Shopping in Barcelona

By Jo Cooke
Published: July 18, 2024
Cropped image of two women wearing bright Desigual clothes against blue background

 

Sights, sunshine... whilst there’s no shortage of reasons to visit the cosmopolitan capital of Catalonia, shopping in Barcelona is pretty high on the list. As well as being home to some of the best markets in Europe, the city boasts one of the biggest open-air shopping routes. The Barcelona Shopping Line covers five whole kilometers of retail paradise, winding from Port Vell to uptown Diagonal, along La Rambla, through the historic centre and into the Eixample district. So whether you’re a determined shopaholic, a savvy souvenir hunter or simply browsing in between gazing at Gaudi’s architectural masterpieces, you might want to save some room in your suitcase. From bijou boutiques to big name brands, discount designer-wear to the locals’ favourite deli, let us help you pack your bags...with bargains!

Best markets in Barcelona

Barcelona’s markets are famous the world over with food, fruit and vegetables, art, books and bric-a-brac piled high for your delight. Why not join the Ancient Markets Walking Tour to drop in on a few of them, whilst exploring the ancient streets of the Barrio Gótico (Gothic Quarter)?

 

Mercat de la Boqueria

Barcelona’s famous market, La Boqueria, is a must-do destination for visitors. Enter through its distinctive Art Deco arch from La Rambla and your senses go into overdrive. Crowds of locals and tourists jostle amid rainbow fruit and vegetable displays, brightly coloured smoothies, open-mouthed fish, zingy spices and mountains of meat, cheese, chocolate and much more. Once you’ve selected your savoury souvenirs - or picked up perfect picnic ingredients - perhaps you’ll pause at one of the food trucks for a churro dipped in hot chocolate or a chilled glass of Cava?

 

Mercat de Sant Antoni

Over in the Eixample District, outside stalls sell clothes and homewares whilst, housed in an impressive steel structure that spans an entire block, you’ll find more tempting displays of fresh fruit, veg, meat and seafood. On Sundays the market transforms into a magnet for memorabilia collectors - second-hand books, stamps, coins, comics and magazines are all on offer, alongside vintage clothing, handmade homewares and hand-crafted jewellery.

 

Mercat dels Encants

Meanwhile, at Barcelona’s famous flea market, remember that one person’s trash is another’s treasure! Amid the random rubbish keep your eyes peeled for gems amongst the second hand clothes, books and especially furniture. This chaotic temple of sustainability is open Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Get there early for the best bargains at the 8am auctions, then pop back at midday when unsold items are reduced!

Mercadillo de la Plaça de Sant Josep

If you’re in the market (see what we did there) for some art to remind you of the beauty of Barcelona, this small but perfectly formed market is made up of Catalan artists, their easels nestled in the shadow of the church. From watercolours to oils, their work covers every style and medium - and sometimes they are joined by musicians or fortune-tellers to add to the boho vibe. Go see.

 

Best shopping streets in Barcelona

Of course, if sifting through stalls is not your scene there are many, many stupendous stores! But where to start? Here’s a retail rundown of some of Barcelona’s best shopping areas for high street names, designer boutiques and more besides.

Plaza de Catalunya is not only the city’s main square and meeting point but a buzzy retail hub. Just off the square, Calle Pelai is packed with fashion stores, whilst a giant neon thermometer hanging over Portal del Angel shows you it’s a shopping hot-spot for European fashion chains including Zara, Pull & Bear, Benetton, H&M and Berska. Look out for quirky independent stores too - and delicious snacks including turrón (a kind of nougat) and artisan ice-cream.

 

Paseo de Gràcia (Passeig de Gràcia in Catalan) is one of Barcelona’s most elegant promenades, home to both designer stores and high street names, as well as distinctive Art Nouveau buildings including Antoni Gaudi’s visionary Casa Batlló and Casa Milà.

Running parallel, the equally lively Rambla de Catalunya is also packed with high end stores - not only clothes but beauty products, electronics and unique furniture. Both streets run into Avenida Diagonal, the place to be for international luxury brands including Calvin Klein, Armani, Versace and Gucci.

