Places to stay
Hotel Miramar
Plaça de Carlos Ibáñez 3, 08038
932 811 600
Bus 55, 150, Funicular Miramar
There is good wheelchair access in the hotel and two
specially adapted bedrooms
This large hotel on top of the Montjuïc Hill has spectacular views of the city, and is a wonderful place to retire to after a day of exploring the tourist sites below. Surrounded by the Laribel Gardens – planted with Mediterranean pines, tall cypresses, loquat and fig trees and huge palms – it feels quite rural on this side of the mountain. Built in the 1920s, the hotel used to be a palace, and it still retains some of its former opulence. Not only is there an indoor spa with a sauna and treatment rooms, but also an outdoor pool with accompanying Balinese lounge beds. This is undoubtedly the quietest part of the hotel, especially in the mornings before everyone has woken up – lie down and unwind amid the chirping of the birds (and the occasional deep boom of ships coming into the harbour, a gentle reminder that this is still a maritime city).
Circa 1905
Carrer de Provença 286, 08008 935 056 960
Metro Diagonal Bus 6, 33, 34 Train Provença
The hotel is not wheelchair accessible
This beautiful building dates from the 1850s and many of the original features have been retained in a classy renovation. The interior is exquisite – both the bedrooms (each with its own colour scheme) and living area are full of old prints and antiques dating from the period of the building’s construction, and the rear rooms look out on to a lovely garden. The atmosphere is warm and the staff welcoming, and perhaps the only problem you might encounter is finding it hard to leave once you have arrived. Gentle music is sometimes played in the salon, but the bedrooms and the rear of the hotel are generally very peaceful.
Happy Apartments
Carrer Nou de la Rambla 10, 08001 618 222 099
www.happyapartmentsbarcelona.com
Metro Drassanes, Liceu Bus 59, 91, V13
There is a lift but rooms cannot accommodate a wheelchair
These well-equipped city centre apartments are light and spacious. Designed with pristine white walls and tasteful furnishings, they are pleasant suites in which to relax and recuperate. With both two- and three-bedroom apartments available, they are suitable for both familes and groups of friends. More personal than a hotel, a stay here will feel both special and stress free.
Angla Luxury Apartments
Carrer de València 290, 08007 656 851 405
www.anglaboutiqueapartments.com
Metro Passeig de Gràcia Bus 22, 24, 39, 45, V17
There is wheelchair access but no adapted bathrooms
Angla Luxury Apartments offer some of the best apartments in the city, whether in Eixample or near to the Passeig de Gràcia. Ideal for couples, friends or families, the stylish rooms are immaculate and comfortable. The apartments in Carrer València are close to some fashionable boutiques, interesting museums and chic Catalan restaurants, but you’ll find your apartment is a haven of peace from the lively streets outside.
Casa Camper
Carrer Elisabets 11, 08001
933 426 280
Metro Liceu, Universitat Bus 14, 59, 120 Train Catalunya
There is a lift and one room with an adapted bathroom for wheelchair users
Casa Camper Hotel is quite different to others you will find in the city. Each room incorporates an attractive chillout space (if you book into a suite, this comes in the form of an entirely separate lounge area) and the roof terrace has a refreshing outdoor shower – ideal in hot weather. In the lobby you can help yourself to tasty sandwiches, yoghurts, chilled water and cups of tea, all included in the price of your room. Such perks have made this hotel popular among travellers and it can often get busy, so take advantage of the comfortable sofas in your personal relaxation space. And if you’d also like a break from the hubbub of the streets outside, request a room with windows on to the lush green vertical garden (pictured above).
Hotel Ilunion
Carrer de Ramòn Turró 196-198, 08005
932 438 800
Metro Llacuna Bus 6, 26, 36
The hotel has a number of wheelchair accessible rooms
This four-star hotel might look like any other found in large cities but it has a very different philosophy. Not only are there are a number of rooms fully accessible for wheelchair users, but there are also braille signs in the lift and a hoist to enable people with physical impairments to enter the small rooftop pool. In addition, the hotel actively welcomes people with disabilities to apply for work there; this progressive policy ensures everyone feels welcome. The roof terrace is a lovely, quiet place to relax, and the rooms are well soundproofed. It’s the perfect place to stay if you’d like a large, quiet room not too far from the centre of town.
Gran Hotel La Florida
Carretera de Vallvidrera al Tibidabo 83–93, 08035
932 593 000
Bus 111
The hotel is wheelchair accessible
This five-star hotel is located far from the city centre but it’s worth staying here for the peaceful location and excellent spa. It’s not as difficult to get to as it initially seems – bus services into the mountains surrounding Barcelona make it possible to reach without a car. The interior of the hotel is traditional with a contemporary twist, and the grey velvet upholstered sofas are both lovely to look at and tempting to sit on. The main reason to book a stay here, though, is to sample the treatments in the wonderful spa, particularly after a long walk in the surrounding hills. Be sure to climb the steps of the Camì de la Font del Bacallà to the Bacallà Spring, a constantly flowing fountain of water emerging from a carved stone plaque in the mountainside.
