Barcelona/Eixample

The Eixample is the quarter designed during the middle of the 19th century by Ildefons Cerdà, expanding the medieval city of Barcelona into space left empty for defense outside the city walls. It's an enormous field of rectangular blocks in a continuously repeating layout, with the constant threat of getting lost (at least for those used to European cities). Eixample contains most of the modernist buildings, including La Pedrera, Casa Batlló and La Sagrada Família. A very interesting example for planned urban development and subsequent re-planning and restructuring.

Get in
Eixample is in the middle of Barcelona so it's easily accessible by road, train, bus or metro. The metro, with stops at Plaça Catalunya, Passeig de Gràcia and Diagonal, connects the district to Gràcia and Ciutat Vella. and both stop at the Sagrada Família and  also stops at the University. and connect the district with Sants-Montjuïc.

Passeig de Gràcia is a main regional rail station in the area it is served by lines which connects to the airport and  along with other regional trains.

Other regional trains stop at Plaça de Catalunya

Driving a car in Eixample is possible, though you may find difficulties to find a decent parking place in peak hours. Note that there are two zones for paid parking and prices varies depending on demand. (Green Zone, €1.08-2.42/hr)

Sagrada Família
An audioguide is recommended. You will get a much better appreciation of the Sagrada Família, but it does last for over 90 minutes.

A trip to the towers costs extra but provides a different perspective to the church. There are two façades to choose from: Façana del Naixement (Nativity façade) and Façana de la Passió (Passion façade).

The first one was constructed between 1894 and 1930, and reflects Gaudi's style to the most. The Nativity façade is lower and faces to the east of Barcelona, but you could visit two towers there and then climb down by the famous stairs.

The lift to the towers at the Passion façade goes up 85 m and offers you a panoramic view towards the centre of the city.Then you descend by foot, which takes 10-20 minutes.

The entries to the lifts are on the left of the doors of the respective façade (looking from inside). There are some lockers there where the visitors are asked to leave their oversized items. Children under 6, unaccompanied children under 16 and elderly people with reduced mobility cannot go up into the towers.

Tickets

 * Church: Walking around the outside of the church is free, but getting inside requires patience and money. If you walk up and buy a ticket, expect a line and possible disappointment. It is strongly advised to buy tickets (preferably days in advance) online, so to avoid waiting in a queue. Once a ticket is bought it needs to be presented to an attendant either printed or as a code at a smart-phone (do not go to the ticket booth!).
 * Towers: Tickets for the tower lifts must be purchased at the same time you buy your entry ticket because they have time slots. Make sure you know which lift you are going to take since there are two of them. When buying a ticket "offline", at a ticket booth, and you go later than 10:00, expect to wait at least an hour (two hours is possible on busy days). You must choose your entrance time to the church to be before the time of a visit to the towers, but after you descend from the towers you are free to continue your visit to the church, the museum and other sights.

Other sights




Do

 * Eixample is excellent area to walk around and take in Barcelona. It's buzzing with people going to restaurants, shops and bars, and there are many fine buildings to look at. Some of the streets have pedestrian areas down the middle for walking and patios, making for a pleasant stroll.
 * Admire the Mançana de la discòrdia (Passeig de Gracia between Diagonal and Passeig de Gracia metro stations) concentrating four unique buildings by the most important Catalan architects from early years of the 20th century in 100 lineal meters. Casa Lleó-Morera by Lluís Domènech i Montaner, Casa Batlló from Antoni Gaudí, Casa Amatlló by Josep Puig i Cadafalch and Casa Mulleras by Enric Sagnier, in close proximity. As the four architects styles were very different, the buildings clash with each other and the neighboring buildings.

Buy
Most of the luxury international brands can be found at Passeig de Gracia.
 * La Pedrera (Casa Mila). At the exit from museum part (same floor as The Pedrera Apartment), La Pedrera hosts a small toys store. Mid-20th-century-style metal toys (including musical boxes and whirligigs); fascinating books with pop-up pages (especially check Alice in Wonderland and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, €30 each). Check also several books How to Speak to Children About Art from several galleries (Tate Gallery, Metropolitan Museum). To get to the shop, you need to buy a standard ticket to La Pedrera.
 * La Pedrera (Casa Mila). At the exit from museum part (same floor as The Pedrera Apartment), La Pedrera hosts a small toys store. Mid-20th-century-style metal toys (including musical boxes and whirligigs); fascinating books with pop-up pages (especially check Alice in Wonderland and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, €30 each). Check also several books How to Speak to Children About Art from several galleries (Tate Gallery, Metropolitan Museum). To get to the shop, you need to buy a standard ticket to La Pedrera.
 * La Pedrera (Casa Mila). At the exit from museum part (same floor as The Pedrera Apartment), La Pedrera hosts a small toys store. Mid-20th-century-style metal toys (including musical boxes and whirligigs); fascinating books with pop-up pages (especially check Alice in Wonderland and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, €30 each). Check also several books How to Speak to Children About Art from several galleries (Tate Gallery, Metropolitan Museum). To get to the shop, you need to buy a standard ticket to La Pedrera.
 * La Pedrera (Casa Mila). At the exit from museum part (same floor as The Pedrera Apartment), La Pedrera hosts a small toys store. Mid-20th-century-style metal toys (including musical boxes and whirligigs); fascinating books with pop-up pages (especially check Alice in Wonderland and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, €30 each). Check also several books How to Speak to Children About Art from several galleries (Tate Gallery, Metropolitan Museum). To get to the shop, you need to buy a standard ticket to La Pedrera.
 * La Pedrera (Casa Mila). At the exit from museum part (same floor as The Pedrera Apartment), La Pedrera hosts a small toys store. Mid-20th-century-style metal toys (including musical boxes and whirligigs); fascinating books with pop-up pages (especially check Alice in Wonderland and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, €30 each). Check also several books How to Speak to Children About Art from several galleries (Tate Gallery, Metropolitan Museum). To get to the shop, you need to buy a standard ticket to La Pedrera.
 * La Pedrera (Casa Mila). At the exit from museum part (same floor as The Pedrera Apartment), La Pedrera hosts a small toys store. Mid-20th-century-style metal toys (including musical boxes and whirligigs); fascinating books with pop-up pages (especially check Alice in Wonderland and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, €30 each). Check also several books How to Speak to Children About Art from several galleries (Tate Gallery, Metropolitan Museum). To get to the shop, you need to buy a standard ticket to La Pedrera.
 * La Pedrera (Casa Mila). At the exit from museum part (same floor as The Pedrera Apartment), La Pedrera hosts a small toys store. Mid-20th-century-style metal toys (including musical boxes and whirligigs); fascinating books with pop-up pages (especially check Alice in Wonderland and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, €30 each). Check also several books How to Speak to Children About Art from several galleries (Tate Gallery, Metropolitan Museum). To get to the shop, you need to buy a standard ticket to La Pedrera.

Drink


Eixample is the nightlife area of Barcelona. The famous zone Gayxample, around C/Balmes and C/Diputació has many gay bars and funky boutiques.



Sleep
L'Eixample is the place where most of the city's mid-range and top-end hotels are located. This quarter is very well connected with the rest of the city, although if you go by car it's impossible to park in the street.