Barcelona is not very difficult to explore due to the simple structure of the city. The districts are all well connected by public transport and it is easy to walk the distances between neighborhoods.
Therefor it is really not important to have your apartment in the crowded gothic quarter to enjoy Barcelona. The neighborhoods are all close to each other.
It is a 15 to 20 minutes walk from Placa Catalunya to Colón over the Las Ramblas.
This area has plenty of character and flair of a small town, with its low buildings, narrow streets with a lot of trees and nice vibe of a "barrio". Within walking distance you will find the Plaza España, with the Magic Fountains on display.
Behind Plaza España you will find the big mountain Park Montjüic, Poble Espanyol, The Olympic Stadium and the Miro Foundation.
At the other end of Sants within walking distance you find the Nou Camp Football stadium, the home pitch for Barcelona FC footbal club.
The left hand side of the Eixample district is the modernistic part of Barcelona. All the streets cross in the rectangular style, which is quite unusual for European town planning. The buildings, nearly all of which have been reformed, are from the 20th Century and you will notice the variety in the decorated façades of the buildings as you walk through the area.
You will find something to suit every taste in this area, design and fashion shops, relaxing parks and a range of bars and cafes to have your morning coffee in. There are also a good number of restaurants, bars and discos for those looking for the nightlife. Towards the bottom of L´Eixample it meets with Plaza Catalunya and the beginning of the Raval Quarter.
The Eixample is one of the prettiest and safest districts of Barcelona .
The right hand side of L´Eixample is one of the safest areas in Barcelona and at the same time has many different restaurants, bars and discos to enjoy. All the streets cross in the rectangular style, which is quite unusual for European town planning. The buildings, nearly all of which have been reformed, are from the early 20th Century and you will notice the variety in the decorated façades of the buildings as you walk through this area of Barcelona .
The most important building in this area is Sagrada Familia, Antonio Gaudi´s unfinished masterpiece which is also one of the most famous buildings of Barcelona . This unique church of Barcelona is visited by thousands of tourists each year and due to its prestige has become a somewhat symbolic monument of Barcelona .
There are different atmospheres to be found in this district of Barcelona, from the more traditional Catalan to the young and arty. To the south of this district the Eixample meets with Plaza Catalunya and the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona.
Being one of the ´trendiest´ areas of Barcelona to live in with dozen's of terraced cafés, restaurants, boutiques, art galleries, museums and design shops this a nowadays the best and safest area in the old town.
The Mercado del Born (Born Market), the Santa Maria del Mar Church and the Parque Ciutadella are the backdrop for the most upscale shopping by day and the most cosmopolitan crowds by night.
In the upper part of this area you will find the newly renovated Mercado de Santa Catarina with its colourful waved roof and other additions to the original building were designed by the studio of Enric Miralles (who sadly died before seeing it finished) and Benedetta Tagliabue.
Poble Nou is a great area offering a combination of old-world charm and more recent conversions with many shops, restaurants and bars, plus it is close to the best city beaches.
It is right in between the two prestigious areas Vila Olympica and Diagonal Mar. Furthermore it is one of the most family friendly areas in Barcelona . Because of the pedestrianised Rambla de Poble Nou which is lined with shops, cafes, restaurants and trees along the Rambla. The area has a very local, friendly and villagey feel, retained from the days when it used to be a small village on the outskirts of the city.
The Raval is a diverse and constantly changing neighborhood. It has become the centre for a large proportion of the city's immigrant population. This makes it the most multicultural area of Barcelona with a mixture of people from around the world, native Catalans and tourists.
Within this district you will find some of Barcelona ’s nicest old buildings such as the National Library of Catalunya and Palau Güell mixed with The Centre for Contemporary Culture and the Museum of Contemporary Art the MACBA .
There is also a wide range of cuisine, on every corner you will find a bar, restaurant, of cafe with terraces where you can sit and have dinner or merely just enjoy a drink and watch the world go by.
The Gothic Quarter is the oldest and most interesting districts of Barcelona from the tourists’ point of view. Here you will find the famous ‘La Rambla’, the 1.5 kilometer avenue which stretches from Plaza Catalunya to the famous monument of Columbus.
Along ‘La Rambla’ you will find the Boqueria Market – an open air fresh food market, Plaza Reial, restaurants, street performers and bars. The giant Gothic Cathedral is a must see in this area. The city council has preserved the old Roman fortifications and some of the Roman Walls around the cathedral.
It’s easy to lose yourself in the quaint windy streets and the variety of tapas bars and restaurants will always make a coffee break worthwhile .
The district Poble Sec lies on the border of Montjüic hill, the backdrop of the World Exposition which took place in Barcelona in 1929 and the Olympic Games in 1992.
Today Poble Sec continues to enjoy a friendly atmosphere with quiet streets and parks and you can still find some traditional bars, some more modernized and various good restaurants. You will also notice some modernist buildings along Avinguida Parallel that stand out. Poble Sec is the area with the easiest access to Montjüic where you can enjoy spectacular views of Barcelona .
Poble Sec is a very good starting point to explore Barcelona , with easy access to the city centre and good communications which will let you feel like you have Barcelona at your feet.
