Barcelona/Gràcia

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 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 2 km up Passeig de Gràcia and Gran de Gràcia to Fontana Metro station.

Park Güell

Park Güell

A large urban park heavily influenced by Antonio Gaudi. The area was originally meant to be a residential property development with Gaudi doing much of the planning and landscape design. Only two houses were built and the land was later sold to the city of Barcelona and turned into a park. There are two areas a relatively undeveloped (and uncrowded) natural area near the top of the hill and the more famous sculpture park below. The top of the park offers panoramic views of Barcelona, while the sculpture portion is full of walkways and other structures exhibiting the distinct and colorful style of Gaudi, including the famous terrace and fountains near the main entrance. Park Güell is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as one of the Works of Antonio Gaudi.
Popular sights and attractions within the park include:

• Park Güell, the main entranceTwo Gaudi-style pavilions mark the entrance to the park and lead to the steps up to the Hipostila Room. In the middle of the steps is the dragon (or salamander) fountain that has become almost as much a symbol of Barcelona as the Sagrada Familia.

• Hipostila Room and Grand PlazaAt the top of the stairs from the main entrance is the Hipostila Room with its 86 white columns supporting the plaza above. The ceiling has a number of colourful mosaics. Above the Hipostila Room is the main terrace, which was meant to be the main square of the development. It features a mosaic-tiled wall in the shape of an undulating sea serpent and provides excellent views of Barcelona.

• Gaudi House Museum

  phone: +34 932 193 811
  address: Park Güell - Carretera del Carmel, 23A
  Distinctive pink house that Gaudi lived in for nearly 20 years (although not designed by him). It features furniture designed by Gaudi and other objects relating to Gaudi's life. The gift shop has a large selection of Gaudi-themed souvenirs that are generally better quality than what's available in the normal tourist shops.

• Turo de les tres creusThis is the highest point of the park and where Gaudi wanted to build a chapel. After the development failed, Gaudi built a monolith with three crosses like Calvary instead. Be sure to take in the panoramic views of Barcelona.

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 10-21h (May-Aug), 10-20h (Apr & Sept), 10-19h (Mar & Oct), 10-18h (Nov - Feb).
As of 2014, the park is divided in two parts: a free-access area, and a monumental zone (standard entrance fee €8; if booked online €7). There's a limit of 400 visitors entering monumental zone 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 drops you off on the main street. From there walk up Carrer de Larrard to the park. Metro: Lesseps. Exit the station and follow the arrows that are every 300 m. It is a steep climb. Metro: Vallcarca. 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.

• Casa Vicens

  address: C/de les Carolines 24
  The first building Gaudi himself built in Barcelona. It has been opened as a museum. It's possible to walk the whole monumental enclosure, including the garden and the interior of the building. In UNESCO World Heritage Sites list since 2005.

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 neighboring streets use anything and everything to decorate their street in a theme and vie for the prize.

• Bosque Multicines

  phone: +34 902 42 42 43
  address: Rambla del Prat, 16
  The cinema has 9 screens.

• Cines Verdi

  phone: +34 93 238 79 90
  address: Verdi, 32
  The cinema screens a diverse programme of independent, mainly European and Asian films. All films are shown in their original version.

• Teatre Lliure

  phone: +34 932 38 76 25
  address: Carrer del Montseny, 47
  This alternative theatre offers high quality plays.

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

Clothes

• Boo

  phone: +34 933 681 458
  address: C/ BONAVISTA, 2
  Besides clothing and accessories for men and women from interesting brands, the shop sells books and perfumes.

• GreenLifeStyle

  phone: +34 931 862 010
  address: Torrent de l'Olla, 95
  The shops philosophy is based on principles of sustainability, recycling and fair trade, which all sold items adhere. One finds cute designer dresses for a fair price.

• Pinc Store

  phone: +34 93 200 97 71
  address: Carrer de l'Encarnació, 24
  Anna Tichy sells her design clothes, including dresses and swim wear.

