Shopping in Barcelona: A guide to the best places to shop.
Barcelona is a wonderful city for shopping, whether you are looking for luxury brands, local designers, or traditional products. Shopping in Barcelona offers a variety of shopping areas, each with its own charm and personality. There are many places to go shopping in Barcelona, from historic markets to modern shopping centres. In this post, we explore some of the best areas for shopping in Barcelona, including the best shopping streets, markets and shopping centres.
Here is our pick of some of the best places to go shopping in Barcelona –
Shopping Centres In Barcelona
If you prefer to shop indoors, with air conditioning and a wide range of options, then shopping centres are a good choice. Barcelona has several shopping centres, some of them located in historic buildings or near tourist attractions. Here are some of the most popular ones:
- Centro Comercial Arenas De Barcelona: This shopping centre is located in a former bullring, which was converted into a modern and elegant mall in 2011. It has more than 100 shops, including fashion, beauty, electronics, and sports brands. It also has a cinema, a gym, and a rooftop terrace with panoramic views of the city.
- Maremagnum: This shopping centre is located at the end of the marina, next to the Aquarium and the Columbus Monument. It has a distinctive maritime style, with wooden floors and glass walls. It has more than 80 shops, mostly focused on fashion and accessories. It also has a cinema, a bowling alley, and several restaurants and bars.
- Westfield La Maquinista: This shopping centre is located in the Sant Andreu district, away from the city centre. It is the largest open-air mall in Catalonia, with more than 230 shops, including international and local brands. It also has a cinema, a children’s area, and a variety of restaurants and cafes.
- Diagonal Mar Centro Comercial: This shopping centre is located in the Diagonal Mar area, near the beach. It has more than 200 shops, including fashion, beauty, electronics, and home decor brands. It also has a cinema, a bowling alley, and a variety of restaurants and cafes.
- L’illa Diagonal: This shopping centre is located in the Les Corts district, near the Camp Nou stadium. It has more than 170 shops, including international and local brands. It also has a supermarket, a gym, and a variety of restaurants and cafes.
- El Triangle Centre Comercial: This shopping centre is located in the city centre, near Plaça Catalunya. It has more than 50 shops, mostly focused on fashion and accessories. It also has a supermarket, a pharmacy, and several restaurants and cafes.
Best Shopping Streets in Barcelona
For those who enjoy walking around and browsing through different shops, then shopping streets are a great option. Barcelona has many shopping streets, some of them famous for their elegance and exclusivity, others for their diversity and originality. Here are some of the most renowned ones:
- Passeig De Gracia: This is the most prestigious shopping street in Barcelona, where you can find the most luxurious and high-end brands, such as Chanel, Prada, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and more. It is also an architectural landmark, as it features some of the most iconic buildings by Gaudi and other modernist architects.
- Rambla de Catalunya: This is a wide and elegant boulevard that runs parallel to Passeig De Gracia. It has a more relaxed and cosmopolitan atmosphere, with many cafes and terraces along the way. It has a mix of international and local shops, as well as art galleries and antique stores.
- Portal de l’Àngel: This is a pedestrian street that connects Plaça Catalunya with the Gothic Quarter. It is one of the busiest and most popular shopping streets in Barcelona, where you can find many mainstream and affordable brands, such as Zara, H&M, Mango, and more.
Historic Markets in Barcelona
If you want to experience the authentic and traditional side of Barcelona, then historic markets are a must-see. Barcelona has many historic markets that date back to the 19th or early 20th century. They are not only places to buy fresh food and local products, but also cultural and social hubs where you can mingle with locals and enjoy the lively atmosphere. Here are some of the most emblematic ones:
- Mercat de la Boqueria: This is the oldest and most famous market in Barcelona, located on La Rambla. It is a feast for the senses, with colourful and tropical fruits, vegetables, seafood, meat, cheese, spices, sweets, and more. You can also find bars and restaurants where you can taste delicious tapas and dishes made with fresh ingredients from the market.
- Mercat Santa Caterina: This is a modern and innovative market located in El Born district. It was renovated in 2005 by the architects Enric Miralles and Benedetta Tagliabue, who gave it a distinctive wavy roof covered with colourful ceramic tiles. It has more than 100 stalls selling fresh food and local products. It also has a restaurant called Cuines Santa Caterina (Santa Caterina Kitchens), where you can enjoy different cuisines from around the world.
- Mercat de la Barceloneta: This is a traditional market located in La Barceloneta district, near the beach. It was built in 1884 by Antoni Rovira i Trias, one of the most important architects of Catalan modernism. It has more than 50 stalls selling fresh food and local products. It also has a cooking school called Espai Cuina (Kitchen Space), where you can learn how to cook typical dishes from Barcelona and Catalonia.
Conclusion
With so many great sights and attractions to visit, you don’t want to spend too long shopping in Barcelona. However, some of Barcelona’s best shopping streets and historic markets can be visited when exploring nearby attractions. We personally recommend visiting Barcelona’s shopping centres in the evening as most are open until 10pm and later for the leisure and restaurants areas. This way, you won’t use up time during the day when you could be exploring attractions such as Park Güell or the Sagrada Família.
