All guides
Every BarrioWise guide in one place, grouped by topic.
Where to stay
Neighbourhood guides for the most visited cities in Spain and Portugal: the character of each area, transport, who it suits and the downsides, from official tourism sources.
- Where to stay
Where to Stay in Barcelona: 6 Best Areas Compared (2026)
Where to stay in Barcelona in 2026: Gothic Quarter, El Born, Eixample, Gràcia, Barceloneta or Poble-sec, with metro lines, airport transfer and tourist tax.
- Where to stay
Where to Stay in Lisbon: 6 Best Areas Compared (2026)
Where to stay in Lisbon in 2026: Baixa and Chiado, Alfama, Bairro Alto, Príncipe Real, Cais do Sodré or Belém, with hills, metro, airport fares and tourist tax.
- Where to stay
Where to Stay in Madrid: 6 Best Areas Compared (2026)
Where to stay in Madrid in 2026: Sol, La Latina, Barrio de las Letras, Malasaña, Chueca or Salamanca, with metro lines, airport transfer and apartment rules.
- Where to stay
Where to Stay in Málaga: 5 Best Areas Compared (2026)
Where to stay in Málaga in 2026: the old town, Soho, La Malagueta, Pedregalejo or El Perchel, with the airport train and bus and the new apartment rules.
- Where to stay
Where to Stay in Porto: 6 Best Areas Compared (2026)
Where to stay in Porto in 2026: Ribeira, Baixa, Cedofeita, Boavista, Vila Nova de Gaia or Foz, with metro lines, the airport metro fare and the tourist tax.
- Where to stay
Where to Stay in Seville: 5 Best Areas Compared (2026)
Where to stay in Seville in 2026: Santa Cruz, El Arenal, Triana, Alameda or Nervión, with tram and metro stops, the airport bus and tourist apartment rules.
Practical info
Tourist taxes, rules for holiday apartments and other things to know before you book a place to stay in Spain or Portugal, checked against official sources.
- Practical info
Tourist Tax in Spain and Portugal 2026: Rates by City
Tourist tax in Spain and Portugal in 2026: official rates for Barcelona, Lisbon, Porto and Mallorca, who is exempt, night limits and cities that charge none.
Booking sites
Hotel and apartment booking sites compared by their published terms: cancellation, payment, price guarantees and loyalty programmes.
- Booking sites
Booking.com vs Expedia: Cancellation, Loyalty and Fees (2026)
Booking.com vs Expedia in 2026: free cancellation, pay later, Genius vs One Key, price guarantees and reviews, plus Agoda, Trip.com, Vrbo and Hostelworld.