Jan Fleischer

It’s hard to imagine a better city break location than Barcelona: the restaurant scene is among the best in the world, the architecture is magnificent, the nightlife is buzzing and the museums and attractions are fascinating. Oh, and it just so happens to be perched right on the med, meaning you can even head to one of the city’s many beaches for a dip. With so much to see, it can be hard to pick a base for your trip. Do you opt for the medieval charm of the Gothic Quarter, with its winding alleyways and architectural marvels, the emerging art scene of formerly industrial neighbourhood Poblenou, or the glamour of the affluent Dreta de l'Eixample, where you’ll be surrounded by some of the city’s greatest examples of modernisme architecture? To help, we’ve put together the essential guide to where to stay in Barcelona, breaking it down neighbourhood by neighbourhood so you can find where suits you best. RECOMMENDED: 🎟️ The best things to do in Barcelona🍸 The best rooftop bars in Barcelona🏨 The best hotels in Barcelona☕️ The best cafés in Barcelona🌳 The best parks and gardens in Barcelona This guide was written by the editorial team at Time Out Barcelona. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

Barcelona is a city with serious style. The Catalan capital is home to stunning architecture, stylish boutiques and tapas that, frankly, we consider to be a work of art in its own right. Ok, it’s already nearly perfect, so how about making it totally perfect with a stay in one of the city’s very best Airbnbs? There are some serious gems here, whether you're looking for somewhere chic, cheap or the kind of place you’ll want to spend the rest of your days, you’ll find it in Barcelona. We’ve discovered neoclassical villas, close-to-the-beach lofts and an art nouveau haven in Gracia. You can thank us later when we cross paths in the restaurants and bars of Barcelona. Happy hunting! Welcome to the best Airbnbs in Barcelona. November 2024 update: If you love escaping the bustle of the city you'll want to take a peek at this architectural apartment in St. Antoni and this sunlit serviced apartment in Eixample. Recommended:🏨 Explore Barcelona's best hotels🍷Discover the best things to do in Barcelona💃Check out the coolest neighbourhoods in Barca Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in and review every Airbnb featured, we've based our list on our expert knowledge of the destination covered, editorial reviews, user reviews, hotel amenities and in-depth research to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

Barcelona attracts the beach-goers, Seville brings in the honeymooners – but for a Spanish city with real cosmopolitan vibes, there’s nowhere quite like Madrid. With its all-night fiestas, pulsing bars, world-class museums, and stylish stores, the historic capital makes for a great city-break destination all year round. Though, it is especially popular to visit in spring when the city welcomes its eye-catching pink almond blossoms, while July and August tend to really bring the heat. Now you've got whether or not to go heavy on the SPF 50 out of the way, all that's left is to decide is where to stay. Amigos, we've taken care of that for you. Just take a look through our list of the very best Airbnbs in Madrid – We've got one to suit every budget and length of stay.  RECOMMENDED:🏛 Check out the best attractions in Madrid🇪🇸 Discover the best neighbourhoods in Madrid🏨 See our guide to Madrid's best hotels Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in and review every Airbnb featured, we've based our list on our expert knowledge of the destination covered, editorial reviews, user reviews, hotel amenities and in-depth research to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

Considering that this part of the world birthed Cubism, Impressionism, Modernism, Post-Modernism and then some, it's no surprise that the museums and galleries would be second to none. When it comes to big buildings filled with pretty things, Barcelona does not disappoint. The museums in the Catalan capital are one big love letter to art, with legendary permanent exhibitions and a conveyor belt of temporary ones that deserve all the attention in the world. Hopping from one treasure trove of visual gems to another is one of the best things to do in Barcelona, especially when followed by a visit to a rooftop bar to consider all the magic you’ve devoured. For our budget-savvy travellers, you'll be glad to know it's free entry on the first Sunday of the month for many of the museums across this incredible city. Now, what are you waiting for? Chuck a dart at our list of the best museums in Barcelona and start exploring! RECOMMENDED: See our pick of the best Airbnbs in BarcelonaRECOMMENDED: Plan your next trip with the best hotels in Barcelona This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click here.

If you’re heading to Barcelona, there are some things you absolutely should not miss. Tapas, obviously. Its many fantastic galleries. The beautiful beaches full of sun loungers and basketball courts. But if you’re spending a bit of time in the city, don’t miss out on one of Barcelona’s best things to do: La Rambla. This is the city’s most famous boulevard, full of fantastic restaurants, shops and theatres, and it’s well worth a visit. Its history is also fascinating; its various sections were named after saints (like Santa Mònica, or Sant Josep, whose stretch is also known as La Rambla dels Flors), a reference to the period between the 16th and 18th centuries when the street was lined with churches and convents. None of these remain, but the Barcelona Cathedral, with its breathtaking neo-Gothic façade and rooftop gargoyles, is just a short walk away. Here are the best things to do in La Rambla.  RECOMMENDED: 📍 The best things to do in Barcelona⛪ The best attractions in Barcelona🥘 The best restaurants in Barcelona🏘️ The best Airbnbs in Barcelona This guide was written by the editorial team at Time Out Barcelona. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

Eating paella in Spain is a rite of passage. It is one of those things you simply have to do, like drinking Guinness in Dublin or eating pizza in Naples. Yes, there is a cliched element to it, but forget your cynicism and dig in. We all need more delicious food in our lives, and the best paella in Barcelona is just about as dictionary definition ‘delicious’ as it gets. Paella has its origins in Valencia (a simple day trip down the coast), but you’ll find plenty of options in Barcelona if you’re looking to sample this most traditional of dishes. Of course, the people of Barcelona will argue that their rice dishes (found on menus as arròs, not paella) are better than the others, but we’ll let you be the judge of that. Here is the best paella in the city.  RECOMMENDED:🥘 The best restaurants in Barcelona🍤 The best tapas bars in Barcelona🍹 The best rooftop bars in Barcelona📍 The best things to do in Barcelona This article was written by the editorial team at Time Out Barcelona. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

