What to do in Barcelona around Sagrada Familia

What to do in Barcelona around Sagrada Família

You came to Barcelona to see it but once you exit through the gate you may ask yourself what to do around Sagrada Familia. No problem, we are here to help you! Read on and find out what to do in Barcelona around Sagrada Familia!

Discover Gràcia

If you want to know what to do around Sagrada Familia, there are almost infinite answers to this question, especially if you want to walk a little bit. The best idea after seeing such a majestic building is, perhaps walking towards the neighbourhood of Gràcia. To reach it, just walk five streets up, towards the mountain side and you will arrive to this lovely area.

The old area of Gràcia used to be a village separated from Barcelona in the nineteenth century and it still preserves that traditional vibe in its buildings, cafés and churches. Just wander around Plaça de la Virreina, Plaça Joanic and Plaça Rius i Taulet and discover an unexpected place to have a snack or an amazing local store. You won’t regret it.

Sant Pau, next modernist stop

Gaudí avenue connects the Sagrada Familia with Hospital de Sant Pau. Sant Pau was an hospital designed by Lluís Domènech i Muntaner, a Gaudí fellow architect, with an incredible idea in mind, which was that if ill people are in a beautiful place, they will heal sooner.

We can’t promise this place will improve your health but booking a tour inside, or just walking among the modernist buildings is a really fulfilling experience, specially after the last restoration in the historic area. And if you are looking for an hospital, there is a modern one indeed on the upper side of the enclosure.

Have a walk in Passeig de Sant Joan

Facing the mountain, walk five blocks to your left and you’ll reach Passeig de Sant Joan, where you’ll discover great ideas for what to do in Barcelona around Sagrada Familia.

This boulevard is full of cute cafes, try the Granja Petitbo at number 82, lovely shops and restaurants and it has a central area with benches and green space for children to play.

Also, there is still some cultural legacy. Very close from where you are you’ll find Casa Macaya, a modernist building by Josep Puig i Cadafalch, the same architect behind Casa Ametller.

What NOT to do

Yes, this article is about what to do in Barcelona around Sagrada Familia, but this piece of advice is basic: avoid having a drink or eating around the temple. Even refrain yourself from entering souvenir shops!

The Sagrada Família is the place with the highest tourist pressure in town and some people try to make money from it by offering poor services for not-so-low prices.

They know that somebody is going to fall in their trap, so perhaps the best idea is to just walk some blocks around the temple or take the metro back to where you came. There are very few good places to eat around the temple. For instance, the Bardeni meat bar, in Carrer València, 454 or La Taqueria in Passatge de Font, 5.

We hope you find useful our humble collection of things to do around Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. If you want more suggestions and want to explore the area and discover its best places with a local guide, check our website and learn more about our guided tours. Joining a walking tour is one of the best ways to get to know a city in-depth and to understand the culture and lifestyle of the locals! If you need further information about anything, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. We would be glad to help you in whatever you need and make sure you enjoy the most out of your stay in Barcelona! So, I hope to see you soon in our stunning city!