It would be unheard of to miss out on shopping in this fashion
conscious city. The shops and boutiques along Passeig
de Graciathe Grand Avenue in the Eixample district,
and the area around Diagonal, the avenue that cuts
through the top of the city should keep even the most avid
shopper busy for a good few hours.
This stylish
city offers an endless display of anything that comes into
mind, from artwork to haute couture, books, jewelry, designer
furniture, antiques and leather goods. Shopping in Barcelona
will have you visiting individual stores, large department
stores, such as El Corte Ingles, FNAC, Heron City, Centre
Comercial de les Glories, Pedralbes Shopping Centre, Maremagnum
Shopping Centre
and El Triangle, among many others, and also street
markets on some of the squares around town. Barri Gotic
is a great place with many different markets including an
arts and crafts market, an antiques market, and a coin and
stamp collectors’ market, just to name a few.
For great shopping
in central Barcelona, aside from the areas already mentioned,
take a stroll down Barri Gotic streets such as Carrer
de la Portaferrissa, Carrer de la Boqueria, Carrer del Call,
Carrer de la Llibreteria and Carrer de Ferran,
and around Placa de Sant Josep Oriol. The Bulevard
Rosa arcade just north of Carrer d'Arago also
has great choices.
Opening Hours
When planning a shopping trip, remember that almost all shops
in Barcelona close at midday for at least two hours (from
around 2 PM to 4 PM) The only exceptions are large supermarkets
and the department-store chain El Corte Inglés.
Opening hours are usually around 9 AM and closing times vary
between 9 PM and 10 PM.
Sales
Be sure to keep an eye open for bargains. Sales are often
held in January, July and August as stores wish to get rid
of their winter and summer stock. Look out for these words
on shop windows: rebajas (Spanish) or rebaixes
(Catalan) – that way you’ll know their merchandise
is on sale.
