10 Best Places to Shop in Barcelona

With literally thousands for stores, from Versace to vintage, Barcelona is a shopaholic’s paradise.  Below, in no particular order, are ten of the best places to shop in Barcelona.  Normal stores hours are 10:00am to 9:00pm; however the smaller boutiques such as those in Borne, Raval, and Gracia will normally close for siesta between 2:00pm and 5:00pm. 

1. Paseo de Gracia

Paseo de Gracia (also known as Passeig de Gracia) is one of the most famous streets in Barcelona.  In addition to being the location of some of the most famous modernist buildings ever created, it also has the most expensive shops in the city.  The street begins at Plaza Catalunya and continues until the metro Diagonal.  Desigual, Gucci, Manolo Blahnik, and many others can be found here, as well as plenty of upscale bars and restaurants.  Those searching for world famous brands and pure luxury will be delighted here, but be ready to use your credit card and spend freely since this area is for upscale shopping, and the prices reflect it.

2. Portal de l’Angel

Portal de l’Angel is ideal if you happen to be in the center of town and want to shop in that area, because there are quite a few stores located in the same vicinity.  It is a pedestrian street begins below the Corte Ingles in Plaza Catalunya and ends at the cathedral.  The street, along with those that surround it, is lined with brand name stores such as Camper, H&M, Zara, Mango, Massimo Dutti and many more. This street offers more economical brands and its target market is a younger crowd, so if you are searching for the latest fashion trends at an affordable price you should come straight here.

3. La Roca Village

La Roca Village is part of a group of high-end shopping outlets in Europe.  It is located outside of Barcelona and features over 100 shops where brand name items can be bought for up to 60% off.  It is designed as if it were a village, which of course is where the name comes from, so it is an open space with wide boulevards and several restaurants.  Unless you have a car, the easiest way to arrive is by bus.  There is a direct bus that leaves the Fabra i Puig station in Barcelona at 9:00am, 12:00pm, 4:00pm, and 8:00pm from Monday to Friday.

Being an outlet, it also has a Rebaixes period (seasonal sales) held in July and January when well known luxury brands are sold at a bargain prices. Also, if you can visit La Roca Village at Christmas time, you´ll be amazed and delighted by all the decorations and lights they put there, the decorations are extremely well-done and it feels as if you are in a fairytale.

4. Diagonal Mar

Diagonal Mar is one of the newest shopping centers in Barcelona.  It has over 150 stores, cinemas, a food court, and services such as a play area for children, nursing rooms, first aid, and Wifi internet connection.  The center is open from 10am to 10pm Monday through Saturday. Good for family shopping. Medium price range.

5. L’Illa

L’Illa (Avinguda Diagonal 555-559) is a large shopping center located in uptown Barcelona.  The complex includes more than 170 shops and restaurants as well as hotels, schools, a sports center, a conference center, a dance hall, and a public park.  The best way to arrive is the “Tombus” which means circuit bus, and which starts at Plaza Catalunya and moves up Paseo de Gracia, goes left at Diagonal until L’Illa, and then circles back, making a total of 28 stops.  This will allow you to check out the shops on Paseo de Gracia and Diagonal at the same time without excessive amounts of walking.  Just look for the blue “Tombus shopping” bus.  The advantage of this large shopping center is that you can find mid-priced and well known brands like Zara, Mango, etc., as well as small, unique boutiques with more exclusive models all in the same place.

6. Raval

If you´re into vintage clothing then the neighborhood of Raval is your best bet.  One of the most famous, Lailo, is located on Carrer de la Riera Baixa, and if you don´t find what you´re looking for several other vintage stores can be found on this same street.  Raval is also great if you´re looking for products from other countries and cultures, like Indian, Pakistani, etc.  If you are searching for something original you´ll surely find it here.

7. Gracia

If you´re looking for something one of a kind, Gracia is the place to go.  This neighborhood was originally a village and became part of the city in the late 19th century.  It has retained its small town feel and is full of restaurants, bars, plazas, and unique shoe and clothing boutiques.  The goods aren´t cheap, but you´ll be sure to find something both creative and original.   Take the metro to the Fontana stop, and start your shopping on the street Carrer d’Asturies, just below the metro, and keep walking until you hit Verdi, then turn right.

8. Encants mercat

If you like flea markets you´ll love Els Encants (also known as the Mercat Fira de Bellcaire).  It is Barcelona´s largest open air marketing (it covers an entire block) and a variety of items are sold, from antique furniture to books and records.  Make sure to haggle for the best deals.  Calle Dos de Maig, open Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 9:00am to 6:00pm.