 

To the south of La Rambla, the Raval district is popular with those seeking alternative shops. Vintage lovers should head to Calle Riera Baixia and look out for ethnic, Goth and handmade clothes on Calle Tallers. Nearby Sant Antoni sees less tourists but boasts some of the best book shops in Barcelona.

For the best boho vibe however, head to the oldest parts of the city. The narrow winding streets of El Born and the Barrio Gòtic are packed with not only upmarket stores but independent shops selling antiques, books, handmade clothes, hats, cutlery and gifts galore.

 

Best for designer bargains

Barcelona is full of big name brands but to bag some at a fraction of the usual price you’ll need to hop on the bus to La Roca Village, part of the same outlet group as London’s famous Bicester Village. This fantastic designer mall, just 30 minutes from the centre, is designed to look like a Spanish town centre, with Gaudi-style mosaics and colourful plants but savvy shoppers come for the discounts not the decor, enjoying savings of up 60% off usual retail prices. Grab your credit card and run amok in almost one thousand boutique stores featuring Spanish fashion and luxury brands like Desigual, Loewe and Balenciaga - and international names including Prada, Burberry, Gucci and Jimmy Choo.

 

Best shops for souvenirs

FC Botiga

Since FC Barcelona is one of the world’s biggest football teams, fans won’t want to miss their chance to pick up memorabilia featuring the famous red and blue colours.

Take the tour at Camp Nou, Europe’s largest football stadium, then visit the FC Botiga Megastore to pick up and personalize some team kit. You’ll find three whole floors crammed with Barcelona football shirts, scarves, hats, balls, boots and signed team photos. There are several more official FC Barcelona stores around the city, including in Barri Gòtic and Eixample. See what you can score.

La Capell

Part of the Collegi de Arquitectes in the Gothic Quarter and originally opened as a bookstore dedicated to architecture and art, this is now a fabulous three-storey gift store of uniquely designed souvenirs from Barcelona. The mural outside was designed by Picasso and the gadgets, toys, jewellery, stationery, furniture, homeware and gourmet gifts inside are equally original.

 

Best for chocolate lovers

From handcrafted bon bons to hot chocolate to churros and even a chocolate museum, Barcelona is heaven for chocolate lovers. Pasteleria Escriba is one of the most famous chocolate shops in Barcelona. Its flagship store in the Antigua Casa Figueras has been open on La Rambla since 1906 and its edible murals, chocolate sculptures and spectacular displays are as intricate and popular as the building’s unique facade.

Xocoa

For a more contemporary take on chocolate follow your nose to over 15 Xocoa boutiques around the city. At Petritxol Xocoa, the original store in the old city, you’ll find a cafe, bakery and endless irresistible creations presented in super chic packaging. Look out for chocolate beauty products, exotically flavoured chocolate bars including orange, rosemary, Jamaican pepper and green tea and, even better, chocolate beer!

 

Best department store

If you still don’t know where to find what you’re looking for, make tracks for El Cortes Inglés; after all it’s hard to miss the huge brutalist concrete building looming over the Plaça de Catalunya. It’s much prettier inside though, with 9 endless floors of...well everything you can think of... from fashion to furniture, kitchenware to a cosmetics floor to die for. You’ll either find just what you need or, should you be overwhelmed by the sheer scale of availability, maybe just take the lift to the top floor, enjoy the view of the square and plan where you’ll go next - with Go City.

Jo Cooke
Go City Travel Expert

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Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art or Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (MNAC) Comparison

