The best hotel deals in Barcelona
Secure your stay in Barcelona or its surroundings by booking a hotel at the most competitive rates online. Barcelona is renowned for its vibrant culture, stunning architecture, and beautiful beaches, making it one of the most sought-after holiday destinations in Southern Europe. By booking now, you’ll make the most of the best hotel deals in Barcelona, and discover unique experiences and amenities tailored to make your trip unforgettable.
Stay in the best hotels in Barcelona
Barcelona is home to a diverse range of accommodation options to suit every traveller’s budget and style, from economical choices, to the pinnacle of luxury. For those travelling on a budget, Barcelona offers a selection of cheap hotels that don’t compromise on comfort and convenience, providing the perfect base for exploring the city. Whether you opt for a budget-friendly hotel or a luxurious 5-star stay, Barcelona’s best hotels promise an unforgettable experience that complements the city’s vibrant atmosphere and unique charm.
5-star hotels in Barcelona
Barcelona is home to some of the most luxurious 5-star hotels in the world. These establishments are the epitome of elegance and comfort, combining contemporary amenities with classic charm. Enjoy top-notch amenities, such as rooftop terraces with panoramic views of the cityscape, gourmet restaurants serving exquisite Catalan cuisine, and spas offering a range of relaxing treatments. Staying in a 5-star hotel in Barcelona means indulging in the height of luxury, while being perfectly positioned to explore the city’s famous landmarks, vibrant nightlife, and bustling shopping districts.
Beach hotels near Barcelona
Barcelona holiday deals
With nearly 12 million tourists and 33 million overnight stays annually, Barcelona is one of the most visited cities in Southern Europe. Located between the Mediterranean and the Collserola mountain range, this city of 1.6 million inhabitants with over two millennia of history is an open-air museum known for its endless leisure options and delightful gastronomy. With our vacation deals in Barcelona, you can explore the Catalan capital whenever you want, at very tempting prices. Ready to pack your bags?
Getting to Barcelona
In most cases, the quickest and most comfortable way to travel to Barcelona is by plane. There are numerous flights arriving daily at Barcelona-El Prat Airport, the second busiest in Spain in terms of passenger volume. From there, you can easily reach the city, located 16 km away, by public transport: by bus (46, N16, N17, and N18), shuttle bus to Catalunya Square, metro (L9 Sud), or train (R2 Nord line of Rodalies Renfe). The fastest way to get from the airport to the city center is by taxi (the fare is around 40 euros).
It’s also possible to reach Barcelona by boat, either aboard one of the cruises in the Mediterranean that operate year-round or by ferry from the island of Mallorca (the companies Trasmediterránea and Baleària offer this service).
Another good option is to travel to Barcelona by train. For long-distance trips, the journey ends at Sants station, the second busiest station nationwide after Atocha in Madrid. Regional, national, and international trains, including high-speed ones (Euromed and AVE), arrive here. In the case of AVE, the journey from Madrid takes about 2.5 hours, and from Paris, it’s around 6 hours.
Another option is to go to Barcelona by bus. There are numerous bus companies, such as ALSA, that depart from other Spanish towns or other European cities like London, Brussels, or Paris. The journey from Madrid to Barcelona takes about 8 hours. The main bus stations are Nord, Sants, and Fabra i Puig, all of which have train and metro connections.
Additionally, it’s possible to reach Barcelona by private car, taking the AP-7 or Mediterranean highway (toll road up to Tarragona), the national road N-II, or many other communication routes. However, it’s important to note that parking in Barcelona is not easy.
The weather in Barcelona
Barcelona has a Mediterranean climate, with mild winters and hot, sunny summers, along with relatively high humidity levels. The monthly average temperature ranges from 9°C in January, the coldest month, to 24.5°C in August, the warmest. This makes any time ideal for a vacation in Barcelona.
Due to Barcelona’s location on the eastern coast of Spain, rainfall is scarce. It’s worth noting that Atlantic winds come from the west, so by the time they reach the city, they have already released precipitation in the western and inland regions of the Iberian Peninsula. Rainfall is typically concentrated in the fall and spring. Overall, annual precipitation hovers around 620 mm, with a peak of 100 mm in October, when it rains for about seven days. July is the driest month, with only 20 mm. While summer showers are rare, afternoon thunderstorms can occur.
What to see in Barcelona
Ciutat Vella (Old town)
One of the must-see places in Barcelona is its old town. Here, you’ll find the Gothic Quarter, with landmarks like the cathedral, built between the 13th and 15th centuries, featuring a neogothic façade, and the church of Santa Maria del Pi, adorned with a spectacular gothic rose window, once the tallest building in the city until the 19th century. Also worth a visit is the Plaza del Rei, one of the few that still preserves its medieval layout, with the Roman Barcino ruins visible underground; the Plaza de Sant Jaume, home to the City Hall and the Government of Catalonia; the evocative Plaza de Sant Felip Neri, where Antoni Gaudí attended his last mass, and the former Jewish quarter or Call, which houses a Roman house and one of the oldest synagogues in Europe.
In the Sant Pere, Santa Caterina i la Ribera neighborhood, also part of the Ciutat Vella district, you’ll find the Palau de la Música Catalana, a modernist landmark designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner, and the Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar, built between 1329 and 1383, a gem of Catalan gothic architecture. Nearby, you can visit for free El Born Centre de Cultura, with remnants of an 18th-century neighborhood located in the foundations of a former market. Very close by, the Picasso Museum opens its doors, housing 3,500 works by the brilliant Malagan artist.
