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We have reviewed the best airline and hotel club or executive lounges in Barcelona and the airport BCN. By reviewing each of these club lounges, in turn, I conclude which airport and hotel club lounge comes in at the top and which hotel I would select as having the best club lounge in Barcelona.
Barcelona is a beachside city on the North East Coast of Spain, not far from France and bordering the Mediterranean. It’s famous for its culture, architecture, world-class dining scene, as well as the famous Camp Nou stadium and the Barçalona football team. One of the city’s main achievements was hosting the Olympic games in 1992, which has made it one of the main tourist attractions of Spain.
Is Barcelona Safe?
Barcelona is as safe as any major city in Europe. Barcelona has very little violent crime, although it does suffer from pickpockets, so take care of your belongings and use the hotel safe.
If you want to stay in luxury in Barcelona, you should stay at one of Barcelona’s luxury hotels which include El Palace, Hotel Arts Barcelona, a Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Majestic Hotel & Spa, Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona, The Serras Hotel, W Barcelona (which has a trendy W-lounge but no club lounge). There is no InterContinental hotel in Barcelona. There’s an IHG Crowne Plaza, along with Hilton properties but no Hyatt.
I have compiled a list below containing the club lounges available across the airport and luxury hotels in Barcelona. I list the lounges that I consider to be the best of the best. I will be reviewing each of these hotel club lounges in detail in turn so that you know what you’ll get if you book a room with club lounge access or get upgraded to a club lounge for free because of your loyalty status.
Best BCN Barcelona Airport Lounge
Barcelona-El Prat (BCN) is easier to get around compared to airports like Heathrow. Whether this airport is your hub for a Mediterranean cruise departure or your arrival airport for a weekend away, Barcelona airport has awards for being one of the best Airports in Europe.
BCN has two terminals, international passengers usually to touch down and take off from Terminal 1, which handles flights operated by members of One World, Star Alliance and Sky Team groups, their associate airlines, and airlines operating intercontinental flights: Aegean Airlines, Aeroflot, Aeromexico, Air Algerie, Air Baltic, Air Canada Rouge, Air China, Air Europa, Air France, Air Nostrum, Alitalia, American Airlines, Arkia Israel Airlines, Asiana Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Avianca, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Croatia Airlines, Czech Airlines, Delta Airlines, EgyptAir, El Al, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Finnair, Iberia, Joon, KLM, Korean Air, LATAM Airlines, LEVEL, LOT Polish, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, Rossiya Airlines (flights SU6000-6999), Royal Air Maroc, Royal Jordanian, SAS Scandinavian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Swiss International Airlines, S7 Airlines, TAP Air Portugal, Tarom, Tunisair, Turkish Airlines, Ukraine International Airlines, United Airlines and Vueling.
Terminal 2 is used by low-cost European carriers. Terminal T2 B handles, among others, Aer Lingus, Air Arabia Maroc, Air Moldova, Air Serbia, Air Transat, Atlantic Airways, Azur Air, Belavia, Blue Air, Bulgaria Air, Condor, Eurowings, Georgian Airways, Jet2.com, Laudamotion, Luxair, Mahan Air, Norwegian Air, Pakistan International Airlines, Pegasus Air, Rossiya Airlines (flights FV5501-5900), Ryanair, Smartwings, SkyUp Airlines, Sundair, Transavia.com, TUI fly, Ural Airlines, WestJet and Wizz Air. Terminal T2 C is used by Easyjet and EasyJet Switzerland. Free shuttle buses run between the terminals if you need to transfer.
First-class, business-class, and elite-tier passengers on most airlines may access one of the airport’s four VIP airport club lounges.
There are three lounges in Terminal 1, one in the European departures from the Schengen international area. For Domestic and Schengen flights, you should arrive at the airport 2 hours before the scheduled departure time. If you are flying British Airways, you will get access to this third-party lounge, The Joan Miró airport lounge, that BA uses in Barcelona airport. It’s after passport control and down the escalator. This lounge is open to Club Europe, plus BAEC Silver and Gold members and guests on BA flights, but not Vueling.
Recently (2018), this lounge underwent an upgrade, and the food options are now particularly good with chicken casserole, salads, cold meats, cheeses, pizza, noodles, soup, and good puddings. On the drinks side, there are free-pour wines (including 3 Cavas), a fridgeful of beers, and soft drinks. However, this lounge can get very busy, which results in feelings of chaos with plates and cups left about.
If you are flying out of BCN via the Schengen area, you are, by definition, not flying out on Delta but on one of the other SkyTeam carriers. But it’s worth knowing that if you hold Delta premium elite lounge benefit, this will be honored, no matter in which cabin you are booked.
