Spain Shopping
Spanish shopping is truly a fun experience. The people of Spain pride themselves on being very trendy and very up with all the latest fashion crazes. Anywhere you go in the country there is bound to be some great shopping, but obviously the bigger cities will have more to offer.
Cities like Barcelona and Madrid have extremely high-scale shops like Gucci, but also have great middle of the road stores such as Spain’s own Zara, which is full of great clothing at moderate prices! Be aware that often shops in Spain will close for a period during the middle of the day, anywhere between 1 and 4 pm.
Barcelona is probably the shopping capital of Spain. It houses over 35,000 different shops. The city is home over 5 kilometers of prime shopping called the Shopping Line. The shopping line stretches from the top of the Ramblas, through Placa de Catalunya along Passeig de Gràcia and up Avenue Diagonal. Much of the shopping line is pedestrianised, which is really great in Barcelona where the traffic can be crazy and a bit frightening. Along the shopping line you’ll find big names like Versace, Giorgio Armani, Burberry, Bally, and Cartier.
But if you are looking for something a little more uniquely Spanish don’t worry. The shopping line also houses loads of fun eclectic jewelry shops, local Spanish clothing designers, and lots more. When you go shopping in Barcelona there is a high chance that you will be able to find things that no one else in the world has, or if you want it, is a great place to purchase the Burberry handbag you’ve been eyeing. Either way, Barcelona shopping definitely has something for everyone.
Madrid may not have the same immense number of shops as Barcelona, but it does have loads of open-air markets, small shopping centers, and streets filled with eclectic shops that truly express the unique Spanish culture. The favorite can’t miss market of Madrid is El Rastro. Each Sunday morning the streets of Barrio La Latina are transformed into Europe’s largest outdoor market. The massive market is filled with stalls selling homemade clothing and unique on the main street.
Down the smaller side streets, however, are where the best finds are located. Anything from really unusual jewelry to scarves and paintings can be found at this market. Plus there are thousands of other people wandering around too, making it a fun place to people watch or to just walk around and look at all of the eclectic treasures. This is a great way to experience the culture and people of Spain!
Southern Spain, Seville, has a style all its own when it comes to shopping, and it takes it very seriously. The main shopping area in Seville is Calle Sierpes between Plazas Nueva, Magdalena, Encarnación and San Francisco. Here you can find loads of creative jewelry, home décor, the latest clothing trends, and much more. If the shops are closed it is also fun to just do some window-shopping and get a feel for what the shopping of southern Spain has to offer!