Top 10 Shopping Tips
-
1. Opening Hours
Most stores are open 10am to 2pm and 4:30pm to 8pm Monday to Saturday. Department stores and other large shops don’t close at lunch time.
-
2. Sales
Barcelona’s big sales (rebaixes ) come twice a year, from 1 July to the end of August and from 7 January until the end of February.
-
3. Reclaiming VAT
Non-EU citizens can claim an IVA (VAT) refund on most purchases over €90 when they leave Spain. Shops displaying the tax-free logo will provide a tax-refundable receipt, which you present before checking-in on departure. IVA (VAT) of 16 per cent (7 per cent on food) is included in the advertised price. IVA for hotels is 7 per cent, which is not always included in the price.
-
4. Leather
Leather items are a good buy in Spain and are of high quality. There are good shoe stores on Carrer Portal de l’Àngel, Carrer Pelai, Rambla de Catalunya and Passeig de Gràcia. Loewe and Kastoria sell quality leather goods.
-
5. Antiques
Antiques aficionados will be richly rewarded with a stroll along Carrer Banys Nous and Carrer de la Palla in the Barri Gòtic. For more antique finds, head to the Bulevard dels Antiquaris (Best Shopping Areas) on Passeig de Gràcia, home to over 60 antiques and arts shops. The antique markets, including the Mercat dels Antiquaris (Mercat dels Antiquaris) and the Port Vell antique market, at weekends (10am–8pm), are also worth a browse.
-
6. Clothing
High-end clothing stores dot Passeig de Gràcia and Avinguda Diagonal. For trendier gear, head to Carrer Portaferrissa and Carrer Pelai. Spain’s success story is the wildly popular men’s and women’s contemporary clothing chain Zara, which is all over town (and all over Europe). Another universal favourite is Mango, targeted towards younger women, which also has branches all over the city. If you’re looking to buy local, there are a number of top-end Catalan designers, including Antonio Miró.
-
7. Sizes
Clothing sizes tend to be small in Spain. Size conversions for women’s clothing are: US/UK 6/8 is 36; 8/10 is 38; 10/12 is 40; 12/14 is 42; 14/16 is 44. For men’s clothing, the conversions are: US & UK 36 is 46; 38 is 48; 40 is 50; 42 is 52.
-
8. Music
FNAC has a vast music selection, as does the department store El Corte Inglés. Equally popular among locals are the small eclectic music shops along Carrer Tallers (Carrer Tallers & Riera Baixa). Also worth a look are the CD and vinyl music shops on nearby Carrer Riera Baixa (Carrer Tallers & Riera Baixa).
-
9. Late-night Shops
Vip’s is an all-purpose drugstore-bookstore-café, where you can buy books, gifts, beer, wine and snacks. Open Cor sells everything from fresh flowers to wrapping paper, beer and wine.
-
10. Department Stores
Barcelona’s leading department store is El Corte Inglés, which has branches across the city. You can find seemingly everything under one roof, including a supermarket and a gourmet food shop.
Advertisement
-
-
A Tour of London (with Food)
Accide
-
Paris guide
rosale
-
Firstimers Las Vegas guide
erinen
-
Munich guide
KPotvi
-
heidik's Los Angeles guide
heidik
-
-
-
GiUrsI New York guide
Giusep
-
Las Vegas guide
paulba
-
Paris guide
guydic
-
Boston guide
victor
-
Barcelona guide
cjcowb
-
-
Barcelona International Jazz FestivalAs the sizzling summer heat dies down, Barcelona chills out with the Barcelona International Jazz Festival. Big band, bebop, gospel and Latin-jazz concerts take place at venues across the city,... Read more
-
World Press PhotoThe Contemporary Culture Centre of Barcelona takes its turn at hosting the World Press Photo exhibition. Regarded as the most important display of photojournalism in the world, the award-winning... Read more
-
Procession of the Three KingsThe Cabalgata los Reyes Magos, or Procession of the Three Kings, is a popular Hispanic Christmas tradition. In Barcelona, crowds gather at the harbour steps of the Moll de Fusta to witness... Read more
-
Murder at the MuseumIf you're good at guessing the endings of crime novels, test your detective skills at Murder at the Museum. Barcelona's Museu de Ciències Naturals hosts the event, best described as a cross between... Read more











symbol, to start adding attractions to your
tailor-made travel guide.
If you were signed in, you could write a review here. Register for a free account, or if you're already a member, sign in.