Barcelona Central accommodation tips!

[Renascer]

I have never been to Barcelona and i am excited to go. where is a practical place to stay to get to see the city easily. I may stay two or 3 nights. Not an expensive one. Any place you liked? Thanks

 

[mspath]

Here is an Earlier Thread
which still may offer useful suggestions for Barcelona accomodation.

Happy planning and Buen camino

 

[m108]

Casa Gracia (single room, double room, bed in 6-bed mixed dormitory room,...). I was there and it was enjoyable. Center, many things are within walking distance (Sagrada familia, Las Ramblas, Placa de Catalunya, ....)
Buen Camino!

​

 

[henrythedog]

In Barcelona you can have any two from good, cheap and central. I’ve never found all three!

hostal BCN Ramblas is cheap and central.

keep your hand on your wallet.

 

[Anamya]

I stayed in Hostal Balkonis. Well located, good, not so cheap - but still cheaper than a lot of other places in a similar location (the Eixample).
Walking distance to a metro station and fair amount of interesting atractions.

 

[alexwalker]

Use www.booking.com to explore, and set price limit.

 

[BROWNCOUNTYBOB]

We began our third camino from Barcelona in 2019 (one overnight, then train to Pamplona, bus to St Jean). We took the bus from the airport to Plaza Catalunya - inexpensive, fast and convenient. We used Booking.com and made a reservation at Cien. This is a small place in a quiet neighborhood close to Plaza Catalunya. Short walk to Las Ramblas. Many small shops, bars and restaurants nearby. Very friendly hosts Arther and Lounna, quiet room, updated bathroom, incredible outside patio area surrounded with plants. Great place to share a bottle of wine. Delicious breakfast included in the room price. Bob

 

[Renascer]

Very helpful your guidance especially when one don't know where is the area easier to move around. These forums makes things much easier. Sometimes is worth pay a bit more for a hotel because of a convenient location alone.

 

[lt56ny]

The two times I stayed in Barcelona I got a room with Superhosts on AIrBnB. I know this website has caused lots of problems the last few years owing to an affordable housing crisis in the city. I do not know if there are restrictions for Barcelona now. I can tell you it was in 2011 and 2013 and my rooms were wonderful in really nice area and the hosts whose homes I shared were fantastic. It was 2013 but my room was large with a bathroom next door, king size bed, down comforter and down pillows and a terrace for 20 Euros a night. There was a metro about 200 meters away, shopping, bars and restaurants just down the street.

 

[Renascer]

The two times I stayed in Barcelona I got a room with Superhosts on AIrBnB. I know this website has caused lots of problems the last few years owing to an affordable housing crisis in the city. I do not know if there are restrictions for Barcelona now. I can tell you it was in 2011 and 2013 and my rooms were wonderful in really nice area and the hosts whose homes I shared were fantastic. It was 2013 but my room was large with a bathroom next door, king size bed, down comforter and down pillows and a terrace for 20 Euros a night. There was a metro about 200 meters away, shopping, bars and restaurants just down the street.

Yes i like the idea of airbnb too.

 

[Anniesantiago]

In Barcelona you can have any two from good, cheap and central. I’ve never found all three!

hostal BCN Ramblas is cheap and central.

keep your hand on your wallet.

Yes. I’ve stayed there. It’s fine.

 

[Renascer]

Yes. I’ve stayed there. It’s fine.

Is this area Ramblas safe? I heard to be careful there? Why?

 

[stinmd]

In Barcelona you can have any two from good, cheap and central. I’ve never found all three!

hostal BCN Ramblas is cheap and central.

keep your hand on your wallet.

I was pick pocketed there once.

 

[SabsP]

Barcelona has some bad reputation for petty crimes and pickpockets, especially around the area of the Ramblas, Plaza Catalunya and the Gaudi attractions. Always be careful in the metro too!
Although with less tourists also crime rates went down.

https://www.thelocal.es/20200806/without-the-tourists-barcelonas-pickpockets-have-been-forced-to-change-targets/

 

[Former member 34079]

I have never been to Barcelona and i am excited to go. where is a practical place to stay to get to see the city easily. I may stay two or 3 nights. Not an expensive one. Any place you liked? Thanks

When I finished my 2011 Camino I was flying out of Barcelona, friends advised me to look for inexpensive hotels around Place Real, I ended up at the Commercial Hotel, just off the square, very basic and very reasonable. Avoid Hostal Kabul at all costs.

 

[gittiharre]

Look at Praktik Bakery.
It is one of the less small expensive hotels over a fabulous bakery.

 

[Former member 91017]

Twice I have rented a self-catering apartment at the avenue Diagonale near to everything: Negre Apartments BCN... give it a look up.

 

[Tincatinker]

Is this area Ramblas safe? I heard to be careful there? Why?

