Tips for Great Shopping in Spain

With so much to see and do in Spain, deciding on a place to go shopping can be daunting. Luckily, there are plenty of local shops and markets galore in just about every town. Including the posh, cosmopolitan cities of Madrid and Barcelona, there are more than enough affordable stores and even the locals tend to get lost while exploring. Shopping in Spain is a great way to introduce yourself to this fun and exciting southern European nation.

Madrid

If you have one shopping experience in Madrid, let it be on a Sunday morning at the internationally renowned El Rastro market. The world’s biggest flea market is both a treasure trove of stuff and an excellent opportunity to mix with locals and get to know the “real” Spain. Sifting through endless piles of what can seem to be junk, every once in a while you find a true gem. There’s no better way to find a souvenir while shopping in Spain, though personally, my favorite part of a Sunday at El Rastro is the people watching.

Barcelona

A trip to Barcelona would be incomplete without a stop at the famous market, la Boqueria, which has been catering to shoppers for over 800 years. Located off the famous Rambla Street, la Boqueria is an enormous food market, always packed with people. Filled with brilliant colors, a great way to pass the day is to go and get lost among the overflowing produce stalls. With some of the freshest food around, make sure to bring some coins to buy a few edible souvenirs.

Seville

This sophisticated city in southern Spain is filled to the brim with stylish, trendy shops just waiting to be discovered. Tiny stores filled with polka-dotted flamenco dresses rub shoulders with ceramic and textile galleries, proving the fact that there is something for everyone here. You can easily spend days getting lost in all the boutiques and fashionable shops in Seville, just make sure you save time to enjoy all the historical sites too!

Bilbao

The industrial avant-garde city of the Basque Country in northern Spain has no shortage of great shops from which to choose. Wandering around the old quarter downtown, there are a wide selection of trendy art galleries to stop in for a visit and little designer boutiques just waiting to be discovered. Finish your afternoon of shopping with a round of the famous local “pintxos” - northern Spain’s take on the traditional tapas snack.

Where do you like to go shopping in Spain? Share with us in the comments below.

Note: Available plans and coverages may have changed since this blog was published.