If the pandemic brought us anything good, it was the “Superilla Sant Jordi,” a large pedestrian area right in the heart of Barcelona, where dozens of book and flower stalls gather on April 23.
And although it started only on Passeig de Gràcia, the initiative has been growing. Now, from Jardinets de Gràcia to Plaça Catalunya, and along its parallel streets, Balmes and Rambla Catalunya, and since last year also along Las Ramblas—a promenade that, although it is one of the most iconic locations for Sant Jordi in Barcelona, has not had any stops since 2019 due to pandemic restrictions.
Heading toward Gràcia, along Gran de Gràcia, the street will also be pedestrianized, with stops from Plaça de Nicolás Salmerón to Carrer d’Asturias.
That’s why we’re providing you with a complete guide to the Superilla in Barcelona, including the closed-off streets and locations (both within the Superilla and in the surrounding neighborhoods) where you can find book and rose stalls.
Now, if you want to go straight to the bookstores, here’s a great list of bookstores in Barcelona so you can head right in and browse the shelves.
Sant Jordi’s Great “Literary Superblock”: Which Streets Will Have Book and Rose Stops?
Thus, the literary superblock will once again take over the center of Barcelona with 3 kilometers of books and roses, a major pedestrian corridor stretching the entire length of Passeig de Gràcia and its surrounding streets—Balmes, Pau Claris, Gran Via, and Avenida Diagonal—as it passes through Passeig de Gràcia, as well as La Rambla, which will be filled with authors signing books and bookstores selling them .
The heart of the festival will once again be the Eixample, with this vast area closed to traffic so that pedestrians are the only protagonists. This large zone will be located between Avenida Diagonal and Gran Via, and between Balmes and Pau Claris streets.
Unlike last year, when construction on Las Ramblas allowed the “superblock” to return to the city’s most iconic promenade, in 2026 construction in the upper section of the street is once again preventing this, forcing the book fair to be moved to the Portal de l’Àngel.
But the festivities don’t stop there; other key areas to explore this Thursday will be:
- Ciutat Vella: From Portal de l’Àngel to Avenida de la Catedral.
- Gràcia: Gran de Gràcia Street will be pedestrianized from Pla de Nicolás Salmerón to Astúries Street.
- City Hall Stops: You’ll find the latest institutional publications on Passeig de Gràcia (between Provença and Rosselló) and a collective mural at the Plaça de Catalunya booth.
Neighborhood Stalls: All Flower and Book Sales Spots by District
In addition to the Superilla, on Sant Jordi, all districts have spaces in squares and streets that are adapted to host book and rose sales. Here’s the complete list so you don’t miss a single one.
- Ciutat Vella: Portal de l’Àngel, Av. Catedral, and Passeig Lluís Companys.
- L’Eixample: Plaça Catalunya, Universitat, Rambla Catalunya, Passeig de Gràcia, and Passeig Sant Joan.
- Sants-Montjuïc: Rambla de Sants.
- Les Corts: Av. Diagonal (between Joan Güell and Pau Romeva, sea side).
- Sarrià-Sant Gervasi: Plaça de Sarrià.
- Gràcia: Gran de Gràcia (between Sèneca and Rambla Prat) and Plaça de la Vila.
- Horta-Guinardó: Plaça d’Eivissa.
- Nou Barris: Bus shelter at Via Júlia and Plaça del Virrei Amat.
- Sant Andreu: Plazas d’Orfila and del Comerç, and Calle del Segre.
- Sant Martí: Rambla del Poblenou, Mercat Square and Font i Sagué Square, and the area around the Gabriel García Márquez Library.
Mobility and services: what you need to know
Getting around downtown on a Sant Jordi Thursday requires some planning. Keep these restrictions in mind:
Road closures and traffic restrictions
Restricted area: The space between Diagonal, Gran Via, Balmes, and Pau Claris will be pedestrian-only. Cars, motorcycles, bicycles, and personal mobility devices (PMDs) will not be allowed.
Open roads: Traffic will only be allowed on the perimeter streets and on Aragó, València, and Gran Via.
Bicing
Bicing stations within the pedestrian zone will be out of service for the entire day.
Cleaning and Waste Management
Trash bins will be removed from the main areas from April 21 to 25. Additionally, on the morning of Thursday, April 23, there will be no collection of organic waste or old furniture in the affected areas.
Getting around downtown will require patience and, above all, leaving your car at home. The “superblock” in the Eixample will be the epicenter of the road closures.
An open house and local book signings
In addition, the day includes free open houses at gems like the Ateneu Barcelonès or the Mies van der Rohe Pavilion, not to mention the City Hall’s courtyard filled with roses. In the end, the best plan is to just go with the flow and discover the festivities unfolding, without rushing, right on your own street.
