Shopping: eight of the best shopping areas in Barcelona

Where. The Paseo de Gràcia is one of the most iconic boulevards in Barcelona and flows between the Plaza de Catalunya and Calle Mayor de Gràcia, crossing the Eixample neighbourhood of Barcelona.What to buy. Here you can find the biggest concentration of the most exclusive fashion and accessory shops in Barcelona: national and international brands that will delight lovers of the finest haute couture and prêt-à-porter.Don’t miss… Keep alert during your stroll down this iconic street because in between the luxury shop windows stand some of the most representative examples of the city’s Art Nouveau architecture, works by Gaudí and his contemporaries, such as Casa Batlló, la Pedrera, Casa Amatller and Casa Lleó Morera.How to get there. Metro Stations: Catalunya (L1/L3), Passeig de Gràcia (L2/L3/L4) and Diagonal (L3/L5). Bus lines: 7, 22, 24 and V15.

Where. The area around Plaza de Catalunya, in the heart of Barcelona, is another of Barcelona’s shopping hubs. Right next to the square, Portal de l’Àngel and Calle Pelai are also full of interesting shops.What to buy. There is a department store and a large range of electronic goods outlets right on the square itself. Don’t miss the chance to wander up Portal de l’Àngel, a pedestrian street that connects Plaza de Catalunya with the old part of Barcelona; here you can find the big-name fashion chains with something for everyone. There are also several shoe shops and jewellers as well as some traditional “hidden gems”; in fact, this is the place to buy typical turrón (a kind of nougat) and artisan ice cream. The nearby Calle Pelai (also leading off Plaza de Catalunya) is also packed with fashion boutiques.Don’t miss… Make a stop at Plaza de Cataluña and get caught up in the whirlwind of people toing and froing all over the square. And don’t forget to look up when you pass through Portal de l’Àngel as here you can spot some of the prettiest residential buildings in the city. On this same street you can also see the famous gigantic thermometer on the façade of Cottet and the oldest fountain in Barcelona.How to get there. Metro Stations: Catalunya (L1), Plaça Catalunya (L3/L6/L7). Bus lines: 47, 52, 55, 59, 67, H16, V13, V15, V17 and D50.

Where. To the south of La Rambla is the Raval district, one of the areas that has undergone the most transformation in recent decades.What to buy. This area offers a great range of alternative shops. On Calle Tallers you can find ethnic and Goth style clothes, often handmade, as well as music shops. A few metres along, Calle Riera Baixa is a must-stop for lovers of vintage fashion and decoration.Don’t miss… There are some interesting tourist sites in the Raval neighbourhood (the old Santa Creu Hospital, a World Heritage site; the CCCB -Barcelona Centre for Contemporary Culture-; the cat sculpture “El Gato del Raval” by Fernando Botero; MACBA, the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art; the Güell Palace and the Church of Sant Pau del Camp), but what you really can’t miss out on is soaking up the atmosphere - the aromas, flavours and multicultural environment of one of the areas with the most personality in Barcelona.How to get there. Metro Stations: Sant Antoni (L2), Universidad (L1/L2), Paral·lel (L2, L3) or Liceu (L3). Bus lines: 21, 55, 59, 67, 88, 120, 121, v11, V13, V15, H14 and D50.

Where. This, with El Born, is the oldest part of Barcelona, between La Rambla, Plaza de Catalunya, Vía Layetana and the port.What to buy. The Gothic Quarter is the best place to find Barcelona’s traditional shops. Here you can find shops selling antiques, books, handmade artisan clothing, hats, cutlery... and all types of one-off shops.Don’t miss… Given its age, this area is home to most of Barcelona’s historical sites: the City Hall and the Palace of the Generalitat; the Cathedral and other Gothic churches such as Santa Maria del Pi, as well as the Baroque Sant Felip Neri Church; the old Jewish Quarter and the Plaza del Rey, among many others.How to get there. Metro Stations: Sant Antoni (L2), Jaume I (L4), Liceu (L3) and Drassanes (L3). Bus lines: 47, 59, 120, H14, D20, V13, V15 and V17.

A great way to combine visiting the city of Barcelona with shopping is the Barcelona Genuine Shops Tour, a guided tour of the city’s most inspiring shops, covering hundred-year-old shops steeped in history where you learn about the work of the artisans and designers in their actual workshops and studios; gourmet shops for sampling and buying the very best food and wine Barcelona has to offer; the museum shops, to delve into the city’s art and design; or shops selling sustainable fashion, a classic of 21st century Barcelona.