On my most recent trip to Barcelona I spent two weeks in Gracia, one of my favorite neighborhoods in the city. This was my second time staying in Gracia so I was looking forward to getting to know this Barcelona district in more depth. Two weeks gave me lots of time to explore not only the most famous tourist attractions, but also the quiet pedestrian streets, the shady squares and the countless tapas bars that draw locals from across the city to Gracia.
In this Gracia travel guide I’ll walk you through all of my favorite things about this neighborhood in Barcelona, including the different things to do in Gracia, the Gracia hotel where I love staying, and some Gracia restaurants that you might want to stop at for lunch, dinner, tapas or just a drink.
Where is Gracia in Barcelona?
Gracia is in the north part of Barcelona, at the foot of the Serra de Collserola hills. Gracia is separated from the historic city center by the pretty residential Eixample area, and from there you can cross the neighborhoods of El Born or the Gothic Quarter to reach the Mediterranean Sea.
Although that sounds quite far, it only takes about thirty minutes to walk from the heart of Gracia to Plaça de Catalunya. It’s a pleasant downhill walk, which makes the return trip uphill preferable by bus or metro. The Line 3 metro travels from the waterfront, La Rambla and Plaça de Catalunya to the Fontana station in the heart of Gracia. Alternately, both the metro and two lines of the commuter rail network travel from Plaça de Catalunya to the Gracia station and then the adjacent Sant Gervasi and Placa Molina stations.
Things to Do in Gracia
In my opinion, part of the charm of Gracia is that it isn’t home to a dense concentration of popular Barcelona tourist attractions. Instead, it still feels like a local neighborhood
I’ve roughly organized this list of things to do in El Raval from north to south, as though you were starting at Plaça de Catalunya and wandering through El Raval in the direction of the Mediterranean Sea.
Parc Guell
The star attraction in Gracia is Antoni Gaudi’s famous Parc Guell. Located at the north edge of the Gracia neighborhood, this 45-acre park was originally intended to be a luxury housing development, but the project was cancelled in 1914 due to low property sales.
Today, a visit to Parc Guell is one of the top things to do in Barcelona. In my new guide at the link you’ll find everything you need to know about getting to the park, buying your tickets from the correct website, and planning your walking route through both the monumental zones with their famous mosaics and the natural green spaces that are blissfully free of crowds.
Casa Vicens
Speaking of Gaudi, Casa Vicens is another one of his landmarks that is located in the Gracia neighborhood. Considered to be his first major work, Casa Vicens was commissed by a local merchant to be a summer house where the family could escape the crowds of central Barcelona.
Casa Vicens is known for its stone and brick construction, and the rich ceramic tilework used throughout the home. These original details were meticulously restored in the late 2010s to reflect Gaudi’s original design.
As with all Gaudi attractions in Barcelona I recommend buying your ticket online in advance from the official website, but as Casa Vicens draws fewer crowds than Casa Mila or Casa Battlo, you may find some last-minute tickets are still available on the morning of your intended visit.
Mercat de la Llibertat
One of my favorite things to do when I travel is to visit local food markets, since they aren’t common in my home country of Canada.
In Gracia, the most popular local market is Mercat de la Llibertat, which was inspired by the design of Les Halles market in Paris. Inside the market you’ll find food vendors selling ingredients to take home, along with several food stalls where you can sit down for a drink or light meal.
If you’re interested in markets in Barcelona, I have a full guide at the link (including lots of food markets and the city’s main flea market!).
Vila de Gracia
As I’ve alluded to, Gracia wasn’t always part of Barcelona. In the late 1800s and early 1900s Gracia was its own town, considered to be the tranquil alternative to bustling Barcelona. The heart of that town was Vila de Gracia, which is roughly intersected by Travessera de Gracia and Carrer del Torrent de l’Olla.
I love spending my evenings in the Vila de Gracia neighborhood, browsing in local boutiques, stopping for a glass of wine at a tapas bar, and dining at the local restaurants throughout the neighborhood. In August, the neighborhood becomes a vibrant hub of energy when it hosts the Festa Major de Gracia, a weeklong celebration featuring street art, traditional Catalan activities like human towers, musical performances and family-friendly activities.
Casa Fuster
Gaudi wasn’t the only Modernist architect to make his mark on the Gracia neighborhood. There are many modernist buildings throughout the district (often marked with a red tile on the sidewalk), but few are as noticeable as Casa Fuster. This impressive white building was designed by Lluis Domenech i Montaner, who also envisioned the Palau de la Musica Catalana and Hospital de Sant Pau. If you want to see the interior of the hotel you can book a room or simply make a reservation for lunch or dinner on the upscale rooftop terrace.
The Monument to Anne Frank
There are many works of contemporary art situated throughout Gracia, but I think that one of the most interesting is the monument to Anne Frank, which is perched atop the roof of the Centre Artesa Tradicionarius cultural center. The sculpture by Sarah Pons shows Anne engrossed in a book, while a separate steel engraving on the sidewalk commemorates the square as Plaça d’Anna Frank.
The Many Squares of Gracia, Barcelona
When I stay in Gracia, I will often head out early to visit different parts of the city, whether that’s Poblenou, Barceloneta, El Raval or the Gothic Quarter. Then, as the sun begins to set, I will head back to Gracia and wander through the neighborhood, looking for a tapas bar with a spot available on their terrace for an evening drink and maybe a light snack or meal.
Most of these tapas bars are dotted around the edges of the many squares of Gracia, which have become community hubs featuring restaurants, shops, play space for children, water fountains, landmarks and other unique features that keep drawing local crowds.
