One of the city’s strongest assets, shopping is a huge draw for people visiting Barcelona. Streets and department stores are full to the brim with local labels and international brands, tempting travelers to pile their suitcases high with new purchases. Make your way over to Passeig de Gràcia to hunt for high-end Catalan fashion or visit El Raval to wander through a selection of quirky vintage and boutique shops.
Nuria LacerMy Destination local expert onBarcelona
Passeig de Gràcia
The Champs-Élysées of Barcelona, Passeig de Gràcia offers extensive shopping opportunity. A picturesque tree-lined avenue, here you will discover hundreds of exclusive shops and designer makes. Spend the way people-watching in a cozy cafe or venture into one of the many shops to exercise your credit card. You’ll find luxury brands such as Gucci, Prada, and Burberry merge into local Spanish brands including Adolfo Dominguez and Roberto Verino. Don’t fret if these are all a bit above budget, however; high-street brands Zara, Mango and H&M are also present as more affordable options.
El Raval
Silhouetted by vintage stores and second-hand shops, El Raval is an ideal place for alternative shopping and unusual gifts. A grittier part of the city, here you will discover antique shops tucked around every corner. Head to Rambla de Raval on the weekends to discover the colorful local market - Raval’s Independent Design Market. Here you will find a wide range of jewelry, handcrafted gifts and unique cosmetics.
In between Passeig de Gràcia and El Raval in terms of budget, Gràcia is another popular shopping spot in Barcelona. Attracting a cool, hipster crowd, this trendy area is packed with small artisan shops, handmade clothes and colorful accessories. For something a little different head to Oslo, a community of artists where you can purchase handcrafted gifts direct from the makers themselves.
El Corte Inglés
The largest department store in Europe, El Corte Inglés is a shopping oasis. Located on Plaça Catalunya and occupied by neatly aligned rows of clothes, accessories, home furnishings and even food (there’s an in-house supermarket), this lively emporium is a great place to lose hours of your day. Enjoy being spritzed at the perfume counter, feast your eyes on all the gourmet food or simply perch in the café and watch the world go by.
Els Encants Vells
Perched on the Plaça de les Glòries Catalanes is the biggest flea market in Barcelona: Els Encants Vells. A treasure trove of interesting finds, here you will discover everything from antique furniture to secondhand clothes. Attend a public auction or simply sift through the stall-displayed items, haggling to your heart’s content.
Ciutat Vella (Old City)
Filled with authentic and traditional shops, the Old City is another popular place to explore in Barcelona. Strung along narrow alleys, here you will find small shops filled with local souvenirs such as turrón as well as trendy fashion boutiques dotted around the Barri Gòtic (Gothic Quarter). Head to the commercial hub of Calle Portal de l’Angel to explore some of the major shops then, end up wandering around the small charismatic boutiques of Calle Avinyó.
