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City hotels in Spain

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Barcelona

Spain's most cosmopolitan city is bursting with energy. The focal point is Las Ramblas, the boulevard running through the Ciutat Vella (Old Town). Lined with shops, restaurants and pavement cafés, this one street sums up the city: vibrant and self-confident. Many historic buildings can be found in the streets leading off Las Ramblas, especially in the dark, twisted alleys of the Barri Gòtic, Barcelona's medieval heart. The main shopping district is the Eixample. Here, you will discover many examples of modernista (Art Nouveau) architecture, including the Sagrada Familia, Gaudí's unfinished church. An entire weekend can be devoted to seeking out his work, or you can just relax by the sea.
The location of the elegant 4-star Hotel Colón is unrivalled. Here, in the heart of the Old Town and right opposite the cathedral, you are within very easy reach of Las Ramblas with its lively bars and cafés. There are 138 smart, air-conditioned bedrooms and you can relax in the pleasant lounge. Just one street back from its sister hotel, the 3-star Regencia Colón is also excellently located for exploring the city. The 52 bedrooms are all air-conditioned and there is plenty of space to relax in the public rooms, which comprise two lounges and an Art Nouveau-style bar. The prices below are for the Hotel Colón.

Girona

Characterised by stepped streets and hidden courtyards, the medieval walled city of Girona is truly delightful – a hidden treasure with great charm that is enhanced by its setting by the River Onyar an hour north of Barcelona. There is much to discover: remarkably intact walls which you can walk along, a striking Gothic cathedral, an atmospheric Jewish Quarter (the best-preserved in western Europe), a labyrinth of narrow streets, a waterfront where painted houses are reflected on the river’s surface, and a rich history – the city withstood nearly thirty attacks and sieges, earning the name 'the Immortal City'.
The family-run 2-star Hotel Peninsular is built on the site of an old convent, just a few minutes from the cathedral. The superior bedrooms included in our arrangements are spacious and modern in style, while the breakfast room is in the old vaulted cellar.

Bilbao

Bilbao is a striking city, set on the curves of the River Nervión, with green hills seemingly tumbling right into its heart. The thrilling, titanium-clad Guggenheim Museum, with its exhibitions of equally modern art, is one of the wonders of the modern age, but just as appealing is the city's friendly, easy-going atmosphere, so while away your time strolling through the bustling streets of the Casco Viejo (Old Town), lined with ancient mansions, small boutiques and bars. Seek out the old theatre, the arcaded Plaza Nueva, the Gothic cathedral and an amazing market. If, after visiting the Guggenheim, you are hungry for more art, head to the nearby Museo de Bellas Artes which boasts works by Goya, El Greco and Van Dyck, as well as many Basque artists.
Basque cuisine is recognised as among the best in Europe, and food is taken seriously in the city, whether in the stylish, gastronomic restaurants or the lively tapas bars around the Plaza Nueva. Try dishes such as bacalao al pil pil – cod in a thick, and rather hot, sauce.
The welcoming Iturrienea Ostatua is a characterful pensión right in the heart of the Casco Viejo. Great attention to detail has been paid to the decoration of the 21 bedrooms, most of which retain original features such as beams and exposed stonework. For a 2-star establishment, the facilities are remarkably good, and include room service. In good weather, breakfast can be served in the small garden.

Oviedo

Beautiful Oviedo is a city of two distinct parts. The Old Quarter boasts an array of historic churches, splendid architecture and brightly painted houses in the narrow streets radiating out from the atmospheric, and very striking, cathedral. Beyond this lies the early 20th-century New Town, where you will find numerous excellent restaurants, shops and cafés from which to watch the world go by.
Named after the region’s 9th-century king, the 3-star Hotel Fruela’s handsome late 19th-century façade belies a stylish, modern interior complemented by attentive service. Its location is ideal for exploring both the Old and New Towns.

Seville

Seville encapsulates all that is southern Spain – the vibrancy, the strong spirit and the relaxed approach to life. Many visitors are drawn to the city as much for that as for anything else. But Seville also boasts some magnificent monuments. Start your visit in the Old Town, where the cathedral, the largest Gothic church in the world, stands next to the splendid Alcázar (palace) and the Giralda, a minaret whose intricate design is awe-inspiring. At lunchtime, locals converge on the Parque de María Luisa with its ornamental ponds and welcome shade. In the heat of the afternoon, take refuge in Santa Cruz, the old Jewish Quarter, and wander through the cool, narrow streets of brightly painted houses with flower-filled courtyards. Seville really comes alive at night, with numerous lively bars and restaurants. Close to the cathedral, you will find lots of small tapas bars on Calle Mateos Gago – try the Bar Giralda. No trip to Seville would be complete, however, without visiting El Rinconillo in the Macarena district, reputedly the birthplace of tapas. This is a very atmospheric bar, with original tiles.
Located on a square lined with monasteries and churches, the 4-star Casas del Rey Baeza makes a pleasant retreat just outside the main tourist area, yet is still within easy walking distance of the cathedral. Inside, there is a feeling of quiet intimacy, with lots of small courtyards and open galleries off which are the 41 bedrooms. These are decorated in a modern, minimalist style, and are pleasantly cool in the summer. Relax in the courtyard garden.

Granada

Of all of southern Spain, it is the alluring city of Granada where the Moors left their greatest mark. The splendid Alhambra is the epitome of Moorish architecture and design - the crumbling fortress (Alcazaba), the astonishingly intricate décor of the royal palace, and the colourful ornamental gardens of the Generalife. Across the river, the Albaicín, Spain's most characteristic surviving Moorish quarter, is wonderfully intriguing, steep, cobbled streets leading past whitewashed houses and hidden courtyards planted with orange and lemon trees to the Plaza San Nicolás, which offers the city's best views of the Alhambra.
Located on the edge of the atmospheric Albaicín, the romantic 4-star Casa Morisca is close to the Alhambra, and enjoys views to the palace. Inside, it is exquisitely appointed and full of character, the furniture, fine tilework and original features recalling years gone by. The 14 stylish bedrooms are set around the central, arcaded courtyard, which has a fountain at its centre. The hotel offers a pre-booking service for Alhambra visits (pay locally). We also offer the 3-star Hotel Plaza Nueva which, as its name suggests, is located on one of Granada's main squares, at the foot of one of the streets leading up to the Alhambra. The hotel was opened in 2002, and is converted from an old town house, of which only the elegant exterior was retained. The 25 stylish bedrooms are comfortable and furnished with pieces made in local workshops by craftsmen with disabilities. The hotel's best feature, though, is the excellent level of service provided by husband and wife team Salomé Guzman and José Tomás Liñán. The prices below are for the Casa Morisca.

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