10/10
“Stunning”
An absolutely beautiful hotel of old world Spanish tradition
Barcelona · head to head
Hotel El Palace Barcelona vs Hotel Arts Barcelona
Priced on the same night, 2026-10-10: Hotel El Palace Barcelona is $11 a night less. They are 2.1 km apart.
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The honest take
El Palace is $782, Hotel Arts is $641, a $141 gap for the night. El Palace has pet allowance and a rooftop that Arts lacks; Arts has beach access that El Palace lacks. El Palace edges it on guest rating, 9.4 against 9.0 across more reviews, but Arts is the better-known modern landmark and the cheaper booking. Book El Palace for classic hotel atmosphere on the Gran Via, book Arts if beach and pool matter more than the address.
The look and the feel
Hotel El Palace Barcelona
El Palace occupies a 1919 Eixample palace, all marble staircases, chandeliers and gilt mouldings, the kind of hotel where the lobby still smells faintly of old money and fresh flowers. The listing leans on its Mayan-style spa, an odd but memorable note against the otherwise Belle Époque bones of the building, and there are two restaurants plus a cocktail bar for evenings that don't require leaving the building. It sits on the Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, the grand nineteenth-century boulevard, so the street outside has scale and traffic rather than intimacy. The crowd here tends toward guests who want ceremony: a doorman, a limousine desk, a sense of having arrived somewhere with history.
Travellers who want the fantasy of a grand European hotel, in a historic building, close to Passeig de Gràcia shopping and the classic city centre.
Hotel Arts Barcelona
Hotel Arts is the Bruce Graham-designed glass tower on the Barcelona waterfront, one of the twin skyscrapers that changed the city's skyline for the 1992 Olympics, all steel, blue glass and sea views stacked forty-plus floors up. Inside it trades palace ornament for a cooler, more contemporary language: an art collection scattered through public areas, two outdoor pools, a spa with city views, and Enoteca, a two-Michelin-star restaurant for the serious end of the trip. The address on Marina puts it right by Barceloneta beach, so mornings here mean sand and sea rather than boulevard traffic, a genuinely different Barcelona experience from the Eixample.
Travellers who want beach mornings, a modern tower with sea views, and a Michelin-level dining reason to stay in.
Booking Arts instead of El Palace means giving up the pet allowance and rooftop, and trading a nineteenth-century palace interior for a 1990s glass tower.
El Palace is the more characterful room to stand in, an actual Belle Époque palace with marble and chandeliers, while Arts is architecturally significant but colder and more corporate at ground level.
The numbers
| Hotel El Palace Barcelona | Hotel Arts Barcelona | |
|---|---|---|
| Price, same night | $779 | $790 |
| Guest rating | 9.4/10 | 9/10 |
| Reviews | 2408 | 1815 |
| Stars | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Facilities on our list | 8 | 7 |
| Distance apart | 2.1 km |
What one has that the other doesn't
Only Hotel El Palace Barcelona has
- Pet
- Rooftop
Only Hotel Arts Barcelona has
- Beach
What guests actually say
Hotel El Palace Barcelona
- beautiful historical interiors and atmosphere
- excellent, luxurious breakfast
- attentive, high-quality service
- female staff seemed unfriendly at times
“Location perfect. Breakfast wonderful and luxurious.”
Hotel Arts Barcelona
- amazing breakfast with caviar
- friendly, competent staff
- great views and large rooms
- renovation causing inconveniences like no air conditioning in lifts
“the views are amazing, food is great, nice large rooms, newly renovated”
El Palace guests come away happier, as reviews describe a flawless, elegant experience with almost no complaints, while Hotel Arts guests note ongoing renovation disruptions.
Rooms & rates, 2026-10-10
Hotel El Palace Barcelona
- Superior Double or Twin RoomRoom Only$783
- Classic Double Room 1 King Bed Non RefundableRoom Only$788
- Classic Double RoomRoom Only$789
Hotel Arts Barcelona
- Run of HouseRoom Only$806
- Room, 1 King Bed, Non Smoking, City View (Panorama City View)Room Only$810
- Room, 1 King Bed with Sofa Bed, City View (Panorama City View) 1 King Bed and 1 Double SofRoom Only$819
In guests' own words
Hotel El Palace Barcelona
10/10
“Lovely place! The best in the city.”
Beautiful. Historical. Classy. Clean. Comfortable. Amazing breakfast.
Please leave more water for each guest room. And an ironing board.
10/10
We absolutely loved the atmosphere of the hotel. The interiors are beautiful, elegant and full of character, and the whole place has a very special charm. The service was excellent, and we really enjoyed our stay.
Hotel Arts Barcelona
8/10
“Great Hotel, fantastic location”
I stayed here in August for a poker tournament. Overall my experience was very pleasant What I liked 1. Very nice rooms, plenty of USB and USB-c outlets 2. As a Titanium member, I received a very nice welcome gift (bottle of wine) 3. The breakfast is simply amazing The caviar is fantastic, and the fruit are really good 4. The staff are friendly, competent, and helpful. They were all good, but I will mention a few
10/10
Do you think it’s amazing place?
8/10
“lush”
the views are amazing, food is great, nice large rooms, newly renovated
hotel still undergoing renovation, so there was some inconveniece like no air conditioning in lifts or corridors
About each
Hotel El Palace Barcelona
Luxurious Mayan-Style Spa Hotel El Palace Barcelona offers a unique Mayan-style luxury spa, providing guests with a relaxing and rejuvenating experience during their stay. Gourmet Dining Options With two exquisite restaurants and a stylish cocktail bar, guests can indulge in a culinary journey without leaving the hotel premises. Convenient Location and…
Check-in — · Check-out 12:00 PM
Hotel Arts Barcelona
Luxurious Design and Amenities Located overlooking the beautiful Barceloneta Beach and the city center, Hotel Arts boasts 2 outdoor pools, a luxury spa with stunning city views, and an impressive art collection. The rooms feature modern amenities like flat-screen TVs and sound systems, with elegant bathrooms offering both a bath and shower for ultimate…
Check-in — · Check-out 12:00 PM
Facilities, in full
Hotel El Palace Barcelona
- Fitness facilities
- WiFi available
- Free WiFi
- Parking
- Non-smoking rooms
- Air conditioning
- Fitness center
- Swimming pool
- 24-hour front desk
- Restaurant
- Room service
- Business center
- Heating
- Terrace
- Family rooms
- Garden
Hotel Arts Barcelona
- Fitness facilities
- WiFi available
- Free WiFi
- Parking
- Non-smoking rooms
- Air conditioning
- Fitness center
- Swimming pool
- 24-hour front desk
- Restaurant
- Room service
- Business center
- Heating
- Terrace
- Family rooms
- Lift / Elevator
Where they are
Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 668Marina, 19-21
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Rates are live for 2026-10-10, one night, two guests, fetched together so the two are comparable. Facilities and reviews are from each hotel's own listing. The honest take is written by our AI from the listing, the reviews and what is widely known about each hotel. HotelDupe earns a commission if you book, which never changes the verdict. All comparisons