Where to Shop in Barcelona

If you don’t know Barcelona, I have to say that shopping in Catalonia’s capital is one of the best shopping experiences you could have. If you’re looking for something different, something luxurious or even something cheap, Barcelona has everything for every taste. So why not take advantage?

In addition to having all of the major Spanish chains like Bershka, Stradivarius, Zara, H&M and Mango, which are definitely better in Barcelona than many other small towns or cities and offer a new kind of fashion for foreigners, Barcelona has a unique selection of Original boutiques.

Although almost every street in Barcelona has a wide selection of shops, you’ll find the main ‘high street’ on Carrer de Portaferrissa which is to the left of Las Ramblas, walking down from Plaza Cataluña. However, this road is home to most of the big chains that have around five stores each in the centre and therefore lacks somewhat in originality in comparison with the rest of the city. So if you’re looking for some originality and a true piece of Barcelonan charm, you need to do some exploring.

The most luxurious area of Barcelona is Passeig de Gracia, where you will find all of the designer stores like Gucci, Louis Vitton and Dior. Idealy, you want to find your Barcelona accommodation here. However, apartments in Barcelona aren't particularly cheap, especially on this street. There are also many hotels in Barcelona, but there aren't a great amount available on this avenue due to high demand. So book early!

For me, if you’re looking for original clothes, jewellery or well…pretty much anything, Gracia is the best place to go. This ‘barrio’ of Barcelona is the most bohemian in the entire city and the fact that there’s no shopping centre or one main high street is the secret to its charm. The small winding roads have dozens and dozens of unique boutiques that will have you salivating at the very sight of them. So, grab a pair of comfy shoes and throw yourself into some back street exploring as it’s the only way to find the best places in Barcelona.

Valentino in Paris

Stay calm girls! Don’t get over excited! They’re just dresses right? Wrong! Until the 21^st of September you can see a collection of over 200 of Valentino’s finest creations. Drool over the designs, dream about the fabric and fall for the elegance; this exhibition is dedicated to one of Italy’s most well renowned designers’ gown collection.

It is possibly every girl’s dream to wear a ‘Valentino’ and we’re all absolutely green with envy about Sarah Jessica Parker wearing that dress for Cary’s wedding in the Sex and The City film. Fair enough you won’t actually be able to wear any of them, and probably won’t get anywhere near as to be able to touch them, but who cares when you can stare at 200, that’s 200, Valentino gowns.

If you need any more persuasion, check out the official website;

http://www.lesartsdecoratifs.fr/fr/02museemode/valentino/page02.html

Hmmm, I wonder how tight security is!!

Oh and make sure to book your Paris accommodation well in advance; whether it be a Paris hotel or an apartment in Paris, it's a beautiful city and there's no doubt you'll have a good time even if you don't like fashion.

Urban Art Tours in Paris

So, you’ve visited the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, the Champs Elysées and the Picasso Museum. Some true Parisian classics. But have you visited the real art of Paris. This may sound ridiculous, but there’s a new art emerging from the streets of Paris that doesn’t include putting a foot in a museum. Forget about the usual tourist attractions, the ones you’ve seen a million times; anyone who is truly interested in art needs to read on and learn about the best hidden secret of Paris; Urban Art.

To many, Urban Art is synonymous to vandalism. Graffiti; destruction. However, we’re not simply talking about tags (those scribbles you often see on walls) but some actual pieces of art. Graffiti has come a long way since the days when groups of fourteen year olds congregated around street corners with a can of spray paint just to write their name in an incomprehensible scribble on a backstreet wall. Urban art is about creating a statement; political, cultural and social. This is why many artists have been working on the streets for years; the pure pleasure of creating and the statement that it projects is enough for the artists. Receiving millions of dollars for a piece is not on their list of priorities, although it is a bonus and it does happen; just look at Banksy for example.

If the politics behind urban art has inspired you to discover this new world, then a trip to Paris is a real must. There is even a company that does tours of Paris’s best street art. They’ll take you around the 5th and 13th arrondissement and show you some of the most powerful graffiti you ever would have seen.


Make sure to book some Paris accommodation in the centre. Im sure that the Paris apartments near the graffiti may not be the best, so make sure to get your Paris hotel in the 'good part' of the city.