Shoppers should beware of Spanish holidays - even in a city as modern and busy as Barcelona on public holidays you'll find some shops shut early or don't open at all.

Best Areas

Barcelona has a lot to offer the shopper with a goo mix of high street and independent stores. Most of Barcelona 's high street stores are concentrated around Plaça de Catalunya and along Portal de l'Angel, which leads into the Gothic Quarter.

If you are looking for the top-end high street stores and designer wear then head to Passeig de Gracia and its surrounding streets.  Not only are there plenty of boutiques, you will also find an abundance of interior design stores and expensive toyshops.

If you prefer the easy option and like all your shops contained under one roof, then try Maremagnum which has range of high street favourites as well as street wear labels such as Quiksilver. The shiny edifice sits in Port Vell.

El Corte Ingles is the main department store and a local landmark, selling just about everything. They have three stores dotted around the city centre; Plaça de Catalunya, Avenida Diagonal and Portal de l'Angel. 

The Gothic Quarter is brimming with small boutiques, antique shops and arts and crafts and is generally a great place to spend a few hours wandering around and you will be sure to find something a little more unique.

El Poble Espanyol situated in the Montjuic park is perfect for buying local arts and crafts, with over 40 craft workshops showing traditional and innovative design.

Markets

One of the most popular markets, especially with tourists is located on Las Ramblas.  The thoroughfare's central reservation is given over to semi-permanent and permanent stalls.  The street is broadly divided into sections according to product with the flower market and the bird market being the most colourful.

Most areas of the city have their own local food market and a visit to one of these gives you a fabulous glimpse into day-to-day life.  The largest and most accessible for tourists is La Boqueria halfway down Las Ramblas.  Check out the fish stalls to see some of the most colourful and varied produce you find on any market. 

Cathedral Square (La Seu) plays host to a small antique and art market over the summer months. Serious antique hunters will find it slightly disappointing, but most people will enjoy rummaging through the eclectic mix of art prints and other items.  On Sundays on Place del Pi local artisans gather to sell their wares and you will also find a good range of local produce such as cheese and olives.

If you have the time and the inclination to travel further a field then head to La Roca Outlet Village lying 45 minutes drive north-east of the city. It offers large discounts on mainstream fashion labels in over 60 stores. For more information on the complex Tel: +34 93-842-3939.

What to buy

Barcelona simply oozes with style and there appears to be no shortage of new ideas and design concepts in all aspects of city life. This makes it harder to decide upon one definitive souvenir that truly represents the city, but it does mean there is a wealth of art and crafts at your fingertips.

Barcelona 's museums and art galleries sell tasteful souvenirs. They also tend to stock the best postcards. Look out for art prints in the Picasso Museum shop in particular. Plates, mugs and other crockery in the distinctive style of Gaudí are also commonly on sale, and make a unique souvenir of a visit to the city as do various traditional Spanish-style ceramics.

Like most cities in Spain , leather products are readily available.  Look out for good quality handbags, belts and shoes all over the city.  You'll pay more in the tourist hotspots than you will elsewhere in the town but the prices are low enough to represent a bargain when marked up.

There are plenty of distinctive foodstuffs as well. Specialist luxury food stores are dotted all over town and most supermarkets have a deli section. There are plenty of good cheeses to choose from, and shops will generally let you try before you buy. Serrano ham is a delicious smoked meat often sold on the bone. Chorizo (spicy sausage) and Turron (a kind of nougat) are popular regional foods that travel well. For drinks Cava (similar to champagne) and Rioja are both recommended.

Of course we could no further without mentioning FC Barcelona merchandise. You'll find it for sale throughout the city and especially in tourist areas. Scarves, mugs and baseball caps bearing the famous Barcelona crest make good souvenirs for football fans from all over the world.

If you decide to buy a football shirt make sure you're getting the current strip - the team changes its kit every season or so and, whereas shirts over ten years old are often fashionable collectors' items, one from a couple of years ago is simply outdated. The shop underneath the Nou Camp stadium is a good place for all manner of FC Barcelona souvenirs, but you won't have to search far no matter where you are in the city.

Opening Hours

You should be aware that practically everything in Spain closes for "siesta" for at least two hours during the hottest part of the day. In general shops will open from 10h00-14h00 and open again from 16h30-20h00/21h00, Mon-Sat. Shops tend to not open on Sunday, although this is gradually changing as the strict laws governing weekend opening have been relaxed recently. Large shopping centres tend to stay open all day, from 10h00-21h00.