10 Best Places to Go Shopping in Barcelona

Portal De L’Angel is a wide, pedestrian avenue between Plaça de Catalunya and the Cathedral in the Gothic Quarter. The commercial street is one of the busiest walkways in Barcelona and a popular shopping area with a wide variety of items on offer. You can find almost anything along the 2-block pathway, including high-street fashion brands, such as H&M, Zara and Bershka, local shoeshops, books, electronics, and sporting equipment.

There are also some great gelato shops along the strip, the perfect way to take a rest and take in the bustling vibe. And on Sundays, you can enjoy street performers and traditional Catalan dancing. Insider tip: plan your visit between 10 am and 12 pm on weekends when the stores are less busy.

Rambla de Catalunya is a continuation of Barcelona's famous Ramblas pedestrian street. Starting from Plaça de Catalunya, the walkway stretches for 9 blocks until it reaches Avinguda Diagonal. You'll find designer stores, art galleries, theatres, exclusive hotels, and high-end restaurants.

Shops along the kilometre-long boulevard bear names like Misako, Panama Jack, Sephora, Intimissimi, United Colors of Benetton, and Massimo Dutti. With its unique retail offerings, Rambla de Catalunya is a shopaholic's dream. And after hours of shopping and browsing, take a seat at a terrace cafe and enjoy a refreshment while people-watching.

Passeig De Gracia is a luxury shopping street in Barcelona. It’s Barcelona’s Champs-Élysées with many international luxury brands having flagship stores along this paved walkway. You can shop and browse at Chanel, Gucci, Prada, Luis Vuitton, MaxMara, Jimmy Choo, Dolce & Gabbana, and many more. You’ll also find famous Spanish fashion designers, such as Antoni Miró, Roberto Merino, Tous, and Desigual.

Passeig De Gracia is also one of the prettiest streets in the city. The sidewalk is lined with gorgeous modernist architecture, including 2 iconic Gaudi buildings: Casa Mila and Casa Batllo. So even if you aren’t prepared to max out your credit card on a shopping spree, admiring the landmark buildings is alone worth a visit.

Carrer d’Avinyó is an intriguing shopping destination that’s tucked away in the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona. As one of the oldest streets in the city, Carrer d’Avinyó offers a more authentic local and historical experience. While it only takes 10 minutes to walk the length of this street, you can often spend hours exploring the eclectic collection of stores and cafes here.

At number 28, Totem is a gem, selling a wide selection of items, from arts and crafts to English literature to football jerseys. La Case de Cousin Paul, number 22, specialises in indoor and outdoor lanterns of every size, colour and pattern. Like dozens of celebrities before, pass through the renowned La Manual Alpargatera and choose a new pair of traditional Catalan espadrilles from this decades-old store.

Boqueria Market or Mercat La Boqueria is located on Las Ramblas and is an unmissable destination for any visitor vaguely interested in Spain’s culinary scene. The colourful market is a maze of over 300 stalls selling fruit and vegetables, meat, seafood, cheese, nuts, spices, sweets, and many more goodies. You can easily spend hours browsing the fresh produce, taking in the different smells and watching residents go about their daily shopping.

The market also hosts dozens of cafes, restaurants, and tapas bars where you can stop for a break and enjoy a delicious snack or meal. Insider tip: the market gets busy around lunchtime. So if you’d prefer to beat the crowds, arrive at about 8 am. Have breakfast at one of the counter bars before exploring the market.

El Corte Inglés is the largest department store in Barcelona, offering 8 floors of retail therapy. If you don’t know where to get something, El Corte Inglés will most likely have it. From makeup to accessories, clothing, beach and pool wear to kitchenware, furniture, appliances and electronics, the iconic Spanish department store sells more than 700 national and international brands.

When you get tired of shopping, refuel at the La Rotonda cafe on the 9^th floor, which has an outdoor terrace with calming views of Plaça Catalunya. And if money’s no object, stock up with super-high-end wines and spirits, olive oil, and artfully decorated cookies from El Gourmet Club on the basement level.

Mingle with the cool crowd in El Born, a charming neighbourhood nestled between the Gothic Quarter and Ciutadella Park. As one of Barcelona’s trendiest districts, you can expect quality shopping, unique items, and local designers who shape the city’s fashion style. The main shopping streets are Carrer Del Rec, Carrer de la Princessa, Carrer dels Flassaders, and Carrer de l’Argenteria.

Shops sell handbags, custom jewellery, vintage clothes, tribal pieces, records, and much more. Just wander around – you’ll most likely not leave empty-handed. End your shopping spree with coffee at a quaint cafe or a drink at one of the many fashionable bars dotted around the neighbourhood.

Plaça de Sant Josep Oriol is a pretty square next to the Santa Maria del Pi Basilica in the historic Gothic Quarter. Every weekend, around 40 local artists set up stalls in front of the Basilica for the 3-decade old “Mostra d’Art”. The outdoor art and crafts fair is a fantastic opportunity to buy original art and handmade souvenirs.

Even if you don’t plan on purchasing anything, the colourful, lively market and friendly atmosphere make a visit worthwhile. In addition, some artists draw caricatures of visitors and famous people, some of which can be pretty amusing. There are also a handful of bars and restaurants lining the square where you can sit outside and enjoy a drink or a meal while people-watching and listening to the street musicians.

Diagonal Mar is Barcelona’s newest shopping centre. It’s located where the city’s famous Diagonal Avenue meets the sea in the Poblenou district. Across 3 floors, you’ll find over 200 shops selling a great selection of high-street and designer labels, plus cosmetics, accessories, and homeware. Spanish and international fashion chains include Zara, Primark, and H&M. There are dozens of restaurants, a cinema complex, and a bowling alley.

Before or after your shopping spree, enjoy a walk on Mar Bella beach or admire the funky sculptures in Parc de la Diagonal Mar. The mall is a 20-minute metro ride from the centre of Barcelona – exit at El Maresme|Fòrum station. You can also get to the mall by car, bus, tram, or bicycle. While most stores are closed on Sundays and holidays, the restaurants and entertainment are open all day.

La Maquinista is one of the largest shopping centres in Barcelona and Catalonia, with over 230 retailers. Famous brands include Apple, Adidas, Foot Locker, Intersport, and Swarovski. Thanks to the numerous open spaces with squares and avenues, La Maquinista feels like a tiny village. Strolling through La Maquinista is an ideal way to shop on a warm, sunny day since you get to spend most of the time outside.

Apart from shopping, the mall also offers a multi-screen movie theatre. When you get hungry, there is a food court with several good restaurants and bars. Although La Maquinista is located on the outskirts of Barcelona, it’s easily accessible via the red L1 metro line. You must get off at Sant Andreu metro station and then walk for about 10 minutes.