There is a particular kind of happy that only happens at about five in the afternoon in Barcelona: you have walked twelve kilometres, your feet are done, and the hotel lift takes you up to a rooftop pool with the Cathedral spires right there. Picking the right hotel with a pool in Barcelona decides whether that moment happens.
The catch is that the photos lie, a little. Most pools in Barcelona city centre sit on rooftops of old buildings, which means they are plunge pools: great for a dip, useless for laps. So for each of these 12 hotels with pools in Barcelona, we checked that the pool exists, then read the guest reviews to tell you how big it really is, whether it is heated, and when it closes.
Good to know
Most rooftop pools in Barcelona close for winter. Several hotels on this list shut theirs from 31 October to the end of March (one waits until 30 April), and most are not heated, so April and October water can be bracing.
Travelling between November and March? Book a hotel with a heated or indoor pool: H10 Madison, Hotel 1898 (indoor spa pool), W Barcelona, or the Mandarin Oriental and Majestic below. Everywhere else, the pool may be a pretty view you cannot use.
Hotels with pools in Barcelona: the map
Rooftop pools in the Gothic Quarter
The Gothic Quarter has the highest concentration of rooftop pools in Barcelona, and the best views of the cathedral. Old buildings with small roofs mean every one of these pools is compact, but you are a short walk from El Born and the Picasso Museum, and within walking distance of Barceloneta beach.
1. Hotel Barcelona Catedral
The pool, honestly: Rooftop infinity pool, 1.3 m deep. Small, but guests say there are enough loungers, some in the shade. Closed from 31 October to 31 March.
A pedestrian lane two minutes from the Gothic Quarter's Catedral, and a rooftop that looks straight at its spires. This is the hotel to pick if you want to float with views of the cathedral and then walk to dinner in El Born. Reviews call the pool "small but lovely", which is about right: you come here for the setting, not for laps.
2. Catalonia Magdalenes
The pool, honestly: Glass-sided saltwater pool on a two-level rooftop terrace. Small, and a few guests found the water on the cool side. Closed from 31 October to 31 March.
Opened in 2016 on a quiet side street off Portal de l'Àngel, the Catalonia Magdalenes hotel has a split-level terrace that does a lot with a small footprint: pool on one deck, rooftop bar and loungers on the other. Guests regularly mention free tapas served by the pool. Both the Cathedral and Plaça de Catalunya are a few minutes' walk away.
3. H10 Madison
The pool, honestly: Heated plunge pool on the top-floor terrace, open 09:00 to 20:00. Very small: a dip, not a swim. Sunbeds run along one side only.
H10 Madison is a three-minute walk from the Cathedral, and its rooftop bar faces the Gothic Quarter's towers. The heated water is the selling point: in spring and autumn, when the unheated rooftop pools around it feel icy, this one is still pleasant. It can get crowded in the late afternoon, and a few guests grumble about slow bar service.
4. Ohla Barcelona
The pool, honestly: Glass-walled rooftop pool, about 13 m long. The longest on this list in the old town, long enough for slow lengths. Pool deck for hotel guests only.
The five-star hotel on Via Laietana with artist Frederic Amat's ceramic eyes on its facade. The rooftop terrace has a glass-sided pool where you can actually do a few lengths, which is rare up here, plus a view across tiled domes to the Cathedral. The Palau de la Música is a few minutes' walk away, and Caelis, the hotel restaurant, holds a Michelin star.
5. Grand Hotel Central
The pool, honestly: Rooftop infinity pool, open all year but not heated (the hotel confirms this). Guests describe it as very small, and loungers must be booked.
This is the rooftop infinity pool most people picture when they search for a pool in Barcelona: the edge seems to drop straight onto the old town roofs. The photos are honest about the view and generous about the size. With few loungers, one recent guest said you either sit wet or stand around, so book your sunbed early. Non-guests can use the rooftop bar but not the pool.
6. Kimpton Vividora
The pool, honestly: Dipping pool on the seventh-floor terrace with around 14 loungers. Tiny. The hotel says it is available all year, but some winter guests found it unheated.
A design hotel on a narrow lane between the Cathedral and Portal de l'Àngel, with one of the friendliest rooftop bars in the area. One reviewer put it well: the pool is tiny, which is what you expect from a boutique hotel in the Gothic Quarter. Another felt the terrace was more cramped than the photos suggest. Go for the cocktails and a quick cool-off. If you want to swim, look further down this list.
Hotels with a pool near Plaça de Catalunya and La Rambla
Plaça de Catalunya is where the airport bus, the metro and the trains meet, so a hotel here gives you easy access to the whole city. These three cover the budget range, from a 3-star rooftop to a full spa.
7. Hotel 1898
The pool, honestly: Two pools. A small rooftop pool (restricted November to March) with a wraparound deck, plus a heated indoor pool in the basement spa, open all year (30 minutes a day included for guests).
The former Philippine Tobacco Company headquarters on La Rambla, and the most practical all-season choice on this list. The rooftop has 360-degree views and daybeds; the spa pool below sits in an old warehouse space with exposed brick and low light. Both are for hotel guests only, so the rooftop never fills with day visitors.
8. Hotel Jazz
The pool, honestly: Small, unheated rooftop pool, open April to October from 12:00 to 20:00. Solarium with hammocks and towels provided.
