
Passeig de Gracia (Gracia Avenue), Barcelona (must see)
Formerly known as Camí de Jesús (or "Jesus Road"), this wide, tree-lined avenue originally connected the Old City and the former village of Gràcia even before Barcelona's ancient walls were torn down. The urban development project initiated in 1820 provided impetus for Gràcia Avenue into the vibrant boulevard it is today. By the early 1900s, it had already become Barcelona's most fashionable boulevard.
Aside from the beautiful wrought-iron street lamps installed in 1906, one can also notice here the greenish-gray pavement tiles designed by Antoni Gaudí, depicting abstract sea creatures which add a great deal of uniqueness to the area.
Delightful for strollers, this avenue is now home to many of the city's upscale stores, comparable to Paris's Champs-Élysées or New York's 5th Avenue. While dining here can be a bit pricey, there are affordable options tucked away in the side streets, offering a diverse range of cuisines, from Syrian and Ethiopian to innovative Asian fusions.
More notably, this is also the top place for Modernist architecture, concentrated along the main street and some of the adjacent streets as well. Buildings, balconies, stained-glass windows and carved doors are all within sight, including major highlights like Gaudí's La Pedrera and the Block of Discord ("Manzana de la Discordia"), showcasing the works of the world's top Modernist architects. With the most mansions here belonging to Barcelona's wealthiest citizens of the late 19th to early 20th centuries, there's no shortage of richly and tastefully decorated facades to behold. Day or night, Gràcia Avenue offers a fantastic opportunity for architecture buffs to crane their necks admiring Barcelona's urbanism.
Tip:
This boulevard is particularly magical in summer when the locals compete between themselves decorating the streets as part of the Gràcia Festival, which, together with the live music played everywhere, makes it a really fun place to be.
Aside from the beautiful wrought-iron street lamps installed in 1906, one can also notice here the greenish-gray pavement tiles designed by Antoni Gaudí, depicting abstract sea creatures which add a great deal of uniqueness to the area.
Delightful for strollers, this avenue is now home to many of the city's upscale stores, comparable to Paris's Champs-Élysées or New York's 5th Avenue. While dining here can be a bit pricey, there are affordable options tucked away in the side streets, offering a diverse range of cuisines, from Syrian and Ethiopian to innovative Asian fusions.
More notably, this is also the top place for Modernist architecture, concentrated along the main street and some of the adjacent streets as well. Buildings, balconies, stained-glass windows and carved doors are all within sight, including major highlights like Gaudí's La Pedrera and the Block of Discord ("Manzana de la Discordia"), showcasing the works of the world's top Modernist architects. With the most mansions here belonging to Barcelona's wealthiest citizens of the late 19th to early 20th centuries, there's no shortage of richly and tastefully decorated facades to behold. Day or night, Gràcia Avenue offers a fantastic opportunity for architecture buffs to crane their necks admiring Barcelona's urbanism.
Tip:
This boulevard is particularly magical in summer when the locals compete between themselves decorating the streets as part of the Gràcia Festival, which, together with the live music played everywhere, makes it a really fun place to be.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Barcelona. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from iTunes App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Passeig de Gracia (Gracia Avenue) on Map
Sight Name: Passeig de Gracia (Gracia Avenue)
Sight Location: Barcelona, Spain (See walking tours in Barcelona)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Barcelona, Spain (See walking tours in Barcelona)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Barcelona, Spain
Create Your Own Walk in Barcelona
Creating your own self-guided walk in Barcelona is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Gothic Quarter Walking Tour
A walk around the Gothic Quarter is a journey through time to Barcelona’s oldest history, going back to times of Roman rule; in fact, the typically Roman grid plan is still visible today in the quarter's layout. Only a few roads are open for car traffic, so there will be little in the way of enjoying the many narrow, atmospheric streets filled with superb food, high-quality architecture,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.8 Km or 1.1 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.8 Km or 1.1 Miles
Barcelona Introduction Walking Tour
According to legend, Barcelona was founded by mythological Greek hero Hercules on one of his expeditions, when his boats were hit by a storm. The first 8 boats managed to escape without damage, but the 9th one was lost at sea. Hercules found his lost friends some days later on the coast, all safe and sound. The crew was taken by the beauty of the coastal landscape, and so they decided to stay. It... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.7 Km or 3.5 Miles
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.7 Km or 3.5 Miles
Barcelona Shopping Walk
Set among the world's prime cultural destinations, Barcelona is en route to becoming one of Europe's top shopping spots as well. Fashionable designer stores are filling the city streets with each new day, from well-known international brands to local start-ups. High-end shopping like Cartier, Luis Vuitton, Tiffany, etc., can be found over at Passeig de Gracia, which also takes you past... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
La Rambla Walking Tour
One of the main streets in central Barcelona, La Rambla is popular with tourists and locals alike. Connecting the city’s old port with Plaça de Catalunya, it is filled with cultural and historic landmarks, as well as many terraces, restaurants, shops and street artists. Spanish poet, Federico García Lorca once said it was “the only street in the world which I wish never ended.”
Start... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
Start... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
La Ribera Walking Tour
La Ribera is a culturally rich, historic area of Barcelona’s Old Town; somewhat less touristy than the Gothic Quarter (which one should really visit as well) and quite unspoiled, authentic and pretty. Centuries ago, it was a very well-to-do neighborhood inhabited by aristocrats, merchants, wealthy sailors, and Jewish money-lenders. Today, it is regarded as the Soho of Barcelona – a popular... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
Barcelona Food Tasting Walking Tour
No one should visit Barcelona without making an attempt to get acquainted with some of Spain’s best food – Catalan food. An abundance of fresh fish and superb meat, a plethora of great vegetables, plus local inventiveness, have produced a very diverse, distinctive and delicious cuisine, including the famous (and trendy) tapas dishes.
Follow this self-guided walk to treat your taste buds in... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
Follow this self-guided walk to treat your taste buds in... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
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