Barcelona is a great city for sightseeing, gastronomy and shopping. Begining in 2018, the Spanish government removed the minimum spending requirement of 90.16 euros, so that you have a right to claim a VAT refund if you are an international visitor. This removal is not parallel in other European countries, so be sure to take advantage of it. Below we will give you an idea of what are some items to buy when traveling in Barcelona and all around Spain.
In Barcelona, there is a specialty shop called ESPADRILLES which is famous for its summer shoes. ESPADRILLES sells lightweight and environmentally friendly shoes which are made of natural materials. Visit LA MANUAL ALPARGATERA in the center of Barcelona. The shoes' designs and types are also very diverse so you have a lot of options.
In Spain, there are many fashion brands with affordable prices and good quality. MANGO and ZARA are some of the most famous Spanish brands and you can usually buy the local brands products at the lowest prices in Spain, compared to other European countries. With many great low priced clothing options, we reccomend that you fulfill all your fashion needs while traveling in Spain.
Mango is a famous SPA brand. There is a wide range of men's, women's, and children's wear and they offer simple and refined designs.
A Spanish leading SPA brand that you should not miss and has a large variety of clothes.
BIMBA Y LOLA has its own unique designs and they frequently offer mid-season and similar sales in regular stores. There are their outlet stores in Barcelona and Madrid's suburbs where you can buy their items at cheaper prices than usual.
With their unique and splendid colors, they attract many customers who eventually become fans of their brand.
A global luxury leather brand, LOEWE, displays the best quality leather products with luxurious designs.
Spain's leading luxury brand whose designs and materials are classic and luxurious.
A brand of lingerine and underwear, their products are softly and casually styled.
A brand famous for their comfortable shoes with a sophisticated design. You can buy them at a lower price than in other countries and you can also discover their outlet stores.
When you travel to Barcelona and southern regions of Spain, you can easily see the tiled designs on the architecture. Visit the ART ESCUDELLERS store in Barcelona. There are several branches around the city that sell a variety of ceramic ware designs that reflect the characteristics of each region in Spain. They also offer a variety of home decoration items and kitchen utensils, including tile magnets and alphabets engraved tiles.
You must try one of Span's famous dishes, JAMON. It is dried ham that is thinly sliced from the pig's legs. There is also Jamon Serrano made with white pigs and Jamon Iberico made from black pork. Especially Iberico, which is famous for its quality and taste but the price is a little higher than the others. It is easy to find at restaurants, bars or markets. Many tourists want to buy them as souvenirs but for a majority of countries, it is prohibited to import meat products so you have to check your country's rules before transporting them.
It is a very popular Spanish drink which is made with red wine and fruit which you must try. You can also buy them in markets or supermarkets but there is a famous location for Sangria in Barcelona called CASA LOLEA. And you can also enjoy them in tapas bars near Palau de la Música Catalana. If you want to buy a bottle of Sangria as a souvenir, we recommend that you buy it at the airport duty-free shops.
Spanish olive oil is considered as a top quality product. The product has a history of more than 3,000 years and its production started from the southern regions, Andalucia and has been spread out all over Spain. The dry weather of Spain provides a great environment for growing olives. In Barcelona, a brand called LA CHINATA is famous for a wide variety of olive oil with other precious materials such as truffles. They also offer cosmetic products made of olives which could be suitable for gifts at reasonable prices.
If you are looking for a cost-effective gift to give to numerous friends after your vacation, buying a pack of honey chrysanthemum tea could be a good idea. Manzanilla means chrysanthemum in Spanish. The brand HORNIMANS is the most famous for tea products in Spain. It is usually easy to find them in supermarkets but as this is a very popular item, some of the supermarkets near tourist sites can sell out really quickly.
Paella is one of the most famous dishes that you will try during your time in Spain. It is also a dish that you can easily cook at home if you buy a paella kit. You can buy paella sauce, paella rice, and a special pan for cooking them. The package is small and inexpensive which is suitable as a gift for your friends or family.
It is a Spanish traditional snack which is sweet and sticky. There are various kinds of turron depending on their ingredients. There are also different sizes ranging from small to very large pieces. If you are going to share turron with numerous friends, it is better to buy one big piece. Myth says that if you buy a big piece and share it with others by breaking it, that will destroy bad luck. It is easy to buy in supermarkets and VICENS is a famous brand of turron.
Do you know about a soap made by the Sabbatel brothers? You may find a SABATER HNOS store in Barcelona which is one of three branches all around the world. You should research the location before heading there because it is located in an alleyway which you might miss if you're not looking for it. As soon as you walk into the shop, you can smell all of the fragrant soap. It has a variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and scents. The price is also inexpensive and is suitable for gifts.
Visit MUY MUCHO where you can buy home decoration goods. There are a variety of items, ranging from small stationery items to beautiful photo frames, albums, and kitchen utensils, all at very low prices.
Barcelona is one of the cities where soccer fans all over the world want to visit. There are many shops where you can buy souvenirs of Spanish soccer teams such as Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, etc. There are several official stores for each team all around the country, where you can buy uniforms, soccer balls, school supplies, watches, bags, and magnets.
Words by Youra CHOI
Photographs by Yuna LEE