Shopping in Barcelona!!
Shopping in Barcelona is definitely an experience, from sore feet to sore credit card and on to intense pleasure and for some people, very much part of their holiday. With almost infinite variety in Barcelona, it is a very pleasant assault on all your senses. AND it is good value too!! From Designer shops all down the Paseo de Gracia, past the very individual shops of the Gothic quarter to the brilliant colours of the markets such as La Boqueria on the Ramblas and on to the open air shopping alongside the Old Port. As a cosmopolitan city, with people coming from all continents to live here as well as on holiday, it is definitely World Wide Web...only the real type not virtual!
Markets
The markets were instigated by the authorities in Barcelona many years ago to bring together food sellers so that some control could be exercised over the quality of the food being sold at a time when food hygiene was not what it is today. The authorities still exercise some control and I think that they should be applauded for the quality of food now on sale in the Barcelona markets, together with the fact that they have a programme of renovation which has kept the character but improved the hygiene. The vibrancy in the markets is an assualt on all your senses. The colour, smell, taste (because you can try things before buying), the touch (because you should always check your produce before buying) and of course the sound, and because it is Barcelona it is quite noisy! All of this is testament to the freshness and quality of the produce on sale, from vegteables, seafood, meat, cheeses to the exotic fruits and fresh fruit juices. Also a testament to the quality is the fact that you will see locals mingling with holiday makers to buy their daily requirements. In the centre of Barcelona, flats and apartments are the norm for those of us who live here. We have no gardens so these markets perform a vital function for us. With many thousands of cafes and restaurants in Barcelona, the markets also help to provide the quality of food that the many holiday makers, (Short Break, City Break and every other type) who comes on a visit to Barcelona enjoy daily.
There are 43 markets in Barcelona and near our Barcelona Flats and Apartments are the most famous: La Boqueria, on La Rambla, Barceloneta, in Barceloneta and Santa Caterina across Via Laeitana from the Cathedral and very close to three of our holiday flats. Santa Caterina Market, (pictured above) was designed by Enric Miralles who also designed the Scottish Parliament. You really should make a visit to a market part of your holiday, even if you don't want to buy fresh produce. It really is part of the real Barcelona Holiday experience. If you have children, in particular, it will be a revelation to many of them to see what their fruit and vegetables, fish and chips and even their sweets should really look like.
Designer Shopping
OH-Barcelona!! How could you do this to us? Barcelona is full of designer shopping opportunities. As you can see Gucci and Chanel vie with Prada, Burberry, Luis Vuitton, Hermes and many others, mainly on the Paseo de Gracia. If you look a little bit harder you can find Baby Dior mixing with (not so well known out of Spain but still very much a designer name) is Tous (pronounced To-eu-s). The Tous symbol is a teddy bear and is available as a necklace, on handbags, perfumes and even on your skis! For those on holiday from Northern Europe it is a great designer shopping experience because of the quality but also because it makes a great present for those at home as something really cool, but also very Barcelona. Massimo Dutti is a clothing brand which probably also qualifies as designer shopping.
One of the world's richest men has a significant part of his retailing empire here....The Zara fashion house, Bershka, Pull and Bear, Oysho and Stradivarius (as well as Massimo Dutti) are all part of the same group which was described by Louis Vuitton fashion director Daniel Piette as "possibly the most innovative and devastating retailer in the world". Not surprising when it launches some 10,000 new designs a year. The main shop is in Paseo de Gracia but to me it seems as if there are dozens of Zaras in Barcelona. The main shop is big and therefore carries a big variety of clothes.
If that isn't enough designer shopping then you can always visit the Picasso Museum and pick up something from one of the ultimate designers!
Quaint, interesting and satisfying
We have said it before but we just have to say it again. We love Barcelona. Go from Paseo de Gracia, down the hill towards the Cathedral and into the Barri Gotic and El Borne areas and you will see and feel a whole different way of shopping. For many holiday makers it proves to be a real antidote to the 'big is beautiful', out of town shopping complexes that we see in Northern Europe, Here in the higgeldy piggedly streets of El Borne you will find all sorts of shops catering to all types of taste. Gone are the department stores (although there is only really one department store, El Corte Ingles, in Barcelona), replaced my a myriad of little shops.
Individual, and indeed perhaps unique, shopping here is made all the more enjoyable by the fact that you do not know what you will find around the next corner, in the next square or even on the street. Generally of high quality, you have to go and do this yourself to understand the experience. One tip, though, remember to take the street name, and even mark it on your map, if you decide not to make a purchase straight away. We know how frustrating it can be not to re-find the shop with that perfect holiday present in amongst the many El Borne streets.
And of course, don't forget the open air shopping. There are plenty of places in Barcelona where open air shopping is available. Some areas include the Sagrada Familia, the Old Port and Portal Angel. Remember, that as you are on holiday, to intersperse your shopping with a well deserved break at one of the many cafes that intertwine with the shopping in the quaint parts of town. From a bocadillo to tapas you will find a cafe or restaurant willing to provide you with nourishment to keep you going whilst you are shopping. Often on a terrace or pavement you will start to come to understand why there is such a cafe culture in Barcelona!
Remember Barcelona Shopping Times
Shops do not open until 10.00am. This being Barcelona they close again around 13.00/14.00 for lunch and reopen again at 16.00/17.00 and often stay open to 20.00 and some will even stay open until 22.00. The large shops such as Zara and El Corte Ingles will stay open over lunch. Sunday shopping is restricted and festivals and fiestas are generally respected by shops in Barcelona.
Good value or Great value
Designer shopping is designer shopping the World over. However, for lots of other items the costs in Barcelona should not break your holiday budget, especially if you have booked an apartment. in Barcelona with Barcelona Flats. The cost of living here is less expensive than Northern Europe (except accommodation) and wages are also much lower. As a result, unbelievably, we have seen clothes with tags on showing a Spain and Portugese price and with different more expensive prices on the SAME tag. As all prices are in Euros it is easy to see that companies charge more in Northern Europe. Some clothes are very good value and you could easily fill your holiday suitcase with clothes for your return
Barcelona Flats :: Apartments in Barcelona :: Flats in Barcelona :: Barcelona Apartments
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Here is a selection of our holiday flats and apartments for rent in Barcelona. Point at the picture to find the number of holiday apartment bedrooms and to view more accommodation details. Double click on the picture of the holiday apartment in Barcelona to go straight to rent apartment. | |
