A sunbathed seaside culture infuses La Barceloneta from beginning to end. By day, bikes and skateboards glide down the boardwalk that lines the neighborhood's world-class beaches. By night, fresh seafood restaurants and casual bars keep the noise level at a constant hum. What La Barceloneta lacks in contemplative serenity, it makes up for with its old-world charm and the affability of families who have lived along its winding sidestreets for generations.
See places to stay Save this neighborhood
The community says:
On the Map
La Barceloneta is within Ciutat Vella and bordered by El Born, La Vila Olímpica, Sants-Montjuïc, El Poble-sec, El Raval, Sant Martí, Sant Pere/Santa Caterina, and El Gòtic
La Barceloneta: The City's Seaside Escape
Before Barcelona hosted the Olympic Games in 1992, La Barceloneta was a modest, everyday fishing village.
Since the Games, visitors and Barcelonans have fallen further in love with this picturesque seaside escape.
Its citizenry is still modest in attitude, but the buildings that surround its urban beaches have grown into tall glass towers.
Now, the weekend brings walkers, skaters, surfers, and sun goddesses to bask along La Barceloneta's boardwalks and beaches.
Behind the modern soaring complexes, the neighborhood still adheres to its rustic, elegantly weathered ambiance.
It's true that La Barceloneta's skyline has drastically changed in the past twenty years.
The stark contrast between sleek and simple make La Barceloneta that much more alluring.
In this neighborhood, it's easy to contemplate the past while looking toward the future.
You just have to dive under the surface.
With the 5 km stretch of beaches which start at Barceloneta, Barcelona is the only major European city situated directly on the coast - so you don't have to be worried about being away from the center. Everything is within easy walking distance."
Myra
Platja de Sant Sebastià: A Beach In the City
Once a flamenco outpost and beach-shack village, the arrival of the Olympic Games spurred the transformation of Sant Sebastià into a polished, urban beach environment.
Warm sand and refreshing saltwater beckon urban beach-goers to the shores of La Barceloneta.
In this neighborhood, it's easy to escape worry. All you need is a deck chair and an eye to the sea.
The boardwalk traces the curvature of the shore so it's effortless to explore the coast without getting sand in your shoes.
Sant Sebastià attracts active bodies and boardwalk performers to partake in countless oceanside activities.
One of the most ancient and authentic neighborhoods of Barcelona, full of little lovely corners."
Lidia
The Taste of the Mediterranean
La Barceloneta's restaurants boast some of the city's freshest seafood.
With ingredients straight from the sea, it's common to find the neighborhood's culinary establishments vying for the honor of serving Barcelona's best paella.
It's not hard to source the right ingredients for paella when the local markets offer food as fresh as those in La Barceloneta.
Vestiges of the neighborhood's seafaring origins still hint at its fishing-village past.
This non-profit building was once Santa Maria de Cervelló, a temple that served as the gathering place for prayer when a sailor was in danger.
Barceloneta is one of the most traditional neighborhoods in Barcelona, without a doubt you will feel here like in Spain/Catalunya. It is a very safe family orientated area..."
Tom and Jay
Beyond La Barceloneta's Beaches
Balconies crowded with clotheslines punctuate the facades of La Barceloneta's endearingly slanted apartments.
Locals celebrate their charm and simplicity.
Life on the streets of La Barceloneta carries a certain charm all its own.
The beach is surely beautiful, but if you take the time to look around you'll notice something nice about La Barceloneta.
Beauty is everywhere.
Photography
Airbnb works with local photographers to capture the spirit of neighborhoods all around the world. The photography on this page includes work by:
The Weaver House
Hannah and Kelty are twin sisters from Portland, Oregon. After studying foreign languages together at Stanford University they parted ways, moving to Barcelona & San Francisco. Re-uniting in 2010, they launched The Weaver House: a collaboration in photography, design, and fashion. They shoot with polaroid, 35mm and digital, gravitating toward organic and unique personalities, spaces, and unions.
Lorenzo Vecchia
Lorenzo Vecchia is a Barcelona-based photographer specialising in architecture, interiors and still life. He is fascinated by digital photography as the creative process continues beyond the moment when the image is captured. Working out of his studio in Barcelona's old town, his graphic aesthetic has led him to work for a variety of clients from advertising through to editorial and design.