• graciadorada

  phone: +34 93 237 8448
  address: Carrer d'Asturies, 23
  The shop sells women fashion including dresses, skirts and jewelery.

Food

• Mercat de l’Abaceria

  phone: +34 932 136 286
  address: Trav. de Gràcia, 186
  Built in 1892 the market sells local vegetables, fruits, fish, meat, cheeses and herbs. The market has three bars, all of which sell food prepared with ingredients from the market.

• Mercat de la Libertat

  phone: +34 932170995
  address: Pl Llibertat, 27
  The market opened in 1888 and designed by architect Miquel Pasqual i Tintoré, it was modernised by a complete renovation. It sells poultry, game and eggs, Spanish hams and sausages, meat and offal, fruit and vegetables, pulses and cereals, farm produce, fresh fish and seafood, salted fish, preserves and provisions and bakery.

• Mercat de Lesseps

  address: C Verdi, 200
  Inaugurated in 1974 it is an indoor market.

• Le Regioni d'Italia

  phone: +34 93 21 83 786
  address: Carrer del Torrent de l'Olla, 119
  The shop sells Italian specialities pasta's, wines, cheese, cafe and all sorts of good food.

• Planeta Te

  phone: +34 932 10 39 22
  address: Asturies, 50
  The shop sells a big variety of different teas: green, black, oolong and infusions.

• Verema i collita

  phone: +34 932133891
  address: Plaza Joanic 1
  Sympatic cellar with good choices for local wines and cava.

Other

• Hibernian

  phone: +34 932 174 796
  address: Carrer Montseny 17
  Good selection in many categories. Also has some new books, and a shelf of German and French titles.

• Intersport

  address: Carrer de Bonavista 37
  The shop sells all kind of back-packs and outdoor equipment including skis, snow-boards and climbing gear.

• Nus

  phone: +34 93 218 41 17
  address: Plaça del Diamant, 9
  Since more than 30 years this shops sells outdoor gear specialised for activity in the mountains including speleology. The owner knows the sourroundings of Barcelona and can give you great tips for Pyrenees trips.

Budget

• Frankfurt Valles

  address: Gran de Gracia, 84
  Sells hambugers and hot dogs at cheap prices, hence very popular for locals and young crowd in the evenings.

• Veg World

  phone: +34 93 210 70 56
  address: C/Bruniquer 26
  A restaurant that serves only vegetarian food - mainly Indian dishes. This may be the only place in Barcelona where you can get Masala Dosa. Beware that the size of the dishes is not that big.

Mid-range

• Can Xurrades

  phone: +34 93 217 30 97
  address: Carrer Gran de Gracia, 57
  Probably one the best Catalan restaurants in the neighborhood, although their selection of other Spanish food is quite good. Particularly excels at meat dishes, cooked in traditional Catalan style. Dishes of note include the Ous Estrellats (Andalusian scrambled eggs with potato) as well as desserts such as strawberries with salt and pepper. Great wine selection with various Catalan varieties.

• Karakala

  phone: +34 931 06 40 19
  address: Carrer del Torrent de l'Olla, 136
  The Lebanese restaurant has impeccable and friendly service. It serves authentic Lebanese food.

• Kibuka

  phone: +34 934 15 92 17
  address: Calle Verdi, 64
  The Japanese sushi bar serves in convivial atmosphere different sushi plates, Japanese beer, sake, cocktails and wines too.

• Origen 99.9%

  phone: +34 93 213 60 31
  address: C/Ramon y Cajal 12
  Eco-friendly chain of Catalonian-cuisine restaurants; organic only in some of products. Good choice of specialty liquors.

• La Rosa del Desierto

  address: Plaça Narcís Oller, 7
  The Moroccan food restaurant in Barcelona offering quality and generous portions, with a quite special decoration.

• Sol i Lluna

  phone: +34 93 237 10 52
  address: Calle Verdi, 50
  This cosy restaurant serves good Mediterranean cuisine.