Spain’s capital is a city made up of many distinct neighbourhoods, each with its own charm. From the regal Los Austrias to the arty Carabanchel; from the well-heeled Chamberí to the super-central Sol-Gran Vía; and from the multicultural Lavapies to the LGBTQ+ scene in Chueca, there’s a barrio to suit every kind of visitor. If you’re struggling to pick a base for your trip, our guide can help you choose the area that’s just right for your taste, needs, and preferences. Here's our selection of the best neighbourhoods in Madrid. Hasta luego! RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in Madrid🏡 The best Airbnbs in Madrid🛏 The best hotels in Madrid🍴 The best restaurants in MadridThis article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click here.  

Why wander around aimlessly when you could save all that energy by jumping aboard a brilliant Barcelona bus tour? Whether you choose to travel by hop-on-hop-off double-decker, minibus or open-top luxury bus, the Catalan capital offers an abundance of tours that’ll take you around as many sights as you’d like. After all, you couldn’t come to such a photogenic city without gawping at as much beauty as possible. Plus, it’s a fab way of seeing loads of attractions effortlessly and efficiently.  Get up close to La Sagrada Família and other in-your-face Gaudí structures, roam the cobbled medieval streets off La Rambla and ride the cable car up Montjuïc. Day trips are also on the cards if you fancy an adventure out to the luscious coastal region of the Costa Brava or even popping over to France and Andorra. Wherever you want to head, we’ve rounded up the best Barcelona bus tours, so take a look and start exploring. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best things to do in Barcelona

When you want something a bit more special than the every day when you're booking your place to stay in Madrid, a boutique hotel could be the fresh spark you need to light up your lodging experience. These individual, designer accommodations provide incredible attention to detail as well as specialised services. What will you choose? Do you need to be close to the metro or to the museums? Does a garden patio sound good? A gym to keep up your routine? Breathtaking views of some of the city's top landmarks? It might prove to be a difficult undertaking, but once you decide, you'll be thrilled to stay in one of Madrid's best boutique hotels. Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in and review every hotel featured, we've based our list on our expert knowledge of the destination covered, editorial reviews, user reviews, hotel amenities and in-depth research to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

Looking for a top-notch place to stay in the Spanish capital? We’re here to help you narrow down your choices with our pick of the best hotels in Madrid. Whatever you want, Madrid’s got it, from exclusive five-star luxury to boutique hotels and those with dreamy spas to the most affordable places to stay that don’t skimp on style and good taste. Plus, don’t forget that some of the city’s very best restaurants are also housed in hotels, which makes choosing where to go for dins that significant bit simpler. And we highly doubt it, but don’t worry if you can’t find your dream bolthole on this list – there are literally hundreds of other brilliant places to stay here. This is just the crème de la crème. Updated December 2024: We've added two new hotels into the mix: Thompson Madrid, by Hyatt and UMusic Hotel Madrid. RECOMMENDED:🏝Check out Madrid's best Airbnbs🍷 Discover the coolest things to do in Madrid Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in and review every hotel featured, we've based our list on our expert knowledge of the destination covered, editorial reviews, user reviews, hotel amenities and in-depth research to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

With 50 provinces, 17 autonomous regions and at least five languages, Spain is one of the most diverse countries in Europe. Every corner is different to the last, with impressive historical architecture cosying up to revolutionary artistic movements and more. Mountains, beaches, cities and villages; it is all here in spectacular Spain.The best things to do in Spain showcase everything that makes it so magical. Spain is filled with gorgeous beaches, vibrant festivals, natural wonders and some of the most magnificent people on the planet. From Galicia to Catalonia via the Basque Country, Andalusia and the rest, this is Spain at its best. RECOMMENDED: 😋 The best restaurants in Spain🏨 The best hotels in Malaga

Nightlife in Barcelona is as wild as you want it to be, and you can find a club night, session or party every night of the week at the best clubs in Barcelona. Whether it’s a weekly club night you find you can’t skip, a monthly session you keep marked in your calendar, or an irregular party that you simply must plan your holidays around, you’ll find them on this list. There’s a beat to suit every mood here: techno, disco, house, hip hop, rock, dubstep, reggae... you get the point. So don your finest clubbing gear, keep your eyes peeled for your favourite DJs, and head straight for the dance floor. Looking for somewhere to pre-drink? Then hotfoot it to one of the city’s best bars or live music venues first. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best clubs in BarcelonaRECOMMENDED: The best Airbnbs in BarcelonaRECOMMENDED: The best hotels in Barcelona

If you’ve ever had the misfortune of doing your laundry among the masses in slot-machine washers and dryers, you’ll know the anxiety, impatience and boredom of waiting for the cycles to end. But not in Barcelona, where Marta Pérez and Gerard Navas have opened LaBar: a spot that’s half-laundromat and half-café/bar. You can hook up to the wi-fi in the bright and welcoming space, then relax with an excellent coffee for less than €2 or, even more cost-efficiently, a well-poured €1 beer. There are also eats such as homemade houmous, guacamole, sandwiches and cakes. All of this turns one of your mundane weekly chores into a sociable excursion where you’ll never ever have to suffer staring at your spinning smalls in sordid solitude.   Sign up here to get the latest from London straight to your inbox.