Placa de la Vila de Gracia
This is probably the busiest and most famous square in Gracia. You’ll know you’ve reached Placa de la Vila de Gracia when you see its famous red-brick clock tower, which dates back to the mid-1800s. Marking the plaza as a center of political and social gathering, the clock tower here has withstood challenges from several powerful groups who felt threatened by the rising power of the local working-class community. Twice a month, the clock tower is open for guided tours; if you’re interested you can reserve via email here.
Today the plaza is lined with popular coffee shops, cafes, tapas bars and restaurants whose tables spread into the center of the plaza when the weather agrees (which, in Barcelona, is for most of the year).
Placa del Sol
Built during the 19th century, this plaza is now the neighborhood’s go-to spot for tapas bars, with (by my count) at least seven tapas restaurants lining its four edges. You’ll also find gelaterias, traditional restaurants and acai bowls on this plaza, making it the perfect place to stop for a late lunch or dinner in Gracia.
Plaça de la Virreina
Heading deeper into the Gracia neighborhood, Placa de la Virreina features the towering Sant Joan de Gracia church at one end, and the historic Font de Rut water fountain in the center. For full transparency I’ve never found a great tapas bar here, but because it’s a bit quieter (and has great shade, thanks to all the trees) it’s a perfectly good place to stop for a drink when you’re exploring Gracia.
Plaça del Diamant
Although Placa de Diamant in Gracia is home to a few restaurants, this is primarily a community gathering place where families bring their children to play outdoors in the open air. You’ll also find a couple of pastry shops and vintage clothing stores lining the plaza.
Beneath the plaza here you’ll find a Spanish Civil War air raid shelter. The shelter is open exclusively via Catalan or Spanish guided tours offered on Sunday mornings at 11:00, which require advance booking via the email address noted here.
Hotels in Gracia
I’m the kind of blogger who will put her money where her mouth is. I wouldn’t recommend staying in Gracia if I hadn’t done so myself – twice! I love staying in this part of the city as it’s far from the tourist traps of the center. The shops and restaurants around these hotels in Gracia are popular with local people, so they have to deliver on both price and quality to keep locals coming back.
Pol & Grace Hotel
The first time I stayed in Gracia, I stayed at Pol & Grace hotel. It has a convenient location just one minute by foot from both the Placa Molina and Sant Gervasi metro stations, and is five minutes away from Casa Vicens.
The rooms at this hotel feature a modern, minimalist design, but all incorporate something unique to the city (like the historic costume on display in my room, shown above). There’s also a colorful rooftop terrace and an optional breakfast.
Other Hotels in Gracia
- Hotel Catalonia Gracia – I’ve stayed at other Catalonia hotels and have found they offer a good balance of location, comfort and affordability.
- El Palauet Modernist Suites Barcelona – I walked past this beautiful Modernist building every day when I was staying in Gracia, but I had no idea there were vacation rentals inside. I can vouch for the perfect location and the stunning architecture.
- Hotel La Casa del Sol – One of the hotels in Gracia with the highest ratings from guests, this boutique hotel aims to deliver a four-star experience at a three-star price. For solo travelers, their single room is a great option.
- Hotel Catalonia Parc Guell – Another Catalonia property, but this time located at the north end of the neighborhood, near the entrance to Parc Guell. The rooftop pool has amazing views of the city.
Restaurants in Gracia
You would have to stay in the city for years to eat at all of the restaurants in Gracia, but here are a few noteworthy spots that I’ve tried in recent years:
- Gallo Santo – I’m always looking for great vegetarian restaurants in Barcelona, and this vegan Mexican restaurant in Gracia had delicious, flavorful options like the burrito bowl you can see above.
- Flash-Flash – If trying a traditional Spanish tortilla is on your to-do list in Barcelona, you won’t find a wider variety than at this restaurant that specializes all sorts of variations of the egg-and-potato classic.
- L’Arrosseria Xativa – This restaurant specializes in paella, offering traditional seafood-based variations as well as an organic vegetable version.
- Honest Greens – I joke about my love for Honest Greens, but the food here is no joke. Beautiful salads, market plates, superfood smoothies and other plant-forward dishes have made this Barcelona-founded chain an international success.
- Paral·lelo Gelato – The pistachio gelato here is so thick that it almost tastes like pistachio butter. I also had their version of cookies and cream, and the “almond and coffee” vegan flavor shown above, and they were all amazing. In my opinion this is the best gelato in Barcelona.
- Bar Raïm – This Cuban mojito bar is only open from 22:00 until 2:00 on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, but it’s worth popping in for a drink if you happen to be nearby… on my last visit we were seated beside a very famous Spanish actor. 😉
- Oz Bakery – It was 38° Celsius (100° F) during my last trip to Barcelona, and this bakery had the best iced coffee in the city. They also do lovely pastries and fresh bread.
- Aleia – Located inside Hotel Casa Fuster, this is the only Michelin-starred restaurant in Gracia. The tasting menu is currently priced at €210 so I didn’t look into it too closely!
Planning a trip to Barcelona? Read these my other Barcelona travel guides before you go!
☀️ Where to Stay in Barcelona (Solo Female Traveled Approved!)
⭐ The 25 Best Things to Do in Barcelona, Spain
🗺️ One Day in Barcelona, Spain: An Easy, Comprehensive Itinerary
🚅 How to Take a Day Trip from Barcelona to Tarragona
🎨 Is Palau Guell Worth Visiting?
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