9. El Borne

The neighborhood of El Borne has become one of the trendiest in Barcelona and is full of jewelry, shoe, and clothing boutiques.  Take the metro to Jaume 10 and start by walking down Carrer de Argenteria.  If you get tired, stop for a drink or a snack on Passeig de Borne. 

10. El Corte Inglés

El Corte Inglés Spain´s largest department store.  You will find them all over the city and if you like one-stop shopping this is the place for you.  The one in Plaza Catalunya is the biggest and includes a supermarket, as well as all of the other departments you would come to expect such as electronics, clothes, and bed and bath.  In Spain it is said that if you can´t find what you´re looking for, come to El Corte Ingles, because the huge variety of items means you can find almost anything you need.   El Corte Ingles also features a wide variety of products for all ages and styles: from classic to modern to funky and from clothes to shoes to perfumes, etc.

Barcelona has earned a reputation for being one of the best cities in Europe to shop, and as you can see this reputation is well-deserved.  There is something for everyone, so it´s really only a matter of deciding where your shopping spree should begin!

7 Reasons For and Against Renting an Apartment in Barrio Gotico Barcelona

If you like history and tradition, then renting an apartment in Barrio Gotico Barcelona would be the ideal vacation accommodation solution for you.  This old Gothic quarter of the city is steeped in tradition, and you will find the Barcelona Museum of History and Barcelona Cathedral right on your doorstep. Although this district of Barcelona was populated by the Romans it is only a short distance from the modern and vibrant city centre.

You will find some of the most luxurious apartments in Barcelona here, but although this is one of the most popular areas of the city, offering an exciting mix of the traditional and modern ways of life in Catalonia, it is well to understand that all is not perfect, and that there are one or two disadvantages of living here. Although these might seem trivial to the visitor on vacation, here are some negatives among the mainly positive aspects of renting a Barcelona apartment in Barrio Gotico.

PROS

1.  Barcelona traffic is generally very noisy, but not here in the Gothic Quarter. Barrio Gotico is largely a pedestrian area, since its streets are quite narrow for intense traffic and there are also traffic control laws, where cars are only allowed between certain hours. You can therefore get a good night sleep without the traffic noise - but beware of pedestrians shouting and singing!

2.  In Barrio Gotico you are not far from anything. You can walk to most of Barcelona’s main attractions, and so save your money on traveling. If you must, you can enter the main Metro system from any station in the district which are Drassanes and Liceu Green Line L3, so you can easily get to other parts of the city .

Not only are you only a short walk away from most of Barcelona’s attractions, but Barrio Gotico is situated in the Ciutat Vella, meaning ‘Old City’ in Catalan which says it all. This is Barcelona’s core, split in half by the set of boulevards known as Las Ramblas. You can start your tour over Barcelona right there and see Roman and Gothic architectural samples, Picasso Museum, Cathedral, Las Ramblas, Bridge of Sighs, El Call (Jewish quarter) and many other sights.

 Barcelona beaches are also only a few minutes away by metro or bus, and if you want to walk you are there in less than 20 minutes.

3.  Barrio Gotico area literally overflows with bars and restaurants that offer all type of cuisine from most traditional Catalan one to exotic Thai to spicy Korean. You can easily find a place to have lunch, dinner or just to have a bite while on excursion paying reasonable price for tasty food. The competence is so tough here, that in fact any restaurant or bar will be delighted to get you as a client. Though do not forget to check prices first! - since the area is almost always overcrowded with tourists some establishments can be just overpriced - for example open terrace cafes at Las Ramblas.

And at night you can visit a marvelous range of bars, from Irish pubs to Catalan Bars and Spanish disco bars.

4.  You get to live like a local.  That’s right:  living in Barrio Gotico in a rented apartment enables you purchase your groceries where the locals purchase them, such as in local markets like the famous Boqueria, and cook them the way the locals cook them.  This is an important part of a vacation for many people and the reason why they prefer to rent an apartment than a hotel room, and it gives them the real flavour of a city, particularly one as old as Barcelona.

It is the age of Barrio Gotico that is the attraction for most that choose to spend their entire vacation here, and while there are more modern apartments in modern buildings in Barcelona, none have the character of those in Barrio Gotico, and none give the same true spirit of the city, with its narrow cobbled streets, small cute squares, and paella being cooked in the street outside the restaurant in a huge paella pan. This is the real atmosphere of Barcelona as it one was - and still is in this part of the Ciutat Vella.

CONS

5.  Barrio Gotico Barcelona is a well known area, and very popular with tourists due to its historical past. This means that the streets can be crowded at times, particularly when the street performers are entertaining the crowds in Plaza Catalunya and Las Ramblas Avenue with their acts. This offers rich pickings for pickpockets and other forms of petty crime especially at night, so you have to be on your guard or your vacation could end up costing a lot more than you bargained for.

