Eixample Barcelone

The Eixample district is one of the most famous neighborhoods in Barcelona, located in the city center of the Catalan capital, Spain. The Eixample is divided into two parts by the Diagonal Avenue. For simplicity, we refer to Eixample Dret (Right Eixample) and Eixample Esquerra (Left Eixample).

• Eixample Dret stretches between Passeig de Gràcia and the Sagrada Família. It is the most monumental part of the district, rich in Modernist buildings, luxury boutiques, and cultural institutions. It features the famous Manzana de la Discordia and several works by Gaudí.
• Eixample Esquerra, more residential, is appreciated for its quiet squares, trendy cafés, and vibrant local life. It also houses lesser-known Modernist gems and the Mercat del Ninot, an authentic spot to experience local life.

The district is bordered by the following streets: To the north: Marina Street. To the east: Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes. To the south: Paral·lel Street. To the west: Passeig de Gràcia.

The Modernist District of Barcelona

Eixample in Catalan means “Extension” or “Widening” because it was built from 1860 onwards to expand Barcelona after the demolition of the medieval walls. Today, it is a vast commercial and residential area. With its grid of perpendicular avenues,

often photographed from above, it illustrates a new vision of the city. At its heart, the "Quadrat d'Or” – the Golden Square – is like an open-air museum that concentrates the highest number of Modernist buildings in Barcelona, signed by Antoni Gaudí, Domènech i Montaner or Puig i Cadafalch among other Catalan Art Nouveau architects. Stone, glass, wrought iron and ceramic façades: an architectural delight.

1

Casa Calvet

Casa Calvet is one of the first major works by Antoni Gaudí, built between 1898 and 1900 in the Eixample district. Less exuberant than his later creations, this house blends Baroque elegance with characteristic Modernist touches from the Catalan architect, such as wavy balconies, twisted columns, and sculpted plant motifs. Commissioned by a textile industrialist, Casa Calvet is now a private building, but its façade remains a remarkable example of Gaudí’s genius.

Carrer de Casp, 48, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
Access: Façade visible from the street – not open for interior visits
Metro: L1 – Urquinaona Station

2

Tapies Foundation

The Antoni Tàpies Foundation is a museum and cultural center dedicated to the work of Catalan artist Antoni Tàpies, one of the great names in contemporary art. Inaugurated in 1990, it is housed in a Modernist building designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner, recognizable by its red brick façade topped by an imposing metal sculpture. The museum holds a large collection of paintings, drawings, objects, and installations by Tàpies, as well as temporary contemporary art exhibitions.

Carrer d’Aragó, 255, 08007 Barcelona, Spain
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM (closed on Mondays)

7

Mercat del Ninot

The Mercat del Ninot is an authentic covered market located in the Eixample Esquerra. Renovated in 2015, it blends modernity and tradition with colorful stalls offering fruits, vegetables, meats, fish, and Catalan specialties. Much appreciated by local residents, it also features tapas bars and small restaurants for a delicious break in a friendly, local atmosphere.

Carrer de Mallorca, 133, 08036 Barcelona, Spain

Website: mercatdelninot.com

Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM

Phone: +34 93 323 92 20

8

Sagrada Família

The Sagrada Família is Antoni Gaudí’s most famous work and Barcelona’s most iconic monument. Located on the eastern side of Eixample, this basilica amazes with its soaring towers, sculpted façades, and an interior bathed in colorful light. Gaudí dedicated the last years of his life to this monumental project, which blends Christian symbolism, organic forms, and architectural innovations.

Carrer de Mallorca, 401, 08013 Barcelona, Spain

Opening hours: Daily from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM

Also worth seeing in the Eixample district

The Eixample is known for its unique Modernist architecture and famous landmarks such as the

Sagrada Família, Casa Batlló, and La Pedrera mentioned above, but also the Arc de Triomf, Casa Amatller, and Casa Lleó Morera. It’s a pleasure to stroll along Passeig de Gràcia or Rambla de Catalunya for its stores of top brands like Hermès, Fendi, Versace, CH Carolina Herrera, Moncler, Loro Piana, El Corte Inglés, Zara, Mango, Massimo Dutti, Desigual… and its many restaurants.

Where to stay in the Eixample

Our advice: As you can tell, staying in this neighborhood is an excellent idea

because it is central, lively, home to major landmarks, and

perfect for shopping > Find a hotel near Passeig de Gràcia

History of the Eixample District

The Eixample district was built in the 19th century, during a period of rapid economic and population growth in Barcelona. The city had become too small to accommodate all the new residents, so it was decided to build a new district beyond the old medieval city limits. The urban plan for Eixample was designed by engineer Ildefons Cerdà, who won a competition in 1859 to design the new neighborhood. The plan was innovative for its time, based on a regular street grid with square blocks of about 100 meters per side. This allowed for maximum use of space and smoother flow of people and vehicles.

A unique feature of Eixample’s urban design in Barcelona: the corners of buildings are cut diagonally. This diagonal cut allowed for larger and wider spaces at street intersections, improving pedestrian and vehicle traffic.

In addition, the diagonal cuts increased the amount of natural light entering the buildings—important at a time when residents had no electricity and relied on daylight to illuminate their homes.

Construction of the Eixample lasted more than 50 years. During this time, many

architects contributed to designing the neighborhood's buildings, creating a mix of architectural styles from Art Nouveau to Neoclassical. The building façades were decorated with elaborate ornaments and sculptures, giving the district an elegant and sophisticated appearance. Construction was halted by the economic crisis at the end of the 19th century and the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s.

How to Get to the Eixample District

Metro: Metro lines L2, L3, L4, L5, L6, L7, and L8 all pass through Eixample, serving

various parts of the district. The most important metro stations are Passeig de Gràcia, Diagonal, Sagrada Família, Tetuan, Urgell, Hospital Clinic, among others.

Bus: There are also many bus lines serving Eixample. The most frequent bus lines include H10, V15, V17, 20, 24, 39, 45, 47, 50, 51, 54, 56, 59, 62, 66, 67, 68, 141, N1, N2, N3, N4, N5, N6, N7, N8, N9, N11, N12, N13, N14, N15, N16, N17, N18, N19, N20, N22, and N24.

Hop-On Hop-Off Barcelona: Eixample, Sagrada Família, Casa Batlló, La Pedrera, Plaça de Catalunya...

Train: You can also reach Eixample by train, especially with the R2 Nord line

serving Passeig de Gràcia and Clot-Aragó stations.

Map of the Eixample in Barcelona