The budget answer to the question "is there a 3-star hotel with a pool in Barcelona city centre?" Yes, and it is rated 9.0. Hotel Jazz is a few minutes' walk from Plaça de Catalunya, with easy access to metro and bus lines in every direction. Guests describe the pool as a nice extra rather than the main event, and the sunset views from the deck are a bonus.
9. Catalonia Ramblas
The pool, honestly: Outdoor garden pool (not a rooftop) with a solarium and bar service. Small, but long enough for a couple of lengths. Few loungers. Closed from 31 October to 31 March.
A central hotel with a surprise inside: a sunny garden courtyard with a real outdoor pool, a rare thing in the centre of Barcelona. It gets sun all day, so arrive early for a lounger. Some junior suites come with their own private plunge pool on a decked terrace, worth a look if you want a pool of your own.
Hotels with a swimming pool in Eixample
Eixample is the grid of wide streets above the old town: quieter at night, flatter for luggage, and closer to Gaudí. Pools here sit on modern rooftops but are no bigger than in the Gothic Quarter.
10. Catalonia Passeig de Gràcia
The pool, honestly: Rooftop pool with solarium. Very small, with one review counting just three sunloungers. Closed from 31 October to 30 April, the longest closure on this list.
Steps from Passeig de Gràcia, in the part of Eixample where Casa Batlló and the best shopping are a short walk away. The pool is the weak point. The guest ratings are the strong one: 9.2 across nearly 2,800 reviews, plus free wine for guests every evening from 17:00 to 20:00. Book it for the location and the terrace, and treat the pool as a footbath with a view.
11. Yurbban Trafalgar
The pool, honestly: Small, shallow, unheated rooftop pool. One guest called it a wading pool, and it gets busy quickly.
A boutique 3-star near Arc de Triomf, between El Born and Eixample. The rooftop, now run as Uma House, has a bar and a 360-degree view that easily ranks among the best in the city. The pool is just big enough to cool off. If your budget stops below four stars and you want a terrace and pool with a view, this is the one.
A pool on the beach: W Barcelona
12. W Barcelona
The pool, honestly: Three pools: a large main outdoor pool on the WET Deck, a quieter infinity pool on the Sun Deck, and an indoor pool. The main deck is crowded; spots go by 9am in summer.
The sail-shaped tower at the far end of Barceloneta beach. If you want a hotel with a swimming pool you can actually swim in, with the sea a few steps away, nothing in the city centre comes close. The catch is the vibe. The main pool feels like a beach club with a DJ, so the infinity pool is where you go for quiet. You are also a long walk or a taxi ride from the Gothic Quarter.
Best hotels with a pool for luxury stays
A few more five-star hotels have pools, each with a catch worth knowing. The Mandarin Oriental Barcelona on Passeig de Gràcia has a rooftop pool that is deliberately shallow (made for cooling off, not swimming) and closes in winter, but its spa has a 12-metre indoor pool for real lengths. The Majestic Hotel & Spa a few blocks up has a small, often crowded rooftop pool with views from Sagrada Família to the sea, and an indoor pool as backup. Hotel Miramar on Montjuïc has indoor and outdoor pools in a garden that feels more like a resort than a city hotel. And Hotel Arts Barcelona by the beach has an infinity pool and a family pool, though the hotel is in the middle of a renovation scheduled to run until the end of 2026 and the family pool is closed while it lasts.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best hotel with a pool in Barcelona?
It depends on what you want from the pool. For the view, Hotel Barcelona Catedral, with the cathedral spires right above the water. For actual swimming in the old town, Ohla Barcelona. For a trip between November and March, Hotel 1898, because its spa pool is indoors and heated. For sea and sand on the doorstep, W Barcelona.
Can non-guests use hotel pools in Barcelona?
Usually not. At most hotels on this list the pool is for hotel guests only, and outsiders can at best order a drink at the rooftop bar. W Barcelona is the main exception: its WET Deck sells day passes and cabana rentals to non-guests.
How early should I book a hotel with a pool in Barcelona?
For June to September, book as early as you can. Hotels with a rooftop pool are exactly what summer visitors filter for, so the best-rated ones in the Gothic Quarter fill first. In shoulder season you have more choice, but check the pool dates: a hotel booked for late October or early April may have its pool closed.
Which hotels with pools in Barcelona are best for families?
W Barcelona, for its big main pool and the beach right below. In the centre, Catalonia Ramblas has a garden pool at ground level, which is easier with small children than a busy rooftop bar scene. For more ideas, see our guide to Barcelona with kids.
Is the pool always as big as it looks in the photos?
No, and that is why we added the pool notes above. A well-known example not on this list is Barceló Raval: guests describe its rooftop pool as knee-deep and about the size of a large hot tub. Wide-angle lenses make small pools look like lidos, so read the reviews before you book for the pool alone.
Where should I stay in Barcelona if I want a pool?
For the most choice, stay in the Gothic Quarter: six of these hotels are within a 10-minute walk of each other around the Catedral. For quieter streets and shopping, pick Eixample near Passeig de Gràcia, which is also the side of town closest to Sagrada Família and Park Güell. For a pool you can really swim in plus the sea, stay at the beach.
Your pool is waiting
Barcelona does not do big resort pools in the centre, and that is fine. What it does better than almost anywhere is the small rooftop pool at the end of a long day, with a cold drink, warm stone underfoot and the old town glowing below you. Pick your hotel by the view and the month you travel, read the pool notes twice, and save the rest of the afternoon for doing nothing at all.
