Barcelona’s Five Best Luxury Hotels

With its sparkling Mediterranean coast, dramatic looming hills, internationally-recognised architectural monuments, and outstanding dining and drinking scene, Barcelona is made for luxury. The moment you disembark from the plane at Barcelona El-Prat airport, it’s time to pamper yourself.

You can begin by booking a private Barcelona airport shuttle to meet you at arrivals. Once your transportation is taken care of, you can turn your mind to the task of choosing your accommodation from some of the city’s best hotels. Here are a few hotels that can show you the true meaning of luxury.

Mercer Hotel

What better way to survey the city of Barcelona than from a rooftop deck and swimming pool? Gaze out over the rooftops of Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter as you relax under an umbrella to shield you from the blazing Catalonian sun, or enjoy a cocktail or light meal at the terrace’s restaurant.

Ideally located for accessing tourist attractions such as the Plaça Sant Jaume and Las Ramblas, the Mercer Hotel is located in the heart of Barcelona’s historical district. Marked by Roman fortifications, the neighbourhood around the Mercer Hotel is a trip back in time.

The Mercer Hotel’s 28 rooms combine historically original fitting with chic modernity in its décor. Exposed wood beams and stone walls are eye-catching features throughout this beautiful building.

Hotel DO Plaça Reial

Just a few blocks away from the Mercer Hotel, Hotel DO Plaça Reial is located just off Las Ramblas, the tree-lined pedestrian mall popular with locals and tourists alike. In front of the hotel, a vast plaza is lined with palm trees and dominated by a fountain designed by Barcelona’s favourite son, Antoni Gaudí.

Inside, guests will find a quirky mix of traditional furnishings and slightly offbeat, modern art – a pairing that seems to define Barcelona itself. The combination of the hotel’s historic building, which dates from 1856, with the abstract art that adorns the walls truly captures the spirit of this city. If you’re travelling to Hotel DO Plaça Reial in a Barcelona airport shuttle, you can expect to arrive in under half an hour.

The Serras

This stylish boutique hotel is located in a historic building, where Pablo Picasso began his art career in 1896. If that doesn’t get your attention, The Serras has much more to offer! Located right on the Barcelona waterfront, guests can enjoy the sea breezes flowing in from their private balconies.

Trendy but understated, The Serras is outfitted with chic, simple décor in black and white. All the rooms are soundproofed – ideal for those who don’t intend to participate in Barcelona’s pulsing nightlife. Guests can also enjoy the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant, where Catalan and Mediterranean cuisine is served up in a fresh, informal style.

Hotel Neri

Located in a former aristocratic house dating from the 18th century, Hotel Neri has luxury in its blood. Its beautiful stone façades have been well-preserved, while inside modern décor presents a delightful contrast between the old and the new. The interior is decorated in luxurious hues of gold and silver, with bright bursts of purple, green, pink, and blue to catch the eye.

The hotel overlooks a secluded plaza in the Gothic quarter, making this location an excellent choice for a romantic retreat. Take advantage of the views from the rooftop terrace, or simply relax in the peaceful library. With a speedy and convenient Barcelona airport shuttle at your service, you can be checking into this oasis less than thirty minutes after arriving at the airport.

Hotel El Palace

If Old-World luxury is what you’re after, look no further than the Hotel El Palace. Its imposing flag-topped façade dominates the corner of Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, immediately giving truth to its name, "the palace". Inside, a sumptuous sitting room greets visitors with classic fittings including chandeliers, gilded mouldings, and towering pillars. The look is slightly more modernised in the bedrooms and suites, but the accommodations are nevertheless a gesture toward the luxury of another time.

In addition to its luscious interior, the Hotel El Palace is well-positioned to enjoy all that Barcelona has to offer. Antoni Gaudí’s colourful mosaic-covered masterpiece, Casa Batlló, is only a ten-minute walk away, while Gaudí’s most recognisable work, the towering Sagrada Família, is a twenty-minute stroll through one of Barcelona’s best-known shopping district. Best of all, you can get to Hotel El Palace with a Barcelona airport shuttle in under twenty minutes.

From modern to traditional, Barcelona hotels can cater to your every whim. When you touch down in this one-of-a-kind city, direct your Barcelona airport shuttle driver to one of these hotels for a true taste of the high life.

Lukas Johannes is a driver for Shuttle Direct, the number one provider of shared and private airport transfers all over Europe If you’re looking for an affordable Barcelona Airport shuttle, Lukas and his colleagues can make sure that you and your luggage get to and from the airport swiftly and safely.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.