Rafael hotels in Barcelona, Catalonia
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Top Barcelona Hotel Reviews
Barceló Sants
"This hotel was great! We crashed here the night before going to the airport as it was relatively close and right near the train station. The AC was amazing and the beds were super comfy!"
Arc la Rambla
"The hotel is very central to everything in Barcelona. Great place to start your adventures from. The staff were very helpful with recommendations and directions. I would definitely stay again."
Moxy Barcelona
"We loved the Moxy, it was a great base, quick via the local metro into the main areas of the city. The hotel itself is great, really quirky and the rooms are brilliant. We had issues with both of our rooms but the staff quickly moved us without too much hassle. The pool on the roof was perfect in the heat, just right for chilling before heading out or vice versa. My only negative would be breakfast, we had this included but by day three opted to go out as it was less stressful. Just not enough space to be able to sit down, the food was great, but just way too busy. Would we choose to stay again, most definitely but maybe at a quieter time of year."
INNSiDE by Melia Barcelona Apolo
"Great location close to Gothic Qtr. Thier is a transit train entrance just down the street to take you all over the city!"
Rialto
"Clean room"
Lamaro Hotel Barcelona 5★ | Preferred Hotels & Resorts | Lifestyle Collection
"The hotel was in Omonia square with a large water feature and the metro was right by the hotel. It had a roof top bar with a great view of the Acropolis. A 15 minute walk to the heart of shopping district. Hotel was retro and very clean."
Grand Hyatt Barcelona
"The hotel and staff were absolutely amazing. I loved our room. It was very clean very modern and I was very happy overall with the stay. The one thing that could have improved was the rooms were a little hot at night. The AC did not seem to cool the rooms as well at night. I was told this was because of EU regulations."
Hotel Porta Fira
"I was able to tell our cab driver we were staying at the wavy red hotel and he immediately knew where to go. They had an excellent breakfast spread. The rooms were very nice.."
Leonardo Royal Hotel Barcelona Fira
"Great restaurant, great staff and the very clean"
Find out more about Barcelona
Historic Barcelona Travel Guide
Barcelona is a fantastic city, known for its rich culture, captivating art scene and historical architecture. The history of the city spans over 2000 years with remains dating back to the Neolithic and early Chalcolithic periods. Take a stroll through the narrow streets of the Gothic Quarter and discover 14th-century cathedrals, towering temple columns and remnants of a bygone era.
Historic Hotels in Barcelona
From medieval churches to storefronts, history is more alive in Barcelona than anywhere else in Europe. Finding a historical hotel in Barcelona is an easy quest as most are just a stone’s throw away. Stay in the Gothic Quarter and wander through the areas ancient streets, with church spires and towering bridges forcing you to look up.
In Bohemian quarter of the city, guests can stay in an outlandish apartment, a quaint B&B or a cheap hotel. Enjoy breakfast with stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea and soak up the Iberian sunshine over in the Barceloneta quarter, the beach haven of Barcelona. Or, head into the heart of the city for more historic hotels and luxurious apartments close to designer stores and the city’s finest restaurants.
Historical Activities in Barcelona
Crowned “the city of marvels”, Barcelona is packed with hundreds of historical landmarks waiting to be explored. One of the most famous is Antoni Gaudi’s incomplete church, The Basilica of the Sagrada Familia. This extraordinary gothic inspired church attracts thousands of tourists every year. Construction began in 1882, and when Gaudi passed away in 1926, the church was not quite complete, but a completion date has been set for 2026, the 100th Anniversary of the artist’s death.
The Catalonian capital inspired some of the greatest artists in human history: from Joan Miró to Pablo Picasso. Barcelona has even erected museums devoted to the artists. The Museu Picasso contains over 3,800 works belonging to the surreal cubism mastermind. His work hangs on walls inside five medieval palaces dotted in the La Ribera district.
When Barcelona’s Romanesque churches fell into ruin, The National Museum of Catalunya came to the rescue and gave the abandoned murals a safe home. The museum offers visitors a 360º experience and prides itself on being a museum for everyone. Discover medieval gothic art from the 13th to 15th centuries and a fine collection of Romanesque art and works by Golden Age Catalan artists such as Bernat Martorell and Fra Angelico.
Adventure 45km north of Barcelona and you’ll stumble across the Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey. The historical abbey was founded in the 11th century and can be easily reached by train, cable car or road. Perched approximately 1,500m up a beautiful mountain, be prepared for awe-inspiring scenic views. Legend has it that the statue of the Virgin of Montserrat, which is the main focal point of the monastery, was created in 880.
Historic Places to Eat and Drink in Barcelona
If you’re looking for a fountain of flavours and delicious Catalan cuisine, there’s no better place for it than Barcelona. One of the city’s oldest restaurants can be found in a narrow street in the Ramblas boulevard in the historical centre of the Gothic Quarter. Los Caracoles embodies a warm and classic Spanish charm and has been visited by hundreds of famous people, whose photos hang proudly on the walls of the main restaurant.
Dine in Picasso’s favourite tavern, the Els Quatre Gats, a hotspot for artists and musicians towards the end of the 19th century. Enjoy your meal with elegant piano music and feast on classic Spanish cuisine. The restaurant enriched Picasso’s creative mind, inspiring him and other creative geniuses such as the poet Rubén Darío and playwright, Santiago Rusiñol.