Barcelona ain’t no shrinking violet when it comes to great art. This, after all, is a city that nurtured the work of Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró and Pablo Picasso, all of whom are of course well represented in the city’s galleries and museums. But you need only wander the atmospheric streets to catch a glimpse of the good stuff, from edgy Poblenou street art to the eye-popping Gaudí architecture that characterizes Eixample and its most celebrated building, the mighty Sagrada Família. Aficionados of fine art will likely also have the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art and Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya on their lists. But what does each have to offer? We take a close-up look in our MACBA vs MNAC comparison. Read on for the gen… Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art: The Lowdown Vital Statistics: Opened in 1995, MACBA is Barcelona’s premier museum of contemporary art, a great white sugar cube of a building located in El Raval neighborhood, a few blocks from the fabulous Gothic Quarter. The permanent collection of 5,000 works is exhibited across 45,000 square feet of gallery space, attracting over 300,000 visitors every year. MACBA in Brief: Aficionados of post-war art, particularly of the Spanish and Catalan variety, will find much to admire at the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art. Here’s where you can ogle iconic pieces by the likes of Picasso, Joan Miró and Juan Muñoz across several themed zones, as well as taking in rotating exhibitions celebrating experimental works by established and emerging international artists like Alexander Calder, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and the Guerrilla Girls. The MACBA building is something of a contemporary art icon itself; a modern, minimal Richard Meir-designed space with white walls, clean lines and plenty of natural light, that allows the artworks to speak for themselves. Don’t miss the striking central courtyard and the skateboarders out front, who are as much a part of the furniture here as the eye-popping art inside. Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya: The Lowdown Vital Statistics: An extraordinary collection spanning some 1,000 years of Catalan art, MNAC has been operating since 1934 here at the Palau Nacional, an Italianate confection high on Montjuïc hill that's almost as spectacular as the 300,000-strong collection it houses. At 113,000 square feet, it’s well over twice the size of MACBA, and pulls in close to a million annual visitors. MNAC in Brief: The Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (aka the National Art Museum of Catalonia; aka MNAC) is perhaps the planet’s best museum if you’re in the market for an overview of Catalan art across the centuries. We’re talking everything from thousand-year-old Romanesque church murals to medieval Gothic art, Baroque and Renaissance masterpieces, and works from the likes of Titian, Canaletto, Velázquez, Gaudí and more. Again, the building housing the collection only adds to the appeal, with a central dome inspired by St Peter's Basilica and a quartet of towers that nod to the architecture of Santiago de Compostela Cathedral. MACBA: Highlights & What to Expect The gallery spaces at MACBA really allow the art to shine, and it’s rarely so busy that you’re trying to glimpse that elusive Miró masterpiece over a sea of heads. The collection is also helpfully arranged into zones covering three distinct periods of modern art: the forties to the sixties, the sixties and seventies, and the contemporary period. The focus here is primarily on post-1945 Catalan and Spanish art, although some international artists are also represented, especially at rotating exhibitions which are well advertised on the official museum website. Highlights of the permanent collection include: Joan Miró’s ‘Oiseau’ sculptures are something of a centerpiece of MACBA: a mind-boggling collection of stylized heads, birds and other characters in bronze and terracotta. ‘Sterno’ is a celebrated 1985 piece by Neo-expressionist artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. His homage to Afro-American cultural heroes features the intense brushstrokes and voodoo images that characterize his work. Spanish artist Ignasi Aballí pushes the boundaries of contemporary art with an approach that uses multiple layers of varnish and correction fluid to ‘suggest the presence of a painting rather than show the painting directly’. ‘Gran Error’ (‘Big Mistake’) is a thought-provoking case in point. Pro-tip: entry to MACBA is free after 4PM on Saturdays. You can also save money on entry with a Barcelona pass from Go City, which includes access to MACBA and many more attractions, activities and tours around the city, including Gaudí’s Casa Batlló, a guided tour of the Sagrada Família, and more. Find out more about the pass and buy yours here. MNAC: Highlights & What to Expect  There’s plenty more to see inside once you’re done gazing in awe at the soaring domes and Romanesque towers of the Palau Nacional’s stunning exterior – as well as the sweeping city views from atop Montjuïc hill. Weekday mornings are generally the best time to visit, especially outside of the summer season, when you’re far more likely to get to view the collection’s highlights unimpeded by fellow tourists. And oh, what highlights await within, such as… The Romanesque collection is perhaps the best and most important on the planet, an absolute treasure trove of Catalonian religious art from the 11th and 12th centuries, taking in frescoes, murals, stone carvings, intricately detailed wood panels and more. If you only see one piece, make it the ‘Apse of Sant Climent de Taull’, a colorful wall mural by the Master of Taull, one of 12th-century Europe’s absolute legends of Romanesque art. A key influence on Picasso, it’s quite the sight, and has been lovingly transferred onto a replica of its original apse at MNAC, for maximum authenticity. It may not look very comfortable, but Gaudí’s double sofa is a fine example of his lesser-spotted interior design work. Made for his Casa Batlló, it eschews right angles and straight lines in favor of ascending to the status of design icon. It’s displayed with the Modern Art Collection, alongside classical sculpture by Damià Campeny, landscape paintings by Joaquim Vayreda and much more. The Mural paintings of the Conquest of Majorca is effectively the Catalan Bayeux Tapestry, and its series of frescoes representing the titular 13th-century conquest dominates the museum’s Gothic art section. Not to be missed. Pro-tip: admission to MNAC is free after 3PM on Saturdays and on the first Sunday of each month. You can book tickets for these as well as paid entry slots here. Save on Attractions, Tours and Activities in Barcelona Save money on Barcelona attractions, tours and activities with a pass from Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
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Things to do in The Gothic Quarter Barcelona

