ShoppingShopping in Barcelona has become one of the main activities of visitors to this city, whether on holiday or on a business trip. The quality, quantity and variety of goods on offer is simply astounding and the main shopping areas add the incentive of being located in architecturally rich settings so that you can combine shopping with a thorough knowledge of Barcelona’s architecture. Take, for instance, the Pseo de Gracia with its landmark Modernist buildings, many of which house fine shops. Or choose to shop on the Diagonal and you find that L’illa Diagonal, Barcelona’s smartest shopping center is set in a simply stunning white building designed by architect Rafael Moneo, who in 1996 was awarded the Pritziker Prize for Architecture (the closest equivalent of a Nobel Prize for architecture). The variety and quality of Barcelona’s shopping had made it one of Europe’s most active and attractive shopping cities. Combine this with the Tax Free Shopping program which refunds VAT (value added tax). to non-European community nationals, and you have a compelling reason to go on a shopping spree while in Barcelona!
Business Hours
General Shopping hours are from 9am or 10am to 1:30pm and from 4pm or 5pm to 8 or 9pm. Some shops, mostly in malls, and large department stores open at 10am and don’t close at lunch time. Saturday is the busiest shopping day of the week, but many shops close in the afternoon. Sunday shopping is not widespread due to government regulations, but in some tourist areas and on certain holidays you will find many shops open for business.
If you reside outside the European community you can get your tax back on purchases over 90E by filling in the appropriate forms and getting them stamped by customs when you leave the country. If you shop at establishments displaying the If you prefer you can obtain your refund in the form of a charge-card credit or certified check. A handling fee will be deducted from the VAT amount. Remember that in Barcelona most of the prices you’ll see include the tax, so that not only the very favorable exchange rate but also the Tax Free refund combine to make your shopping here an unbeatable value.
BOUTIQUES - For this section we
have selected stores that carry exclusive products. All made in
Spain. In this section we will
highlight stores which we find specially unique and worth visiting.
highlight stores which we find specially unique and worth visiting.
JOFRE
- This is a very nice store for women (they also have a men’s store
a few doors away). Their clothes are modern (avant garde) but not
overdone. Here you will find things which you may find in some of
the better stores in USA but for much less.
RED and BLUE
(Zone 7) (Men’s fashion)
Calle Tenor Vinas 4 and 5
Tel.: 93 209 3777Calle Tenor Vinas 4 and 5
JEWELRY STORES - There are many
jewelry stores in Barcelona, some very good, some not so good. They
can be very expensive, specially those catering to tourists. There
are, however, a few which are worth visiting if you are in the
market of jewelry.
Large assortment of European rugs
GLORIA DE
PALLEJA (Zone 7) (Exclusive Designs Furniture)
ATALANTA MANUFACTURA
(Zone 2)
GALERIA BERNAT
(Zone 7) (Antiques)
PERFUME STORES - Like in any city
Barcelona has countless places where perfumes are available. There
are two that because of their uniqueness merit special mention.
Tel.: 93
268 0237
SEMON
- (Zone 7) This gourmet store is in a class by itself. The variety
and quality of their products is just outstanding. This is where the
Barcelona upper crust shops for delicacies. Large selection of wines
as well. At their restaurant (Indret) which is open only for lunch
is where the King dines when in Barcelona.
Calle Capitan Arenas 11
Tel.: 93 203 7444
MERCAT GALVANY (Zone 7) - This is one of the most beautiful buildings in Barcelona. It is a market the way they were in times long gone. Inside the building you will find a variety of food stand selling all kind of food stuffs (all fresh). Even if you do not buy anything you will enjoy the experience. We should mention two stalls we specially like. They stall 120-125 where Marta sell fresh fruits and vegetables, and stall 218-220 where Carles sells charcuterie which is just great.
MERCAT DE LA BOQUERIA (Zone 3) - The setting for this market is more modern than that of Mercat Galvany. It is well known for its ample selection sea food, cheeses, and charcuterie . Worth mentioning is the cheese stall 970. You will not believe the variety of Spanish cheeses.
Hours from 8:AM until 8:30 PM
Ramblas 89 bis
SLAVIA
(Zone 5) - Prepared home food to go.
You will find these every where. As ti
newspaper you will have no problem finding The International Herald
Tribune, published by the New York Times, or The European Wall
Street Journal. Additionally you will find newspapers from every
country.
Barcelona offers its visitors a 5km shopping line. This vast open-air shopping center runs from Port Vell, along La Rambla, through the historic center and the Eizample-the district known for its art nouveau architecture-to the uptown neighborhood of the Diagonal. Alone this five kilometer route, and in other parts of Barcelona, you will find shops displaying the Barcelona Shopping Line sticker, a guarantee of good quality and excellent customer service.
The main newspapers in Barcelona are La Vanguardia and El Periodico in Spanish and Avui in Catalan. The newspaper costs 1E. You can find daily newspaper kiosks as well as a selection of American and British and other magazines.
Tips & Taxes
Tips are readily accepted in Barcelona. In restaurants and bars the usual tip is around 10% of the bill, depending on the quality of service. Hotel and airport porters will take, depending on the luggage you have, 2 to 5 euros, in a taxi a 10% tip is sufficient. There is a variable (7-16%) value added tax (I.V.A.) Applied to most items and services, but most prices you will see include it. When it is not included it should be clearly marked.
