Passeig de Gràcia: A Guide to the Most Expensive Avenue in Spain

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On this avenue thronging with stylish businessmen and meandering tourists, Passeig de Gràcia exudes a feeling of grandeur and opulence. This influential street boasts a Modernist architectural heritage with the names of Gaudí, Domanech i Montaner, and Puig i Cadalfalch –and it’s a fashion mecca in Spain. Here’s a guide on how you can enjoy the best sights that this glamorous promenade can offer.

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The elegance of the Modernist architecture, its high-end shops, its extravagant 5-star hotels and its sky-high real estate prices make it one of the most coveted pieces of land in Europe. Here are five things to do on this Barcelona street:

1. Admire the lavishness and details of Catalan Modernism.

Elements of curved lines and elaborate details are folded into the Modernist urban streetscape.

There are 32 of these lacy iron streetlights, tethered down by a bench decorated with trencadís (a mosaic of ceramic pieces stuck to mortar). It was designed by architect Pere Falques i Urpí in 1906.

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On this same structure hangs a cantilevered lamp. Can you see the bat?

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These circular benches made of broken tiles surround a flower bed, built in 1974 for your people-watching pleasure.

IMG_0242When walking down the street, you’re stepping one of Gaudí’s designs. These hexagonal pavement tiles showcase his love for natural features: a sea starfish, snails, and seaweed.

A multi-branched cast iron lamp fixture lights the streets for some evening romantic ambiance.

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2. Admire more Modernist adornments on building facades.

While there are several famous and notable Modernist buildings on this street, you can find these elements on businesses, office buildings, or even residencies.

Modernism around the turn of the century was all about the ornate — and expressing the richness of ornamentation.

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The next-door neighbor to the infamous Casa Batlló, Casa Amatller (No. 41) boasts an urban Gothic style and was constructed in 1900. Love those shutters.

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Design features of the building tell a story, using symbolism in Catalan mythology.

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San Jordi, the patron saint of Catalonia, fights the dragon, as legend has it.

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The building which houses Loewe (No. 35) displays a feminine flower motif with gorgeous tilework.

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So decadent. A flower chain banner hangs above this intricate doorway.

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3. Visit the starring architectural gems, buildings designed by Gaudí.

Casa Batlló and Casa Milà are the main tourist draw of Passeig de Gràcia, forming winding tourist lines during its busiest hours.

Casa Batlló (No. 43).  Named a Unesco World Heritage site in 2005, this emblematic building by Gaudí was built to jazz up what was a ho-hum apartment block. The facade uses a mishmash of materials like forged iron, bricks, stone, and ceramics. Its mauve and turquoise tiles imitate that of a reptile’s skin.

Casa Milá (Provença 261-265, but it’s on the strip), or more popularly known as La Pedrera (stone quarry). Also a Unesco World Heritage site, this building takes up a whole street corner and houses the Fundació Caixa Catalunya. But as you can see in the photo, sad news for Gaudí lovers.

4. Go shopping.

Passeig de Gràcia has designer names in haute couture, but along the 5-kilometer stretch, you can shop a variety of price points that won’t empty your wallet.

High-end international shops. Luxury brands include: 

  • Armani (No. 6)
  • Guess (No. 13)
  • Tommy Hilfiger (No. 15)
  • Diesel (No. 19)
  • Adolfo Domínguez (No. 32)
  • Hermès (No. 33)
  • Tiffany & Co. (No. 38-40)
  • Miu Miu (No. 42)
  • Lacoste (No. 51)
  • Burberry (No. 56)
  • Tru Tussardi (No. 67)
  • Chanel (No. 70)
  • Bvlgari (No. 74)
  • Gucci (No. 76)
  • Chopard (No.78)
  • Louis Vuitton (No. 80)
  • Stuart Weitzman (No. 81)
  • Cartier (No. 82)
  • Hugo Boss (No. 83)
  • Carolina Herrera (No. 87)
  • Jimmy Choo (No. 97)
  • Salvatore Ferragamo (No. 98)
  • Dirk Bikkembergs (No. 99)
  • Yves Saint Laurent (No. 102)
  • Valentino (No. 108)
  • Ermenegildo Zegna (No. 110)

High-End Spanish Brand Shops. But if you’re looking for local brands you can try these:

  • Loewe (No. 35)
  • Santa Eulàlia (No. 93)
  • Lladró (No. 101)
  •  Uterquë (No. 65)
  • Tous (No. 75)
  • Escada (No. 79)
  • Agatha Ruiz de la Prada (corner of Consell de Cent, 314-316)
  • Hoss Intropia (No. 89)

Mid-range shops (International and Spanish):

