Hotels in Barcelona Spain come in two, decidedly different, flavors. Hotels in the Ciutat Vella, mainly the Gothic Quarter and along La Rambla, are centrally located and convenient for sightseeing, though sometimes short on peace and quiet. Cheap hotels in Barcelona are generally found in and around this district. Beyond the Gothic Quarter, in the wider and cleaner streets of the Eixample neighborhood, travelers will find the nicest (and most expensive) Barcelona Spain hotel options. The Gracia district, though farther from the city center, offers a middle ground between the sometimes noisy Gothic Quarter and the four-star Barcelona hotel options in the Eixample district.

In the Gothic Quarter, the hotel Colon, is an intimate and charming option. A favorite Barcelona Spain hotel of the modern artist, Joan Miro, the Colon it sits directly across from the Catedral de La Seu. Between the hotel and the cathedral is a plaza with weekend sardana dancing and a Thursday antique market. Rooms are comfortable in this reliable, upper end Barcelona hotel. Just make sure to ask for a room with a view of the cathedral and plaza.

A ten minute walk from the Gothic Quarter is the Duquesa de Cordona. This refurbished sixteenth-century town house over-looking the harbor has contemporary facilities paired with designer touches and a Renaissance motif. Add to the elegance of the building the proximity to some of best shopping and nightlife in the Eixample district, and it is easy to see why the Duquesa de Cordona is among the best hotels in Barcelona Spain.

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For true luxury, the discerning tourist can stay at hotel Claris. Widely considered the best Barcelona hotel, this midtown refuge mixes design with tradition, and lives up to its rather haughty motto: "Where everything is possible provided it is beautiful." The 124 rooms of this Barcelona hotel are decorated with original Indian sculptures, Napoleonic etchings and authentic antique furniture. Add to this a Japanese water garden and an excellent restaurant, East 47, and you begin to realize that at Claris everything is possible.

If your trip to Barcelona revolves around shopping, try the Majestic on Barcelona's most stylish boulevard, the Passeig de Gracia. Centrally located in the Eixample district, the Majestic is among the best hotels in Barcelona Spain to access Eixample's designer emporiums. Part town house, part modern extension, the rooms are decorated in pastels and soft Mediterranean hues. And after a long day of shopping you can recharge with an excellent meal at the hotel's gourmet restaurant, Drolma.

If you are looking for a more affordable option, try the Marina Folch. This family-run hotel is just five minutes from the beach, and is one of the few cheap hotels in Barcelona to combine a central location, excellent views of the port, and a stellar restaurant. If that weekend in Ibiza left you with hardly a peseta to your name, the Marina Folch provides the perfect mixture of comfort, charm and affordability.

You can pick up a list of cheap hotels in Barcelona Spain at any Turismo (tourist information centers) or check the hotel reservation offices at the airport, Sants Station, or the tourist office in Placa de Catalunya. Hotels will negotiate room rates if they're not full. Ask about weekend rates, which are often half price.