by p_motch

Barcelona can offer an interesting shopping experience for consumers as it has a range of well-known high street stores, designer outlets and unique boutiques. The city lures the fashion conscious and trendy to its streets to spend their well earned money on clothes, jewellery, souvenirs and furniture.

There are many main shopping areas located around the city, the majority of it pedestrianised so you can shop safely without dodging cars and worrying about traffic. Starting from the waterfront you can shop right up the length of La Rambla, through Placa de Catalunya and all the way to Passeig de Gracia. Spend hours exploring all the boutiques down the side streets shooting off from these main areas, and then there’s even more to be found at Avinguda Diagonal with Calvin Klein, Giorgio Armani, Gianni Versace and Gucci.

Also look out for El Corte Ingles and El Triangle where you’ll find just about anything you want contained under one roof, and clothes and accessories shopping is good fun in El Raval near to Las Ramblas as it has lots of different one-off boutiques and unique clothes and items.

There are quite a few antique flea markets around Barcelona on weekends and various week days and the Gothic Quarter has lots to offer as well as a range of stylish streetwear, secondhand clothes, and out of the ordinary items. However if you want the upmarket version where items are the genuine thing then make your way to the Passeig de Gràcia 55 and the indoor antique centre Antiquarians Boulevard. You’ll find a great selection of fine paintings, furniture, religious artifacts, jewellery, and crystal.

If you need a break from shopping then perhaps a cup of hot chocolate will perk you up. Xocolateria Valor has been established for over 100 years and the chocolate shop sells delicious ice cream, hot, or iced, chocolate drinks, and milk shakes with a whole variety of flavours and aromas.

El Borne is also a place to stop for a while during your shopping experience, there are more than a few squares with restaurants and bars to linger at whilst people watching. It’s popular with the young crowd as the clubs and bars on Passeig de Born are ultra stylish. Home to the Picasso Museum and the Textile Museum it has some of the trendiest boutiques and stores in the city.

La Rambla is one of the best places to find souvenirs to take back home and remember your trip by. T-shirts, a print of a Miro masterpiece or a Picasso poster and postcards of the city are also on sale at most of the galleries, or for first-rate Catalan crafts head to the Centre Catala d’Artesania where you’ll find some interesting items manufactured using traditional methods.

There’s something about markets that is both appealing and exciting as you’re sure to get a bargain and can often find items not for sale anywhere else. There is a huge selection of markets around the city selling food, antiques, art, books and household items. Sant Antoni food market sells a wide selection of local fresh items, and on Sunday there’s also a book and coin market located here. Renowned in Barcelona is the Mercat de Sant Joseph off Las Rambla and the place to go if you’re staying in an apartment and cooking for yourself as it offers a fine selection of local ingredients and seafood.

If you want to spend more on shopping and less on your accommodation then book online, there are heaps of quality hotels, or opt for apartments barcelona if travelling in a group or with family as it makes more economical sense. You can get a big discount if booking well in advance or as a last minute decision. That will leave you more money for souvenirs! An apartment means you can cook your own food too so you don’t have to eat out at restaurants every night which can be quite expensive particularly if there are a few of you on holiday.