Barcelona/Eixample

Eixample is in the middle of Barcelona so it's easily accessible by road, 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.
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/h)

Sagrada Família

Sagrada Família

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.
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 lineup. Alternatively, it is possible to buy tickets online, so to avoid waiting in a queue. Once a ticket(s) 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 10h, 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

  phone: +34 932 16 03 06
  address: Passeig de Gracia 43
  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.

• Casa Milà

  phone: +34 902 202 138
  address: Passeig de Gràcia 92
  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.

Other sights

• Casa Amatller

  phone: +34 934 617 460
  address: Passeig de Gràcia 41
  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).

• Casa Lleó-Morera

  phone: +34 936 762 733
  address: Passeig de Gràcia 35
  By Lluís Domènech i Montaner.

• Fundació Antoni Tàpies

  address: C/d'Aragó, 255
  Created in 1984 by the artist Antoni Tàpies to promote the study and knowledge of modern and contemporary art.

• Hotel Majestic

  phone: +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

  address: at the end of Passeig de Gràcia and the top of La Rambla
  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.

• UniversitatThe university has many interesting buildings, libraries and courtyards.

• 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.

Most of the luxury international brands can be found at Passeig de Gracia.

• Ágatha Ruiz de la Prada

  phone: +34 932 155 288
  address: C/ Consell De Cent 314
  A Spanish fashion designer, no link with the Italian brand Prada

• Bike House Tomas Domingo

  phone: +34 934 52 16 16
  address: Carrer Sepúlveda, 109
  The bike shop sells high end bikes.

• Bolsos Turo

  phone: +34 933 29 60 61
  address: Carrer de Manso, 76
  Located in the Sant Antoni neighbourhood, at 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

  phone: +34 932 72 08 33
  address: C/. Consell de Cent, 292
  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

  phone: +34 675 69 36 16
  address: C/ Aragó, 313-317
  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

  phone: +34 932 15 08 84
  address: Passeig de Gràcia, 47
  Different stylish clothes for men, women and children.

• Nice Things

  phone: +34 932 47 26 78
  address: Carrer de Girona, 38
  There are six shops in Barcelona, this is their outlet.

• Nike Store

  phone: +34 934 87 54 24
  address: Calle Laforja, 8
  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-XX 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

  phone: +34 934 19 78 89
  address: C/ Viladomat, 310
  The bike shop has a wide selection of quality bikes and some interesting offers.

• Vinçon

  phone: +34 93 215-6050
  address: Passeig de Gracia 96
  This is a place modern design lovers simply must visit. Offers everything from little household objects to furniture in a sleek and contemporary designand much beyond interior decoration.

• El Corte Ingles

  address: Avinguda Diagonal, 471-473
  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)

Budget

• El Buffet Verd

  phone: +34 934 57 06 84
  address: Carrer de Roger de Llúria, 134
  This inexpensive vegetarian restaurant has a great choice of soups or salads, entrees and deserts.

• FrescCo

  address: Ronda Universitat, 29
  An all-you-can-eat buffet including salad bar, hot dishes, drinks and desserts. It is part of a self-service restaurant chain with many outlets around the city. The bread isn't the greatest, although the vegetable quality is quite good, and the warm food isn't terrible either. Warm food includes whatever soup they have on display, some meat, and pizzas. The Maremagnum buffet has fruit juices for 1€, while the one on Plaça de Catalunya has numerous desserts, such as an ice cream machine and flan.

• Lactuca

  address: C/Provenza 427
  All-you-can eat self-service restaurant with large windows facing the cathedral offering a great salad bar, daily soups, mediocre pastas and pizzas, dessert and coffee for a flat price. You can also do take-away for a few euros per box. Lactuca has other locations in Barcelona - Rambla Catalunya 8 and Ronda Sant Pere 17. Warning: the location at Rambla Catalunya is not listed on Google Maps, and the other two are listed as “permanently closed”.

• Madrid-Barcelona

  phone: +34 93 215 70 27
  address: C/Aragó 282
  So named because it was formerly a traveler's bar when the trains used to pass in front of it. This is a very convenient restaurant for three reasons: It's very close toLa Pedrera and the other monuments in Passeig de Gràcia, it serves good and quite typical food in a place with history, and the prices are very moderate for the zone where is located. Some dishes are fried things, such as pescadito frito. Large servings of seafood (mussles, snails); the main course with chicken looks promising.

• Qu Qu

  phone: +34 93 317 4512
  address: Passeig de Gracia 24
  A tapas bar with available deli-style take-away. Individual items are inexpensive.