The second lounge is for international departures, the non-Schengen international lounge. For Non-Schengen flights, you should arrive at the airport around 3 hours before the scheduled departure time. If you are flying to the US on Delta or similar (or returning back to America) in Business or First Class, your lounge will be in this area for flights departing to the USA. You will get access to the Miro Lounge. Other Skyteam Member Airlines still honor lounge access for Skyteam Elite+ members even if you are not flying out in Business. This airport lounge is like a Skyclub lounge but with better drinks. It’s not a great lounge, but it’s not that bad. It is a little tatty around the edges as all the lounges in Barcelona airport are 3rd party run, so they are not very exciting. It has a small selection of pastries/yogurts, juices, coffee/tea, and a range of alcoholic drinks.
The third lounge is largely used for the Barcelona-Madrid shuttle and domestic flight gates. There is an additional lounge in Terminal 2.
From the airport, the fastest way into town is by taxi or Uber on the ground level of Terminal 1, and it costs around €30 EUR ($33 USD) for the 30-minute drive. The Aerobús is cheaper and departs every few minutes during the hours of 5:35 – 1:05 am, which deposits passengers at the centrally located Plaça Catalunya. Tickets cost €5.90 EUR (about $7 USD) one-way, and the ride takes about 35 minutes. There is no metro between the city center and the airport, but a train station is located a five-minute walk from Terminal 2, with trains departing for Passeig de Gracia station every 30 minutes. At €3 EUR (about $3 USD), it’s the cheapest option, and the trip takes around 30 minutes.
1. Hotel Arts Barcelona, a Ritz-Carlton Hotel
Hotel Arts Barcelona, a Ritz-Carlton Hotel is one of the few luxury hotels in Barcelona which is right on the beach, yet within a long (20 minute) stroll from Las Ramblas and the historic city center. The nearest metro station is 10 minutes walk away, and from there, you can connect to a tram which takes you nearer to the hotel if you don’t fancy the walk. The hotel is actually located in the city’s Olympic Village area (and is home to a Frank Gehry sculpture). The attraction of this hotel is, of course, the beach plus the two excellent pools.
Renowned the world over for its impeccable service and lavish accommodations, the stunning 44-storey Hotel Arts Barcelona, a Ritz-Carlton Hotel, offers panoramic sea or city views from each of its 483 guestrooms suites and 28 duplex penthouses. The latter is located on the top floors of the hotel and offers butler service and the use of a MINI Cooper.
The rooms are great here, with particularly lovely bathrooms with Asprey toiletries (top suites have Bulgari), a bath, and a very large shower. Interestingly, some of the rooms are looking up the beach at the W-hotel, which is in a similar location to the Hotel Arts Barcelona, a Ritz-Carlton Hotel. Both are good choices in Barcelona, although only one has a club lounge.
A recently opened spa, 43 The Spa, has a stunning location on the 43rd floor of the hotel. With panoramic views and natural light, the spa offers eight treatment rooms. With separate ladies’ and men’s wet areas, including Sauna, steam baths, ice fountains, and vitality pools, the Spa offers a wide range of body and facial treatments with natural Sodashi products. The outdoor rooftop pool is stunning with stylish decking and comfy loungers and is pictured above. There is also a family pool and whirlpool set in terrace gardens together with the Fitness Centre.
Let us not forget the stunning collection of Spanish art; and five restaurants, including the acclaimed two-Michelin-star Enoteca (with a wine cellar topping 700 labels).
The Ritz-Carlton does have a reputation for running excellent club lounges. You need to book a room with executive club lounge access to get executive floor privileges on the 33rd floor with a triple-height ceiling and great views across the marina and coastline. The club accommodations at this hotel are on the high floors of the Hotel Arts in Barcelona, and the club lounge provides guests with sweeping views of the city and the Mediterranean Sea. Guests in this executive lounge can enjoy complimentary breakfast, midday snacks, a tea service, evening hors d’oeuvre, and desserts.
Guests with club access can check-in and check-out in the lounge and use the dedicated concierge between 7:00 am – 11:00 pm. Extra benefits include two free pieces of ironing per day and complimentary morning tea or coffee delivered to your room.
Breakfast is great with hot and cold dishes, and the evening dishes are filling enough to serve as your main meal if you decide not to take in the local dining scene.
The disadvantage of this hotel, much like the W-Barcelona, is the location, on the edge of the city center and not within the history and action of the city or the crowds near La Ramblas. The advantage is the club lounge, the pools, spa, gym, etc., plus the beach, the two Michelin-starred restaurants, and the classy bar.
Book Hotel Arts Barcelona, a Ritz-Carlton Hotel, via our luxury travel concierge, and you will get great free Stars benefits at no extra cost. You will also benefit from all your usual Marriott Bonvoy status and loyalty points.
If you are a Platinum Marriott Bonvoy member, expect a one-category upgrade but no breakfast or club access. If you are a Platinum Marriott Bonvoy member and you, book with our luxury travel concierge, you will get your own Platinum benefits plus our benefits.
Other Marriott Bonvoy and Starwood hotels in Barcelona include Le Meridien, which is a good choice in central Barcelona if you’re looking for a cheaper Starwood or a Marriott Bonvoy hotel in Barcelona.
