DeborahAnn

For our first trip to Barcelona, 8 nights at the end of May, I'm trying to decide between hotels or apartments located in the Eixample area above but near Pl de Catalunya or the Barri Gotic.

We would like to walk in the evening to restaurants but also want to get a comfortable night sleep without excessive street noise from bars and clubs. We will use the metro but usually end up walking to most points of interest so I thought these two neighborhoods would be a central location for our stay.

Thank you for any comments or suggestions. Deborah

danon

Eixample would be my choice .
We are going to Barcelona for the 5th time in April and staying in Eixample ( again).

suec1

Well my impression is that hotels / apartments in the Eix area will probably be roomier and newer, MAYBE the area is a bit less touristy. Obviously the Barri Gotic is the medieval part of the city - narrow, twisty streets - some very old buildings. So go for the atmosphere you would prefer - we have always stayed in the BG. Please take note of posts here that mention the pickpocket situation in the metro - esp. in the stations with alot of visitors there is ALOT of trickery. But Barcelona is great - you should have a wonderful time no matter which part you stay in.

colduphere

We just stayed six nights in Barcelona in neither of the areas you mentioned. But if we go again we would stay in Barri Gotic. Very interesting area.

DeborahAnn

colduphere, where have you stayed? In what way is Barri Gotic interesting?? When my husband describes something I've prepared for dinner as interesting I don't always take it as a compliment!! Deborah

PRLCH

Following your replies with interest as we too are looking at these areas, although I have found a beautiful apartment in the Poble Nou area of Barcelona near Mar Bella beach which is very tempting- further out I realise, but I gather well connected by metro.

yestravel

We've stayed in both areas and in el Born this last MAy. Like el Born the best. Perhaps give an example of an area u like in another city -- e.g., Paris, the 4th or the 6th? NYC, the UWS or LES etc.

colduphere

DeborahAnn - we stayed at the Fira Palace which is very close to the Plaza de España. Actually we thought that was great as well so maybe we are just easy to please.

The BG is full of very narrow streets. In fact it has a labyrinthine street plan, with streets leading to squares. We are suckers for any area that looks old and the BG looks old. It is a destination on its own regardless of whether you are staying there. There are plenty of restaurants and shops and lots of people milling around.

It is close to Las Ramblas (which we also liked) and the waterfront. By the way I think you will find that your two possible locations are very close to one another. Barcelona is more compact than it looked to us on a map.

DeborahAnn

yestravel, In Paris we stay in the 4th, 5th and 6th with our favorite the 5th. In London it's the Bloomsbury area. In NYC its the midtown westside, the streets around the theatre and garment districts. In Rome its near the Pantheon.

colduphere, I do see that the two area are close to each other. I'm certainly attracted to the medieval streets but I also like sunlight filled rooms and quiet in the wee hours of the morning. The Fodor's book does state that the Gothic Quarter is quiet--that's a plus.

One of the apartments that I like because it has a sunny terrace with outdoor furniture is right in the midst of what both Fodor's 2011 Spain and Time Out Barcelona describe as Gaixample with a concentration of gay venues. How much would a "concentration" be?? Thanks, Deborah

cheryllj

I really liked staying in the Barri Gotic (close to El Born) because, like colduphere, I'm a sucker for anything that looks old. I loved the narrow winding streets and the gothic Cathedral and all that jazz, and wherever I go, I'm probably going to stay wherever the "old town" is, if there is one.

Otoh, when I visited the Eixample area I realized that I probably would have enjoyed staying there too. I also agree that Barcelona is surprisingly compact - on the map they seemed farther apart. As far as excessive street noise goes, I think that would vary by hotel and by room, not neighborhood. My room in the BG didn't have noise, but there were certainly some streets that had a lot going on well into the night.

annhig

hi cold - we stayed at the Fira Palace too!

nice place [huge rooms] but rather a long way from the action, we thought.

of the two choices given by the OP, i think I would choose the eixample.

colduphere

Hi Ann - we spent a lot of time on Montjuic, around the Olympic Stadium and near the fountains and the Catalunya Art Museum. Such a beautiful city.

oopsy

We stayed in El Born on our first trip and really enjoyed the neighborhood. We rented the Born 1 apartment from Habitat (C/ Flassaders), just a few steps from the amazing Hofmann Pastry Shop (yum). Easy access to so much in the neighborhood, to BG, and to everything else via metro. Street noise was not a problem for us at night. We did have a little terrace at the back of our apartment. One of my favorite photos of me from the trip is me sitting on the terrace, looking completely relaxed with a bowl of fruit, a glass of wine, shelling fresh favas. I loved that terrace. This year, though, we're trying something different and staying in Eixample.

As others have noted, the city is quite compact.You will be able to spend time in whatever neighborhoods grab you.

annhig

we spent a lot of time on Montjuic, around the Olympic Stadium and near the fountains and the Catalunya Art Museum. >>

lol, cold, we spent a lot of time walking down to the plaza d'espagna and trapsing through the metro tunnels, as my feet could testify.

next time, can I come with you?

annhig

ps - we did have a great meal at the Galician restaurant opposite the hotel on the last night. I'd definitely go there again.

colduphere

That's funny. We never find great restaurants. Never. In fact most of our meals were bought at the little pastry shop across from the hotel. The woman always smiled at me and spoke English. But she never smiled and only spoke Catalan to my wife.

That means we can never go back to that pastry shop.

kerstinm

I spent the first week in December 2010 in Barcelona and stayed at the Hotel Colon. Perfect location (directly across from the cathedral), 5 minute walk to La Rambla and a lovely hotel, all in all. Best breakfast I've ever had when travelling as well.

annhig

didn't even see the pastry shop!

we found a nice cafe down by the metro stop [on the side next to the police station] where they did a very good breakfast [large glass of fresh orange, pastry, bread, jam and butter plus coffee/tea/chocolate] for €6 each as opposed to the €16 the hotel wanted.

otherwise we mainly tapas'd our way round the city. [is "to tapas" a verb? it ought to be] i love being in spain as you can always find something good to eat!

or should that be "everyone except colduphere can always find something good to eat" ?

Planner13

colduphere;
I am going to Barcelona for 6 days early June. Sounds like you had a fabulous time. There have been mixed reviews regarding Barcelona vs Madrid, but going to take a day trip to Madrid. Any tips about your trip would be fabulous.

yestravel

DeborahAnn - we stayed on a main street in elBorn, Argentina and it wasn't noisy at all. I think it seemed like a youngish neighborhood, easy to access the beach and the other parts of Barcelona. I'm not really sure where elBorn began and the BG began actually. I do think those 2 areas are very different then Exiample. Exiample seemed more open with wide blvds. and in some ways more upscale. As pointed out all the areas are easily walkable to each other. Maybe find a place u like and pick the area based on the lodging. Have a great trip -- love Barcelona!