Mid-range

• La Flauta

  phone: +34 934 88 17 97
  address: Calle D´Aribau, 23
  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

  phone: +34 93 318 75 75
  address: Carrer de Casp, 21
  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.

• Miu

  phone: +34 93 193 23 00
  address: 249 Valencia
  Japanese cuisine, with excellent sushi and standard fare.

• El nou de granados

  phone: +34 934 53 11 20
  address: Carrer d'Enric Granados, 9
  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.

• Origen 99.9%

  address: C/Enric Granados 9
  Eco-friendly chain of Catalonian-cuisine restaurants; organic only in some of products. Good choice of specialty liquors.

• Le P'ty Mon

  phone: +34 934 10 90 02
  address: Passage de Luís Pellicer, 13
  The restaurant, formerly known as Ty Bihan, serves good Breton crêpes made with artisanal dough.

• El Ùltimo Agave

  phone: +34 660 07 17 30
  address: Carrer d'Aragó, 193
  Authentic Mexican restaurant.

Splurge

• Alba Granados

  phone: +34 93 454 61 16
  address: Carrer d'Enrique Granados, 34
  The restaurant offers pleasant modern spanish cuisine in a cool setup (wine boxes decorate the walls, the entrance is the local bar). The dessert choices are plenty and the mille-feuille is recommendable.

• Cinc Sentits

  phone: +34 93 323 9490
  address: Carrer d'Aribau, 58
  Named one of the '80 Hottest New Restaurants in the World' by Condé Nast Traveller shortly after opening in 2004, Cinc Sentits surpasses expectations. One of the few restaurants in Barcelona to offer a wine pairing, it features contemporary Catalan cuisine in a modern, warm interior.

• Restaurant Gaig

  phone: +34 93 429 10 17
  address: Carrer de Còrsega, 200
  With a reputation for serving the freshest produce around, (there are even chickens wandering around the patio), Gaig focuses on classic Catalan cuisine, but in a modern, lighter sense. The decor is in a contemporary red and black design, and the staff are friendly and welcoming. Was awarded a Michelin Star.

• Moo

  phone: +34 934 45 40 00
  address: Carrer del Rosselló, 267
  Renowned Catalan chef Joan Roca serves up tasty treats such as sea bass with lemongrass or a delicious suckling pig.

• Tickets Bar

  phone: +34 932 92 42 53
  address: Avinguda del Paraŀlel, 164
  Avinguda Paral·lel, 164. Tickets is tapas as democracy, world-class cooking for travellers and Barcelona families who never made it on the winding road to Roses and now never will. Run by Ferran Adriá and his brother Albert.

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

• Arena Choose from three floors of dancing and don't stop dancing until the lights come on.

• Bracafe

  phone: +34 93 317 38 96
  address: C/Casp 40
  Nice cosy cafe to sit and lounge over a cup of proper coffee.

• Fàbrica Moritz Barcelona

  phone: +34 934 26 00 50
  address: Ronda de Sant Antoni, 39 - 41
  'Moritz Epidor' absolutely should be tasted.

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

  phone: +34 93 231 2045
  address: Passeig de Gracia 33
  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.

• Hostal Central

  phone: +34 932 451 981
  address: Ronda Universitat No 11
  Clean, friendly and good value.

• St Christopher's Barcelona

  phone: +34 936 674 588
  address: Carrer de Bergara, 3
  Part of the St Christopher's Inns chain, this new hostel has private and dormitory style rooms and a Belushi's bar downstairs.

• Hostal Agua Alegre

  phone: +34 93 487 80 32
  address: Calle Roger de Llúria, 47
  Located in the center of Barcelona, 2 blocks away from the über chic Passeig de Gràcia, and 10 minutes by foot to Plaza Catalunya.

• Hostal Centric Barcelona

  phone: +34 93 426 75 73
  address: Calle Casanova 13
  Common room, free Wi-Fi, rooms with air-conditioning, heating and TV.

• Hostal Que tal Barcelona

  phone: +34 93 459 23 66
  address: Mallorca, 290
  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.

• Hostal Residencia Australia

  phone: +34 93 317 41 77
  address: Ronda de la Universitat 11
  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.

• Hostel Barcelona Sant Jordi AlbergPart 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.

• Jardinets Guest House

  phone: +34 644 200 680
  address: Carrer Gran de Gracia
  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.

• Pere Tarrés Youth HostelA hostel located 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

  phone: +34 93 2458414
  address: Av Meridiana 97
  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.

