PAYE

Dear Fodorites,

We will be going to Barcelona for two weeks in September. We will be renting an apartment and are looking for suggestions for neighborhoods. We would like it to be convenient and safe (of course) but not too touristy. We generally try to stay in places where people actually live and work.
We will not have a car while we are in Barcelona but may rent one for a few days to drive to San Sebastian.

Suggestions would be great. Thanks.

alex2

I suggest you to stay in l'Eixample, near Rambla Catalunya and Passeig de Gràcia, if possible

Intrepid1

I would agree with Alex2; although I love staying in the Gothic Quarter, the Eixample (or, "the expansion&quot is a much more central area, especially near the Placa Catalunya.

wco81

Yeah I started off looking around in the Bario Gotico but I heard the streets are narrower so you're more subject to street noise.

Plus they were saying the areas south of the Pl. Catalunya, particularly in Raval, aren't safe.

There are some real high-end (price-wise) apts. for rent in Eixample. And being near the Passeig de Gracia appears to cost more. The accommodations I've seen which are north of the Diagonal or far east or west of Passeig de Gracia appear to cost less.

That said, I've heard Passeig de Gracia being called Barcelona's Champs Elysees. That's not necessarily a good thing, as far as a place to stay, is it?

Anyways, I booked an apt. on the Passeig but it's on the sixth floor and the bedroom is suppose to be away from the street so we'll see.

laclaire

Convenient, safe, working and living? Gràcia (basically, anything up Passeig de Gràcia beyond the Travessera de Gràcia (metro stops Fontana and Lesseps). There are a lot of students there, and a lot of nightlife, but the area is safe, convenient, and only the plazas are loud (though if you rent directly on P de G, you will deal with street noise).

L'Eixample is a huge neighborhood and it can also be pricey.

I live in the Raval (2 blocks down from Plaça de la Universitat) and love it there, though I admit it can be intimidating if you don't already know the area. I would not stay deep in the Raval, or in the Barrio Gótico.

Barceloneta is cool, but everything is about 10 minutes away from the nearest metro station, and who needs that?

Sants is also a great working and living neighborhood (metros Plaça de Sants, Sants Estaci&oacute, but I am not so sure there are a lot of short-time rentals available.

Any of the red stops between Universitat and Espanya (Urgell, Rocafort) are surrounded by nice areas that would be convenient to the visitor.

I used to live in Collblanc (near Camp Nou) and I do not recommend that for visiting, as it is far too far and local, but a little too much so.

OK, after all that I still say Gràcia.

Claire

laclaire

ttt

jtrandolph

We rented an apartment from Barcelona-on-line. It was called "Diagonal Mar" and was facing the sea, across the street. It was a few blocks from the Olympic Village. There was a bus stop at the corner and it took about 10 minutes to get to Plaza Cataluyna (sp?). Although we walked home from the Gothic quarter a couple of times. There was a good seafood restaurant at the end of a pier across the street. We enjoyed the peace and quiet and still being not too far from the action.

alex2

I still think that the best location is l'Eixample. It's nicer, safer and more centric than Gràcia or Sants. (Maybe more expensive too).

Intrepid1

I would rather be in L'Eixample as well in terms of centrality of location. The only "danger" I have ever personally suffered in my several trips to Barcelona was one pickpocketing incident on the Metro.

You realize, of course, that there will BE "tourists" from a lot of different countries in Barcelona but the city is large enough that if you stay in any real residential neighborhood you won;t feel as if you are in "tourist central."

otto

i loved loved loved barcelona, but was just glad our hotel was on las ramblas, and we were not in apt in the barrio gothic, or the ravel.

fishee

Why were you glad -- could you provide details about your impression of the barrio gotico or raval? I'm considering an apt several blocks south of Plaza Catalunya.

nessundorma

For what it's worth, I did not enjoy staying in the Barrio Gotico, nor did I enjoy walking on Las Ramblas. Once someone tried to grab my bag (I had to wrestle it back) and while such experiences are always exceptional, I still felt the Las Rambals area was one where quite a few people came to deliberately prey on tourists.

But apart from my bad experience, I preferred the more modern areas of Barcelona. In fact, I very much enjoyed walking through the orderly 21st century Pableu Neu (sp?), which is not on anybody's list of destinations as far as I know.

I would stay north of Plaza di Catalunya if a feeling of safety is high on your list of considerations.

otto

barrio gotic is great for walking, small (SMALL) shops, bars, etc...and there is always foot traffic, but the apartments seemed oldish, and sparce. la rambla is pretty crazy, people are overt in thier theft, you see them looking at you for something to take. and it least it's convenient, and there is alot of foot traffic, so you can just walk and walk...be that as it may, i still loved barcelona.

emnyc

I really dislike Las Ramblas. Not only does it feel sort of nasty in the someone wants to pick your pockets way, I don't like the shops and stalls and whole scene (except for La Boqueria, which is wonderful). It's full of tourist tack, and is scruffy and again, rather nasty. I don't like all the caged birds--find it disturbing. I very much liked wandering the Gothic quarter though, and felt safe and non-touristy staying in L'Eixample a few blocks north of Plaza Catalunya.

jtrandolph

If you are going to be there for two weeks. I would still recommend the area around Diagonal. You can get into the center very quickly by bus, or actually walk to the Olympic site. Two of us once actually walked from the center Our apartment, reserved through Barcelona-on-line, may be two expensive for you....it is two bedrooms...we were traveling with friends, but that complex seems to fit your needs.(it was called "Diagonal Mar".)

Pwople actually live and work in this area and it has great views of the sea and you feel as if you live there.