Vacationing in Barcelona this year? Why not sample the cultural delights of the city's Gothic Quarter? There are so many things to do in Barcelona's older areas, so get reading and get picking! Here's our guide to the best things to do in the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona. Including: Check out the Cathedral Take a walking tour of the area A taste of the Jewish Quarter Eating out Watering holes and more! Cathedral de Barcelona Let's kick off this historical and cultural extravaganza with one of Barcelona's most grandiose landmarks. Barcelona Cathedral, or 'Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia' to its friends, is a gothic cathedral that towers over the Gothic Quarter like some kind of cathedral. Dedicated to one of the two patron saints of Barcelona, Eulalia of Barcelona, who it's said became a martyr during the Roman occupation of the city. Both outside and in, it's hard to deny its beauty. After you've admired all that Middle Ages architecture, you can head to the top of the cloister for some of the best views in the city. Just make sure you're on your best behavior when you visit. As one of Catalonia's most sacred places, any hijinks will be heavily frowned upon. Oh, and dress appropriately. God doesn't like skin on show, it seems. Gothic Quarter Walking Tour If you want to get your bearings, explore the Gothic Quarter, and learn all about its history, why not take a guided tour? With over 2000 years of history dripping from each corner of the neighborhood, you'll need a well-versed guide to make the most of it! Learn about the Plaza del Rey and its Palace of Viceroy, as well as the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Mar. Walk up the bustling Ramblas and sample the Catalan delicacies within the famous Boqueria Market. We recommend tucking into some cured Iberian ham, paired with a refreshing glass of cava. But really, all of the market's offerings are available to you, so pick what you please. Not only will this tour give you the lay of the land, but you'll pass plenty of hidden bars and local restaurants you can go back to once the tour's concluded. Easily one of the best things to do in The Gothic Quarter of Barcelona, especially for newbies! Old Jewish Quarter Experience The Jewish have a rich history in Barcelona, dating back hundreds of years. In fact, there's a neighborhood of the city named after them. Why not take your exploration of the past into the future with a 3D Virtual Reality Tour of the Old Jewish Quarter? Head to the "Call Barcelona Shop" and take a trip back to the Golden Age. Exchange your voucher at the meeting point to visit the Major Synagogue, the oldest one in Spain, and learn about its history. Then, use the self-guided map to explore the Jewish Quarter's most remarkable sites. Plaça Sant Felip Neri As with many locales, some of the best cultural landmarks can be found off the beaten path. So take the road less traveled by tourists, and visit Plaça Sant Felip Neri. It's a residential square that may seem pretty eventless but, in fact, is quite the opposite. During the Second World War, a bomb detonated in the Plaça Sant Felip Neri, killing 42 people, most of whom were children. In fact, you can still see the shrapnel damage present at the bottom of the nearby church's walls. Nowadays, this cozy area has a fountain, school, and a hotel with an upmarket restaurant inside. How things have changed. Plaça de la Generalitat While you're in the area, why not check out the beating heart of Barcelona's political scene? At the Plaça de la Generalitat, you'll find Barcelona's City Hall, as well as the Catalan government palace. On Sundays, you can even venture into City Hall and explore it for yourself. And, if you're lucky, you may catch a group dance performance or other types of street performers in the big square in front of the building. Grab a bite to eat If all that exploring has given you hunger prangs, then you're in luck. Barcelona's Gothic Quarter has some fantastic restaurants to discover. At L'Antic Bocoi del Gòtic, you can chow down on delicious authentic Catalan dishes made with locally-sourced produce from the nearby markets. Sitting down to eat within its stone walls is quite the delight. Or, if you're in the market for Tapas, head to Gourmet Sensi. With a wide variety of tapas dishes featuring meat, fish, or vegan options, as well as the welcoming, English-speaking staff, it's a great place to sit for a bite to eat if you don't want to embarrass yourself with your broken Spanglish. Alternatively, if you'd rather go meat-free, check out La Cereria. Tucked away off the beaten path, you'll find a world of vegetarian and vegan delights waiting to be sampled, all surrounded by the quirky decor and a brilliant drinks menu. And get a drink while you're at it! And if you want a nightcap to put a bow on the evening, or simply want to explore the Gothic Quarter's brilliant bar scene, check out our recommendations below! If you're in the mood for a snug, romantic cocktail bar, check out Sub Rosa. This cozy joint has fashionable red lighting, a Mediterranean take on speakeasy decor, and a host of well-made cocktails to choose from. If you want something a little bigger, louder, and less refined, go visit Bar Manchester. This British-themed bar has a whole host of cheap beers on draft, happy hour deals, and a playlist of 80s and 90s British indie rock on rotation. And finally, if you like a little entertainment with your drinks, head to Craft Barcelona. Along with bar snacks and a burgeoning beer menu, you can also sit down and enjoy live music from local artists, as well as the occasional comedy show if you fancy a tickle. And that's our guide to the best things to do in The Gothic Quarter of Barcelona!
Dom Bewley
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Things to do in Barcelona for Adults

