Ciutat Vella Apartments in Barcelona

For accessing Ciutat Vella from Barcelona International Airport, simply follow these instructions:

• Take the Aerobus from any of the airport terminals and exit at Plaza de Catalunya. Line A1 from terminal 1 runs every 5 to 10 minutes between 06.00 and 01.00. Total travel time is approximately 35 minutes.

For accessing Ciutat Vella from Girona Airport, simply follow these instructions:

• Hop aboard the Barcelona Bus, which offers a great service run by Sagales, departing regularly in coordination with flight arrivals. The journey takes 1 hour and 15 minutes, ending at Estacio del Nord. Take a brief stroll to the Arc de Triomf metro station and use the R4 line towards Sant Vincenc De Calders, exiting at Plaza de Catalunya. Total travel time is approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

For accessing Ciutat Vella from Reus Airport, simply follow these instructions:

• Take the bus from the airport to Barcelona Sants Station. The buses are operated by Hispano Igualadina and the journey takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. From Sants Station, hop aboard the metro and choose from lines R1, R3 and R4, which will deliver you into Plaza de Catalunya in just 5 minutes. Total travel time is approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes.

More information relating to routes and timetables can be found at www.tmb.cat/en/home and www.renfe.com/index.html

Ciutat Vella Tips for Food

A great range of supermarkets and stores are available within easy reach of your self-catering apartment, allowing you to take advantage of fresh, local produce at great prices. Alternatively, let someone else do all the work and sample some of Barcelona’s finest restaurants, with the following selection all accessible on foot from our Ciutat Vella apartments.

Ciutat Vella Tips for Drinks

• The Box, Carrer d’En Gignas 30. Cheap cocktails, Latin music and a friendly vibe.
• Can Paixano, Carrer de la Reina Christina 7. Local institution renowned for its cava.
• Cafes El Magnifico, Carrer de l’Argenteria 64. Regarded as the best coffee shop in town.
• Rubi Bar, Banys Vells 6. Hidden gem offering over 50 types of homemade gin.
• Caj Chai, Sant Domenec del Call 12. Tea lover’s paradise.

Ciutat Vella

The Ciutat Vella area is generally considered to be the beating heart of Barcelona. The name translates literally as ‘Old City’ which is appropriate since it is the oldest part of Barcelona dating back to Roman times. Indeed original remnants of this ancient settlement’s foundations are visible throughout the area today. Located alongside the more modern Eixample, this famously vibrant district incorporates four separate neighbourhoods, each with a distinct identity of its own. Barri Gotic and El Gotico are alternative names you might notice on sign posts and street maps for the Gothic Quarter. Its unique labyrinth of winding roads and medieval architecture is extremely atmospheric. Barceloneta, meanwhile, is famous for its beautiful sandy golden beach and seasonal chiringuitos, bars and cafes which open during the warmest seasons. El Raval boasts a richly diverse cultural vibe and has become a fashionable location for artist’s studios and creative people. The final neighbourhood in the Ciutat Vella is possibly the most famous, El Born, also known locally as La Ribera. Impossibly chic and very pretty, in recent years it has become one of the most sought after areas to live in the city.

Ciutat Vella Highlights

The Ciutat Vella has so much to offer any visitor to Barcelona. From excellent museums and art galleries, unique breath-taking architecture, delicious quality dining experiences to some truly pulsating nightlife, the list of fascinating places to discover here seems almost endless.
The most famous street in the country, La Rambla, is located within El Gotico. Famed for its energetic vibe and almost overwhelming crowds, this unique marketplace is always high up there on the ‘to-do’ lists of most visitors to the city. Fight your way through the street buskers and amazingly creative human statues and try your best to elbow your way towards the many stalls and cafes selling souvenirs, local produce and refreshments. Look out for the unusual bird sellers with their stacks of cages of colourful songbirds. Don’t forget your camera.

El Raval is home to Barcelona Contemporary Art Museum, also known as MACBA, one of the city’s top ten visitor attractions. This mammoth museum hosts an incredible collection of some of the most interesting and internationally important art of the 20th century.

The beautiful Plaza Real is certainly a Ciutat Vella highlight. With its towering palm trees and infectiously energetic vibe it is the perfect place to call in for some light refreshments or an evening meal. The name Plaza Real translates as Royal Plaza and this is certainly one of the shiniest architectural jewels in Barcelona’s glittering crown.

Don’t forget to pay a visit to the extremely colourful La Boqueria Market, the beautifully atmospheric Catalan Gothic masterpiece Santa Maria del Mar basilica, the delightful old fisherman’s quarter and stunning sandy beach of Barceloneta. You most definitely won’t be sure of things to do on your holiday in the fantastic city of Barcelona.

An area certainly worth exploring from one of our Ciutat Vella apartments!

Ciutat Vella Must Sees

• La Boqueria Market, the ultimate stop for stocking up your apartment.
• Palace of Catalan Music, breathtaking architecture and world class performances.
• Santa Maria del Mar Basilica, peace and tranquillity amidst the metropolis.
• Guell Palace, a fascinating insight into the genius of Antoni Gaudi.
• La Ramblas, Barcelona’s most famous boulevard.

All of these incredible attractions and many more can be found within easy reach of our Ciutat Vella apartments.