Gràcia is one of the most visited districts of Barcelona . Some of the streets have pretty little two storey buildings, while the many quaint plazas, unique to this area offer a lovely opportunity to stop, take in the ambience,have a drink, chat and relax in one of the many coffee shops that surround all the plazas.
Despite the conjunction with Barcelona , Gràcia´s independent attitude is still reflected in a strong attachment to traditions like the Fiesta Major, which for a few days in August makes the area the centre of the whole city.
The district contains a large number of small shops, which sell many craft and handmade goods. Especially students who come to live in Barcelona show a great affinity towards the Gracia neighbourhood. It is home to a large number of student residents, a sizeable Catalan-speaking community, and a substantial community of artists, actors, musicians, photographers and designers, all of whom contribute to its bohemian flavour.
The Olympic Village has many advantages as a place to stay in Barcelona . It’s a quiet, relaxing area, it has the beach and promenade at hand and the option of numerous bars and discos for those who want nightlife as only Barcelona can offer.
The Olympic Village was reconstructed by the French architect Prosper Verboom for the Olympic Games in 1992. This is where people from all over Catalunya come on Sundays to stroll along the promenade with their children, enjoy the sunshine and afterwards eat excellent seafood in one of the 82 restaurants that surround the promenade area.
Later on the discos, nightclubs and bars open their doors for those who are looking for a little bit more …..
The area is well communicated, within five minutes by bus you can reach the gothic centre.
Beachside Barceloneta, which is part of the historical centre, is undoubtedly the most authentic of the city's districts with countless traditional cafes and seafood restaurants to be found in the tiny streets, around the marina and at the beach.
As Barceloneta is within short walking distance to the Ramblas, Born and the Gothic area, it makes it a desirable place to stay; at the night it is rather quiet in the streets, since there are no late night bars and clubs in the area.
You could say that Barceloneta is its own little village in the heart of Barcelona. You will find all you need within the neighbourhood, such as shops, supermarkets, fresh market and bakeries.
This is the most famous boulevard in Barcelona and probably the most visited by tourists. Las Ramblas has its own flair and glamour, with plenty of street performers, fortunetellers, human statues, dancers, puppeteers, stands, restaurants, shops, and people from all over the world walking up and down this avenue.
This avenue certainly offers free entertainment. On the Ramblas you also find La Boqueria one of Europe's largest fresh markets.
If you can handle buzzing streets, and crowds well then this is certainly a must and probably the high light of your trip, there are seats lined up along the avenue if you wanted to take a rest and watch the world go by in a very special and original way.
This area has plenty of character and flair of a small town, with its low buildings, narrow streets with a lot of trees and nice vibe of a "barrio". Within walking distance you will find the Plaza España, with the Magic Fountains on display.
The left hand side of the Eixample district is the modernistic part of Barcelona. All the streets cross in the rectangular style, which is quite unusual for European town planning. The buildings, nearly all of which have been reformed, are from the 20th Century and you will notice the variety in the decorated façades of the buildings as you walk through the area.
The right hand side of L´Eixample is one of the safest areas in Barcelona and at the same time has many different restaurants, bars and discos to enjoy. All the streets cross in the rectangular style, which is quite unusual for European town planning. The buildings, nearly all of which have been reformed, are from the early 20th Century and you will notice the variety in the decorated façades of the buildings as you walk through this area of Barcelona . 
Being one of the ´trendiest´ areas of Barcelona to live in with dozen's of terraced cafés, restaurants, boutiques, art galleries, museums and design shops this a nowadays the best and safest area in the old town.
Poble Nou is a great area offering a combination of old-world charm and more recent conversions with many shops, restaurants and bars, plus it is close to the best city beaches.
The Raval is a diverse and constantly changing neighborhood. It has become the centre for a large proportion of the city's immigrant population. This makes it the most multicultural area of Barcelona with a mixture of people from around the world, native Catalans and tourists. 
The Gothic Quarter is the oldest and most interesting districts of Barcelona from the tourists’ point of view. Here you will find the famous ‘La Rambla’, the 1.5 kilometer avenue which stretches from Plaza Catalunya to the famous monument of Columbus.
The district Poble Sec lies on the border of Montjüic hill, the backdrop of the World Exposition which took place in Barcelona in 1929 and the Olympic Games in 1992. 
Gràcia is one of the most visited districts of Barcelona . Some of the streets have pretty little two storey buildings, while the many quaint plazas, unique to this area offer a lovely opportunity to stop, take in the ambience,have a drink, chat and relax in one of the many coffee shops that surround all the plazas. 
The Olympic Village has many advantages as a place to stay in Barcelona . It’s a quiet, relaxing area, it has the beach and promenade at hand and the option of numerous bars and discos for those who want nightlife as only Barcelona can offer. 
Beachside Barceloneta, which is part of the historical centre, is undoubtedly the most authentic of the city's districts with countless traditional cafes and seafood restaurants to be found in the tiny streets, around the marina and at the beach. 
This is the most famous boulevard in Barcelona and probably the most visited by tourists. Las Ramblas has its own flair and glamour, with plenty of street performers, fortunetellers, human statues, dancers, puppeteers, stands, restaurants, shops, and people from all over the world walking up and down this avenue.