As has been posited above, in the absence of Tourists and Cruise Ship shore-parties the Barca pickpockets have been having a lean time of it. Be sure that as the herds return the predator packs will be snapping at their heels. This should not pose a problem for a Pilgrim who has read the sensible advice on protecting themselves and their valuable possessions in strange and novel environments. Those who carry laden wallets and purses, 'phones and passports in easily accessible pockets have supported a Barca sub-culture for many years and long may they continue to do so.

How are things on your local tourist drags? Barca will be much the same. Take the usual precautions.

 

[Renascer]

If you guys know the area/street...this place Wilson boutique Hotel, is this In a very good area to move around easily?
Avenida Diagonal, 568, Sarrià-St. Gervasi, Barcelona

 

[Renascer]

As has been posited above, in the absence of Tourists and Cruise Ship shore-parties the Barca pickpockets have been having a lean time of it. Be sure that as the herds return the predator packs will be snapping at their heels. This should not pose a problem for a Pilgrim who has read the sensible advice on protecting themselves and their valuable possessions in strange and novel environments. Those who carry laden wallets and purses, 'phones and passports in easily accessible pockets have supported a Barca sub-culture for many years and long may they continue to do so.

How are things on your local tourist drags? Barca will be much the same. Take the usual precautions.

I will be careful. Thanks

 

[NorthernLight]

I’ve stayed at Hostal Q, which I’d found on bookingdotcom, a bunch of years ago. Location was fine for my purposes. It was clean. Price was acceptable.

Normally I stay with a friend who lives near to the Rambla. Don’t use your phone in crowded areas, step away into a more secure spot; they are easily snatched from your hand. Put your valuables out of sight and beneath your clothes. I usually have a ´decoy’ wallet, with only that day’s spending money in it, no cards - so if thieves do get it, the loss is not such a big deal. I’ve never felt unsafe in Barcelona, but like anyplace, it has issues.

Barcelona is a nice city for walking. I've rarely used the subway.

 

[lindam]

If you guys know the area/street...this place Wilson boutique Hotel, is this In a very good area to move around easily?
Avenida Diagonal, 568, Sarrià-St. Gervasi, Barcelona

Barcelona has an excellent transportation network with buses, trains and a metro system. It is also a very walkable city. You will have no difficulties seeing the city using this hotel as your base. Enjoy your time in beautiful Barcelona!

 

[Renascer]

Barcelona has an excellent transportation network with buses, trains and a metro system. It is also a very walkable city. You will have no difficulties seeing the city using this hotel as your base. Enjoy your time in beautiful Barcelona!

Awesome. Glad to here from you all that have been there! Thank you. Seems like from that Hotel I can also walk to the Sagrada Familia which i cant wait to see.

 

[Deleted member 73526]

Those who carry laden wallets and purses, 'phones and passports in easily accessible pockets have supported a Barca sub-culture for many years and long may they continue to do so.

How are things on your local tourist drags? Barca will be much the same. Take the usual precautions.

I'm guessing that you don't mean "long may they continue" in the way that I understand the phrase. My feeling is "may they wise up and be better protected," but whether that is realistic, I can't say.

I think Barcelona's "tourist drags," are significantly worse for theft than a lot of "tourist drags" around the world and they deserve a higher level of situational awareness than yer regular "world traveler savvy".

In Barcelona's residential areas I feel as safe as I do in any large city, but the street criminals treat Las Ramblas and other touristy spots like barrels for the proverbial shooting of fish. Few people have the situational awareness required to avoid being a mark for a practiced team of criminals - Sometimes five or more individuals who work together to observe, distract, confuse, divert, extract, and re-direct your items of value. Honest people don't see the busy streets with the same eyes that a criminal does - As the Manic Street Preachers said "I've walked Las Ramblas, But not with real intent."
[↑ Joke]

I think that the best advice for having a relaxed time in the touristy parts of Barcelona is to carry as little of value as you can get away with - credit cards and ID documents can stay in secure storage at the hotel or hostel. Cash for a meal, a taxi fare, and a couple of admission fees should suffice. If you feel a need to carry a camera or camera phone, don't carry one with high resale value and don't forget to back up your precious photos before you go out.

About 15 years ago, I visited South America for the first time with plans to visit several places with poor reputations for personal security. My first stop was Buenos Aires, where I met with a colleague. He looked me up and down and said "Well done. Scruffy shoes and pants. Old shirt. Cheap watch. You chose the right outfit to avoid sticking out and stay safe on this trip." With some embarrassment, I confessed that those were my regular clothes.... I'm not called Raggy for nothing.

 

[taigirl]

I have never been to Barcelona and i am excited to go. where is a practical place to stay to get to see the city easily. I may stay two or 3 nights. Not an expensive one. Any place you liked? Thanks

I stayed at Ten to go hostel. Over the road (almost) from Barcelona Sants main train station. Clean, inexpensive comfy beds, lots of pilgrims stay there and Louis will store your extra luggage while you "Camino" until you return.