Barcelona Hotel Location Help

In March of this year we stayed in the Eixample neighborhood at the Evenia Rossello Hotel (great hotel and cost €83/night, not including breakfast).

We really enjoyed the location (just a couple blocks off of Passeig de Gracia, a main drag in BCN), and it had more of a quiet neighborhood feel to it rather than a "tourist hub" feel. There was a grocery store across the street from our hotel and many restaurants nearby from which to choose.

Even though the trip was fairly recent, my memory is a little fuzzy as to exact walk times to the main sights. However, I seem to recall it only taking about 15-20 minutes to walk to the top of Las Ramblas, and about 10 minutes (or less) to walk to many of Gaudi's buildings (on the Block of Discord). We walked to Sagrada Familia, but the hotel website (just for point of reference) says it is 2 km.

There were also several Metro stops in the neighborhood, and it was easy enough to figure out which line we needed to get on to reach our destination (although we only used the Metro a couple of times, most notably to go to Montjuic).

All in all, we were very pleased with our choice of staying in Eixample, and would do it again should we ever return to Barcelona (which we'd love to do!).

Thanks Angela for some very helpful information. You make it sound we won't be missing much by not staying near the port or old town. What's your thoughts on my keeping the rental car while in BCN?

"What's your thoughts on my keeping the rental car while in BCN?"

NOOOOOOOO! Don't do it! Barcelona's a very difficult city to drive in, parking is EXTREMELY expensive and hard to find, and public transportation is excellent, so there's no need for a car.

Angela's right on about the Eixample area....nice quieter area just north of Placa Catalunya (start of the Ramblas) and well connected to the spots you'll want to visit.

My thoughts on the car are exactly what Norm said. Barcelona is definitely one city you don't need one!