Why stay in Raval?
A multicultural district that's full of culture and a great nightlife. Raval is ideal for young travellers who want a central place to stay in Barcelona
For many years the quarter was popularly known as the Barrio Chino or "Chinese neighbourhood" of Barcelona. Around the turn of the millenium, due to the strong Pakistani community it became known unofficially as a variety of names like Ravalkistán, Little Islamabad, Ravat and Rawal.
Today locals and people from a wide gamut of cultures share the district, with the multicultural atmosphere being one of Raval's main attractions. Renting a holiday apartment here will mean you have a base in a central district that's buzzing and full of some of the best bars and restaurants in the city, as well as many unique boutiques to shop at.
If you're staying in Raval, when you should try to rent an apartment on an iconic street like Carrer del Carme, Carrer l'Hospital, or La Rambla de Raval. Otherwise you can find a place near attractions like the Museum of Contemporary Art of Barcelona (MACBA) or the Contemporary Culture Centre of Barcelona (CCCB)
Another advantage of being in the Raval area is that you have access to some of the most famous markets in the city, like La Boqueria and Sant Antonin Market, so you can buy fresh and local produce to bring back to your flat to prepare and save money by avoiding expensive restaurants every night. To learn more about the markets in Raval and other zones, take a look at Barcelona's official market website.
How to get to Born from the Airport
There are several ways to get to Raval from the airport:
- Train (Renfe): You can catch the train to Barcelona from Terminal 2. If you land in Terminal one then there is a free transfer bus between the two terminals. Get off the train at Passeig de Grácia and you can change to the Metro where the Purple Line (L2) will take you to Sant Antoni or Parallel (depending on which is closer to your apartment). You can walk to your accommodation from here.
- If you have lots of suit cases, you should think about reserving a low-cost taxi from our website. This will take you to your holiday apartment and back to the airport again when it's time to go home.
If you want to learn more about Raval, then you can with our Barcelona travel guide and community.
Decided that you're staying in Raval? Great! You can choose from one of our many great value apartments in the area listed below.
