Barcelona/Gràcia

Gràcia is a district of Barcelona and is the most distinctively Catalan neighbourhood within easy walking distance of the city centre. It was an independent town before it joined the city in the 20th century. Its narrow streets and young atmosphere gives Gràcia more of a local than a cosmopolitan feel. The district's many public squares are lively with people, and the wonderful Park Güell's Gaudi flair and panoramic views of the city delight.

Get in
The most convenient way to get to Gràcia is Metro line. Fontana is close to the restaurants and squares; Lesseps and Vallcarca provide access to Park Güell. From the stations, the heart of Gràcia will be to the NNE (this may appear as East or "to the right" on most, if not all, maps of Barcelona). The other possibility from the north side of Gràcia is to come in via the Joanic metro station.

The Barcelona Bus Turístic has a stop in Gràcia, near Park Güell.

It's possible to walk to Gràcia from Eixample. From Plaça Catalunya, it's about up Passeig de Gràcia and Gran de Gràcia to Fontana Metro station.

Park Güell


Popular sights and attractions within the park include:



The park is popular with tourists and locals alike and can be very busy on afternoons and weekends, particularly in the summer (but the queue to the Gaudi House Museum can be long even outside of the summer). Open daily 10:00-21:00 (May-Aug), 10:00-20:00 (Apr & Sept), 10:00-19:00 (Mar & Oct), 10:00-18:00 (Nov - Feb).

There's a limit of 400 visitors entering in each 30-min. time slot, though once you enter, you can stay as long as you want (but you can't leave and re-enter).

Directions: Bus 24, D40 & H6 stop Trav de Dalt - Torrent de les Flors. From there walk uphill on Carrer de Larrard to the park. Lesseps Exit the station and follow the arrows that are every 300 m. It is a steep climb!

Vallcarca As of Feb 2024, escalators are out of service. Exit the station and head down Av de Vallcarca to Baixada de la Gloria and follow the signs to the park. It is also a steep climb but there are a number of escalators along the way. This route enters the park near the Turo de les tres creus rather than the main entrance.

Other attractions
Check out any plaza and it will most likely be humming with life and vibrancy.


 * Prosperous private villas can be found above the Guell Park.

Do
One of Barcelona's most lively festivals, the Festa Major de Gracia, is a week long festival that displays the best of Catalan with a mass celebration in the streets. One of the most popular events is the 'Best decorated street', where residents from 23 neighbouring streets use anything and everything to decorate their street in a theme and vie for the prize.

Buy
Gràcia offers many different small bohemian design or second hand book shops. Many shops sell organic and local products.

Other




In the south of the district
There are several budget friendly restaurants in the main area of Gràcia.

Drink
Gracia is popular among students, and offers a lot of nice restaurants and bars for the student budget. The plazas in the area, as Plaça de Sol for instance, are filled with nightlife.


 * Bar Bambo LaForja, just off via Augusta. Small local bar with a clean, cozy atmosphere and a single dart board. Turntables behind the bar control the mix of music which is a variety of American and Spanish upbeat hits. Estrellas - €2.
 * Bar Bambo LaForja, just off via Augusta. Small local bar with a clean, cozy atmosphere and a single dart board. Turntables behind the bar control the mix of music which is a variety of American and Spanish upbeat hits. Estrellas - €2.
 * Bar Bambo LaForja, just off via Augusta. Small local bar with a clean, cozy atmosphere and a single dart board. Turntables behind the bar control the mix of music which is a variety of American and Spanish upbeat hits. Estrellas - €2.

Places to seek more bars:
 * Plaça del Sol Has a lot of bars, such as the Sol de Nit, the Café del Sol and the Eldorado. The place is a meeting point for many young people.
 * Plaça Rius i Taulet This nice square with the old city hall and the clock tower in the middle has also many bars.
 * Plaça de la Revolució Is not as crowded as the others, but has an Ice cream bar, owned by two Italian sisters, that serve the best ice creams in Barcelona. The problem is that you may have to wait a long time.
 * Plaça de la Revolució Is not as crowded as the others, but has an Ice cream bar, owned by two Italian sisters, that serve the best ice creams in Barcelona. The problem is that you may have to wait a long time.