Review: La Ciudadela Hotel Barcelona, Spain 

During the second half of our Spain trip, we decided to stay in a completely different part of Barcelona. We chose La Ciudadela Hotel in the Ciutat Vella area, across from the beautiful La Ciudadela Parc. There happened to be a very popular and impressive attraction a short walk away. Just up the palm tree lined pedestrian avenue of Passeig Louis Companys is a beautiful monument. The Arc de Triomf was built as an entrance to the 1988 World’s Fair which was held in La Ciudadela Parc. Our short walk took us through a bustling mix of locals, tourists and street performers. Sitting right under the stunning monument was an incredibly talented classical guitarist passionately performing Spanish music. 

La Ciudadela Hotel

La Ciudadela Hotel
La Ciudadela; Photo by Richard Bilow

Remember, my husband Rich was super stressed out, because we had to find new lodging in Barcelona on short notice due to historic flooding near Valencia? He made several quick selections, and this was one. We had also rented a car. So, parking was a must. La Ciudadela Hotel had on-site parking which was one of the main reasons he chose it. As guests of the hotel, the parking fee was quite reasonable. It was a tight squeeze fitting the car in a spot, but the garage was not far from the hotel entrance. This was amazing, because parking for tourists in Barcelona is extremely limited. We learned pretty quickly, that access to a parking garage is essential when renting a car in Barcelona. ETG Tip: Rent the smallest car possible.

History of La Ciudadela Hotel

La Ciudadela Hotel originally opened in 2006. Then in 2015, it was expanded and renovated. The property now offers smartTV, free WiFi, air conditioning, and a bit of style. Most notably, the hotel sits atop an in-house restaurant named La Ciudadela which is popular with locals and is fantastic. See below for my review link… The Best Paella in Barcelona. It made the cut. 

La Ciudadela Hotel
La Ciudadela Hotel Room: Photo by Richard Bilow

The Room

Our single room was super cozy and adorable. Yes, I mean tiny. I loved the art, the view and the bedspread, but wow was that room small. The bathroom was also tiny, but it was functional enough and also artistic. The sink was crafted from half of a large geode, rough on the outside and smooth inside. There were mini bottles of quality shampoos and shower gel which is always nice. In addition, we had a view of the street below from our second floor window. Surprisingly, it was not particularly noisy. Two free water bottles were left out for us which was great.

The hallway outside our room also sported some very nice art. This same clean contemporary design continued throughout the hotel as well as into the very classy restaurant below. Outdoor seating attracted tourists and locals along with hotel guests. The reception is open 24 hours a day. However, you may need to knock at the door a few times past midnight, a they tend to lock up after hours. If having a tiny but functional room with a comfortable bed in a clean well-managed hotel works for you, this could be your spot. La Ciudadela Hotel Barcelona is a good value for those who want to stay within walking distance of the marina but also close to public transportation and various attractions.

La Ciudadela Hotel, Passeig de Lluís Companys, 2, Passeig de Lluís Companys, 2, Ciutat Vella, 08018 Barcelona, Spain; https://www.ciudadelaparc.com

See ETG’s instagram for videos from a day at La Ciudadela Parc (all sorts of performers and the Arc de Triomf) – https://www.instagram.com/eattravelgo/

CLICK HERE for more articles about Spain; ETG wants to encourage our readers to visit official tourism websites for Barcelona as well as Spain – https://www.barcelonaturisme.comhttps://www.spain.info/

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