6.  Because of the history of Barrio Gotico, and its age relative to other districts of Barcelona, apartments here may not have a lift or elevator. Not only that, but the staircases can be steep and narrow, and older or disabled people may have problems getting to the upper floors of your apartment. Children could also find it difficult, so check this out before you book.  We have excellent inexpensive Barcelona apartments to rent in other areas of the city that are more suitable for disabled or older people.

7.  The old Gothic quarter is often the scene of concerts and other major events at certain times of the year such as New Year’s Eve, Sant Joan, La Merce and others, and you will find it noisy at these times. Some would look upon this as a benefit, although those with young children or older family members to care for might not agree. If that is you, then perhaps you are best not to choose this part of Barcelona to rent your apartment. We can offer many others on offer at reasonable prices.

Barrio Gotico is a wonderful area of Barcelona, and as long as you choose your apartment wisely you should be able to have a great vacation. However, make sure that you should not be affected by the negatives because an apartment in the wrong district can have a profound effect, not only on your enjoyment of your vacation, but also on how you regard Barcelona.

This is a wonderful city with a lot to offer, so allow it to impress you and think carefully of where you choose your apartment in Barcelona for your vacation. If you are thinking of renting an apartment in Barrio Gotico Barcelona then that could very well be the excellent choice that it is for most people because the cons are very minimal and you should have a fabulous vacation.

CosmoCaixa - the New Barcelona Science Museum

CosmoCaixa is the science museum in Barcelona that belongs to one of most powerful Catalan saving banks La Caixa and was designed to stimulate people’s knowledge and opinion of science through exhibitions and a wide variety of activities.

Museum exhibition space, spread out over 47,500 m2 with some of them enclosed underground, covers all scientific disciplines.

It’s located in a beautiful old factory building, an amazing example of Modernist industrial architecture designed and built between 1904 and 1909 by Josep Domenech i Estapa. Most of the abandoned factory walls were respected, and with some artistic interventions it has been converted into a very spectacular place.

There are seven main exhibition sections – Sala de Materia, Geological wall, Sunken forest, Planetarium, Plaza de Sciencia, Clik y Flash and Toca Toca (Touch! Touch!).

Sala de Materia is a museum’s permanent collection which aims at explaining and demonstrating the fundamental laws of the universe and the evolution of life and matter on our planet- from Big Bang to the existence of a human being. The exposition currently occupies more than 3000 m2.
Theoretical aspects of the origins of the earth and civilization are explained through 64 interactive models and games, both didactic and fun for kids and their parents.

Geological wall comprises geological structure of seven different stratums: chalk, volcanic and glacial rocks and stones that are enormous and occupy the entire wall of the massive hall.

The exotic Sunken Forest (El Bosque Inundado) exhibition recreates 100sqm of an Amazonian rainforest with over 80 species of plants and 50 species of animals including caimans, anacondas, poisonous toads, gigantic ants and other Amazonian creatures.

The Planetarium offers an unforgettable experience to observe the universe from different angles. Located under a futuristic dome the Planetarium’s programme is divided into 3 parts: Genesis (the history of the universe from the Bing Bang till present), Far-Off Galaxies (collisions between galaxies and meteorites, star ¨death¨ etc.) and The Blind Man with Stars in his Eyes (El ciego de los Ojos de Estrellas) - astronomy for kids.

Toca Toca (Touch! Touch!) is by far the most popular exhibition for children. It offers the public to experience close contact with animals such as baby tortoises, lizards and even snakes and plants from three different ecosystems: jungle, desert and Mediterranean.

Clik and Flash section has been designed specially for children and enables them to contact the world of science.
The Clik section for the smallest ones (3-6 years old) is an interactive space which allows children to contemplate light and perceptions of speed, force and balance. It pretends to arouse kids’ curiosity with the help of games, smells, burbles or different types of machines.
And Flash section for the 7-9 year-old children contains touchy-feely games and fascinating contraptions.

Plaza de la Sciencia (Square of Sceince) is the huge area outside the main building where different machines and objects are installed to let people discover more phenomena.

Some useful tips:

- If you intend to visit all sections of the museum, be prepared you will spend there all day long, due to the huge area it occupies and numerous exhibits it presents.
- Go in the afternoon to avoid school groups and to be able to access some special exhibitions such as the Planetarium.

Where it is: 
c/Isaac Newton, 26, 08022 Barcelona

Opening hours:
From Tuesday to Sunday and public holidays 10 A.M. – 8 P.M.
Closed on Monday.

Admission fee:
Adults 3,00 Euros, Children from 7 to 16 – 2,00 Euros, Children under 7 free.
This ticket will permit you to enter Sala de la Materia, Sunken Forest, and Geological wall.  Planetarium and supervised activities – 2,00 Euros surcharge. First Sunday of the month free for all.

