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Barcelona/Eixample - district of Barcelona

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 an 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, bus or metro. The [L3] metro, with stops at Plaça Catalunya, Passeig de Gràcia and Diagonal, connects the district to Gràcia and Ciutat Vella. [L5] and [L2] both stop at the Sagrada Família and [L2] also stops at the University. [L1] and [L5] connect the district with Sants-Montjuïc.

Driving a car in Eixample is quite easy, 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)

See

Sagrada Família Interior of the Sagrada Familia

Sagrada Família

Sagrada Família (Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família), Carrer de Mallorca, 401 (Sardenya and Mallorca; Metro: L2 & L5 Sagrada Familia), 41.403608°, 2.174442°, +34 932 080 414, informacio@sagradafamilia.org. Open daily 09:00-18:00 (Nov-Mar), 09:00-19:00 (Oct, Mar), 09:00-20:00 (Apr-Sep). Barcelona's most popular and famous attraction, the Sagrada Família is a testament to Antonio Gaudi's modernist style and unlike any other church in the world. The texture and detail on the façades are intricate and incorporate forms seen in nature as much of Gaudi's work does. The inside is huge — it's estimated that it can hold 13,000 people — with vaulted ceilings and columns designed to be reminiscent of trees. The church is still under construction, but the central nave, apse and crypt are open. Seeing the Sagrada Família at night with lights on is impressive — this is the time when you understand why people say that it is built of bones. €26 for adult, with audio guide, €30 if tour included. €10 extra to visit the towers 2022-04-17

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 (dead link: January 2023): 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 lineup. <br/> Alternatively, it is possible to buy tickets online, so to avoid waiting in a queue. Once a tickets 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!). Someone has suggested to have the bank card used with the purchase ready "just in case", but that's not a requirement.
  • 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 you visit to the church, the museum and other sights.

Further UNESCO World Heritage Listings

  • Casa Batlló, Passeig de Gracia 43 (corner of Carrer de Arago; Metro: L2, L3 & L4 Passeig de Gracia), 41.3916384°, 2.16476979°, +34 932 16 03 06, info@casabatllo.cat. 09:00-21:00 (tickets until 20:00). Another Gaudi masterpiece along the same avenue as La Pedrera. Open to the public. No straight line or right angles appear anywhere in the house. Often overlooked for La Pedrera, (also by Gaudi), La Casa Batlló is equally as stunning with its unique architecture and infamous two ornamental pillars in the entrance to the terrace. Open for visitors from ground floor to the roof, and down by an old-time elevator. Adult €23.50 (online) and €28 (ticket office), student €18.50 and resident of Catalonia €15, which includes an audioguide; videoguide — €3 extra 2015-10-18
  • Casa Milà (La Pedrera), Passeig de Gràcia 92 (Metro: L3 & L5 Diagonal), 41.395278°, 2.161667°, +34 902 202 138, reserves@lapedrera.com. Mar-Oct 09:00-20:30; Nov-Apr 09:00-18:30. One of Gaudi's masterpieces, there is not one straight edge on the exterior and the structure is one of Gaudi’s most eccentric and enticing architectural creations. Tours of the interior and the incredible roof structures are available. Great views of the tall buildings (especially La Sagrada Familia) from the roof. Hosts a large exposition of Gaudi works, covering Sagrada Familia and Casa Batlio, not only La Pedrera itself. The exposition is a good place to start your exploration of Gaudi; it reveals many hidden details for the art novice. from €20.50 2015-10-18

Other sights

Courtyard in Catalon studies

  • Casa Amatller (Fundació Institut Amatller d'Art Hispànic), Passeig de Gràcia 41, 41.391667°, 2.165°, +34 934 617 460. Daily 11:00-19:00 only guided tours every 1/2 hr (in English at 11:00); no high heels allowed. Designed by Puig i Cadafalch, the building is a fine work of Modernism. Check the detailed photos and explanation of facade sculptures. It also has a shop that sells fine chocolate (the Amatller family made its money out of cocoa). Full tour €15, express tour €10 2015-10-18
  • Casa Lleó-Morera, Passeig de Gràcia 35, 41.391244°, 2.165528°, +34 936 762 733, info@casalleomorera.com. Tu-Su 10:00-13:30, 15:00-19:00 (only guided tours roughly every 1/2 hr, full tour in English at 11:00). By Lluís Domènech i Montaner. Adult €15 (sold online or at Palau de la Virreina (La Rambla, 99) 2015-10-18
  • Fundació Antoni Tàpies, C/d'Aragó, 255, 41.39167°, 2.16361°. Created in 1984 by the artist Antoni Tàpies to promote the study and knowledge of modern and contemporary art.
  • Hotel Majestic, 41.393406°, 2.163947°, +34 934 881 717. Passeig de Gràcia 68. Enjoy city views from the rooftop. Just enter the elevator right from the lobby, and head up to the top floor.
  • Plaça de Catalunya, at the end of Passeig de Gràcia and the top of La Rambla (Metro: L1, L3, L6 & L7 Catalunya), 41.386667°, 2.17°. Connecting many of the major streets in the city, the Plaça is a central location and a hub of activity. It is a favourite meeting spot for locals and a transit hub for the tourist buses. There are many fountains, statues and gardens around the plaza, and a number of benches to just sit and take it all in.
  • Universitat (University of Barcelona), 41.386667°, 2.163889°. The university has many interesting buildings, libraries and courtyards.

