The Seaside: where to stay in Barcelona waterfront
The greatest transformation in Barcelona in recent years has been along the waterfront. Today, harbour and ocean have once again been placed at the heart of the city. Dramatic changes have opened up the old docksides as promenades and entertainment areas, while landscaped beaches can also be found to the north.
Port Vell is the best place for waterfront views. A pleasant walk around the harbour takes you past the marina, where a boat has been converted into a floating bar. The Luz de Gas is a particularly good place for a sundowner.
To the northeast, you will find the 18th-century neighbourhood of Barceloneta, with the harbour on one side and a beach on the other. Exploring tightly packed streets and great seafood restaurants, there’s no finer place for lunch on a sunny day.
Further up the coast you will find the showpiece of Port Olímpic, a huge seafront development constructed for the 1992 Olympics. It’s emblem is a huge copper fish (courtesy of Frank O. Gehry, architect of the Bilbao Guggenheim).
Four- and five-star accommodation can also be found further out at the Diagonal Mar conference and events site. Here you can take in Jacques Herzog’s dazzling blue biscuit-tin of a building that hovers, seemingly unsupported, above the ground.
Where to stay at the Seaside:
- Best for a chic and charming base: Hotel Casa Bonay. Located in central Barcelona, 200 metres from Tetuan Metro Station, Hotel Casa Bonay is a boutique hotel offering a shared terrace and free WiFi throughout. Plaça Catalunya is 10 minutes’ walk away.
- Best for those seeking stupendous cool: W Barcelona. This signature building on the Barceloneta seafront is one of the city’s most iconic structures. Open-plan designer rooms have fantastic views and facilities are first-rate.
Find more accommodation options at the Seaside
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