15 Best Places to Shop in Barcelona + Shopping Tips

Looking for the best places to shop in Barcelona? You’re in the right place!  

I’m a travel blogger who lives in Barcelona, so I’ve had a lot of time to explore the city’s shopping scene and find some really cool spots around the city. 

Barcelona has a good mix of luxury boutiques, popular Spanish fashion brands, local designer shops, vintage stores, and unique markets that are worth checking out. 

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the best places to shop in Barcelona so you can plan out the best shopping spots to visit during your trip.

I’ll also share a few important Barcelona shopping tips, including how you can save a lot of money with the VAT refund while shopping in Spain.

Starting at the top of the list of best shopping in Barcelona has to be El Born!

This historic neighborhood is super cute and known for its boutiques selling handmade clothing, shoes, handbags, artwork, jewelry, and more.

Almost all the stores here are locally-owned so this is the best Barcelona shopping district if you want to support small businesses and bring home some unique Barcelona souvenirs.

A good place to start is along Carrer de la Princesa, where you can find unique art galleries, vintage hat shops, and classic cafes.

Here are some of my favorite Barcelona shops in El Born worth checking out:

• Atelier Madre: This leather goods store has become TikTok famous and sells high-quality custom leather bags, purses, wallets, and more. The bags are more expensive but the leather is locally sourced, everything is handmade in the store, and many items are completely customizable.

• Mercilona: With a couple of locations in El Born, Mercilona is a super cute shop for Barcelona souvenirs. It’s decorated in pinks and pastels and sells Barcelona-themed jewelry, artwork, coasters, and more. I really like their jewelry with the Barcelona flower.

• Maison Cactus: This quirky art gallery has some of the most funny and colorful pieces in Barcelona. It’s located in a cute alleyway and worth checking out even if you don’t plan on buying anything.

• Metro Cuadrado: This cute boutique sells handmade clothing, jewelry, accessories, and home items that are really unique.

• Re-Cuir: This shop sells handmade leather goods including purses, clutches, wallets, tote bags, belts, and more.

The Gothic Quarter is another must-visit shopping area in Barcelona, which is located right next to El Born.

This historic neighborhood has narrow cobblestone streets lined with beautiful architecture, as well as a mix of traditional and trendy shops.

It’s a great place to just wander around and you’ll find everything from vintage clothing to handmade souvenir stores here.

Plus, there are tons of cute cafes and restaurants to take a break and people-watch while you shop.

Here are some top Gothic Quarter shopping spots:

• Sabater: This historic shop sells handmade soaps in a variety of colors and scents. Some are imprinted with the Barcelona flower and they also sell cute gift sets where you can mix and match.

• Curtidos Garcia: This leather goods shop sells customizable leather belts, where you can choose different buckles and sizes.

• Cereria Subirà: This is the oldest candle shop in Barcelona, and they sell all kinds of handmade candles in different shapes and sizes, including quirky fruit and vegetable-shaped candles and more.

Avenida del Portal de l’Angel is one of the most popular shopping areas in Barcelona, with a mix of local and international stores.

It’s right up the street from Barcelona Cathedral, and it’s one of the best places to shop in Barcelona for clothes.

Here you’ll find Barcelona clothing stores like Zara, Mango, Pull & Bear, Stradivarius, Primark, Brandy Melville, and more.

It can get really crowded here, so make sure to keep a close on your personal belongings and use a phone leash to avoid pickpockets.

Tip: There’s another Zara store located just north of here at the corner of Plaza Cataluyna, which has beautiful interior architecture and is the biggest Zara in Barcelona!

Once you pass through Plaça de Catalunya, La Rambla turns into Rambla de Catalunya, which has a much more local and upscale feel.

This is one of the best places to shop in Barcelona if you’re looking for clothing from local Barcelona brands instead of the typical international chains.

Some of my favorite stores here are Alohas, Yerse, eseOese, and La Comet.

The prices are a little higher than places like Zara or Mango, but you’re paying for pieces that feel more unique and locally designed.

There’s also a pedestrian walkway running down the middle of the street lined with restaurants and cafes, so it’s a really nice area to spend an afternoon shopping and grabbing lunch or a coffee.

