Best Location to Stay in Barcelona
 

Thinking of going to Barcelona for 4 nights in May. Wondering best location of hotel for seeing sites.

Wondering:

do you have budget constraints?

have issues with using public transport?

willing to get up and out early in the day?

We stayed in the Gothic Quarter which we liked and found quite convenient.

What is best? It means something different for each person.
The tourist sights are not in one area so if you stay in one area you maybe have to travel to see some other sights.
We need more information from you to give you a good suggestion.

We've never been before and want to see the major sites. We usually stay in a Marriott when we travel overseas or something similar and since we'll only be there 4 nights don't mind splurging on something nicer. We don't mind walking places and usually take a tour of the city to get our bearings and then go back and revisit places of interest. Hope this helps.

I can highly recommend just outstanding Hotel Neri. Stayed here little over a year ago, our best hotel experience ever. In the medieval Gothic quarter, very close to the Cathedral and heart of the city Plaça de Catalunya, but in a tranquile and secluded alley down towards small and beautiful Plaza San Felipe Neri. Large and laid-back roof-top terrace with bar for hotel guests. 20% off if payed more than 30 days in advance, which for us meant some 190€/night. http://www.hotelneri.com/en/

Info and guest reviews: http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/nerihr.en.html
Tripadvisor: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...Catalonia.html

Five minutes walking to Las Ramblas, the Boqueria food market, Palau de la Musica, the Santa Maria de la Mar Church and the Picasso museum. Fifteen-twenty minutes walking to two of the major Gaudi sights, Casa Mila/La Pedrera and Casa Battlo, and add an extra ten minutes to plain fantastic La Sagrada Familia. Taxis are everywhere and cheap, you usually pay some only some 5-6€ between two places within the relatively large city center. http://barcelonaturisme.com/

I have no idea what qualities Marriott have over other hotels. But you can certainly stay at a Marriott hotel in Barcelona http://www.marriott.com/hotel-search/spain.hotels/
Apart from taxis one can walk, take a bus or the metro around the city.

There is a Marriott right on the Ramblas and it's close to the Placa de Catalunya, the market and the Gothic quarter. It's a really nice hotel as you'd expect and well placed.

Don't be put off by people telling you it's noisy on the Ramblas, we've stayed in several hotels on it and never been disturbed.

"There is a Marriott right on the Ramblas"

Don't go near the Ramblas. It is one of the worst "tourist" streets I've ever seen - just a bunch of tickey tack hawkers, over priced crappy restaurants and tourist kitch.

The best general area is near Placa de Catalunya. Most places you will want to go are between Placa de Catalunya and the water. However, you might want to go up to the Xiample for modernista buildings and shopping. A Placa de Catalunya location gives you easy walking to each. As a bonus, the airport bus stops there as does the subway, so it is ideal for transportation. There are plenty of well rated hotels the area

"Don't go near the Ramblas." Sorry, don't agree at all. The Marriott is within a couple of hundred yards of the Placa de Catalunya and the part of the city between there and the water is the main stretch of the Ramblas.

There are a number of decent restaurants either on or just off the Ramblas to both sides, for instance like Quo Vadis or Quatre Gatos and Los Caricoles at the Bari Gotic end. With just a few days in the city I'd stay as central as I could, bearing in mind though the Sagrada Familia and Parc Guell are a little way from the PdC.

Other great places on famous - but admittedly hectic and touristy Las Ramblas - are of course

- the Boqueria food market, one of the finest in the world: http://www.gardenista.com/posts/la-boqueria-market

- Cafe de l'Opera, a fine respite and perfect for a cup, a glass or a bite. http://www.spottedbylocals.com/barce...afe-de-lopera/

- Tablao Cordobes is one of the oldest and best reputed flamenco restaurants in Spain, also held in high esteem by the artists themselves: http://www.tablaocordobes.es/en/

- And Can Culleretes, just off Las Ramblas, is the oldest restaurant in town (from 1786). Serves no fuss traditional food in an excellent atmosphere. Popular with both tourists and locals: http://www.culleretes.com/en/home

the area near Los Caricoles is one I would avoid late at nights, Same goes for most of the streets south t of Ferran.
My preference in Barcelona is away from Ramblas in Eixample.( not far from Catalunya)

Afree with danon that there are other much more interesting parts of Barcelona than the area in and immediately around Las Ramblas, not least at night. Great vibe in parts of Eixample (modern, local feel and upscale), in El Born (medieval, a fine mix of people and laid-back) and in the Poble Sec (local atmosphere and lots of great tapas bars).

Eixample, in and around Carrer Aribau: http://suitelife.com/2011/02/28/arib...treet-profile/

El Born: http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.c...s/el-born.html

Poble Sec: https://www.airbnb.no/locations/barcelona/el-poble-sec

You guys are great! You've really given us something to think about. Many thanks for all your advice. We'll check into all suggestions.