Barcelona, the capital city of Catalonia, is the second largest city in Spain. Known for its rich cultural heritage, Barcelona offers its tourists a wide range of attractions from historic monuments to world-class beaches. There are different districts, or otherwise called as “barrios,” in Barcelona, each with a unique and diverse array of charms. The truth is, with so many places to stay in Barcelona, visitors are rather spoiled for choice. Check out the three barrios of Barcelona featured below before deciding where to spend your holiday there!
Places to Stay in Barcelona: Gracia
This small neighborhood of Barcelona is extremely charming and bustling with activity for most of the day. Known for its colorful night life, this barrio is situated at the end of Passeigh de Gracia and filled with abundant joy and life. Located just outside the city centre, this place offers you the youthful vibe of the city life. Gaudi’s Park Guell, one of the important tourist attractions in Gracia, is also part of the UNESCO’s World Heritage Site. The park is known for its architectural brilliance adorned with serpentine ceramic benches, water fountains and Hansel & Gretel styled houses. Plus there are a lot of great accommodation options in this area.
Places to Stay in Barcelona: El Barri Gotic
From the small neighborhood of Gracia, let us travel to the streets of medieval Barcelona to the barrio known as its Gothic Quarter. This place tells us stories of the heart and soul of old Barcelona. Situated between El Raval and El Born, this central district is embellished with ancient buildings, bustling streets, restaurants and cafes. The area is so charming and inspiring, Picasso lived and worked there from 1895 to 1904. The Barri Gotic (Catalan for Gothic Quarter) is situated on the right side of the famous pedestrianized walkway of La Rambla, which is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Barcelona. This famous walkway is considered to be the centre of Barcelona. Planning to stay in this exotic place would help you experience its rich cultural heritage, with age old antique government buildings, the Catedral de Barcelona, Placa Reial and many more.
Places to Stay in Barcelona: Eixample
Eixample in Catalan means “extension”, meaning this barrio was the first extension of the old city of Barcelona. This lovely place is situated between Ciutat Vella and the areas of Sants, Gracia and San Andreu. With every barrio of Barcelona offering a different flavor of the culture, Eixample is the place which is ideal for Gaudi fanatics. This area of Barcelona houses the towering Sagrada Familia, the renowned unfinished masterpieces of Gaudi. With Eixample devided into 2 districts – Eixample Izquierdo and Eixample Derecho depicting the right and left, this place is a host of a variety of tourist attractions, making it a must-see destination in Barcelona. Eixample is also probably one of the best bets for finding a Barcelona youth hostel, making it an affordable area as well as an interesting one.
Right from the charming beauty of Gracia to the riveting streets of Eixample, every region of Barcelona offers a wide range of experience, each with a unique flavor. Irrespective of your holiday schedule, spend quality time in all these regions of Barcelona to enjoy the joy of this beautiful city.
Photo Credit: ale3andro