Flanked by the waters of the Mediterranean Sea to the east and the Pyrenees Mountains to the south, Barcelona is Spain's national capital and second-largest city. Gaudi's uncompleted Expiatory Temple of the Sacred Family looms in the city center, while the stained-glass windows of the Santa María del Mar glisten in the sunlight. Hotels and attractions dot Barcelona's pier along the coast of the Iberian Peninsula, giving guests easy access to beaches and the bustling city itself.
Built in the shape of a transatlantic liner, this five-star hotel is located directly on the pier at Port Vell. Each of the Grand Marina's 291 rooms includes a hydro-massage bathtub and contemporary furnishings, while some have balconies overlooking the Mediterranean. The on-site restaurant, Aire de Mar, serves a selection of Mediterranean specialties. Each Saturday the hotel hosts a performance by the ensemble Operissimo. Selections from "The Marriage of Figaro," "Carmen" and "Rigoletto," among others, are performed in the lobby bar. Hotel guests are within walking distance of many of Barcelona's major attractions including the church of Santa María del Mar, the Picasso Museum and the Gothic District.
Eurostars Grand Marina Hotel
Moll de Barcelona S/N
Barcelona, 08039 Spain
011-34-93-603-9000
grandmarinahotel.com/
Situated alongside Port Vell in the tourist center of Barcelona is the Hotel Oasis. Located less than a mile from Las Ramblas, a popular boulevard offering shopping, restaurants and attractions like the Christopher Columbus Monument, this 105-room hotel provides two rooms types: standard and comfort. Both options are furnished with full bathrooms and satellite televisions; comfort rooms include additional conveniences. A buffet breakfast is available daily, while the Costa Express Restaurant is open for lunch and dinner. Tapas, snacks and cocktails are served into the evening at the Oasis Bar.
Hotel Oasis Barcelona
Pla de Palau 17
Barcelona, 08003 Spain
011-34-93319-4396
hoteloasisbarcelona.com/
The Hotel Arts Barcelona by Ritz-Carlton is beautifully nestled on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Marble bathrooms, feather mattress pads and contemporary furnishings complement each of the hotel's 483 guestrooms, all of which include seamless city or sea views. The Hotel Arts houses a collection of contemporary Spanish art, a gym and Six Senses Spa, which includes an open-air Jacuzzi set in the terraced gardens. Each of the five on-site restaurants serves seasonal Mediterranean dishes, including the upscale Enoteca, which was awarded one Michelin star in 2010. The Barcelona Zoo and Parc de la Ciutadella are both less than one mile from the Hotel Arts.
Hotel Arts Barcelona
Marina 19-21
Barcelona, 8005 Spain
011-34-93-221-1000
ritzcarlton.com/
