# WHERE TO STAY
https://www.infocatalonia.eu/media/maps/map03_barcelona-districtes-convenience.jpg
IMPORTANT: Note that the red zones DON’T necessarily mean “don’t stay here.” They just mean that—to me, as a visitor who’s used to travelling but also someone who grew up in this city—I don’t find them particularly convenient for a short stay. Whether it’s because they’re a bit too far, too rowdy, or slightly seedy, these areas still have their own charm and are definitely worth visiting.
Keep in mind, though, this is a very personal take. Other residents or visitors might recommend completely different areas—and their suggestions will probably be just as good (or even better)!
# LEGEND
- Light green: elegant, wide avenues, modern city vibe
- Dark green: small town vibe, low-rise, narrow streets
- Yellow: very busy, rowdy, small streets, noise
- Red: can be a bit intimidating (seedy)
- Purple: fewer residences, lots of office/factory buildings, less "alive"
- Light red: "poorer" areas of the city
- Light blue: "posher" areas of the city
Again, this is just a generalization to give you a basic idea of how different parts of the city might feel from a tourist’s perspective. Of course, things like noise or seediness aren’t just highly subjective concepts—they also don’t apply to entire neighbourhoods. In Barcelona’s case, it’s very much a “street-by-street” situation.
Your expectations will also play a big role in how you experience the city—whether you’re used to the hustle and bustle of a place like New York City or you’re coming from the quiet plains of Utah. Like I said, it’s all very subjective, so take my recommendations with a pinch of salt!
Although it’s not a rule, the farther you get from the “centre” (=Plaça Catalunya) the better deals on the accommodation you’re likely to find. That said, it’s not a hard and fast rule—the neighbourhood’s surroundings also play a big role. A tip: If you find accommodation you like that’s far from the centre, check the map to see if there’s a metro station nearby. If there is, you can get to the centre—or anywhere else in the city—in no time. The same goes for bus lines, though they might take a bit longer.
# DISTANCES TO PLAÇA CATALUNYA --roughly pronounced "plah-sah-cat-aloo-nee-ah"
https://www.infocatalonia.eu/media/maps/map03_barcelona-districtes-metro.jpg
Note that the metro map might not be at scale compared to the background layers (districts), but it's accurate enough to have a rough idea.
- From 1 to Plaça Catalunya: by metro=20', by bus=30', on foot (strolling,downhill)=60'
- From 2 to Plaça Catalunya: by metro=20', by bus=30, on foot (strolling) =40'
- From 3 to Plaça Catalunya: by metro=60', by bus=1h30', on foot (strolling)=2h
- From 4 to Plaça Catalunya: by metro=30', by bus=40', on foot (strolling)=40'
- From 5 to Plaça Catalunya: by metro=50', by bus=1h20', on foot (strolling, downhill)=2h
Notes*: by metro/bus=counting any necessary transfer between lines and accounting for medium traffic conditions || on foot='strolling', not 'at pace', you're on holiday after all!
Now you have more information to take into account when deciding where to stay in Barcelona!
Enjoy!