Barcelona/Sant Martí

Barcelona and Catalonia in general suffered both from different forms of repressions under the Franco regime, as well as rather catastrophic and ill-fated planning. As a result, large parts of Barcelona, including those falling within present-day Sant Martí district, dilapidated into post-industrial slums.

An impulse for change in Sant Martí came with the 1992 Olympic Games, for which several facilities, including most importantly the Olympic Village, were built within the district. To improve the quality of life, as well as image and perception of city, much of the former industrial constructions were demolished to make way for a new waterfront and publicly accessible beaches.

Further to that was the development of the Diagonal Mar area at the northeastern tip of Avenida Diagonal, which focused around the 2004 Universal Culture Forum. While the event was marred with controversies and regarded a flop in many ways, it turned the formerly wayward area into a business hub and a modern, enjoyable place to live.

Finally, the ongoing Area 22@ planning activities redevelop vast areas of Sant Martí along the principles of modern urbanist mixed development with focus on modern economy sectors such as ICT, media, biotechnology and design.

The Trambesòs tram lines T4, T5 and T6 run, for the most part, within Sant Marti, across the whole district from Northeast to Southwest (the northeastern termini of all lines fall within the municipality of Badalona, outside of Barcelona). All the lines stop at 🌍 Glories  L1 , which is a transportation hub in Plaça Glories and offers the possibility to change to metro. The trams do not stop at the El Clot-Arago railway station or anywhere close.

 T4  is perhaps the most handy to tourists, as it runs from 🌍 Vila Olimpica  L4  stop (between Sant Martí and Ciutat Vella) along Avinguda Meridiana and then Avinguda Diagonal to its terminus at Sant Adria in Badalona

 T5  starts at Glories, but takes a more northern route along Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes to terminate at Gorg in Badalona

 T6  follows a hybrid route, starting at Glories and following the T5 along Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, but terminating at Sant Adria in Badalona instead

The termini in Badalona may not be of much interest to a tourist, but their names can be handy to identify the direction the tram is going.

 L4  complements the trams by following the coastline and then going northwesternwards, and connects to them at Vila Olimpica (T4), Selva de Mar (T4), El Maresme/Forum (T4) and Besos (T5, T6).

 L1  may be used to travel between Clot, Glories and Marina, connecting to T4, T5 and T6.

 L2  cuts across the northernmost part of the district, even further northwards from where T5 and T6 run. There is an interchange between L2 and T5, but only in Badalona. This line is possibly of least use to tourists and mostly one for commuters.

• 🌍 Parc de Poblenou. (updated Mar 2024)
• 🌍 Parc del Clot. (updated Mar 2024)
• 🌍 Parc de les Glories. (updated Mar 2024)

• 🌍 Parc Diagonal Mar, Llull, 362, Barcelona Fòrum (Selva de Mar  L4  T4 ). Urban park created from redeveloping industrial land. It covers 14 hectares and includes seven areas like a children's play area, a lake with sculptures and a central plaza. Free. (updated Mar 2024)

• 🌍 Travelodge Barcelona Poblenou. Given the popularity of Spain among British vacationers it is no wonder that Britain's favourite budget lodging chain finally got a pied-a-terre in Barcelona. Just like any other Travelodge, it is as simple as can be, but just as cheap. From €45. 
• 🌍 Hotel BestPrice Diagonal, Diagonal 70 (Metro L4 & Tram T4 - Selva de Mar). This simple new hotel tries to live up to its name by undercutting competition by a wide margin. From €51. 
• 🌍 Urbany Hostel Barcelona, Avenida Meridiana 97. 
• 🌍 Twentytú Hostel, Pamplona 114. 