2. Hotel Fairmont Rey Juan Carlos I Barcelona
Fairmont Rey Juan Carlos I is a luxury hotel choice in Barcelona and calls itself Barcelona’s Premier Urban resort. It is set in 25,000 m² of breathtaking 19th-century gardens and reveals an unparalleled view of the stunning Barcelona skyline. This luxurious urban hotel provides guests with a tranquil retreat in Barcelona and is surrounded by major attractions such as the famous Camp Nou stadium and the Barcelona Polo Club.
It is the two impressive and large outdoor swimming pools that make this hotel feel like a resort, along with a brilliant spa and fitness center. Fairmont Rey Juan Carlos I’s restaurants and bars offer sumptuous and authentic cuisine, as well as innovative cocktails and an extensive wine selection. The terrace is particularly nice in the summer season, with alfresco dining.
Book onto the Executive Floor and enjoy the perks of the Gold club lounge, which includes a very nice breakfast in the Executive Lounge every morning and spectacular views over the gardens.
The hotel is not close to many tourist attractions, but there is a metro stop close by, and you can get to the city center quickly.
3. Crowne Plaza Barcelona Fira Center
Crowne Plaza Barcelona Fira Center is one of the few IHG properties in Barcelona. It is largely a conference hotel with 3,000 m² of meeting space, making it one of the largest conference and meeting facilities across the entire portfolio of Crowne Plaza properties in Europe.
This Crowne Plaza was converted from an existing building to a 276-room hotel, complete with a new wellness center, a fitness room, and a VIP club lounge. If you are in Barcelona for business, the hotel is less than 100 meters away from the Fira Barcelona Convention Center next to Plaza Espana Square, one of Barcelona’s most renowned public spaces.
This hotel is very much a business hotel, but this means that you can get bargain rates some weekends, making it a good luxury and quiet choice in Barcelona with a club lounge. While it’s not right in the thick of things, there are plenty of attractions nearby, and the Hop On Hop Off tour bus stops are a short walk away.
The club lounge at this Crowne Plaza is good. Moet Champagne has been reported (at breakfast and in the evening), and the breakfast buffet is decent with hot and cold choices. Some consider this one of the best Crowne Plaza club lounges in Europe because of its attractive look, decent staff, tasty evening tapas, and a very good selection of drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic.
There is also an indoor pool at this hotel, but it is chargeable at around €15 EUR per day. The club lounge costs around €50 EUR per room per night if you have booked a stay on an IHG redemption at this hotel, which will also upgrade your room to a club room.
This Crown Plaza usually comes in at a similar redemption price to the Indigo Plaza Catalunya, but the club lounge seems to swing most guests into choosing the Crowne Plaza.
4. Hilton Diagonal Mar Barcelona
This hotel is located in a park of the Diagonal District near the water (though not a beach), near Glories metro station, so it provides easy access from/to the airport (Bus A1/A2 till Spanya, then change to metro L1) and into the center. The metro station is 400 meters from the hotel. There is a large shopping mall beside the hotel, with plenty of restaurants for cheap eats. The Sagreda Famila is 15 minutes walk away, and the hotel also has an outdoor pool (closed in the winter) and an excellent fitness center.
Executive rooms at the Hilton Diagonal Mar Barcelona are on the highest floors and have terrific sea views. The executive lounge at this hotel is located on the 15th floor and is spacious and pleasant. Even better, the lounge has a large outdoor terrace with amazing views. The downside is that there are no hot eggs for breakfast, but this is a good quality continental breakfast nonetheless, and the snacks are good along with the evening spread. The evening food is also high quality but is cold.
5. Hilton Barcelona
Book the executive floor with access to the executive lounge at the Hilton Barcelona, and you will get extra special treatment. The Hilton Barcelona is located a 5-minute walk from Maria Cristina Metro station, which gets you to all tourist sites fairly fast. A shopping mall is 5 minutes away, and the hotel is a 15-minute walk from Camp Nou, FC Barcelona Stadium. The rooms are very nice if a little on the small side. The executive lounge serves breakfast in the morning and tapas and drinks in the evening. Drinks are available during the day. The lounge itself feels a bit cramped, the chairs are not very comfortable, and there is no view.
If you stay here, the breakfast in the main restaurant on the ground floor has a greater choice, but the club lounge breakfast is more than enough to fill you up.
Which Hilton In Barcelona is best? The Hilton Diagonal Mar Barcelona. The lounge at the Barcelona Hilton is as large but with no view and feels cramped, and the chairs are not so comfortable. The food and snacks are not as good either, although the drinks and wines are the same. The Diagonal Mar is a much larger (over 400 rooms) and a better quality hotel, so when choosing between the Hilton Diagonal Mar Barcelona Vs. Hilton Barcelona, particularly if you are a Hilton Honours Diamond member with free executive lounge access, the former is the best choice.
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