. i’m using your site to literally plan my whole holiday. one thing i need help with is accommodation its always a daunting task. we are a young-ish couple (30) 😉 looking for a nice apartment its for an anniversary so if you have any romantic ideas i can plan feel free.
things i’m definately planning for us to do;
Park Guell,
magic fountain show,
Hard rock cafe,
Sagrada familia
and the potential things are;
Bunkers del carmel for a sunset,
a tapas (i believe Gracia square is the place to be) ,
aquarium,
take a row boat at ciutadella park,
we will be arriving 25th Sept and then leaving potentially sat 29th where we plan to fly to Milan for 3 nights. do you have any suggestions of where to stay, looking at £300 max for accommodation however cheaper would be better 😉 if i could id love somewhere with a small pool or Jacuzzi but not essential but we would like somewhere with an outdoor area to sit, near a metro line and walking distance (10 mins) to restaurants and some nightlife. we don’t want much lol
Ash says
Hi Joanne,
For couples I would definitely recommend either Gracia or the Born neighbhourhoods simply for their quaintness and quality of restaurants and bars.
The problem is especially in high season it’ll be hard to get 4 nights in a fairly central place with swimming pool etc for 300 pounds or less…. 🙁
I’ve done a search using your dates and budget here and it appears there isn’t much in the neighbourhood.. I would fool around with these results and see what you can find. Even if you have to settle for a neighbourhood that’s not Gracia or El Born keep in mind Barcelona is super accessible so you’ll hardly ever be way out.
If something catches your eye feel free to send it to me and I’ll tell you what I think of the area, the transport connections etc.
Also if you haven’t seen yet please take a look at my list of the most romantic things to do in Barcelona:
https://www.barcelonahacks.com/romantic-barcelona/
There should be a few gems in here to make your anniversary special 🙂
Ash
Larri says
Hi! I’m visiting Barcelona during the first week of October, for about 6 nights. Any ideas for a solo traveler? I have a place booked with AirBnb, but it’s about 20-30 minutes north of Las Ramblas, the beach, etc.. is that a decent location?
Ash says
Hi Larri,
Would that be 20 minutes’ walking? In that case that’s probably a really central place in Eixample. If it’s 20 minutes’ train or metro you’re still not doing so bad in my opinion.
For solo travellers I still recommend hitting all the major sights. That said, I would download the Couchsurfing app because it connects you with all sorts of solo travllers to go sightseeing, there are tons of events and stuff. The same goes for Meetup.com as there are tons of activities involving travellers.
Ash
Erlinda jalandoon says
Hi! Love your site! We’re travelli g to Barcelona with our 3 girls ages16,13,10 in July and it’ll be our first time. I don’t even know where to start! Can you give me suggestions on areas to stay in? And must see places. Planning to stay for 5-6 days after our cruise, is that enough time?
We were also thinking of going to Madrid, but not sure how far it is etc.
Thanks!
Ash says
Hi Erlinda,
If you’re traveling with kids and want good access to Ciutadella Park, the beach, and a ton of attractions with less nightlife chaos I would recommend the Born neighbourhood.
An outside shot is Poble Nou, which is right along the beach and has a small town feel… but still striking distance to attractions if you don’t mind the metro.
For main attractions the 3 can’t miss are Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, and Casa Batllo… they’re all covered in my list of Barcelona’s top attractions.
If you haven’t already I suggest reading my article on things to do with kids in Barcelona.
Also if you’re coming via a cruise 5-6 days is more than enough for a thorough trip… just make sure you read up on my cruise terminal article to get central fast etc.
These articles should be more than enough info to get the trip planned… if you have something more custom in mind please let me know.
As for Madrid if you want to do it properly you’ll need 3-4 days… it’s about a 2.5 hour train or 4.5 hour drive… unless you had a big event there or really had your heart on something specific I would save it for the next time, with Spain there’s always a next time 😉
Ash