Tips are readily accepted in Barcelona. In restaurants and bars the usual tip is around 10% of the bill, depending on the quality of service. Hotel and airport porters will take, depending on the luggage you have, 2 to 5 euros, in a taxi a 10% tip is sufficient. There is a variable (7-16%) value added tax (I.V.A.) Applied to most items and services, but most prices you will see include it. When it is not included it should be clearly marked.
Business Hours
General business hours in Barcelona are from 9am to 1:30 or 2:00 pm and from 4pm to 8pm. Some establishments have different hours, such as banks or government offices and services (post office) which usually close for the day at 1:30 or 2pm, although they do start earlier in many cases, around 8 am. Large department stores and shopping malls stay open at lunch time. Some shops in areas considered to be tourist attractions stay open longer as well, such as Maremagnum, where some shops are open until 11pm. Recently limited holiday shopping has been implemented.
General business hours in Barcelona are from 9am to 1:30 or 2:00 pm and from 4pm to 8pm. Some establishments have different hours, such as banks or government offices and services (post office) which usually close for the day at 1:30 or 2pm, although they do start earlier in many cases, around 8 am. Large department stores and shopping malls stay open at lunch time. Some shops in areas considered to be tourist attractions stay open longer as well, such as Maremagnum, where some shops are open until 11pm. Recently limited holiday shopping has been implemented.
Smoking
In Barcelona smoking is widespread, and although the Catalan government has implemented some measures to reduce smoking, this is still a smoker’s city. Most restaurants don’t offer a no smoking section and many shops allow smoking as well, the only smoke free places are the public transportation systems and some large supermarkets.
In Barcelona smoking is widespread, and although the Catalan government has implemented some measures to reduce smoking, this is still a smoker’s city. Most restaurants don’t offer a no smoking section and many shops allow smoking as well, the only smoke free places are the public transportation systems and some large supermarkets.
Medical Emergencies & Assistance
You will receive immediate medical help f you need it. Travelers from EC countries can receive medical treatment in Spain because of the reciprocal EC agreements, but it is a good idea to have some kind of medical insurance that covers further treatment here. Following is a table with important phone numbers.
You will receive immediate medical help f you need it. Travelers from EC countries can receive medical treatment in Spain because of the reciprocal EC agreements, but it is a good idea to have some kind of medical insurance that covers further treatment here. Following is a table with important phone numbers.
AIDS line 93 339-9756
Many bars and restaurants close on public holidays, as do most shops, the only exemptions from the law being in tourist areas. Recently a law was passed that allows shops to open on some holidays; when they do the crowds flock out. Often there is a "puente", literally meaning bridge, which means that if a holiday falls on a Tuesday or Thursday, the Monday or the Friday is also taken as a holiday which combines into a four day weekend. For 2003 the public holidays observed in Barcelona are:
| Jan 1-New Year’s Day | June 9-Whitsun | Nov 1-All Saints |
| Jan 6-Epiphany | June 24-Saint John | Dec 6-Constitution Day |
| April 19-Easter Friday | Aug 15-Assumption | Dec 8-Immaculate Conception |
| April 21-Easter Monday | Sep 11-Diada:
Catalonia’s National Holiday |
Dec 25-Christmas |
| May 1-Labour Day | Sep 24-:La Merce:
Barcelona’s Patron Saint |
Dec2 6-Sant Esteve: Boxing Day |
Safety
Barcelona is generally a safe city and you can stroll around and do your sightseeing at ease. However, as in any large city that attracts large numbers of tourists, some basic precautions should be taken to avoid uncomfortable situations.
Barcelona is generally a safe city and you can stroll around and do your sightseeing at ease. However, as in any large city that attracts large numbers of tourists, some basic precautions should be taken to avoid uncomfortable situations.
-Watch your luggage, especially handbags, cameras, etc.
-If you travel by car and have to leave your luggage inside, try to use surveilled parking lots, and above all, don’t leave objects in sight.
-When you are in open or public areas don’t show large amounts of money
-Don’t get involved in card games or similar betting games on the street
There are some situations in which you should be especially vigilant:
-If you are offered flowers in the street and they get very close to you
-If someone gets very close to you to tell you that you have a stain on your clothing
-if you are driving and while stopped at a red light someone tells you that you have a flat tire or a burning tire
Use your hotels safety box and leave your valuable objects and currency. If you wish you can ask your hotel to safeguard your identity documents (passport,ect). If you do this you must ask your hotel to stamp a photocopy which you should always carry with you.
How to make a police report:
The National Police and Local Police patrols, as well as the police stations located in areas that attract tourists, have available police reports for those tourists that may need it. The text of the forms has been translated into four languages: English, French, German and Italian. When you make an official report you will receive a copy with an order number to help you with any further paperwork (i.e. insurance claims)
To make a report or in an emergency:
Catalan an Spanish (Castialian) are two main languages spoken in Barcelona. Although nearly half of the population of Barcelona is not of Catalan origin most can understand and speak Catalan. English is not as widespread as you would expect given the dozens of language schools operation in Barcelona, but if you make a little effort at speaking Catalan or Spanish you will find that goodwill and gestures help the local English language skills.
