It is hard to get lost in Barcelona. When you orientate at the mountain and the ocean, it is easy to find your way. In Barcelona they explain the route often as ‘go 2 blocks down or up’ which means 2 blocks towards the ocean or the mountain.
> Barcelona - Barceloneta
> Barcelona - Gothic district
> Barcelona - el Borne
> Barcelona - Eixample
> Barcelona - Ramblas (La Rambla)
> Barcelona - Diagonal Mar
> Barcelona - Gracia
> Barcelona - Poble Sec
> Barcelona - Poblenou
> Barcelona - Raval
> Barcelona - Ribera
> Barcelona - Vila Olimpica
> Barcelona - Sarria St. Gervasi
Barcelona - Barceloneta
In the 18th century especially the fishermen established themselves in Barceloneta. It is a neighborhood with a lot of small streets, small shops, small apartments and many people on the streets. Luckily, the district has kept their own culture. If you walk through the streets, you will find a mix of tourists, young people, an old man on a bench and old ladies who are shouting to each other from balcony to balcony.
The artificial beach has blown new life into the district and is now the hotspot of Barceloneta. Next to the beach you can find a lot of excellent (fish) restaurants and bars in Barceloneta and its famous for the modern twin-towers (among which the famous hotel Arts).
Barceloneta is popular among tourists and families in the summer because of the beautiful beach but also because of the Ramblas, the old harbor, the Gothic district and the cosy district Born (el Borne) which are on walking distance.
Barcelona - Gothic district
The Gothic district is the historical heart of Barcelona and brings you back to the old Roman times. In the Barrio Gotico is the historic Roman city established of Barcelona with the high city walls of which you can see still a part of it. In that time the name of Barcelona was Barcino. Nowadays the Gothic district is known for his many little medieval streets with lots of small shops and bars. This makes the district cosy and you can feel it from your apartment. The highlight of Barrio Gotico is the beautiful cathedral of Barcelona, between the Via Laietana and Las Ramblas.
The Gothic district is situated between the two most important streets of old Barcelona, the Via Laietana and the Ramblas, and between the Plaza catalunya, the big square in the centre, the old harbor and the Barceloneta beach, all at maximum 10 minutes walking distance. Despite all the activity in this district, this is a really nice neighborhood to spend some nights over in an apartment. Situated very central with many tourist attractions close to the apartment.
Barcelona - el Borne
The old bohemian district el Borne has developed into one of most the trendy neighborhoods of Barcelona. An overnight stay in an apartment in el Borne turns your stay in Barcelona into a scenic experience.
From your apartment it is very beautiful to walk in the crisscross of small allies of which el Borne has got many, with a lot of cosy bars and terraces, design shops, restaurants, tapas bars, art galleries and museums.
Other things like the Picasso museum & Textile Museum in the Calle Montcada and the Chocolate Museum in the Calle Comercio are also worth a visit. The church Santa Maria del Mar is in the centre of this historic district (12th century) with behind it the most famous street of el Borne, the Passeig del Born.
Barcelona - Eixample
This modern district is the place to be for Gaudi fans with his masterpiece Sagrada Familia and the famous Gaudi-houses of Barcelona: Casa Mila and Batllo. Besides that, the district Eixample has the Passeig de Gracia, a street for serious shopping.
The district Eixample of Barcelona is one of the first examples of modern urbanism. Barcelona’s Eixample (which literally ‘expansion’ means in Catalan) has developed itself in the second part of the 19th century. This neighborhood of Barcelona was designed by Ildefons Cerda and he wished that it would going to be a different district just outside the centre of Barcelona where the ‘original’ people from Barcelona could life comfortable, with markets, schools, hospitals etc. And he succeed!
Eixample Esquerra
The district Eixample Esquerra limits to the Placa Catalunya, the busiest square in the centre of Barcelona. From the Placa de Catalunya you can straight walk on to the famous Ramblas Moreover this district has got his own cultural hotspots. In Eixample Esquerra is the Passeig de Gracia, the shopping Mecca of Barcelona, with its unique pavement and sculpted street-lamps. The Sants-station is also situated in this district.
Eixample Dreta
Eixample Dreta limits also to the Placa Catalunya, the historic Gothic district and to the centre of Barcelona. This district of Barcelona is famous for its modern icons, including Gaudi’s cathedral, the Sagrada Familia and its surrealistic Gaudi houses, Casa Batllo and Casa Mila.
In Eixample Dreta are many boutiques specialised in modern art and Spanish design, with many bars and good restaurants.
Barcelona - Ramblas (La Rambla)
The ‘Rambla’ or ‘Las Ramblas’ is not a real district but we mention it separately because it is the most famous and touristic street in Barcelona. It contains a lot of kiosks, terraces, street vendors and street artists (and unfortunately also pick-pockets).
Originally, the Ramblas was a small river which flowed just outside the city walls of the old and historic Barcelona. In the 16th century it was possible to find monasteries and universities alongside the Rambla. In the 19th century the city wall of the old Barcelona were broken down and they placed buildings alongside dehydrated river. The new Ramblas of Barcelona was born. Nowadays the Ramblas is the most visited promenade of Barcelona.
Barcelona - Diagonal Mar
When Barcelona in 2004 started up the first edition of the Universal Forum Of Cultures, was this abandoned neighborhood thoroughly renovated. There was a big congress centre, a outstanding shed with solar cells, diverse blocks of houses, a big shopping centre, more luxury hotels, a new park and new beaches.
