The graceful silhouette of Hotel Arts Barcelona offers guests spectacular views over the city and sea. Leave it to Ritz-Carlton to open its first European hotel on the waterfront in Barcelona. In a city known for centuries of trend-setting architectural masterworks, the 44-story Hotel Arts Barcelona brings a note of turn-of-the-millennium brilliance to the Catalonian capital's skyline. The Ritz-Carlton-operated hotel celebrates the city's avant-garde atmosphere at every turn, even by the pool, where a fish sculpture by California architect Frank Gehry watches over guests relaxing just 100 yards from the Mediterranean. Inspired by Spain's heralded fine arts tradition, American designers appointed the sunlit interiors. They called on contemporary Spanish artists to contribute murals, paintings, and sculptures throughout the lobby, restaurants, and other gathering places. Private spaces mirror the same appealing style, with soothing Mediterranean tones as backdrops for works by local artists. * The finest cuisine. With a broad range of suggestions and different settings designed so that all guests will find restaurants that adapt perfectly to suit their culinary tastes. * Arola: An innovative restaurant and bar created by the chef Sergi Arola. * Enoteca: Awarded a Michelin Star under the direction of Chef Paco Pérez. Offers a superb menu of Mediterranean specialities and a wine cellar with over 300 references. * Bites: Chic, restaurant for fast, informal food at any time of the day. * Café Veranda: Buffet breakfast. An exquisite Brunch is served on Sunday. * The hotel's fitness center features sauna, steam room and massage services, as well as a range of fitness equipment. The outdoor swimming pool and hot tub are open year round but the pool is not heated. * A duplex Spa located on 42nd and 43rd floor just a few metres from heaven, an oasis of peace and tranquillity with stunning panoramic views of Barcelona and the Mediterranean sea. Six Senses Spas, considered to be one of the best companies in the world offers an extensive selection of exquisite beauty treatment and massages. * The outdoor swimming pool and hot tub are open year round but the pool is not heated. The Mediterranean Sea is just in front of the hotel. There are beaches where a range of watersports are available in summer months. The Olympic Port is also by the hotel with its own marina. * Hotel Arts provides an exceptional venue for meetings of any size, with some outdoor areas for food and beverage functions, overlooking the Mediterranean. The fourteen fully-equipped meeting rooms include a grand ballroom that can accommodate more than 1,000 people for a reception. * Hotel Arts has 483 luxurious rooms with panoramic views of both the city and sea. * All guest rooms have marble bathrooms, mini-bar and high speed internet connection, television and dvd/cd. Hotel Arts Barcelona is on the shores of the Mediterranean and overlooking the Port Olimpic. The striking contemporary hotel enjoys a spectacular beachfront location near Barcelona's finest shops and restaurants. The graceful silhouette of Hotel Arts Barcelona offers guests spectacular views over the city and sea. Calm and relaxed ambience in a luxury hotel... * Barcelona Airport - 12 km * Vila Olimpica Bus Station - 0.1 km * Passeig De Gracia Train Station - 1.5 km * Ciutadella Tub Station - 1 km * Fira De Barcelona Exhibition Center - 2 km * Beach - 0.1 km * Downtown Shopping Area - 1.5 km * Olympic Port and beaches - one block * Museum of Modern Art - 0.5 km * Old Port - 1 km * Picasso Museum - 1 km * Cathedral - 1.5 kilometers * City History Museum- 1.5 km * Old Town - 1.5 km * La Ramblas - 1.5 km * La Sagrada Familia and Gaudi Museum - 2 km * Maritime Museum - 2 km * Passeig de Gracia - 2.5 km * Montjuic - 2.5 km * Park Guell - 6 km * Nou Camp Stadium and the Museum of Football - 6 km Directions: * Barcelona International Airport El Prat de Llobregat (BCN): Approximate driving time is 20 minutes and distance is 16 miles (10 kilometers). * Trains and yellow and black taxi cabs are available for transfer from the airport to the center of Barcelona. * The Aerobus also serves terminals A and B and takes passengers to Plaza Catalunya and Plaza Espanya in central Barcelona. * The extensive underground train system (the Metro) connects the hotel with the rest of central Barcelona with most journeys taking less than 20 minutes. The Metro station closest to the hotel is Ciutadella Vila Olimpica. The hotel can give advice on local bus services and order yellow and black taxi cabs on request. Driving directions from Barcelona Airport: Take the C246 toward Barcelona. Turn off to the right onto the Ronda Litoral. Keep to the right side for about 6 miles or 10 km. Take Exit 22, Marina-Port Olimpic. Keep right, and the hotel is located about 500 yards on the right after the second set of traffic lights.