Advice on best area to stay in Barcelona
 

I am looking on Airbnb for places to stay for a week in Barcelona. Love this apt. with view of Sagrada Familia, but it seems far away to see other things closer into city center. Also looking at Born and Ravel area. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. We love walking but don't want to have to walk a hour to Ramba and think using the metro a lot would cost a lot adding to the cost of the flat. We are on a budget being in Spain for 1 month. Thanks for advice . Donna

Raval is not a very nice area, I wouldn't stay there. Lots of people like Born, that would be fine.

Metro costs are rather trivial in your vacation budget, I wouldn't choose a place based on the cost of metro to go some place. You can buy travelcards that give you unlimited travel for a day on the metro/bus, etc for only about 6 euro a day. So it wouldn't matter how many times you used it. Or you can buy a T10 tickets which gives you ten trips for only 10 euro if you only wanted to use it a couple times a day.

But no, you aren't going to be walking everywhere from Sagrada Familia. There are lots of things to see that you probably wouldn't be walking to from Born, either, though. I went all over, some places are rather far away (Parc Guell, the Miro Museum, Catalonian Art Museum, etc). Last time I stayed in Eixample sort of around where the Passeig de Gracia metro stop is, and I didn't even walk from there to the sea, I took the metro.

I think most people like Born, Gotic quarter, Eixample or right around the Ramblas. I don't like the latter, but some people do and there a couple hotels on it. But you won't be finding an apt on it, anyway, I'm sure. The Eixample area is pretty big and you have right and left, that might be more what you want for logistics. Gracia would be cheaper but again, you are farther out.

If you love that apt so much near Sagrada Familia, maybe that's the way to go.

wherever you stay in Barcelona, you will end up using the metro so it doesn't matter so much where you stay so long as you like it.

that said we stayed up near the Magic fountain and it was a long walk down to the Plaza Espagna stop, which had long correspondences, so it's not an area i would particularly recommend.

I use to stay in medieval and vibrant El Born: http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.c...s/el-born.html

El Raval is also great if you want to stay in a very central and bohemian atmosphere area outside the most beaten tracks. Definitely on the way up to become one of the most attractive areas in the city for people interested in a local feel city, cafes, tapas bars and art experience: http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/wv3/.../el-raval.html
http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/wv3/en/page/1246/.html
http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/wv3/...29,30,31,32%5D

Thank you for your information so far. I just starting looking for a place to stay in Barcelona for Oct. 1-8 and am still not that familiar with Sagrada area. I like that it seems more quiet and no, I don't want to walk everywhere or worry about budget for metro... It was just the Sagrada area seems far away from other sights in the city. I do like the host and she has gotten great reviews on airbnb which is important to me. Is Magic Fountain near Sagrada, annhig? I liked Ravel and Born and don't know about Exiample, Christina, so need to study that area as well. Thank you for all the links,kimhe. Planning a trip is part of the fun.

We stayed near La Sagrada Familia in part of Eixample. It wasn't remote at all.

Don't know how many people are in your party BUT I heartily recommend the hotel Casa Camper as the location can't be beat (right off Las Ramblas) plus they give you a hearty breakfast, bicycles AND an automat type food/drink availability all day and into the evening which could save you food costs. You actually get two rooms...one across from the other which is very novel and the staff is unbelievably NICE and super helpful! Did I say that the manager is a WOMAN! She also runs the sister hotel in Berlin.

Please ensure that any apartment you rent is registered by the local government.
The law states that every apartment rented out should have a number, this number is started off with the letters HUTB. It in theory should be shown on the website where the property is advertised for rent. But that is still not being done, unfortunately.
You can look up the number on this website to see if it is listed and that the listed details match.
http://www14.gencat.cat/rtcwebguies/...do?pst=6&lg=en
If they are not listed or the details are not correct then maybe you should consider looking for another rental.

Video shows the trouble occurring for the neighbours who want the illegals closed down.
http://elpais.com/elpais/2015/04/15/...29_809246.html

The Sagrada familia is on the edge of Dreta de l'Eixample, (right Eixample as opposed to left Eixampla on the other side of Passeig de Gracia). In general a large, modern and upscale part of town, and the Sagrada area is not supercentral: http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.c...barcelona.html

The Magic fountain is some 4 miles from Sagrada familia.
2 miles from heart of the city Placa de Catalunya.
The Barceloneta city beach is some 3 miles away.
Also about 3 miles to the Colombus monument at the bottom of Las Ramblas.
And some 5 miles from fabulous Montjuic (Jewish mountain) with some first class museums, theaters, 1992 Olympic sport arenas, greens and the Castle on the top with great views of the city and the sea: http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/wv3/...-montjuic.html
You can take the Teleferic up to the castle: http://www.telefericdemontjuic.cat/en/

Both El Born and Raval will be much closer to all above.

Is Magic Fountain near Sagrada, annhig?>>

no. as kimhe says it's quite a way from most of the parts of Barcelona that you will want to see and that's why I said I wouldn't recommend it!

Some tips for Barcelona on a budget:

When eating out, make the lunch the main meal of the day, like most locals. Most neighbourhood restaurants will have a great value three course lunch menu with drinks incl for some 9-15€. Two of my casual lunch favourites are Navia in El Born and l'Aribau close to the university.
Navia: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...Catalonia.html
l'Aribau: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...Catalonia.html

Some tapas bars in Barcelona also offers a free tapa with every glass of beer, wine etc. La Xula Taperia has this offer between 5 and 9pm. And most tapas bars in the great atmosphere Poble Sec District, at the foot of Montjuic, are in on the Thursday night offer of a tapa and a glass for 2€.
La Xula: http://www.timeout.com/barcelona/bar...a-xula-taperia
Tapas Thursdays in Poble Sec, I believe the offer is still on: http://www.barcelona-metropolitan.co...del-poble-sec/
http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/wv3/...%20bodega.html

The best and freshest fish and seafood in self-service La Paradeta for bargain prices. Four restaurants around town, one in El Born and one close to Sagrada Familia:
http://www.laparadeta.com/
http://www.spottedbylocals.com/barcelona/la-paradeta/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/la-paradeta-born-barcelona

And nothing beats going to one of the fabulous food markets and then have a picnic in one of Barcelona's parks. If you stay in El Born, go to the fabulous and close by Santa caterina food market and then off for a picnic in the Ciutadella park.
Santa Caterina market: http://www.laparadeta.com/
Ciutadella park: http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/wv3/...iutadella.html

Thank you all for your imput. I decided to go with the apt. in Sagrada as the host is wonderful and the view is lovely and we can use the metro to get to city center. Donna

Then you probably stay some 10-15 mins walking from bargain gourmet food Restaurant Somodo. Four course lunch with wine and coffee incl at 18,50€!!!, and nine course special menu at night for 35€ (wine not incl): http://www.somodo.es/english/
http://www.barcelona-metropolitan.co...s-somod%C3%B3/
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...Catalonia.html

You are also very close to the charming and local atmosphere Gracia district:
http://www.timeout.com/barcelona/things-to-do/gracia
http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.c...ia-barrio.html
http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/wv3/...ark-guell.html
http://suitelife.com/barcelona-barri...-neighborhood/

Not sure you would have to go so much to the city center ;-)
Have a great trip!