Shopping in Spain - What You Need To Know

Shopping in Spain has never been so good, these days the high streets are full of every kind of shop to entice you through their doors and help you part with your holiday spending money, the good news is that with so much on offer, there are some great bargains to be had.

Shopping in Spain is wide and varied and you will never far away from picking up a bargain, with shops of all shapes and sizes you can shop at large superstores, supermarkets, indoor markets, local weekly outdoor markets, car boot sales, local shops and 24-hour mini markets.

Spain's major supermarkets

The big players in supermarket shopping in Spain include Alcampo (Auchan), Carrefour, Eroski and Hipercor.

These big-name mega-supermarkets can be found all around Spain and offer a vast variety of goods at much lower prices than the local shops.

The ever popular budget supermarkets such as Aldi, Spar, Lidl, Dia and Mercadona are all becoming increasingly popular throughout Spain offering excellent value and are perfect for visitors on self-catering holidays.

Municipal markets

Other interesting places to buy fresh dairy products are the municipal found near the center of most Spanish towns and villages. Here you can find lots of varieties of fresh vegetables, fruits, homemade bakery and confectionery.

They say you can get the best idea of authentic Spanish cuisine by visiting the local food market and luckily there is usually at least one in every village, town and city across Spain.

There are a number of famous indoor food markets that are well worth visiting as give a real insight into Spanish cooking and culture.

Here is a list of the best food markets in Spain:

Mercado de Asbetos - Santiago.
Mercado de Triana - Seville
Mercado de la Ribera - Bilbao
Mercado Central - Valencia
Mercado de San Fernando - Madrid
Mercado La Boqueria - Barcelona
Mercado Santa Catalina - Barcelona
Mercado del Puerto - Las Palmas De Gran Canaria
Mercado de Ataranzas - Malaga
Mercado de San Miguel - Madrid
Mercado Victoria - Cordoba
Mercado Alcaiceria - Granada

Outdoor street markets

Shopping and discounts enthusiasts can enjoy the big outdoor markets open throughout Spain, on certain days of the week. Just about every large village, town and city will have numerous outdoor markets held between Monday to Saturday.

In these markets, you can find really valuable items at bargain prices and a variety of interesting goods.

The multitude of colourful stalls will delight your senses with fruits and vegetables, fragrant flowers, as well as the delicious Spanish pastries and sweets that will add extra flavour to your trip.

Top street markets in Spain:

El Rastro - Madrid
Mercado de Motores - Madrid
Els Encants Vells - Barcelona
Marcantic - Barcelona
Mercadillo de Jueves - Seville
Alcaiceria - Granada
Plaza Redondo Market - Valencia

Spain's largest shopping malls

» Xanadu Commercial Centre Madrid
» Commercial Centre - La Vaguada Madrid
» Centro Comercial Marineda City - A Coruna
» Centro Comercial Puerto Venecia - Zaragoza
» Centro Comercial Parquesur - Madrid
» Parque Comercial La Cañada - Marbella
» Centro Comercial Parque Principado - Asturias
» Centro Comercial Nueva Condomina - Murcia
» Centro Comercial La Maquinista - Barcelona
» Centro Comercial Mataró Parc - Barcelona
» Centro Comercial Gran Vía 2 - Barcelona
» Centro Comercial Los Arcos - Seville
» Centro Comercial Gran Via - Alicante

Upmarket shopping at El Corte Ingles

The network of stores in El Corte Inglés is probably the king of the superstores and is found throughout Spain.

Customers who come to El Corte Inglés have access to a wide range of food, electronics, and toys to clothing, perfumes, jewellery or decorative objects, all of good quality.

In a few words, you can find everything you need in one place.

Usually, El Corte Inglés enjoys a central location in each city where it is located and often has all sorts of deals, which makes it attractive for each tourist eager to buy quality stuff at good prices.

Gran Via and Paseo de la Castellano in Madrid

Gran Via and the Paseo de Castellano are located in the centre of Madrid and the busiest shopping areas in Spain.

A huge variety of shops can be found around these areas including H & M, Zara, Bershka, Mango, Massimo Dutti, Balenciaga, Pull & Bear, Springfield, Blanco, Desigual, Maxmara, Longchamp, Caramelo, Women’s Secret or Sephora, but also many luxury brands, such as Gucci, Jimmy Choo, Channel, Valentino.

Also in Madrid head off to the Calle Toro and Calle Zamora for plenty of souvenirs and objects you’ve never seen before.

The streets are packed with souvenir shops full of strange and interesting trinkets from earrings and bracelets to handmade decorations made by talented local craftsmen.

Barcelona City Shopping

As you would expect when visiting such a vibrant city, Barcelona is full of every kind of shopping outlet to suit every taste and budget.

The top places to shop in Barcelona include the renowned Las Ramblas street, the Placa de Catalunya, Passeig de Gracia and the Avenida Diagonal, here you will find all the top fashion stores such as Versace, Gucci, Armani, Bally, Cartier, Burberry or Calvin Klein, as well as many other brands and shops with quality clothes, shoes and accessories.

Other important shopping areas in Barcelona include Diagonal Mar, L’illa, Glories or Maremagnum. are some malls in Barcelona where you can find a wide variety of shops with international brands.

For significant discounts on luxury products, you can choose La Roca Village, located outside of Barcelona, where you can easily get by bus, which can be taken right from the center of Barcelona. Some of the stores you’ll find here include Guy Laroche, Guess, Armani, FURLA, Gucci, Timberland and Desigual.

Luxury shopping in Marbella

Marbella has long been home to the rich and famous and as you would expect the luxury high-end shops are available around the town, especially within the famous Puerto Banus marina located a few miles west of the town centre. Here you will find all the swanky upmarket shops including Gucci, Jimmy Choo, Channel, Valentino, Armani, and Cartier.