Barcelona is glorious and exhausting in equal measure, and where you sleep shapes the whole trip. A recent stay at the InterContinental Barcelona suggests this Sants-Montjuïc property works well as a reset button between sightseeing sprints — big enough to feel like an escape, connected enough to keep the city within easy reach.
Start at the top, literally. The 173 Rooftop Terrace has a heated infinity pool plus a cocktail bar with light bites and wide views across the skyline — on clear days you can pick out the Sagrada Familia, Plaça Espanya and the Montjuïc cable cars. Live music pops up on select nights.
The spa is the standout. Blue-tiled and genuinely beautiful, it packs a sauna, hydrotherapy pool, heated loungers and a stone-walking path for tired feet. Access isn't included in the standard room rate: expect €45 for 60 minutes, or add a 25-minute massage with 90 minutes of spa time from €80. Even without a treatment, the reviewer came out visibly relaxed.
Food-wise, the hotel punches above its weight. Quirat holds a Michelin star and builds menus around Catalan ingredients; Arrel covers casual Mediterranean meals and a big brunch buffet; Boira Bite & Drinks works for laptop-and-snack sessions off the lobby; and Gerbe is the dressy cocktail option downstairs.
One more perk to know about: an executive lounge with a private breakfast buffet, all-day snacks and a dedicated concierge. It's not open to everyone — access comes with certain rate offers or higher IHG One Rewards tiers — but if your booking includes it, the concierge's local tips alone earn their keep.
Location-wise, this is a choose-your-pace spot. It sits in the quieter Sants-Montjuïc district, close to Plaça Espanya, Poble Espanyol, Montjuïc's parks and the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, with two metro stations under a 10-minute walk away. The Gothic Quarter is 10 minutes by metro or taxi, or a 30-minute stroll through residential streets and cafés — worth doing at least once. Practically nothing in the city took more than half an hour to reach.
Who's it for? Travellers who want five-star comfort and calm after a day of Gaudí crowds, without sacrificing access. If you're chasing a room inside the Gothic Quarter's medieval lanes, look elsewhere; if you want gardens, a rooftop swim and one of the better hotel spas in Europe within your evening routine, shortlist this one.
Find it at Av. de Rius i Taulet 1-3, in the Sants-Montjuïc district.
