Help! So confused!

Have you looked at map of the city, perhaps in a guidebook? Google maps has neighborhoods delineated. As well as the locations of sites, so you can see where neighborhoods are in relations to which sites you are most interested in. Guidebook will also describe the differences between neighborhoods. The "best" area depends on different things for different people. I like the Gracia neighborhood because it is not as intensely urban but I can still access everything via nearby metro stops. Some people might not like it because they feel it is too far away from where they want to be. Others prefer the Eixample, others prefer the Gothis neighborhood. I read about each area and why people like it and then I picked on that suited us.

Thank you. The Gothic area is standing out to me. I guess I am getting confused by so many areas to choose from. We are not even real sure what we want to see so that is part of the problem. Just want to do lots of wandering. Sigh. I will pull my Rick Steve’s book back out and do some more research as you suggested. 😊

If lots of wandering is what you are after, I would recommend the Barri Gòtic, it's perfect for that, with its winding medieval streets, inviting plazas, and quaint cafes tucked away in every corner.

You could also consider El Born, which is a trendy/hip area just north of the Barri Gòtic, here is it's Airbnb page: https://www.airbnb.com/locations/barcelona/el-born

Thank you, Carlos! Definitely the kind of info I am looking for! Appreciate the advice!

I have stayed at Hotel LLoret on two occasions. I don't know if it's still in Rick's book but if you look up the location in Google maps, that area is perfect. Last time I stayed there was 2010 but it's still 4* on TripAdvisor and 8.1 on booking.com. Looks like they have remodeled since I was there and the price is still right. You can walk to/from the airport bus in ten minutes tops. Barri Gothic can get kind of creepy after night, though maybe it's better now. To me Eixample is too busy with traffic and lacks character, the occasional Moderisme building like Casa Mila and Casa Botllo notwithstanding. Top of the Ramblas is busy with foot traffic of course. The breakfast room at Hotel Lloret overlooks the Ramblas. Do your own research to confirm but for location, this is unbeatable. I rarely got on the metro in Barcelona, so much is walkable from this area.

I agree that "best" neighborhood is a matter of taste. I'd also add not to worry about it too much - Barcelona has excellent transportation, so as long as you're relatively central and near a Metro stop, you can get anywhere you need to without difficulty. The T-10 card is a great deal (10 rides for the price of about 6 single tickets, and it can be shared by more than one person).

Here's one take on Barcelona neighborhoods, from EuroCheapo: https://www.eurocheapo.com/barcelona/hoods/

And here's another from TripAdvisor: https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Travel-g187497-s204/Barcelona:Spain:Neighbourhoods.html

I agree with Carlos, if your goal is to get out and wander through the streets the Gothic Quarter might interest you the most. On my most recent trip I stayed there and loved that I could walk out of my Pension and get “lost” in the neighborhood. The neighborhood is relatively safe (Barcelona is a large city but even at midnight it was still busy in the Gothic Quarter and I didn’t feel unsafe walking alone which wasn’t true 20 years ago when I lived in Barcelona). It can get very touristy and crowded though so if you want a quieter more residential experience I’d recommend away from Las Ramblas and Plaça Catalunya. Just keep in mind the time it takes to get from where you’re staying to where you want to be. My personal approach is I like to stay in the location where I want to go out and eat/drink in the evening and am happy to travel to see the sights during the day. This time the Gothic Quarter worked out to be the best location for both!

Thank you everyone! This is giving me some great insight. I truly appreciate the advice!