sofee

We just got back from Spain and stayed in this apartment in the El Born/La Ribera area. http://www.habitatapartments.com/born3.htm We loved it. The area has lots of pedestrianized streets, funky shops, bars, restaurants.

danon

If running is that important to you,
being near the park may be your choice.
El Borne is full of narrow streets, very charming, no traffic, many bars
and jammed with people at night.

Paseo Gracia is the most elegant
street in Barcelona; the area is full of beautiful buildings , expensive shops, grand hotels and tree lined streets . It is true, though,there is a lot of traffic on the large boulevards in Eixample.

As a matter of fact, getting from one part of Barcelona to the other may take 15 minutes on foot.
It is just a meter of taste.
Soho or the UES ( to continue with NY analogy)

danon

BDW

travel buzzing,
it seems you have been promoting way2stay for long time.
Just wondering........

GiuliaPiraino

travelbuzzing, I was looking at Way2Stay, is that a good company? I was looking at Habitat too.

GiuliaPiraino

How is the area around Placa Tetuan? I really love this apartment http://www.habitatapartments.com/att...apartamento=25 but if it's a bad area, I'll pass.

I like the park idea, but I definitely don't want to be in an area that's known for being loud at night. That's most of Barcelona right?

Maribel

danon,
Your NYC comparison is an excellent one. The Eixample versus El Borne questions is indeed a matter of tastes, of lifestyle, of pocketbook, and I think, of one's age. El Borne appeals to a younger crowd as it has the funky, trendy, hip, edgy appeal of a Soho or Tribeca. Or at least that's how I see it as a fifty year old.
Barcelona's Eixample to me is like Madrid's Salamanca district, or as you say, Manhattan's Upper East Side.

GiuliaPiraino

Is it me or are there mainly 2-3+ bedroom apartments available in Eixample? The 1 bedrooms I'm finding are about 110 euros and look like a closet. Additionally, most of the apartments look kind of, how can I say it, not very nice at all Is this indicative of the area? I thought Eixample west was a nice area? So I'm frustrated, I've never seen this large a selection of bad apartments. I found one nice one on Passeig de Gracia, but it's 198 euros a night and it's 3 bedrooms! Grrrrrrr.

GiuliaPiraino

This is the one on Passeig de Gracia http://www.habitatapartments.com/att...apartamento=25
and the second one is Placa Teutan, which I don't know about the area. These are the two apartments I like. The attic apartment near Teutan is pretty cheap, it's 110 euros, but what is this area like???

http://www.friendlyrentals.com/en/ba...ent-1654-1.htm

danon

the apt om the 10 floor looks very hip ( also, high floor - less street noise)
It is very central but I am not familiar with the exact location;
Maribel might be.

travel_buzzing

i agree that passeig de gracia is a stunner, but i think el borne is your best bet giulia.

danon- ive mentioned this before: i write txt and guides for way2stay.
it's not promotion i can just personally recommend the company, their ethics, as well as giving recommendations for activities/ areas in Barcelona.

opaldog

sofee: You say that you stayed in Born 3 apartment in Barcelona. We are looking at that one and another Princesa 3 on the habitat apartments website. Could you tell me more about the Born 3 apartment?
Thanks

Eurocentric

I love El Born and near the cathedral (sort of pedestrian-only but always watch for motorbikes) but you might also consider Gracia. This more residential district is north of L'Eixample and can be hilly if you go too far up. But it is quieter and more authentic. I think running wouldn't be an issue there, at least early. Here's one possibility:

http://www.likelivingthere.com/Docum...a_Lluis.bs.pdf

Eixample has wider sidewalks but is likely to be busier. More upscale, few security issues. (Avoid near Las Ramblas both for the noise and the scammers etc.)

http://www.likelivingthere.com/Docum...le_Bruc.bs.pdf

Both of these run about 150 nightly in high season.

Finally, Poble Nou is a middle class residential area, flat, not too far from the water. Don't have any suggestions there but I'm sure there are places. There is less historic architecture etc. but the Metro connections are good (as long as you're not too late, as SUMMAGOLD points out).

LolaS26

Hi Giulia, I'm curious where you decided to stay. I will be traveling to Barcelona with my husband and my baby this October and we are also looking to rent an apartment that's in an area not too touristy within walking distance to shopping, restaurants, grocery.

janisj

Lola: This thread is more than seven years old. You will do much better if you start a new thread of your own.