28 Best Hotels in Catalonia, Valencia, and the Costa Blanca, Spain

Ask the staff and they'll tell you that chamarel means a "mixture of colors," and this hotel brimming with charm, built as a grand family home in 1840, is certainly an eccentric blend of styles, cultures, periods, and personalities.

A triumph of design, opened in 2012, this elegant modern hotel is seamlessly wedded to an important historical property: a 14th-century Gothic palace, built on the 12th-century Arabic wall and over the Roman Circus, fragments of which are on show. The marble staircase and coffered wood ceilings are original; the rooms and furnishings, deck-style terraces on the first and second floors, and the lounge-library are all cutting-edge contemporary, as are the splash pool and sundeck. Big, round bathtubs on platforms in the bedrooms may not be to everyone's taste, but they do lend a romantic touch. Sucede, the hotel's well-regarded, innovative restaurant, serves up creative riffs on Mediterranean standards at surprisingly affordable prices.

Set in a former palace and fusing ancient remnants—including sections of the city’s original medieval walls—with sophisticated, contemporary design, this boutique hotel offers a quiet yet central location to explore the old town. Every room is unique, from wood-beamed duplexes to suites with marvelous ceiling frescoes.

Opened in 1932 by farmer-turned-entrepreneur Josep Ensesa, the original hotel grew from a cluster of country villas into a sprawling complex of buildings of extraordinary splendor that have attracted celebrity guests from Orson Welles and Ava Gardner to Sean Connery.

Built in 1906 by architect Antoni de Falguera i Sivilla, a disciple of Josep Puig i Cadafalch, this Moderniste gem sits on the square in the heart of the Vila Vella, steps from the beach. Painted coffered ceilings, a stunning carved stone fireplace, and stained-glass double doors enhance the interior, and there's an inner courtyard—a lush garden with palm trees, flowers, and fountains—that's a perfect place to cozy up with a glass of sherry and while away the early evening. Some guest rooms have private terraces; the suite is a duplex with spectacular panoramic views.

Located in Begur’s medieval old town, this eco-friendly boutique hotel embraces the building’s 17th-century architecture while introducing striking modern elements, like a greenhouse-style breakfast room. Each of the eight rooms is individually designed, with marvelous original details such as vaulted brick ceilings.

This nicely designed 19th-century town house sits on a quiet street at the edge of the old city, a minute's walk from the Plaza Almoina and the cathedral in one direction, and steps from the Turia gardens in the other. Owner Luis García Alarcón is an antiquarian, and the hotel reflects his eye for classic design and architectural elegance: original decorative brickwork, geometric tile floors, and curved ceiling beams.

This pretty little hostal (guesthouse) in the old city, on the edge of El Call, makes up in value and location what it lacks in amenities and services; when there's no staff on call, you come and go with your own key.

The first hotel from the three-Michelin-starred Roca Brothers occupies a historic building in the medieval center, where, curiously, the glass-walled lobby looks onto a chocolate workshop. The 15 spacious earth-toned suites feature handcrafted furnishings, and hotel guests can enjoy a “tasting breakfast” of local seasonal products on the rooftop terrace, with fabulous views of old Girona.

Rooms in this 17th-century hermitage attached to a 15th-century watchtower have original vaulted ceilings, hardwood floors, and interiors accented with floral prints; the larger doubles and the suite can accommodate extra beds for children. 

In a restored 19th-century palace, this boutique hotel looks out at the Porta de La Mar, which marked the entry to the old walled quarter of Valencia. White marble and frosted glass provide a sense of light and quiet elegance, and the urban spa is truly luxurious. Ask for a room facing the interior courtyard. The restaurant, Ampar, serves creative Mediterranean and Valencian cuisine and a sumptuous breakfast (extra charge).

Once the summer home of a wealthy family, this Moderniste hotel has a grand stone stairway and medieval-style tower, as well as a garden and a lawn where you can relax by the two pools. Rooms are modestly furnished with just the basic amenities, though a few have ornate antique headboards and private balconies.

The pièce de résistance at this simple, pleasant hotel, located at the highest point of Altea's historic center, is the roof terrace with its stunning view; from here, you look out over the church's distinctive blue-tiled cupola and the surrounding tangle of streets, with a Mediterranean backdrop.

Travelers on tight budgets will appreciate this basic yet impeccable lodging, set in a former nunnery and located on a central pedestrian street in the historic quarter just steps from the Town Hall. The rooms are nothing fancy, but the price is right.

What began as a small hostel in the 1920s is now a sprawling luxury hotel, run by the fourth generation of the same family.

Located on the beach, this hotel is in hailing distance of the old quarter in the medieval fortress; rooms are simple, and those with sea views have private terraces. Proprietor Maria-Eugènia Serrat, a native Tossan, lavishes warm personal attention on every guest. The restaurant has canopied seating on the promenade and specializes in traditional fish stews, with ingredients fresh off the boat.

Dalí had his own private dining room in this former stagecoach relay station, though the guest rooms, refurbished in bland pale-wood tones and standard contemporary furnishings, offset the hotel's historic 19th-century exterior.

This family-run hotel in a restored 1912 building in central casco antiguo features lovingly preserved exposed-stone walls, ceramic tile floors, and rooms furnished with eccentric artwork and quirky charm.

This small, typically Mediterranean bay-side hotel has a quiet location, a 10-minute seafront amble from Cadaqués center. The best rooms have balconies with sea views.

In a handsomely restored 19th-century building across the Onyar River, with views into Girona's historic old town, this modest hotel occupies a strategic spot at the end of the Pont de Pedra (Stone Bridge), a Girona landmark in the center of the shopping district.

In business for more than 50 years, this hotel on the cove of Es Pianc is just a five-minute walk from Cadaqués's center and is a good option for families, with its dedicated family rooms, pool, and bike and kayak rental.

The central location and the cute rooms at this budget choice, just off the Rambla Vella in the Plaça de la Font, make for a practical base for exploring downtown Tarragona.

Offering unbeatable sea views, this family-owned hotel opened in 1955 and is known for its friendly service. Updated rooms feature antique painted headboards and contemporary bathrooms; some have balconies facing the sea.

Surrounded by gardens with the Sant Pol Beach just below, this elegant, family-friendly property features a modern spa with an indoor pool, plus an outdoor pool with views of the sea.

Inside a renovated 18th-century building, this thoughtfully designed boutique hotel features a wide variety of room layouts; ask for one facing the beautiful baroque facade of the neighboring Ceramics Museum.

Set on the quieter east end of Sitges overlooking a charming square, this petite hotel offers affordable accommodations and a variety of room configurations. Rooms are bright and breezy, and some feature balconies and sea views.

This stately hotel, set in a 1917 building in a quiet area of the city, features an enormous, lushly planted interior garden surrounded by dining terraces of its three restaurants. A high-end spa with indoor pool is another of its many amenities.