Do

Casa Batlló by night on the Mançana de la discòrdia

  • 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.

  • Ágatha Ruiz de la Prada, C/ Consell De Cent 314, 41.391672°, 2.166602°, +34 932 155 288. A Spanish fashion designer, no link with the Italian brand Prada
  • Bike House Tomas Domingo, Carrer Sepúlveda, 109, 41.380534°, 2.158786°, +34 934 52 16 16. M 16:30–20:30, Tu-Sa 10:00–14:00, 16:30–20:30. The bike shop sells high end bikes.
  • Bolsos Turo (Pilar Guardia), Carrer de Manso, 76 (Metro L2 Sant Antoni or L3 Poble Sec (Cornering Ronda Sant Pau)), 41.378322°, 2.163091°, +34 933 29 60 61. Located in the Sant Antoni neighbourhood, 10 min from Ramblas and Plaza de Universitat you will find this Spanish leather bags and accessories shop. Bolsos Turo is a shop for affordable and fashionable leather handbags, suitcases, travel bags, leather belts and more.
  • Cacao Sampaka, C/. Consell de Cent, 292, 41.389785°, 2.164121°, +34 932 72 08 33. M-Sa 09:00-20:30. Xocoa or The Chocolate Factory is a must for chocolate lovers. They sell special products like peppermint white chocolate or blackberry dark chocolate.
  • La Concepcio, C/ Aragó, 313-317 (Metro Girona, Passeig de Gracia), 41.395483°, 2.16867°, +34 675 69 36 16, info@laconcepcio.com. food section M 08:00-15:00, Tu-F 08:00-20:00, Sa 08:00-15:00. The local market in the heart of the Eixample sells fresh fruits, vegetables and seafood. This is a great flower market too, the florists are open all week. The market is over than 120 years old, but has been thoroughly modernized since.
  • Desigual, Passeig de Gràcia, 47, 41.392099°, 2.164316°, +34 932 15 08 84. Different stylish clothes for men, women and children.
  • Nice Things, Carrer de Girona, 38, 41.392821°, 2.173935°, +34 932 47 26 78. There are six shops in Barcelona, this is their outlet.
  • Nike Store, Calle Laforja, 8, 41.390765°, 2.166117°, +34 934 87 54 24. The Nike shop sells all kinds of football and running shoes. Every Thursday evening they organise a "Run Barcelona" with free participation.
  • 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.
  • Probike, C/ Viladomat, 310, 41.389479°, 2.144452°, +34 934 19 78 89. M-Sa 10:00-20:30. The bike shop has a wide selection of quality bikes and some interesting offers.
  • Vinçon, Passeig de Gracia 96 (M. Diagonal), 41.395439°, 2.16138°, +34 93 215-6050. M-Sa 10:00-20:30. This is a place modern design lovers simply must visit. Offers everything from little household objects to furniture in a sleek and contemporary design--and much beyond interior decoration.
  • El Corte Ingles, Avinguda Diagonal, 471-473 (Trams T1, T2, T3 - Francesc Macià), 41.39257°, 2.14637°. A medium-sized store is to be found at the eastern end of the tram lines in Les Corts, handy if you are after some clothes or other merchandise you may need. Unlike most stores in the chain, in an actually nice and modern building - look for the entrance on the back side of the complex when approaching from Plaça de Francesc Macià (the roundabout)

Eat

Budget: up to €10, mid-range: €10 - €25, splurge: €25 and up (meal for one + soft drink).

Budget

around La Sagrada Familía:

Mid-range

  • La Flauta, Calle D´Aribau, 23, 41.386893°, 2.16113°, +34 934 88 17 97. Many local business people come to dine here during the week. The ever changing menu del dia (menu of the day) costs around €10 and will fill you up with delicious Catalan cuisine that is well prepared and equally well presented. The Crema Catalana, similar to a creme brulee, makes an excellent choice for dessert. Arriving for lunch before 14:00 could save you from waiting for a table.
  • Braseria El Glop, Carrer de Casp, 21, 41.389453°, 2.170577°, +34 93 318 75 75. Catalan meals. Allow about €20 per person, although you could get out of there for half of that if you let the price dictate your choice of dishes.
  • {{eat | name=Miu | alt= | url=http://www.grupandilana.com/es/restaurantes/miu (dead link: December 2020) | email=miu@grupandilana.com | address=249 Valencia | lat=41.392767 | long=2.163156 | directions= | phone=+34 93 193 23 00 | tollfree= | fax= | hours= | price= | content=Japanese cuisine, with excellent sushi and standard fare. }}
  • El nou de granados, Carrer d'Enric Granados, 9, 41.387679°, 2.162309°, +34 934 53 11 20, info@9granados.com. 12:30-00:30. Mediterranean cuisine excels to mix in lots of international flavours. One can choose between the Catalan 3 dish dinner or various tapas. The restaurant has modern minimal decors.
  • Le P'ty Mon, Passage de Luís Pellicer, 13, 41.393206°, 2.149495°, +34 934 10 90 02. The restaurant, formerly known as Ty Bihan, serves good Breton crêpes made with artisanal dough. less €20
  • {{eat | name=El Ùltimo Agave | alt= | url=http://www.elultimoagave.com/ (dead link: December 2020) | email= | address=Carrer d'Aragó, 193 | lat=41.387897 | long=2.158866 | directions= | phone=+34 660 07 17 30 | tollfree= | fax= | hours= | price= | content=Authentic Mexican restaurant. }}

Splurge

Drink

A typical avenue in Eixample

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.

