Retail Therapy in Barcelona

Nothing´s better than a successful day´s shopping in a new city and heading to the bar with a few bags in hand and a new top or pair of shoes to wear out that night.

So to make sure you make the most of your shopping time, here´s a list of the Top 5 places to shop in Barcelona:

1) Portal del´Angel is in the city centre and runs parallel to the Ramblas.  It´s perfect for browsing the typical high street stores like Zara, Mango, H&M and Massimo Dutti which are pretty much guaranteed to get you a rapid purchase. Remember the prices for Zara and most of the Inditex group here in Barcelona work out cheaper for your pound. (another excuse to go shopping). Continue down the street and fork off to the left to stop for a drink in the Cathedral Square. 

Type of shops: High street shops

Shops to look out for: Oysho for cute underwear, bikins and cool summer clothes.

2) Posh and pleasant! Passeig de Gracia is one of the most beautiful main streets in Barcelona, and although it´s not pedestrian it´s great for a wander and bit of shopping. Here you´ll find the more luxury brands like Chanel, Gucci, & Jimmy Choo, mixed in with some high street shops (more towards Plaza de Cataluna end).  With  it´s broad tree-lined pavements and stunning Gaudi architecture like Casa Batlló and the Pedrera to look at it´s a perfect (non-intensive) shopping area.

Type of shops: Think Regent Street, New Bond Street mixed with Oxford Street. (Luxury and high st)
Shops to look out for: Cool Swedish brand & Other Stories is opening it´s first accessories store at the end of April.

Loisada. Pretty vintage in the Born

3) Vintage Barcelona: Vintage shopping is definitely becoming more available and widespread although prices still tend to be quite high. You have two types of vintage shopping here in BCN; for cute boutiques but a bit old-school head to Carrer de la Riera Baixa in the Raval area. For "pretty vintage" head to the beautiful Born district.

Type of shops: Vintage
Shops to look out for: Über den Wolken in the Raval; vintage clothes and creative courses 


4) It rarely happens, but if you find yourself on a rainy day in Barcelona, make your way to La Illa shopping centre on the Diagonal. It offers high street shops and upmarket boutiques, as well as great places to stop for lunch and play areas outside for the kids. At El Corte Inglés to the far left of the shop you´ll find a department store full of amazing, good quality concessions ranging from Hakei, to Maje and Comptoir de Cotonniers.

Type of shops: High street and upmarket boutique (includes Primark, Pepe, Disney & Nice Things)
Shops to look out for: Bimba & Lola for gorgeous bags and shoes, or for cheaper Whistles clothes go upstairs in El Corte Inglés.

5) The idea of shopping in Barcelona is really about browsing the shops whilst enjoying the atmosphere, gothic buildings and sunshine! So my final recommendation is for 2 separate areas: the Born area and the Gothic quarter of Barcelona. Purely because there are so many hidden boutiques or unusual shops which you wouldn´t find in any high street in Europe and are totally worth discovering at your own pace.

Type of shops: Everything from upmarket boutiques to quirky sweet shops.
Shops to look out for: Happy Pills near the Cathedral square to pick up a gift or get a quick sugar fix.


AND REMEMBER: SHOPS ARE SHUT ON A SUNDAY

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