• La Taberna del Cura

  phone: +34 932 181 799
  address: Carrer Gran de Gracia, 83
  Known by locals as one of the better restaurants in town, the menu is mostly meat selections, but seafood can be ordered from its sister restaurant Botafumeiro next door. La Taberna is on the expensive side, but the food is excellent.

• Taverna El Glop

  phone: +34 932 13 70 58
  address: Sant Lluís, 24
  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. See chain review in the Eat section of Barcelona.

Splurge

• Alkimia

  phone: +34 932 07 61 15
  address: Carrer de la Indústria, 79
  One of Barcelona's most highly regarded restaurants, run by acclaimed restauranter Jordi Vilà. With a minimalist white interior that directs the attention to the inventive and indulgent foods on offer, Alkimia spearheads a new wave of new Catalan cooking that will delight and impress. It was awarded a Michelin Star.

• Botafumeiro

  address: Carrer Gran de Gracia, 81
  Next door to La Taberna Del Cura, Botafumeiro specializes in seafood, while La Taberna handles the meats. High quality food with a price tag to match.

• D.O. vins i platillos

  phone: +34 932 18 96 73
  The wine bar offers exquisite tapas and many local wine choices.

• Somodo

  phone: +34 934 156 548
  address: Carrer Ros de Olano, 11
  The small hidden gem has 19 tables, hence reservation is highly recommended. The chef Hojiro Ochi serves Mediterranean cuisine with Japanese influences. The degustation menu consists of 3 entrées, 2 main dishes (fish and meat) and 3 desserts. If you are vegetarian it is recommended to declare it in advance when booking the table. The ingredients are chosen carefully at the Boqueria market. The elaborate kitchen links traditional cuisine with modern styles. Basic Spanish speaking skills help for the ordering and presentation of the food.

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.

• Bobby Gin S.L.

  phone: +34 933 68 18 92
  address: Bobby Gin S.L.
  This stylish cocktail bar offers many different Gin Tonic's. Expect to wait a little at the door.

• El Dorado

  phone: +34 932 38 97 67
  address: Plaça del Sol, 4
  With an ample dance floor, it also has a pool table, 'futbolín' and arcade games. The giant video screens and the monitors over the bar are other icons of this Music Bar. Drinks are catered for by staff that are professional, likeable and friendly.
• 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.

• Café del Sol

  phone: +34 932 37 14 48
  address: Plaça del Sol, 16
  An emblem, Cafè del Sol was one of the first bars to open in this famous and very popular Gràcia squares. There is a decent choice of tapas or sandwiches too. Inside has a marble bar, outside many chairs on the placa.

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.

Ice cream

• Bodevici

  address: Torrijos, 21
  The organic ice cream shop uses organic milk and fruits for natural flavours. They have sorbets like mango or red fruits and chocolate ice creams.

• Ottimo Gelats

  phone: +34 699 547 460
  address: Plaça de la Vila, 15
  The ice-cream is hand made. The service is great and allows you different mixes. One of the best ice creams in town.

Budget

• Pensión Norma

  phone: +34 237 44 78
  address: C/ Gran de Gràcia, 87
  Modest rooms, some with bath, about a kilometre north of the centre of town.

• Sant Jordi Hostel Gracia

  phone: +34 933 42 41 61
  address: Carrer de Terol, 35
  The hostel has mixed dorms for 4 to 8 people. It is open 24 hours on the day. Fully equipped kitchen.

Mid-range

Splurge

• Hotel Casa Fuster

  phone: +34 932 55 30 00
  address: Passeig de Gràcia, 132
  Hotel Casa Fuster's Barcelona accommodation offers 105 rooms. The stunningly beautiful, iconic 19th century building is located at the head of the chic Passeig de Gracia Avenue. It has a roof terrace with a pool and excellent views.

• El Palauet

  phone: +34 93 218 00 50
  address: Passeig de Gràcia 113
  El Palauet Living Barcelona boutique hotel, with 8 suits and a spa is located on the most exclusive boulevard, on a five-story palatial mansion built in 1906, being an extraordinary example of Modernisme (the sumptuous Catalan version of Art Nouveau).