  Family holidays can be fun. It’s great to share new places and experiences with young children and teenagers too. But sometimes...whether you’re planning a friends’ weekend away, a romantic city break, a solo sojourn, or a group holiday... sometimes we all just need a little... grown-up time. Foodies, fun-seekers, hipsters or history buffs need look no further for the best things to do in Barcelona, as we bring you adult activities where you can kick back, knowing, on this trip at least, there’s no kids allowed!   Best beer in Barcelona? Let’s raise a glass to the best adult activities in Barcelona and begin our adventures at the Estrella Damm brewery tour. Learn about the origins of Spain’s oldest brewery where beer is still brewed to the original 1876 recipe. Visit the Kettle Room, the Power Generating Room and the Historical Archive and, best of all, sample four refreshing Mediterranean beers. Cheers! (or Salud! - as they say in Spain.)   Get a taste for tapas Keep on tickling your tastebuds with some delicious traditional treats as you hunt for the best tapas in Barcelona. One of the most popular is a Bomba, a fried potato croquette with meat filling, served with salsa brava (spicy tomato sauce) or alioli (garlic sauce). And you can’t go wrong with patatas bravas or salty Padron peppers. It’s more usual in Barcelona however to snack on pintxos (or pinchos), originating in the Basque country but equally popular in Catalonia. What’s the difference between pintxos and tapas? Whilst tapas is usually a small portion of a main dish, served on a plate to be shared and eaten with cutlery, pinchos tend to be a small snack speared onto a piece of bread with a cocktail stick. The word pincho comes from the verb ‘pinchar’, which means ‘to pierce’. These tiny delicious snacks are intended to be enjoyed with a beer or wine whilst you socialise and chat with friends. Spanish waiters keep track of what you owe from the number of cocktail sticks left on your plate.   Why not take a tour of the Gothic Quarter with pintxos tasting to enjoy sight-seeing and snacks too? Explore the narrow streets and peaceful squares of this ancient district that, by night, transforms into one of Barcelona’s funkiest hang-outs. See Roman ruins, learn about important figures in the city’s history (including the intriguingly named Wilfredo the Hairy) and, at the end, a local guide will lead you to a cosy bar for your pintxos and a well-earned drink.   Discover Barcelona architecture Time to sober up and get serious? Though, in fact, whilst looking at buildings sounds a seriously grown-up pursuit, it’s really pretty fun in Barcelona! From grand Gothic to colourful avant-garde, few other cities blend the old and the new quite so successfully. A Barcelona architecture tour can take you from the largest Art Nouveau building in the world (former hospital Sant Pau Recinte Modernista) to the best Gaudi buildings, including the awe-inspiring Sagrada familia. Drink in the detail of its famous facades, then wend your way to Paseo de Gracia (Passeig de Gràcia in Catalan) to admire the modernist madness of Casa Battló and Casa Mila (otherwise known as La Pedrera).   Best shopping in Barcelona As well as Gaudi architecture, this famous Barcelona shopping street is also home to designer stores and high street names. Happily it’s only one of many places across the city where you can shop, shop, shop, unencumbered by kids. Hit Avenida Diagonal for international luxury brands or Portal del Angel for European fashion chains. And whether you’re looking for for bijou boutiques or big name brands, bookshops or boho independents, you can lose yourself for hours in the winding streets of El Born and the Barrio Gòtic. For designer bargains, hopping aboard the bus to La Roca Village, just outside the city, can see you enjoying savings of up to 60% off usual prices on luxury brands like Desigual, Loewe and Balenciaga and international names including Prada, Burberry, Gucci and Jimmy Choo. Ker-ching!   