5. Girona Street

If you want to do some outlet shopping, head to Girona Street in the nearby Eixample neighborhood.

This shopping street in Barcelona doesn’t have a ton of stores, but the most popular one is the Mango Outlet.

This is one of my favorite outlet stores and you can find discounted prices on Mango clothing, shoes, and accessories.

Plus, there’ a few other Spanish designer outlet stores for clothes shopping in Barcelona as well.

El Corte Inglés is Spain’s leading department store chain and the one in Plaça Catalunya is the most popular one in Barcelona.

The US equivalent would probably be Macy’s and you can find everything here from designer clothing to household items, furniture, electronics, souvenirs, and more.

There’s even a grocery store and gourmet market on the bottom floor with tons of Spanish food items like ham, cheese, wine, and more.

There are tons of floors to navigate so I’d recommend asking for directions at the reception desk once you arrive if you’re looking for something in particular.

Passeig de Gracia is where you’ll find the best luxury shopping in Barcelona, with high-end designer stores and flagship stores for major brands like Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Gucci, Prada, and more.

Even if you’re not planning on buying anything, I still think it’s worth taking a stroll down this Barcelona shopping street to see the architecture and window displays.

You can find some more affordable brands like Zara, H&M, Bershka, Stradivarius, Mango, and Uniqlo here as well.

Plus, Passeig de Gracia is where you’ll find Casa Batlló and Casa Milà, two famous Gaudi-designed buildings that are definitely worth visiting if you’re in the area.

Tip: In the basement of Stradivarius on Passeig de Gracia, you’ll find an old bank vault from the Central Bank, which is one of the best hidden gems in Barcelona.

Located right on the water in Barcelona’s Port Vell, Maremagnum is a popular shopping center with nice views of the harbor.

You’ll have to walk over a wooden bridge to reach it and once you’re there, you’ll find a mix of stores including fashion, beauty, electronics, books, and more.

Here you’ll find more mainstream stores like Bershka, Stradivarius, Desigual, and Claire’s, as well as some tourist shops selling souvenirs.

They also have a nice food court with the Time Out Market and some pop-up restaurants and bars on the top floor.

Tip: Maremagnum is one of the only Barcelona shopping malls open on Sundays!

If you’re looking for a traditional shopping mall experience, head to L’illa Mall Diagonal near the Les Corts neighborhood.

It’s a little bit further away from the main tourist areas, but it’s one of the largest shopping malls in Barcelona.

Here you’ll find over 170 stores, including name brands like Primark, Mango, Lacoste, and Nike. They also have lesser-known Spanish brands like Hoff, Bimba y Lola, and more.

Plus, there’s a great food court with restaurants to relax at after your shopping spree.

Westfield Glories is another popular shopping mall in Barcelona, located in the Poblenou neighborhood.

It’s smaller than L’illa Mall Diagonal but still has a mix of international and local stores, including H&M, Zara Home, Uniqlo, Stradivarius, Bershka, Hollister, and more.

It’s an outdoor mall and they also have a ferris wheel and movie theater on site. There’s also an underground area with more stores as well.

For a unique shopping experience, head to the flea market at Els Encants.

This is a permanent flea market under metal canopies with vendors selling antiques, vintage clothing, and quirky finds.

To be honest, some of the stuff can feel a little junky at first but if you dig a little deeper you can usually score some good finds.

The market is open on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, so plan your visit accordingly.

Of course, no visit to Barcelona is complete without a trip to the famous La Boqueria Market.

Not only is it a great place to try some of the most famous foods in Barcelona, but you can also find fresh produce, meats, seafood, and more for cooking at home.

It’s one of the best markets in Barcelona, and there are also stalls selling spices, saffron, candies, sweets, and other Spanish souvenirs.

Just be prepared for crowds and slightly higher prices since it’s really popular with tourists.

If you love outlet stores and are willing to travel a bit, then you need to check out La Roca Village.

This luxury outlet mall is located about 30 minutes away from Barcelona by car and offers discounts on designer brands like Burberry, Gucci, Prada, Versace, Coach, Jimmy Choo, and more.

