Shopping in Barcelona – Best Shopping Districts, Markets and Hidden Gems! august 19, 2024 – Posted in: Spain, Travel – Tags: Barcelona, Holiday, Shopping, Spain, Vacation
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Barcelona Shopping Guide
If you’re heading to Barcelona for some shopping, here’s a guide to the streets in this beautiful city where you can find the best stores. Barcelona boasts several excellent shopping streets, all located in Ciutat Vella, the old town. Here you’ll find La Rambla with its bustling tourist activity, Passeig de Gracia with all the renowned brands, and the charming small streets of the Gothic Quarter.
Barcelona also has several large shopping centers and an outlet village. In other words, the city is a dream for shopping enthusiasts. So, don’t pack your suitcase too full from home, because in Barcelona, you’ll definitely find something you can’t live without!
Las Ramblas in Barcelona
We start at La Rambla – just like all the other tourists. Here, you’ll find people from all over the world mingling with street vendors and performers, golden mimes, souvenir stalls, and clothing shops. It’s not where you’ll find the locals, as La Rambla isn’t exactly their cup of sangria.
But even if it sounds like a typical tourist trap, La Rambla is definitely something you should experience during a trip to Barcelona. The atmosphere is lively and fun, with constant activity. Make sure to explore the side streets, as they are home to many interesting small shops.
The further north you go, the more charming it becomes. Once you pass Plaça de Catalunya, and La Rambla turns into the other Rambla – Rambla de Catalunya – you’ll find many sidewalk cafés and local shops. It’s simply delightful!
Food Markets in Barcelona
While strolling along La Rambla, you might spot the large mosaic, Pla de l’Os, by artist Miró. This mosaic also marks the entrance to the food market La Boqueria. This lively market is a sensory overload with its mix of tourists. Here, you can enjoy tapas like oysters, croquetas, and ham, and pick up a small souvenir.
La Boqueria mainly consists of food stalls with prepared food, typically eaten standing as seating is limited. If you prefer to visit authentic markets where locals buy their fish, fruits, and vegetables, head to Mercat de Sant Antoni or Mercat de l’Estrella.
Passeig de Gracia
After a few bites at La Boqueria, we’re ready to continue shopping. Head to Plaça de Catalunya, then turn east and walk up Passeig de Gracia. Besides two of Gaudí’s houses, Casa Batlló and Casa Milà, you’ll also find plenty of high-end brand stores on this broad avenue. While La Rambla offers souvenirs and high street fashion, here you’ll find more upscale brands like Jimmy Choo and Michael Kors.
The Gothic Quarter
It’s in the narrow streets of the Gothic Quarter where you’ll discover truly unique items that you won’t find elsewhere. Here, there’s a mix of artisanal crafts, thrift stores, and quirky t-shirts. Start from Plaça de Catalunya and head south on Avinguda del Portal de l’Àngel. Follow the road until you reach Carrer de la Portaferrissa. From here, you can wander down Carrer de Petritxol or other small streets.
Shopping Centers in Barcelona
Barcelona has several large shopping centers in the city center. Visit Las Arenas de Barcelona near Plaça d’Espanya or El Corte Inglés at Plaça de Catalunya. North of Barcelona, about a 40-minute drive with the shopping bus, you’ll find the outlet village La Roca Village. You might already know the concept from Ringsted or Neumünster in Germany, with its small houses offering great deals on last season’s colors. Click here to book a spot on the shopping bus that takes you directly there.
Opening Hours in Barcelona
Most shops in Barcelona are open from 10 AM to 8 PM, with large shopping centers staying open until 10 PM. Many smaller stores close for siesta and may be shut from 1 PM to 5 PM. On Saturdays, shops are open in the morning and until around 2 PM. On Sundays, only shops in tourist areas, large shopping centers, and small supermarkets remain open.
More Tips for Your Trip to Barcelona
Find a Great Hotel in Barcelona
Barcelona is a big city, and it can be a bit overwhelming to figure out which hotel to choose. Most tourists opt to stay in the old quarter near all the major attractions. If you click on the hotel we stayed at, B&B Boutique Ca La Maria, and then click on “Show on map,” it’s easy to see. Look for the area between Avinguda Diagonal, Avinguda del Paral·lel, and Arc de Triomf. This is the most popular area for a vacation in Barcelona.
As you can see, the hotel we stayed at is in the Eixample district, right next to the Provença metro station. From here, it was easy to reach all parts of the city and attractions, and since we stayed at the end of La Rambla, it was also easy to find our way back home. It’s a newer neighborhood that’s nice and relatively quiet, where you’re just a bit away from the busiest areas.
About B&B Boutique Ca La Maria
B&B Boutique Ca La Maria was the perfect hotel for our family vacation with a teenager. This small boutique hotel is located in an old mansion apartment with stucco and incredibly high ceilings. Our apartment had a small entrance with access to the large bathroom. The entrance also led to our private living room and further into two huge bedrooms, each with its own really good bed. We had the largest apartment in the hotel, but we also met several couples on romantic getaways – so the hotel suits them as well.
In addition to our own living room, the hotel also has a common lounge area, as you can see in the picture above. A lovely breakfast was served here, and for the rest of the day, there were free drinks, fruit, and cake. All in all, we can’t recommend the hotel enough!
Read more about the hotel here B&B Boutique Ca La Maria and see all the other hotels in Barcelona by clicking here. However, Barcelona is an extremely expensive city to live in, with high costs for housing, dining, and daily expenses. If you’re looking for more affordable hotels, we’ve written an article about living cheaply in Castelldefels, a charming seaside town just outside Barcelona.You can also conduct your own search for hotels in Barcelona right here: