What to see in the Gracia area in Barcelona

Gràcia used to be a village separated from Barcelona and now it has become one of the most famous districts in the city. Once you are here, you’ll have plenty of things to do. If you want to know what to see in the Gracia area in Barcelona, keep reading. We have listed the best ideas for you!

Plaça de la Virreina and Vila de Gràcia

Gràcia has four major squares: Plaça del Diamant, Plaça Rius i Taulet, Plaça de la Revolució and Plaça de la Virreina. For me, la Virreina is the most beautiful one, thanks to the buildings around and the church of Saint Joan, but Plaça Rius i Taulet, also known as Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia deserves a visit because of the former city council building and the Clock Tower, designed by the same architect who was commissioned for the original Eixample design, Antoni Rovira. At the end, Ildefons Cerdà designed the plan for the urban expansion of Barcelona and Rovira became famous for some of the markets in Barcelona… and the tower in the picture above.

From Gaudí‘s beginnings to his splendor

Gràcia has only two major heritage milestones to see, both by Antoni Gaudí. So, it’s quite clear what to see in Gràcia area, isn’t it? The first one is Casa Vicens (above), at Carrer de les Carolines, at the western side of the neighbourhood. It has clear arabesque inspiration and shows the efforts of Gaudí to create a style of his own. It is really beautiful from the outside, but it’s not possible to visit the inside.

On the other hand, even if you step outside the Vila de Gràcia, you’ll still be in the district of Gràcia. This means that, in terms of administration, the famous Park Güell is also included in this neighbourhood. Going from the streets and squares of the old «Vila de Gràcia» to the park is a really nice walk. Just get Torrent de les Flors until you find Travessera de Dalt and then continue up through Carrer Larrard.

Buy something at the local market

Gràcia has three markets: Mercat de la Llibertat, Mercat de l’Abaceria and Mercat de l’Estrella. These places are awesome for local food such as fresh vegetables, meat, fish, seafood or dairy products… and without the crowds of the city centre. If you have the chance to cook while you are in Barcelona, our local markets can source you with top ingredients for local recipes. If you have some Spanish skills (or Catalan, that would be awesome!) you can try to get some cooking tips from the sellers. I owe my cooking skills to butchers and fishmongers in markets like these ones (and well, also to my mom, but she doesn’t work in a lovely Barcelonian market).

Ask the right question

As I said before, there are no special monuments in Gràcia beyond it’s churches, Park Güell and Casa Vicens, so the answer to what to see in Gràcia is… everything. The whole neighbourhood still has a village touch and shops, cafés and restaurants are everywhere to prove this area is one of the best places to be in Barcelona. Why not eat the delicious local recipes from Cal Boter (at Carrer Tordera 62), eat some tapas and drink some wine at Bodega Quimet (Carrer de Vic 23) or get a more sophisticated experience at Gut (Perill 13) or Roig Robí (Sèneca 30). Gràcia also has a great nightlife, as long as you respect the locals. For example, you can enjoy a beer in an authentic place like L’Astrolabi (Carrer Martínez de la Rosa 14) or get a cocktail at Velcro (Vallfogona 10).