Quieter/Calmer Place to Stay in Barcelona

The Christmas time in Barcelona is much more laidback than the Summer or even Spring season. There are mainly locals or domestic tourism. You'll find people less on edge, the weather is pretty mild, and there is plenty of Christmas cheer like Christmas markets and street decorations. L'Eixample in general is fine, if you want individual neighborhoods that are more chill, I can suggest el Poble sec or Vila de Gracia, maybe el Camp de l'Arpa del Clot. Sant Gervasi is basically it's own town on the outskirts of the city, I would not stay there if you want to see Barcelona sights.

Also know that most restaurants/shops will be closed on Christmas Eve (24) in Spain. Christmas Eve is a very familiar time for us, spent in one's house with the family. Even in big cities, it is almost impossible to find Spanish restaurants open on Christmas Eve. Try different cuisines, for example a Chinese restaurant or a Turkish restaurant. You will have a higher probability of finding those kinds of restaurants open on the 24th. Definitely reserve a table in advance for Christmas Eve and Day (25th) as well as it's a popular day to go out with the family for a big lunch at a nice resturant.

Thanks Carlos! Will explore those locations.

I totally disagree with Carlos on this one. As a resident of the district of Sarrià-Sant Gervasi I can tell you you are merely adding 20' by metro to the heart of the city... which is nothing. In fact, a walk from say Casa Batlló -in the heart of l'Eixample- to the Cathedral -arguably the heart of the Old City- would take about the same as taking the metro in say Sarrià Sq to Pl Catalunya and then walk the last stretch to the Cathedral.

A lot of visitors are unaware that there are a number of parts of the city, which might seem far away from the Old City, that are quite convenient for them because they are away from the crowded "centre" but are at the same time very well connected to it by metro. As a rule of thumb, in Europe, being next/close to a metro station equates to being able to reach downtown very fast.

As a resident of the district of Sarrià-Sant Gervasi I can tell you you are merely adding 20' by metro to the heart of the city.

Sant Gervasi is a big district, the largest in Barcelona I think, really depends in which part you want to stay, some areas are quite far, in the mountains almost. If I were a tourist to Barcelona, I'd want to be at least walking distance to some of the tourist sites. One doesn't have to take a 20 minute metro ride each way to enjoy Barcelona, there are many quiet neighborhoods much closer to the action.

My point was that next to a metro station one can be in a far quieter neighbourhood and invest THE SAME amount of time in going to the most important attractions than going on foot from much busier and noisier central areas :)

I like Gracia. It's got a nice relaxed vibe compared to any other places to stay in Barcelona. Many of the apartments were squatted when I first went in the late 90's, but it had gentrified quite acceptably (to my eyes anyway) the last time I visited about a year and a half ago. Still got vibes and is a long-ish walk or a quick metro ride to Placa de Catalunya.