The new building project got much critic. It would be to exclusive and only for people with a high salary, while the nearby working-class district La Mina was one of the most poor districts of Barcelona. For a short holiday is a stay in this district comfortable. Outside all the activity in the centre, but close. By metro or bus you are in the centre in a couple of minutes.
Barcelona - Gracia
Gracia was a village just outside the city of Barcelona. But nowadays it is completely admitted by Barcelona. Gracia is situated at walking distance of the Art Nouveau part of the city, from the shopping street of Barcelona (Passeig de Gracia) to Gaudi’s most famous architecture like ‘La Pedrera’, ‘Casa Battló’, La Sagrada Familia and park Güell.
It is very nice to walk in the district of Gracia with all the squares (Placa del Sol), bars, terraces and restaurants. The Verdi Theater, where you can watch non-commercial movies in original language, is also situated in Gracia. The population exists out students, Catalans and artists, actors, musicians, photographers and designers.
Barcelona - Poble Sec
Poble Sec is a delicious, nice district of Barcelona. It is outside the very crowded centre, and not seized by the tourism and the traditional tapas bars. At the moment the district is being renovated and there are coming many new restaurants.
The district Poble Sec is situated on the foot of the mountain Montjüic, the decor of the olympic games in 1992. From the mountain you have a beautiful view over the city Barcelona. The district limits to the ‘Avinguda Parallel’ one of the main streets of Barcelona where you can find some very modern buildings, and also theaters..
A stay in an apartment in Poble Sec is serene, but you are in no time in the centre.
Barcelona - Poblenou
The centre of Poblenou looks like a small village with his own small shops, streets and own ‘Ramblas’, the Rambla del Poblenou. On this street you will find various excellent tapas bars and terraces. A lovely neighborhood.
This district is a combination of nostalgic and new buildings and is famous for its concert halls like the ‘Razzmatazz’. You will also find various disco’s, terraces, restaurants and bars.
Poble Sec is situated between the districts of Vila Olimpica and Diagonal Mar. From your apartment in Poble Nou it’s just a few minutes walking to the most beautiful beaches of Barcelona and because of that reason also popular with families and children. To the centre of Barcelona it takes a short ride by metro or bus.
Barcelona - Raval
The district ‘Raval’ is situated between the Ramblas and the Montjüic and is known as a quickly growing district in the renovated neighborhood of Barcelona, with its countless number of sophisticated (new) bars and restaurants but the district has kept its own authentic local charm.
It is the multicultural centre of the city. The district has a mix of beautiful old buildings, like the library of catalunya and Palau Güell and modern new buildings like the MACBA, the centre for modern culture and the museum of modern art, designed by architect Richard Meier.
The mix of tourism with the original inhabitants makes the lively Raval to an popular district of Barcelona. Famous art galleries in Raval and the Ramblas boulevard are at walking distance, while al attractions of the city and the beach are easily to reach by metro. The old harbor is at ten minutes walking distance just like El Borne, the popular market ‘La Boqueria’ at 5 minutes, as well as the Ramblas.
Barcelona - Ribera
This part of the city, sub-area of Born (El Borne) is fascinating and growing again. The completely renovated Santa Catarina market is famous among others because of the roof increased to an architecture project of world class.
The Santa Catarina market is a experience, with the fish-,vegetables- and fruit shops. The Picasso museum is just at five minutes walking distance, also like the modern and cosy district El Borne with the Picasso museum, trendy shops, tapas bars and restaurants.
The district defines itself as a mix of an old working-class quarter with a big dose tourism and limits to the popular district El Borne. The most curiosities, like the Ramblas and the great cathedral of Barcelona are at walking distance.
Barcelona - Vila Olimpica
The district Vila Olimpica claims to have the most clean beach of Barcelona called Bogatell. This neighborhood is seen as one of the most safest districts of Barcelona and does still have typical Catalan shops, restaurants and bars.
Vila Olimpica is the former olympic village of the Olympic games of 1992 and is quiet district at the moment. Although, with many bars and clubs on the beach which are at walking distance.
The district is attended by Catalans who are staying at the beach on Sundays, to eat fish in one of the many fish restaurants in Vila Olimpica.
With the metro or bus it’s just a couple of minutes to the centre of Barcelona. At walking distance for who likes a though walk, around 20 minutes.
Barcelona - Sarria - St. Gervasi
Sarrià - St. Gervasi is among the wealthiest neighbourhoods in Barcelona. There are plenty of private schools, clinics and embassy villas. It is a very nice area, very beautiful in places. If you are standing at the top of Muntaner Street looking down, it is easy to understand why people would want to live there. With many parks and green areas it is far quieter than in central Barcelona.
There are many bars, restaurants and nightclubs in Sarria along the streets of Amigo, Santaló and Maria Cubi. This part of the neighbourhood is a hip place to be in Barcelona.
The main tourist attractions of Sarria are the Tibidabo mountain and the wonderful natural science museum CosmoCaixa. Shopping in Sarria is varied and more exclusive than in central Barcelona.
The area Sarria is not shown on the map but is located above the district l'Eixample. Sarria is situated just 10 – 15 minutes by car from the centre of the Barcelona.
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