Best streets for luxury shopping in Barcelona

As one of the Mediterranean Sea main ports, along with Istanbul, Mykonos or Genoa, Barcelona has always been a trade center. From Roman times, the ships have docked in the Barcino (the roman Barcelona) port to sell their goods brought from the farthest corners of the world. Fancy fabrics, precious stones and exotic spices were some of the products that were sold in the docks of the Catalan capital. Luxury retail has played a crucial role in the history of the city and its urban development.

Barcelona, ​​as the capital of the Cataluña and as the second largest city in Spain, is a target for national and international corporations. With more than 4 million inhabitants and a total of 19.1 million foreign visitors in 2017, big brands always fight to display their newest products for sale. Nowadays, there is even a type of tourism known as “shopping tourism”. In addition to the historical and cultural spots of the city, tourists come to Barcelona only to visit the most luxurious shopping areas.

Whether to organize your luxury shopping trip or to find out the latest trends in luxury retail, in this list you will find the best streets for luxury shopping in Barcelona.

Passeig de Gràcia

Passeig de Gràcia is one of the most important avenues of the city for many reasons. The main one is that the most famous Catalan modernist monuments in the world, such as the Casa Milá or the Casa Batlló, are in this street. The area was developed in the 19th century by the architect Ildefonso Cerdá as part of his project to expand the old medieval city of Barcelona, ​​with a neighborhood known as the Eixample (“The widening”).

The sumptuousness of this avenue quickly attracted the Barcelona bourgeoisie, turning the area into a commercial spot that has been expanded over the years. That is the reason why, nowadays, the most important luxury firms in the world are quarreling for a place in this street. In Passeig de Gràcia you will find brands such as Versace, Hermés, Chanel and Prada, as well as jewelry and perfumeries. The avenue begins in Plaza Catalunya, right next to the Apple Store, one of the largest in Spain, and ends at the edge of the Gràcia district, in front of Jardinets de Gràcia (Gràcia gardens). If you are planning a to visit the most luxurious shops in Barcelona, ​​ Passeig de Gràcia should be your first destination.

Avinguda Diagonal

Avinguda Diagonal is one of the main arteries of the Catalan capital since it is a wide avenue that crosses the city from side to side diagonally (hence its name). For many years it was considered simply a fast track chosen by most of the citizens to move from one end of the capital to the other. However, over the years and because of the growth of the city, Avinguda Diagonal has become a bustling commercial area.

Its central promenade, gardens and wide sidewalks host some of the most important luxury shops in Barcelona. In its different heights (it’s the longest street in Barcelona, ​​with an extension of 10.2 km) you can find luxury clothing boutiques, fancy watchmakers and jewelers of the most prestigious brands. In addition to these luxurious stores, on Avinguda Diagonal you will find shopping centers such as Glòries, El Corte Inglés or the famous L’Illa Diagonal. Nevertheless, the best way to visit this area is by walking and stopping in the small stores located on both sides of the avenue.

El Born

El Born neighborhood, located in the Ciutat Vella district of Barcelona, ​​does not look like a luxury shopping area at first glance. El Born is a traditional neighborhood with small businesses, so in this district you will not find large shopping centers. But when you walk through its narrow streets you will come across small fashion designers’ shops, where you can add a little “Barcelona style” to your looks. Independent designer brands, typical Catalan decorations made with recycled materials, the most expensive wood clocks or unconventional art galleries are some of the products you can buy in a neighborhood like El Born.

Sarrià

The old town of Sarrià, now transformed into a high standing neighborhood, also houses some of the fanciest shops in the city. The high purchasing power of the inhabitants of this neighborhood means that, when you walk along its cozy streets, you find stores of the most exclusive brands. At any corner of the Sarrià neighborhood you’ll find firms such as Joffret, Coquette Store or Furest. With a calm residential environment, the Sarrià area is the perfect place to do your shopping, since you can be sure that the products displayed in the shop windows of the Sarrià boutiques are the best in the whole city.

La Roca Village

Imagine a town in which everything was luxury stores, and in every corner, you could find brands such as Armani, Ralph Lauren or Bimba & Lola. That town exists, and it’s called La Roca Village. It is true that it is technically a shopping center, but we have included it on this list due to its unique form. Half an hour from the center of Barcelona, ​​in La Roca Village you can visit shoe stores, jewelry stores and clothing such as Calvin Klein, G-Star Raw, Diesel, Desigual or Custo. La Roca is a shopping center that is worth spending a day knowing if you want to buy the most exclusive products that Barcelona can offer you.

Featured image: Louis Vuitton Shop, Passeig de Gràcia, Barcelona