Eixample

The Eixample is Barcelona's great expansion beyond the old walls. In the mid-19th century, Ildefons Cerdà imagined a brighter, better-ventilated city, arranged as a grid of blocks with clipped corners. More than a century and a half later, that geometry still shapes how you walk, find your way and look at the city.

Some of Barcelona's best-known buildings are here: Casa Batlló, Casa Milà and the Sagrada Família. But the appeal of the neighbourhood is not limited to its headline sights. Move one or two streets away from Passeig de Gràcia and you will find inner courtyards, bakeries, bookshops, terraces and an everyday Barcelona with a different rhythm from the old town.

One good way to get to know it is to walk from Sagrada Família towards the centre along Avinguda Gaudí, or head up Passeig de Gràcia to Diagonal. Enric Granados and Girona are particularly pleasant streets for a break, while the grid makes it easy to improvise without getting lost. The Eixample is less a single spot than a very recognisable way of understanding Barcelona.

Frequently asked questions

Why are the Eixample's corners cut off?

The chamfered corners in Ildefons Cerdà's plan opened up intersections to improve visibility, ventilation and turning space for vehicles. They are now the neighbourhood's most recognisable feature.

Which part of the Eixample is best for walking?

Passeig de Gràcia brings together Casa Batlló and Casa Milà; the Sagrada Família area shows its most monumental side. For a more residential feel, wander along streets such as Girona or Enric Granados.