They also have a good selection of Spanish brands like Bimba y Lola and Hoff.

Plus, the village itself is designed to look like a traditional Catalan town with beautiful architecture and outdoor spaces to relax in between shopping sprees.

Tip: If you don’t have a car, you can take the Sagales bus to La Roca Village from Estacio del Nord.

Arenas de Barcelona is another unique shopping center, located in an old bullfighting arena that has been converted into a modern shopping mall.

It’s located close to Plaza Espanya and Montjuic, so it’ makes a great’s a good pitstop after exploring those areas.

Here you’ll find a mix of international and local stores, including Mango, Desigual, Sephora, and more.

They also have a rooftop terrace with panoramic views of the city where you can grab a bite to eat or drink after shopping.

Diagonal Mar is another popular shopping center in Barcelona, located near the beach in the Sant Marti neighborhood.

They have a mix of clothing and accessory stores, as well as an Alcampo supermarket and a cinema complex.

There’s also a good amount of restaurants and cafes to choose from for a quick bite or sit-down meal.

If you’re looking for more thrift shopping options, Barcelona also has a great selection of thrift and vintage stores.

Here are some of the best shops in Barcelona for vintage items:

• Humana: This thrift store chain is kind of similar to Goodwill in the US and has multiple locations throughout Barcelona. They sell a wide selection of second-hand clothing at really affordable prices. A lot of times you can find name brand items from Zara or Mango for a lot less money.

• Cotton Vintage: This high-end vintage shop sells designer and luxury items from brands like Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Dior, and more.

• Flamingos Vintage: This store is pay-per-kilo and a good spot for vintage American clothing like cowboy boots, sportswear, and t-shirts.

• Moirai Market: Located in El Born, this shop is really well-curated with the coolest vintage items and second-hand pieces.

• Urban Vintage: This vintage shop is located on Carrer dels Tallers, which is a great street with a lot of unique vintage stores.

• Le Swing: This vintage shop is really cool on the inside and is a good value shop for fashion lovers.

Here are a few important tips to make the most of your Barcelona shopping experience:

• Take advantage of the VAT Refund: If you’re a non-EU resident, you can receive a refund on the VAT (value-added tax) for retail purchases. You’ll need to have your passport on hand and make sure to ask for a tax-free form at the register at the time of purchase. Then at the airport, you’ll need to go to the Tax Refund counter and present your forms to process the refund. They may ask to see the items you purchased so it’s best to go there before checking your bag and going through security.

• Pay in Euros: When paying with a US credit card in Barcelona, you’ll likely be asked on the credit card machine whether to pay in Euros or USD. Always pay in Euros as you will save money on the exchange rate.

• Use a credit card with no foreign transaction fees: If you’re paying with a credit card, make sure to use a credit card with no foreign transaction fees. I personally use the Chase Sapphire Preferred card which has some amazing travel perks.

• Keep a close eye on your belongings: While Barcelona is generally a safe city, make sure to keep a very close eye on your personal belongings at all times. The crowded Barcelona shopping areas can be a hotspot for pickpockets so make sure to use a crossbody purse or belt bag along with a phone leash.

• Don’t plan shopping on Sundays: Most major retail stores are closed on Sundays in Barcelona, so make sure to plan your shopping excursions for other days of the week. Maremagnum is one of the only shopping malls open on Sundays.

• Take advantage of sales seasons: If you’re looking for some great deals, plan your trip during the annual sales seasons in Barcelona known as “Rebajas”. The winter sales start in January and the summer sales start in July. And don’t miss out on the Black Friday sales in November.

I hope this guide has helped you figure out where to shop in Barcelona!

One of my favorite things about shopping in Barcelona is that every neighborhood feels a little different.

You’ll find everything from luxury stores and well known Spanish brands to small Barcelona boutiques and vintage shops hidden away on quieter streets.

If I had to recommend one area to start with, I’d probably say El Born since it has such a fun mix of independent stores, jewelry shops, and vintage finds.

But honestly, half the fun is just wandering around the city and popping into shops in Barcelona that catch your eye.

Happy shopping!

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