• 🌍 Catalonia Albeniz, Aragon 591-593. A simple and slightly dated hotel right next to the Clot train station. From €75. 
• 🌍 Catalonia Atenas, Avenida Meridiana 151. One of the three Catalonia hotels in the area, this one is a tad north from the Clot train station. Rooms are small, fixtures and furniture have their best times behind them but prices are very reasonable. From €75. 
• 🌍 Catalonia Sagrada Familia, Carrer de Aragó 569 Bis. A sister property to the Catalonia Albeniz, it is a simple and slightly aged hotel squeezed into a block a very short distance from the Clot train station. The Sagrada Familia itself is six blocks away towards the southwest. From €75. 
• 🌍 Four Points by Sheraton Barcelona Diagonal, Diagonal 161. The Four Points offers simply furnished yet sunny rooms thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows, straight on the Diagonal. 
• 🌍 Hotel Front Maritim, Passeig de García Faria 69-71. The hotel is very aptly named, as it faces the sea directly across the Nova Mar Bella beach. As the property has aged quite badly by the beginning of the 21st century, it offers relatively attractive prices. From €80. 
• 🌍 Hesperia del Mar, Espronceda 6. Old-style Spanish vacation hotel (CRT TVs in rooms!) is close to the Mar Bella beach. Do note that the hotel is sideways versus the sea, so not all rooms have the same brilliant views. From €92. 
• 🌍 Holiday Inn Express Barcelona City 22@, Carrer de Pallars 203. A little run down Holiday Inn Express offers some of the cheapest hotel stays in Barcelona with breakfast included. From €75 a night, breakfast included. 
• 🌍 ibis Barcelona Plaza Glories 22@, Ciudad de Granada 99. This is a standard ibis hotel, despite its name not really close to the Plaza Glories. Of note is the fact that no twin rooms are offered, only doubles. From €81. 
• 🌍 NH Diagonal Center. The hotel is not really on or near the Diagonal, nor especially central, but all in all offers the usual NH standard in the middle of Sant Marti. From €85. 
• 🌍 Tryp Barcelona Condal Mar, Cristóbal de Moura 138. In a round modern tower a few blocks north of the Diagonal. Typical Tryp features, including family rooms with foldaway bunk beds. 
• 🌍 Vincci Bit, Carrer de Josep Pla 69 (at the corner with Carrer de Pallars). This unexpectedly stylish hotel is two blocks towards the north from the Diagonal shopping centre. Each floor's corridor is decorated in a different, unusual theme and the cheerful yet tasteful variety of decor makes up for quite small and simple rooms. For thrifty holidaymakers, a Lidl supermarket is around the corner From €85. 
• 🌍 Vincci Maritimo, Carrer de Llull 340 (Metro L4 and tram T4 - Selva de Mar). The other Vincci is just as maritime as any other hotel in Sant Marti, as it is actually close to the Diagonal and not the seaside. It is also less adventurous in style, but nonetheless very pleasantly and contemporarily outfitted. From €89. 

• 🌍 AC Hotel Barcelona Forum by Marriott, Paseo Taulat 278. The AC is basically a part of the Convention Centre, towering over its meeting spaces. It features an unusually contemporary design theme for a Marriott-branded property. From €94. 

• 🌍 Barcelo Atenea Mar, Passeig de Garcia Faria 37-47. Right at the Nova Mar Bella beach From €112. 
• 🌍 Barcelona Princess, Diagonal 1. The Princess occupies a tower at the very tip of the Diagonal, boasting great views in all directions and a very metropolitan ambience. The postmodern design mix is enhanced in some rooms appointed with lavishly colourful decorations and patterns by the Spanish apparel brand Desigual. From €94. 
• 🌍 Confortel Barcelona, Ramon Turró 196-198. There is nothing really special about the Confortel, apart from really small windows. Rooms are quite sombre and the building is squeezed into one of the blocks at Poblenou. From €114. 
• 🌍 H10 Marina Barcelona, Avenida Bogatell 64-68. A long shot (five blocks) from the actual marina in the Olympic Port, the H10 is a regular midmarket city hotel with a selection of 235 rooms in different sizes and standards. A rooftop terrace with a pool provides a nice overview of Poblenou. €100 and up. 
• 🌍 Hilton Diagonal Mar Barcelona, Passeig de Taulat 262-264, ☏ +34 93 507 07 07, bcndm.barcelona@hilton.com. Adjacent to the Congress Centre and facing the Centro Commercial Diagonal Mar. 
• 🌍 Melia Barcelona Sky (formerly ME Barcelona), Carrer de Pere IV, 272-286 (Metro: L1 Glòries), ☏ +34 93 367 20 50, toll-free: +1-877-954-8363 (US), +808 234 1953 (UK). Upscale hotel in Poble Nou neighbourhood. Amenities include free high-speed internet, minibars in all rooms, 24 hour access to the gym, pillow-top mattresses and a pillow menu. €205 and up (room), €385 and up (suite). Parking €25/day. 
• 🌍 Novotel Barcelona City, Avenida Diagonal 201. The Novotel boasts a brilliant location on the Diagonal, with excellent views of the neighbouring Agbar Tower, especially from its rooftop pool and terrace. Regular rooms are of the usual old Novotel standard, the upscale categories have been renovated and feature a more modern, edgy design with the use of dark colours. From €121. 
• 🌍 Hotel SB Diagonal Zero, Plaça de Llevant s/n (Metro: L4 Maresme-Fòrum, T4 Fòrum), ☏ +34 935 07 80 00. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. 262 rooms and suites, with many having sea views. Amenities include free Wifi, a fitness room, spa, executive floor and a pool with views from the 17th floor. Rooms start from €120 and suites start from €290 (summer). 
• 🌍 Hotel SB Icaria Barcelona, Av Icària, 195, ☏ +34 932 21 82 00. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Modern hotel close to the beach and Port Olimpic. Amenities include free Wifi, a solarium with a pool and fitness room. Some rooms are suites with either a study (for business) or a jacuzzi. Rooms start from €150 and suites start from €185 (summer). 
• 🌍 Silken Diagonal Barcelona. Postmodern extravaganza right next door to the Agbar tower. From €114. 
• 🌍 Hotel & Spa Villa Olimpic, Pallars, 121-125. This hotel with a spa is actually a bit north of the actual Olympic Village. Due to its constrained location within one of the old blocks of Poblenou, the experience there may be less rewarding than in some of the newer hotels. From €110.