Apartments in Las Ramblas: Central Accommodation
Las Ramblas is located in the heart of Barcelona and is 1.2 kilometers long. Las Ramblas is part of Barcelona's history. It has witnessed visits from presidents, poets, artists and footballers, as well as daydreamers that stop to watch the lively atmosphere. Its name originates from Arabic and means "dry riverbed". It is referred to as Ramblas and not la Rambla, even though it is a long avenue that starts at Plaza de Cataluña and finishes next to the Mediterranean. Originally it was a stream of water that flowed around the medieval wall of the city. It had four gates: Trentaclaus, Boquería, Santa Ana and Portaferrissa. In the 19th century the wall was demolished and Las Ramblas was developed into a long avenue. The different areas of Las Ramblas still have different names. Today the upper part of the avenue is referred to as Rambla de los Canaletes. The next part is known as la Rambla de los Estudis, which is followed by la Rambla de las Flores and la Rambla de los Capuchinos. The avenue ends with la Rambla de Santa Mónica. You can find tourist apartments to rent on all the different parts of the avenue. This enchanting street is waiting for you! Choose the part of las Ramblas that attracts you the most -- you will not regret it.
Different Parts of Las Ramblas
Rambla de los Canaletes is named after the Canaletes Fountain, which was formerly located in the Tower of Saint Severus and supplied the Ramblas and Raval area with water. Today it is located close to Plaza Cataluña and is a very important place in the city. FC Barcelona victories are celebrated around the fountain. It has a plaque which reads: "If you drink water from Canaletas Fountain you will always be in love with Barcelona and, no matter how far away you go, you will always return". So don't forget to sample the water from the Canaletas Fountain. It is a very lively area full of shops and is ideal for taking a leisurely stroll on any day of the year.
La Rambla de los Estudios or Rambla de Los Pájaros(estudios meaning "studies" and pájaros meaning "birds") gets its name because the University or General Study Center was located there and the bird market was close by. It is very close to the Gothic Quarter, with shops selling beautiful handicrafts and buildings that date back to the 18th century.
La Rambla de las Flores is a place worth stopping to take a look at because it is in the middle of a whole host of stalls that sell flowers and plants. La Boquería, a fantastic market, is close by.
La Rambla de Los Capuchinos -- both the name and the scent make us aware that this is a place with coffee at its heart. It is also known as La Rambla del Centro and offers countless places of cultural interest. There are excellent restaurants that serve Mediterranean food.
La Rambla de Santa Mónica comes to an end where it meets with Passeig de Colom, a beautiful street that features a lookout point built in honor of Christopher Columbus, the man who discovered America. It is an ideal place to take a stroll with the sea breeze blowing in your face, enjoy a vermouth and have a carefree lunch. It is a very lively area, close to the Museum of the History of Catalonia and the famous Barceloneta area.
Accommodation in Las Ramblas
Las Ramblas has a timeless air. Contemporary and old-fashioned elements fuse together to create an exciting area of the city where art and culture enthrall visitors. Similarly, it offers a captivating selection of accommodation. The selection ranges from luxurious hotels, which have maintained a stately ambiance, to traditional guesthouses. There are also inexpensive hostels for young people that are close to the party scene. For those of you that are city dwellers who also like to have some independence, apartments, B&B's, flats and studios are ideal. They are equipped with everything that you may need. In addition, most of the apartments are located close to the main points of interest and have a characteristic style that is in keeping with the city's good taste.
Places to Visit on Las Ramblas
- If you are coming from Plaza de Cataluña you will see a quirky little street named Carrer dels Tallers. The street is the home of music shops, vinyl shops and many other stores selling curious items that you will fall in love with. You will be surprised by how narrow it is. Its mysterious ambiance and old-fashioned shops enchant visitors. It is a street that is worth visiting and it also features some places to stay.
- Moja Palace (Palau Moja) is located at Carrer de Portaferrissa No.1. It is a neoclassical palace that dates back to the 17th century and belonged to the Marquis of Moja. It is currently the headquarters of the Board of Museums of Catalonia. A library and the Max Cahner Art Gallery are located on the ground floor.
- Incredible is the best word to describe Palacio Güell, which was built between 1886 and 1890 by Antonio Gaudí. The palace is the most important example of Catalan modernism. It was built by order of Eusebi Güell and is from the Orientalist period. Admission costs €10 and access is limited.
- La Plaza Real is a genuine outdoor work of art featuring street lamps designed by Gaudí, which is both beautiful and groundbreaking. Its trapezoidal shape emphasizes the neoclassical appearance of the adjacent buildings, where you can find amazing apartments located close to the sea. They are surrounded by restaurants, bars, cafés and gallerias that will stimulate your senses.
- The Gran Teatro Liceo is located in the middle of Las Ramblas and is a monument dedicated to art. It is considered to be one of the most important opera theatres in Europe. It was originally built without seats so that it offered a maximum capacity for spectators at a low cost. This is a telling sign of the Catalan people's love for music and art; a love that has continued to the present day. Close by you can sample great food in attractive restaurants, cafes and bars that also offer aperitifs in the evening.
- The Barcelona Aquarium is an exciting spot that is perfect to visit if you are travelling with children. The aquarium contains 450 species and 11,000 fish. It offers interesting activities aimed at children such as spending the night in proximity to the sharks and the myriad of fish.
- **Mirador Colom:**It is very close to the Columbus Monument at the end of Las Ramblas.
- Throughout Las Ramblas you can see "human statues" and portrait artists who keep passers-by entertained.
Apartments in Las Ramblas are in high demand so booking in advance is recommended.
How to Get to Las Ramblas
El Prat Airport is 15.3 kilometers away from Plaza de Cataluña. The Aerobus service takes 30 minutes to get to Plaza Cataluña, depending on the traffic. It runs 365 days a year and leaves every five minutes. It costs €5.90, and you can buy tickets online. If you have a lot of luggage, the best option is to take a taxi from any of the terminals. The taxi price is regulated.
If freedom of movement is vital to your trip, there are car rental companies inside the airport.
