The joy of shopping

1. Badalona 

Badalona is a perfect city for you to enjoy a full day of shopping, while strolling through its old town steeped in history. On Carrer de Mar, for instance, you will find some of the oldest shops in the town, such as the Surroca and Serentill pharmacies, the Boter chemist’s, the Calzados Gubern shoe shop and the Ca l’Almera sweet shop. Very close by, opposite the Maignon market, is La Modernista, a haberdashery that has not changed much since it opened in 1886. 

2. Calella 

Another must-see town for shopping enthusiasts is Calella. The tourist capital of the Maresme region is a full-fledged open-air shopping centre, with more than five hundred shops and such a wide range of products that you will easily find whatever you are looking for. A good place to start is the Calella Municipal Market, located in a Noucentisme-style (Catalan cultural movement from the early 20th century) building, and from there, take a leisurely stroll down Carrer de l’Esglèsia. But, first, be sure to stop off at Carrer de Sant Joan: At number 89, you will find Carnisseria Can Vives, a butcher’s shop that has been open since 1840.  

3. Castelldefels 

As a quintessential tourist town, Castelldefels features shops that are open every day of the year with minimal restrictions concerning opening hours. This total availability is greatly appreciated by those who visit this town in the Baix Llobregat region, as they can do their shopping after spending the day enjoying the beach, water sports and seafood cuisine.  

4.Manresa 

Manresa has been a leading shopping centre in Central Catalonia for many centuries. Nowadays, you will find shops selling fashion, shoes, glasses, appliances, household linen and everything you could possibly need for yourself or your home. The main shopping area of the city is: Plaça Major, Carrer Sant Miquel, La Plana de l’Om, Carrer del Born, Passeig de Pere III, Plaça de Sant Domènec, etc. Not far away are two pastry shops that are well worth a visit: Perarnau is famous for its banana-shaped sweets and El Cigne for its biscuits inspired by the logo of Carrer del Balç, the medieval heart of the capital of the Bages region. 

5. Sabadell 

Sabadell’s commercial dynamism is impressive. With products and services to suit all tastes and budgets, you can get lost in the old town and find everything from international clothing stores to tiny haberdasheries. But Sabadell also holds many surprises! This is the case of Cal Ventura, a carpet shop with 18th-century ceramic kilns on its lower floor; the Argelaguet Pharmacy, with a typically Art Nouveau façade; the stained glass workshop of master craftsman Joan Serra, who will be more than happy to show you around his shop; and the Tot Teca-Forn Gotés bakery on Carrer Sant Pau, where the owners, Rosa Maria and Núria Gotés, make “Saballut”, a bread made from wheat and chickpea flour, olive oil and caramelised onion, which is a real treat.