Bike to the beach With no children to slow you down or worry about, grab a helmet and jump on your bike to get a whole new view of the city, as fast or slow as you fancy. Barcelona boasts over 150km of cycle paths and if you join an experienced guide for a Barcelona bike tour you’ll get to see all the best bits. Whizz through the old town and the Raval neighborhood, pedal your way to another picture of the Sagrada Familia, wheel through the Olympic Village and cruise down to the vibrant harbour at Port Vell. Then park your bike and take a break on Barceloneta beach, looking over the sparkling Mediterranean.   Swish around on a Segway An even more exciting way to travel on two wheels is to sign up for a Barcelona Segway Tour in the picturesque Parc de la Ciutadella. After a briefing on how to operate your new chariot, any initial apprehension is soon overcome and you’ll soon be swooping left and right through more than 40 acres of green space, past the pretty Cascada fountain, the boating lake, Barcelona’s own Arc de Triomf and the 2,000 animal inhabitants of Barcelona zoo.   All aboard for a boat party Whilst we’re down near the waterfront why not see what’s all at sea? There are lots of ways for over-18s to make the most of the marvellous Med, from catamaran rental and daytime barbecue boat trips, to a relaxing sunset sail-boat cruise. Or ramp up the fun at a famous Barcelona boat party. Party boats sail from Port Olimpic every Thursday and Saturday in the summer months, with an onboard bar, DJ and dancefloor. Dance or drink aboard the double-deck boats, where beer, sangria or soft drinks are included in your ticket price. Boat party tickets often also include discounts on entrance and VIP packages at some of the best clubs in Barcelona, including Pacha, Opium and Catwalk.   Best clubs in Barcelona Grown-ups don’t need to worry about bedtime and those beachside clubs that stay open until 6am are among the very best Barcelona nightlife. After you’ve played all day here’s our run-down of where to party all night. Pacha needs no introduction, bringing the Ibiza experience to Barna (as the inhabitants call the city). Its sleek white interior and stunning beach view, but particularly its famous name, attract the very best international DJs. Meanwhile, EDM empire Opium has a huge beach terrace and capacity for 3,000 and is still always packed with beautiful people from around the world. On the far side of town Otto Zutz has the same classy upmarket feel as the beach clubs but without the tourists and is where the stylish locals go for hip hop, R&B, commercial and house hits. In edgy El Raval, depending on your tastes, check out techno temple Moog, or Sala Apolo which has a different vibe every night of the week, through indie, urban, pop and electronic. Sala Razzmatazz, in the industrial area of Poblenou, is Barcelona’s biggest and best known nightclub. Five rooms, featuring every type of music, play host to international DJs and acts who frequently go on to become world famous. Day or night, an Explorer Pass or All Inclusive Pass allows you to make the most of every moment. See more and do more, for less - with Go City.
Jo Cooke

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