If you need to buy gifts and can't get into the city center, the obvious choice is the Granvia 2 mall opposite the Fira. Granvia 2 (shown below) has dozens of shops, including three toy stores and the holy trinity of Spanish mainstream fashion brands: Zara, Desigual, and Mango. The Carrefour superstore also sells pretty much everything.
But if you have the time, I'd strongly recommend heading into Barcelona to shop. Specifically, head to the Passeig de Gràcia, in the Eixample neighborhood just north of the old city, or to the neighborhoods of Gràcia and El Born.
To get to the Passeig de Gràcia, take the H12 bus from the Fira to the Passeig de Gràcia and Gran Via, and walk north.
On the Passeig de Gràcia you'll find a mix of global flagship brands and upscale boutiques. For techie gifts, my favorite is the Vinçon design shop (Passeig de Gràcia 96, Barcelona 08008; +34 (93) 215-6050, Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; www.vincon.com), with dozens of laptop and smartphone cases and tech-themed lamps. (You can get a giant, lighted "ctrl" key for €14.)
Across the street, the Bulevard Rosa mall (Passeig de Gràcia 53, 08007 Barcelona; +34 (93) 215-8331; open Monday through Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; www.bulevardrosa.com) is a maze of little boutiques, each one unique, with antiques galleries on the second floor.
The Passeig de Gràcia is also one of the world's most beautiful streets, so you're a winner even if you don't buy anything.
Where the Passeig de Gràcia gives you an elegant shopping experience along a grand boulevard, the neighborhoods of Gràcia (shown above) and Born let you discover tiny shops along narrow pedestrianized streets, with beautiful plazas erupting around every corner.
For Gràcia, take metro line 3 to Fontana and walk along Carrer Asturies to Carrer Verdi, then turn right. On Verdi and its neighboring streets, between Asturies and Terol streets, it's a nonstop riot of boutiques, cafes, bars, and Lebanese restaurants with pretty good shawarma. The Barcelona tourism board has a catalog of shops run by young designers in Gràcia.
The Born is the hippest part of Barcelona's old city, where gorgeous medieval buildings meet designed boutqiues and the Picasso Museum. To get to the Born, take metro line 4 to the Jaume I station and walk down Carrer L'Argenteria, then take a left on Passeig del Born and a right on Carrer Rec to pass the hottest shopping streets. Make sure to check out the Church of Santa Maria del Mar, too. Barcelona Tourism has an official guide to shops in the Born.
Be aware that most of Barcelona is closed on Sundays. Limited shops remain open, including the entire Maremagnum mall at the base of the Rambla (Moll d'Espanya 5, Barcelona 08039; Tel. +34 (93) 225-8100; open daily 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.), the Opencor chain of convenience stores, various random-object shops generally run by Chinese people, and ten pharmacies (see "Health and Safety," below).
Tax Free Shopping: If you buy more than €90.15 of products from stores displaying the "Tax Free Shopping" logo, ask for a Tax Free Form when you're buying your items and have the shop fill it out on the spot. You can claim the tax back at the airport. Find out more at www.global-blue.com.
Source: http://www.pcmag.com by Sascha Segan
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