Ciutat Vella is also home to one of Barcelona’s most attractive and popular spots: Las Ramblas, a promenade located between Catalunya Square and the Port of Barcelona. On its sidewalks, you can find cafes, kiosks, flower stalls, museums, human statues, painters, markets, the Liceu Theater, the La Boqueria or Sant Josep market, the porticoes of Plaça Reial, and many other attractions that have earned this picturesque street praise from none other than Federico García Lorca. On the other side of Las Ramblas lies the Raval neighborhood, where you can admire the impressive Palau Güell, one of Gaudí’s early creations, the former Santa Creu hospital, or the Sant Pau del Camp monastery, the finest example of Romanesque architecture in the city.
Montjuic Mountain
Another point of interest in Barcelona is Montjuïc mountain. Dominated by the Montjuïc Castle, it boasts gardens like those of Mossèn Costa i Llobera, Joan Maragall, Joan Brossa, and Laribal. It also showcases some of the venues that hosted the 1992 Olympic Games, such as the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium, the Palau Sant Jordi, and the Bernat Picornell pools. Among the museums in Montjuïc, mention should be made of the National Art Museum of Catalonia, home to the most important collection of Romanesque painting in the world; the Joan Miró Foundation, CaixaForum, the Museum of Archaeology of Catalonia, the Ethnological Museum and Museum of World Cultures, the Olympic and Sports Museum, and Poble Espanyol, a complex with craft workshops, restaurants, replicas of emblematic buildings from all over Spain, and even a flamenco tablao that opens in the evenings.
Parc de la Ciutadella
Another place of interest in Barcelona is Ciutadella Park. Covering an area of over 17 hectares and located on the grounds formerly occupied by a military fortress from 1716 to 1868, it was the setting for the 1888 Universal Exposition. Among its major attractions are the Governor’s Palace, the seat of the Catalan Parliament, the El Desconsol sculpture by Josep Llimona, and the Barcelona Zoo. Not far from there stands the iconic Arc de Triomf, built in the neo-Mudejar style.
Sagrada Familia
In any case, Barcelona’s star attraction is undoubtedly the Sagrada Familia, Gaudí’s masterpiece and one of the most recognizable elements of the Barcelona skyline. After its completion, expected in 2026, it will be the second largest church in the world after St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, Rome. Other Gaudí works in Barcelona include Park Güell, an unfinished garden city project; Casa Vicens, on Corolines Street, La Pedrera (or Casa Milà), and Casa Batlló, these two on Passeig de Gràcia. All of them are part of UNESCO’s World Heritage, a distinction also held by the Modernist Site of Sant Pau, close to the Sagrada Familia.
What to see in Barcelona
Head to the beach
One of Barcelona’s major draws is its 10 urban beaches and swimming areas, covering an approximate extension of 5 km. From north to south, these are the Fòrum bathing area and the beaches of Llevant, Nova Mar Bella, Mar Bella, Bogatell, Nova Icària, Somorrostro, Barceloneta, Sant Miquel, and Sant Sebastià. All of them are well connected by public transport to the city centre and have all the services you need to enjoy the sun and the sea during your vacation in Barcelona.
Also facing the Mediterranean, you can leisurely explore the Olympic Port and the Olympic Village, built for the 1992 Olympic Games. After the event, the area transformed into a space filled with trendy restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. Two of the main landmarks in this part of Barcelona are the Hotel Arts and the Torre Mapfre, the two tallest skyscrapers in the city (154 m). In the same area, you’ll find Frank Gehry’s El Peix d’Or sculpture and the Grand Casino Barcelona
Entertainment and events
Furthermore, Barcelona is also a major cultural capital, boasting nearly 30 cinemas and almost 40 theaters. The Catalan capital also features the Tibidabo Amusement Park, one of the oldest in Europe, with some rides almost a century old, like La Talaia or L’Avió, making it an enjoyable destination for children and adults alike.
Within what there is to do in Barcelona, a mention of Barcelona’s events and festivals is a must. In addition to its main festival, La Mercè, some neighborhoods also organize events like the Gràcia and Sants festivals, famous for their decorated streets. There are also major fairs and exhibitions dedicated to companies and professionals, like the Mobile World Congress, held annually at the end of February, or sporting events like the Conde de Godó Tennis Tournament or the football league and Champions League matches played by FC Barcelona at Camp Nou, near Diagonal Avenue.
Hiking and outdoor activities
Barcelona is also an outstanding destination for outdoor sports. In addition to its countless gyms and sports facilities, like the aforementioned Olympic Port, or the opportunity for parasailing or jet ski rides on Barcelona’s beaches, the Collserola Natural Park is a must-visit for hiking enthusiasts. However, it’s not the only option, as a new stretch of the Camino de Santiago to Montserrat starts from the church of Sant Jaume. In addition, since spring 2018, this parish has been the endpoint of the Vía Marina, a new Jacobean route that connects Sarrià de Ter (Girona) with the Catalan capital.
Indulge in Catalan cuisine
In any case, a vacation in Barcelona would not be complete without trying the delights of Catalan cuisine, considered one of the best in the world. Among the more than 7,400 bars and restaurants in Barcelona, almost thirty boast a Michelin star (one of them, Lasarte by Martín Berasategui, has been awarded 3 stars). Equally recommendable is reserving a table at some of the traditional seafood restaurants in La Barceloneta, specializing in rice dishes and fresh fish, or their traditional taverns. In one of them, La Cova Fumada, the famous Barceloneta bombs were invented. Other must-try ingredients include chicken and artichokes from El Prat de Llobregat, as well as typical dishes like Rossini cannelloni or Catalan-style broad beans.
With our vacation deals in Barcelona, all of this will be within your reach. Check out our promotions and discounts, book your room in the best apartments and hotels in Barcelona, and get ready to fall in love with the treasures of the Ciudad Condal at unbeatable prices. We look forward to welcoming you!