Budget

  • Centric Point Hostel, Passeig de Gracia 33, 41.390944°, 2.165797°, +34 93 231 2045, info@centricpointhostel.com. Opened in 2006. Doubles, twins and family rooms, quads, and 6/8/10 person dorms - all with en-suite bathrooms except the 10 person dorms. Kitchen facilities, common room with bar, free Wi-Fi, and free breakfast. A very busy hostel lots of high school groups. From €14 for a dorm bed
  • Hostal Central, Ronda Universitat No 11 (Just off the Plaça de Catalunya), 41.386527°, 2.165648°, +34 932 451 981. Clean, friendly and good value. En-suite double rooms for around €60
  • St Christopher's Barcelona, Carrer de Bergara, 3 (Located at the top of La Rambla, 50 meters from Plaça Catalunya. The hostel is three minutes walk from the metro and airport bus.), 41.386044°, 2.167552°, +34 936 674 588, bookings@st-christophers.co.uk. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 10:00. Part of the St Christopher's Inns chain, this new hostel has private and dormitory style rooms and a Belushi's bar downstairs. From €12.50 per night which includes a continental breakfast, WiFI and fully laundered beds
  • Hostal Agua Alegre, Calle Roger de Llúria, 47, +34 93 487 80 32, info@aguaalegre.com. Located in the center of Barcelona, 2 blocks away from the über chic Passeig de Gràcia, and 10 minutes by foot to Plaza Catalunya. From €23
  • Hostal Centric Barcelona, Calle Casanova 13, +34 93 426 75 73, info@hostalcentric.com. Common room, free Wi-Fi, rooms with air-conditioning, heating and TV. From €23
  • Hostal Que tal Barcelona, Mallorca, 290, +34 93 459 23 66, info@quetalbarcelona.com. In the heart of modernist Barcelona. Gaudi’s Casa Batlló and la Pedrera are a five-minute walk away while las Ramblas, Plaza Cataluña and the Gothic Quarter are all at your doorstep. From €23
  • Hostal Residencia Australia, Ronda de la Universitat 11, +34 93 317 41 77, info@residenciaustralia.com. Run by a jazz musician, a local politician and an Australian, they have been around for 30 years taking care of guests. Good rooms, all the usual goodies, for couples, creative hearts and all those who want to get a feel of the creative edge of Barcelona in terms of cuisine, art, music, theatre, dance. They love the city and have our own travel guide to show you around. The city is made up of cement buildings, what makes it tick are its people. From €22
  • Hostel Barcelona Sant Jordi Alberg. Part of local chain of hostels that operates five hostels in Barcelona. Offers full equipped kitchen, common room with DVD, books, cable TV, guitar and couches, computers with 24 hours free internet access, free lockers and storage room, laundry facilities, towels rentals and public phone. From €23
  • Jardinets Guest House, Carrer Gran de Gracia, +34 644 200 680, bbb@guesthousejardinets.com. The beautiful building breaths the atmosphere of the late 19th century, which also is reflected in the inside. You'll find it relaxed and well preserved. Free access to the fridge, microwave and all the ingredients to prepare yourself a varied Mediterranean-style breakfast. From €50 double room, breakfast and WiFi included
  • Pere Tarrés Youth Hostel. A hostel near the top of Diagonal. It is very safe and good fun, offering a restaurant, bar, TV area, ping-pong tables, kitchen, free internet, and sheets and breakfast included in the price. Be sure to book online; there are often good deals on the hostel's website.
  • Urbany Hostel Barcelona, Av Meridiana 97, +34 93 2458414, bookings@barcelonaurbany.com. It's located in the Sant Marti district, but close to the eastern border of the Eixample. Twins, 4-, 6-, 8-person dorms - en-suite bathrooms, fitness club and swimming pool, breakfast included, security lockers, wifi throughout the building, common room with cheap bar. €12-35 per person

Mid-range

Splurge

Go next

Eixample

w3.bcn.es/V12/Home/V12HomeLinkPl/0,2746,388939_389139_2,00.htmbcn.es/eixample
Date Time:Please wait...Timezone:Europe/MadridPopulation:269,349Coordinates:41.39, 2.16

Barcelona Province

2nd-order administrative division

Catalonia

Primary administrative division

Spain

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Population:46.7 MDial code:+34Currency:Euro (EUR)Voltage:230 V, 50 Hz