Staying in Barcelona’s Poblenou – a lovely alternative to the more famous Las Ramblas
Benjamin on la Rambla de Poblenou
Both Allison and I had been to Barcelona in our separate lives, each on vacations with our parents at least 15 years ago. We knew we wanted to return, but we didn’t need to sleep in the center of all the action. Instead we decided to stay outside the center in a lovely, traditionally industrial and working class – but now gentrifying – neighborhood called Poblenou.
Our small hotel, Hostal Poblenou, was a wonderful welcome for us to Spain. Mercedes, our host, could not have been kinder, our rooms were spacious and inviting, and breakfast on the outdoor terrace was delightful. The hostal is a few blocks away from the beach and a small playground – important if you are traveling with a short boy, like we always are. And right outside our doorstep was Poblenou’s answer to the famous and well-touristed Ramblas in center city – la Rambla de Poblenou, a delightful mile long stretch of tree-lined pedestrian path with restaurants, fruit stores, and shopping. Every night we looked forward to returning to our neighborhood after sightseeing (La Sagrada Familia, the Barri Gotic, Park Guell, etc…) to stroll our own neighborhood Ramblas and eat dinner, and ice cream of course, under the trees.
Comment from Sheila
Time November 30, 2009 at 9:58 pm
Your son is cute, but I don’t think your photo does la Rambla in Poblenou justice. There are blocks that are prettier than the one you captured here, with more historic buildings. I still enjoyed your post about this neighborhood.