Mid-range

• Hotel Soho Barcelona

  phone: +34 93 552 96 10
  address: Gran Via, 545
  A design hotel build in 2006. Offers 54 modern and spacious rooms and a rooftop deck with pool. Free Wi-Fi.

• B-Hotel

  phone: +34 93 552 95 00
  address: Gran Via, 389
  A modern urban hotel by prestigious architect Alfredo Arribas. On the 8th floor you can find the endless-pool with views over Plaza Espanya and Montjuic hill. Free Wi-Fi.

• Hotel Granvia

  phone: +34 93 318 19 00
  address: Granvia 642
  Built in 1870 as a palace for the Serra-Chopitea family, the building was converted into a hotel in 1935. Today it still stores countless pieces and works of art from the 19th century, making it at once a distinguished, elegant and unique hotel. Free Wi-Fi.

• Hotel Villa Emilia

  phone: +34 93 2525285
  address: Calábria 115-117, 08015
  A modern boutique hotel, built in 2006. The hotel is also home to the popular Zinc bar.

• 987 Barcelona Hotel

  phone: +34 93 476 33 94
  address: c/Mallorca 288
  New modern design hotel, free WiFi. Skype: reservations987barcelona

• Hotel del Comte

  phone: +34 93 323 12 58
  address: Diputació, 142-148
  1 km from La Rambla. Renovated in 2007 and now boasts super-slick rooms with glass and marble bathrooms, flat panel TVs, free Wi-Fi. Problems with 3rd-party bookings reported, so book directly.

• Best Western Premier Hotel Regina

  phone: +34 933 01 32 32
  address: Carrer de Bergara, 4
  About €100 per night for a double room with bath and breakfast.

• Expo Hotel Barcelona

  phone: +34 93 600 30 00
  425 wifi-equipped rooms, near Sants Central Station and Fira (Expo). €58-180.

• Granados 83

  phone: +34 902 244 246
  Enric Granados 83. Set in a 19th-century hospital, it has been converted into a Nouveau Art Decó styled hotel. Its structure of oxidised iron is reminiscent of New York's Soho loft, and it stands in contrast with the stone and glass façade and the elegant, minimalist zen styled interiors.

• Hotel Gran Via

  phone: +34 933 181 900
  address: Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 642
  Very central, and originally a palace, the public spaces of the hotel live up to that history. The rooms are large, but otherwise relatively modest. About €80 per night for a double room with bath.

• NH Master

  address: Carrer de València 105-107

• NH Calderón

  address: Rambla de Catalunya 26

• Apartment Barcelona

  phone: +34 934813577
  address: Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes 558
  Apartment rental company with many apartments in and around the Eixample area, including holiday apartments that can be rented by the day. Head office based on Gran Via in Eixample.

• Hotel Best Aranea

  phone: +34 932477474
  address: C/ Consell de Cent 444 08013
  Nice hotel near the Sagrada Familia cathedral.

Splurge

• Hotel Omm

  phone: +34 93 445 40 00
  address: Rosselló 265
  In Passeig de Gràcia district, featuring elegant rooms with adaptable lighting. Award-winning haute cuisine restaurant.

• Hotel Majestic

  phone: +34 934881717
  address: Passeig de Gràcia 68
  Located in Passeig de Gràcia, this centric hotel on the shopping district is a symbol of excellent 5 star hospitality since 1918 which has been recently refurbished. It's rooftop terrace "La Dolce Vitae" offers views of Gaudi's masterpiece La Sagrada Familia and much of the city. They also offer modern, spacious, well-equipped apartments at three locations...excellent for families or groups of 3-4 adults staying more than an overnight, and economical for those who self-cater.

• Renaissance Barcelona

  address: Carrer de Pau Claris 122
  Situtated in a rather nondescript building one block away from Passeig de Gracia, the Renaissance offers contemporary style typical for the chain - except for guest bathrooms, who seem to have evaded renovation.

• Alexandra Barcelona A DoubleTree by Hilton

  address: Calle Mallorca 251
  The Alexandra's rooms are somewhat sombre, with minimal decor kept in grayish hues. The lobby and restaurant are very impressive, however.

• Hotel Indigo Barcelona - Plaza Catalunya

  address: Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes 629
  Trying to make the most out of a very small building in the Gran Via.

• NH Podium

  address: Calle Bailén 4-6
  The usual NH fare packed into a nice corner building a minute away from the Arc de Triomf.

• El Palace Hotel

  phone: +34 935 10 11 30
  address: Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes 668 Eixample