  • Bershka (No. 7)
  • & Other Stories (No. 8)
  • H&M (No. 9)
  • Stradivarius (No. 11)
  • Massimo Dutti (No. 11)
  • Zara (No. 16)
  • Mango (No. 36)
  • Desigual (No. 47)
  • Oysho (No. 67)

Other specialty shops also line this bustling boulevard such as

  • Apple (No. 1)
  • Adidas (No. 3)
  • Zara Home (No. 9)
  • Nike (No. 29)
  • Pronovias (No. 29)
  • Kiehl’s (No. 33)
  • Ferrari (No. 44)
  • Casa del Llibre (No. 62)
  • Montblanc (No. 99)

And there are still more shops on the strip!

My personal favorites to stroll or buy:

Gratacós (Riera de Sant Miquel, 9). Okay, so I dont really go inside, and I think I may have entered this luxury fabric store once. But for fashion addicts, their chic and contemporary window displays are an experience in itself. The fabrics drape artfully in the window, and a mannequin dons a runway-quality look that feels exclusive and high fashion as many famous celebrities adorn their exquisite fabrics.

5. Enjoy a meal or a cup of coffee.

There are several restaurants and bars on Passeig de Gràcia that run from classy to fast food. A few ideas:

El Nacional (No. 24, bis). The architecture inside this multi-restaurant space is drool-worthy, and I love just passing through here. Even if I’m not going to eat anything! You can pick from several restaurants whether you want a romantic dinner or a snack and coffee. Read my complete post about El Nacional here.

Faborit Cafe (No. 41) – This coffee and sandwich shop has a nice terrace in the back. It also has beautiful chocolates, perfect for an inexpensive souvenir for your family and friends back home. See and read about it in Faborit Cafe in my post here.

Moments (No. 38).  This restaurant is inside the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. It has a stylish dining room and two Michelin stars.

The Bistrot – Santa Eulàlia (No. 93). A local clothing store primarily, the top floor terrace holds a restaurant/cafe with a fun view of Barcelona.

Buenas Migas (No.120). I’ve come to this casual Catalan-owned restaurant/cafe chain for a coffee and a chat. My favorite is the scone (which you can ask to have warmed up), and you can help yourself to the tasty melmelada fixings at the bar. Not really a place for a warm meal, they have some salads, quiches, and foccacia sandwiches, which are pre-made.

Other restaurants/bars on the strip:

  • Farggi Cafe (No. 2)
  • Tenorio (No. 37)
  • Tapa Tapa (No. 44)
  • Txapela (No. 58)
  • Baguetina Catalana (No. 86)
  • Parco (No. 119)

6. Stay at a luxury hotel (or just admire its exterior).

There are several high-end hotels on this strip. But if you want to get fancy, here are 5-star hotels where you can be treated like a king or queen.

Hotel Casa Fuster (No. 132) is a boutique hotel in a renovated modernist building at the end of the avenue.

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Hotel Majestic. A cleaner ensures the balcony passes the White Glove Test.

Hotel Majestic (No. 69) has been here for 90 years and occupies a whole corner of Passeig de Gràcia. It has a lovely terrace at the top with spectacular views of the city.

Hotel Mandarin Oriental (No. 38-40) This gorgeous hotel has an impressive lobby that you can walk around and ogle at the modern design. Just don’t take photos…they’re weird about that. They also have a spa and five restaurants and bars.

More tips

Safety. It’s no secret that Barcelona is replete with pickpockets. The morning I took these photos, an undercover policeman stopped to assist two foreign tourists who had just had their wallets stolen from their purses. Take caution!

Transportation. Metro stations nearby are L2 and L3 (Passeig de Gracia stop) and L5 (Diagonal). Buses 7, 16, 22, 24, and 28.

And more shopping! There are still plenty of designer shops around Rambla Catalunya and Diagonal. Read my complete guide to the best shopping in Barcelona. 

Palau Robert (No. 107) always has free and interesting exhibitions. It’s worth a trip just to enter the decorative building. Inside, there’s tourist information and a bookshop. It also has a quaint garden with lots of seating areas.

I just scratched the surface, but I hope this mini-tour helps somehow. Enjoy Passeig de Gràcia!

By Justine Ancheta

California native, churro aficionado, and mom of 3, Justine Ancheta writes fervently about Barcelona and Spain. Since 2008, she's been eating burnt onions (calçots) and tripping on cobblestones in the Gothic Quarter. She shares tips on popular attractions, exposes offbeat non-touristy spots, and gives insight on exploring Barcelona with kids. Her next Catalan culture challenge: top level of a human castle (castellers).

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