Gràcia apartments in Barcelona

From Barcelona International Airport you have the following options:

• Aerobus T1 or T2, or RENFE Train. Take the Aerobus express bus service T1 or T2 that runs regular daily services from 06:00 to 01:05 to Placa de Catalunya (about 45 minutes). Then use metro L3 for the Fontana or Lesseps stations within the Gracia district (about 13 minutes). OR take a RENFE train from the airport which runs every half hour and stops at Passeig de Gracia (about 25 minutes). From there take metro L3 to Fontana or Lesseps station (about 10 minutes). Total travel time is approximately 35 – 60 minutes.

From Girona Airport you have the following options:

• Barcelona Bus + metro or bus.  Barcelona Bus service takes you to Estacio d’Autobusos Barcelona Nord bus station (about 1 hour 15 minutes). From there walk to Arc de Triomf metro station (about 3 minutes) for the L1 to Placa de Catalunya and change for the L3 metro to one of the stations in Gracia, depending on your apartment location (about 20-30 minutes). Total travel time is approximately 1 hour 45 minutes.

From Reus Airport you have the following options:

• Airport bus + metro or bus. Take the La Hispano Igualadina bus to Barcelona Sants station (about 1 hour 30 minutes). Walk to the metro station (about 5 minutes) and take metro L3 to one of the stations in Gracia (about 25 minutes) OR from Barcelona Sants take bus 32 into Gracia (about 20 – 30 minutes). Total travel time is approximately 2 hours.

From Barcelona Sants station you have the following options:

• Bus 32 or metro L3. Both of these run from the station into the Gracia neighbourhood. Total travel time is approximately 20 to 30 minutes.

More information relating to routes and timetables can be found at www.tmb.cat/en/home and www.renfe.com/index.html

Gracia tips for food

This local part of Barcelona ensures that food stores are in close proximity to the Gracia apartments which means that your self-catering short stay will be a hit as you head out and purchase food to prepare in your apartment kitchen. When you want a night off from cooking you are in for a treat as this relaxed area brings you a great selection of traditional, multicultural and top-end restaurants.

Gracia tips for drinks

• Old Fashioned, 1 Calle Santa Teresa. A trendy vintage style bar and rated one of the city’s best bars
• Café Salambo, 51 Carrer de Torrijos. The preferred local spot for a cuppa with its inspiring wooden interior and two pool tables
• Bar El Otro, 167 Travesera de Gracia. Cosy place to get a good Italian coffee in the morning and alcoholic beverages in the evenings
• Bloody Mary Cocktail Lounge, 3 Ferrer de Blanes. Great cocktails, relaxed atmosphere and all-time music
• Lukumas, 169 Carrer de Torrent de l’Olla. Great spot for a coffee or hot chocolate with freshly made pastry

About Gracia

Ah, Gracia…chic, beautiful, effortlessly stylish and authentically Catalonian! What more can one say? This delightful central district ticks all the right boxes for your stay in Barcelona. Located just north of the famous Eixample district its close proximity to all the major visitor attraction in the city will please anyone staying in this most unique of city neighbourhoods. Indeed Gracia existed as an entirely separate municipality for over two hundred years until 1897 when it reluctantly agreed to be swallowed up by the city’s boundaries. At this time the city went through a serious urban expansion in order to cope with the burgeoning population. Over one hundred years later the fiercely independent identity of this neighbourhood is still very evident and residents are understandably proud of their heritage.

There is certainly something of a village-like attitude here which visitors will find refreshing after the modernista ambience of the neighbouring Eixample neighbourhood for example. The usual tourist traps of any capital city are remarkably absent in Gracia meaning it remains un-flooded by the masses. Its focus on history and roots has given birth to a number of underground political movements and an energetic liberal approach to life.

Highlights of Gracia

If you are keen shopaholic then Gracia is certainly the place to be during your holiday. The district is teaming with delightful one-off fashion and art boutiques ideal for that unique souvenir of your holiday. If you are a foodie with a spicy palette then you will simply adore the huge number of ethnic restaurants in the area.

Be sure to climb the local hillside El Carmel to explore the delightful Guell Park constructed at the beginning of the 20th century. You will be charmed by the fairytale designs of the buildings and structures here. Marvel at the unusual walkways and winding promenades. Antoni Gaudi lived in one of the houses and was responsible for the beautiful mosaics around the park including his famous dragon fountain located at the entrance. The house, now Casa Museu Gaudi (Gaudi House Museum), is open to the public and contains many of his original impressively organic-inspired pieces of furniture. Ironically, the man who was so obsessed with exterior and interior design was not actually responsible for the building he chose to live in.

If you are visiting Gracia in August it is possible you will be able to witness the city’s premier and much anticipated carnival-like festival, the Festa Major de Gracia. This incredible 8-day celebration of all things colourful, fiery, musical is the perfect excuse to let your hair down and join the locals in a spot of competitive exhibitionism. Grab your glad rags and dancing shoes and get yourself in the party spirit – it’s extremely infectious and exhilarating particularly at night times.

A city worth while exploring from one of our Gracia apartments!

Gracia must sees

• Park Guell. Experience this beautifully designed park and visit the Gaudi House Museum
• Casa Vicens. This house is one of Gaudi’s famous early creations
• Placa del Sol. The place to be for a busy nightlife at the bars and cafes
• Gran de Gracia. Browse the independent stores at this popular highstreet
• Sagrada Familia. Located right by the south eastern part of Gracia and an absolute must-see during any short stay in Barcelona

Walk amongst all of these must sees, and more as you stay in one of our Gracia apartments!