Phone: (0034) 93 212 60 50

How to get there:
By bus Nº 17, 22, 58, 73, 75, 60 and 196
By metro (Ferrocariles Catalanes)  - Avinguda Tibidabo stop.

Website: www.lacaixa.es/obrasocial

Palau de la Musica Catalana - a superb example of Modernista architecture

Translated in English as the Palace of Catalan Music, the Palau de la Musica Catalana is a must for any visitor to Barcelona. It is located in the narrow street Carrer de Sant Francesc de Paula, north of the Calle Princesa in the El Borne district of old Barcelona, which means that it is difficult to get an overall view of the outside without craning your neck from the street.

The nearest metro stations are the Urquinaona, Plaça Catalunya and Jaume l, and it is not far from the Plaça de Catalunya square.  Awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 1997, this is a fantastic building with fabulous acoustics, and if you get the chance then make sure you attend a concert here because you will never forget the experience. However, if you can’t get to a concert the Palace is well worth a visit just for its architecture and interior.

Keep in mind that no photography is permitted inside, but you will find an interior where every square inch of it is decorated with paintings, carvings and many other forms of design such as mosaic. The Palace itself was designed by a contemporary of Gaudi, Lluís Domènech i Montaner, in the Catalan Modernista style and built between 1905 and 1908 for a choral society known as the Orfeó Català that was one of the major forces in the rebirth of Catalan arts at that time.

The façade of the building represents Catalan folk song by means of a rippling sculpture, and underneath that is a mosaic of the Orfeó, containing busts of many composers such as Wagner and Beethoven. The ornate sculptures on the outside of the building are merely a small taste of what you are about to see inside. The organ is magnificent, and the boxes are beautifully decorated.

However, nothing could ever prepare you for the fabulous stained-glass inverted globe in the ceiling:  this has been the subject of many famous award-winning photographs and is nothing less than divine. Everybody has their own favourite sculpture, painting or mosaic in the Palau de la Musica Catalana, and while for some it is the organ and for others the beautiful exterior façade, most will say that this is the crowning feature of the entire building, the stained-glass inverted dome surrounded by a stained-glass representation of a forty-strong female choir.

However, to pick out just one feature of this wonderful building would be to do it an injustice, since it was designed to be enjoyed as a whole, and not as individual miracles of artistic genius. To enjoy Palau de la Musica Catalana properly, you have to stand back and admire it for what it is and not the individual works of art that combine to make it so. The building has an effect on you that you won’t appreciate until you see it for yourself:  no photographs can adequately display its true beauty.

An example of this are the beautiful sculptures of the flower of Catalonia - the rose - that cover the entire interior. When you consider the amount of work that has gone into creating every individual one of these, then you can catch just a glimpse of the devotion of those that created this gem of what is much more than just a music hall. Another particular element is the enormous winged horses by the sculptor Eusebi Arnau that seem to fly over-head.
The vaulted walls behind the balconies are taken up with a large number of stained glass creations, crowned by the globe, or stained glass sun, in the centre.

Because of the limited amount of space available, the main concert hall was built directly above the entrance. With more than 2,000 seats in stalls and two circles, this is a magnificent setting for a concert.

The “Muses del Palau” are sculpted round the curved back wall of the stage on which the Orfeó Català perform to this day. The proscenium framing the stage is a wonderful creation with, to your left, a tree known as the “Flowers of May” from a Catalan folk song acting as the backdrop for a sculpture of Josep Clavé, the director of the Orfeó, and to your right, a sight of Beethoven poking through a rush of Wagner’s Valkyries.

Its heritage status has enabled the finance to be made available to extend El Palau to provide an additional auditorium underground, extra rehearsal facilities and a library among other facilities as part of the “A Palau for the 21st Century” project that was completed in 2004.

The best way to see the Palau de la Musica Catalana at its magnificent best is to visit a concert here, and there are regular programs of music ranging from classical orchestras to jazz and traditional Catalan folk music.  You can listen to bands and to soloists in a number of different genres of music, instrumental and vocal.

Failing that, the Palace offers daily guided tours in Catalan and English; although you are advised to purchase tickets in advance for these since they are very popular. They can be purchased up to one week in advance but they don’t take reservations. The telephone number for the booking office is (0034) 902 442 882, and concert tickets for Sundays and Holidays can be purchased at the box office from two hours before the concert, with no advance bookings on these days.

The 50-minute tour begins in the foyer and continues in the rehearsal room with a 20-minute film about the history of the building. And then continues in the grand concert hall, Lluis Millet Hall, a two-floor lounge and reception room.

You can visit official site at http://www.palaumusica.org

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