The pleasure of shopping

Shopping in the regions of Barcelona is a real treat. Whether you head inland or to the coast, there are plenty of towns and cities with long-established shops that stand out for their elegance, food shops managed by gourmet artisans, pharmacies with Catalan modernist décor, and fashion and accessory stores where the creations of local designers mingle with those of exclusive international brands. Here are five essential shopping destinations.


1. Badalona

Badalona is a perfect city for enjoying a full day of shopping as you wander around its impressive historic quarter. Carrer de Mar, for example, is home to some of the oldest shops in the city, such as the Surroca and Serentill pharmacies, the Boter household goods shop, the Gubern shoe shop and the Ca l’Almera confectioner’s shop. Close by, opposite the Maignon market, you’ll find La Modernista, a haberdashery that has barely changed since it was opened in 1886. 

2. Calella

Another important town for shopping enthusiasts is Calella. The tourist capital of the Maresme region is an authentic open-air shopping centre with over 500 shops and such a wide range of products that you’re sure to find what you’re looking for. A good place to start is Calella Municipal Market, housed in a noucentista-style building, and from there you can take a leisurely stroll along Carrer de l’Església. But before that, make sure you pay a visit to Carrer de Sant Joan: at number 89 you’ll find the Can Vives butcher’s shop, a veritable institution in Calella with 176 years of history.

3. Castelldefels

In Castelldefels, a leading tourist town, the shops are open every single day of the year with very generous opening hours, a fact that’s appreciated by everybody who visits this town in the Baix Llobregat region. It’s great being able to get some shopping in after spending a day at the beach, doing water sports and enjoying some seafood in one of the town’s eateries.

4. Manresa

Manresa has been a first-rate shopping destination in Central Catalonia for many centuries. Today, you can find shops selling everything from clothes and shoes to glasses, domestic appliances, homeware and whatever else you might need for yourself or for your home. The city’s main shopping district: Plaça Major, Carrer de Sant Miquel, La Plana de l’Om, Carrer del Born, Passeig de Pere III, Plaça de Sant Domènec, etc. Not far away there are two cake and pastry shops that are well worth visiting: the La Perarnau is famous for its banana-shaped sweets, while El Cigne is well known for its biscuits inspired by the logo of Carrer del Balç, the mediaeval quarter of the capital city of the Bages region.

5. Sabadell

Sabadell offers an impressive, dynamic shopping experience. With products and services to suit all tastes and budgets, you can wander around the city’s old quarter and find everything from large fashion stores selling leading international brands to tiny haberdasheries. But Sabadell also has many hidden surprises! They include Cal Ventura, a rug shop where you can find some 18th-century ceramic ovens on the ground floor, the Argelaguet pharmacy, with a typical Catalan modernist façade, the workshop of the stained glass master craftsman Joan Serra, who’ll be delighted to show you around his shop, and the bakery on Carrer Sant Pau where master baker Rosa Maria Gotés makes saballut, a bread made from cornflour and chickpea flour, olive oil and caramelised onion - truly delicious!

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