Shopping in Amsterdam
Like other countries in Europe, in Amsterdam you can also find shopping streets, shopping centers and markets. During the sales season in the winter and in the summer different stores offer discounts of 50 % and even more, so during the sales seasons is the more worthwhile time for shopping.
The central Dam square is a starting point for main shopping streets, like Nieuwendijk St and Kalverstraat St. There you will find known brand stores together with local stores, clothing stores, shoes, music, books, accessories, housewares and of course – Amsterdam’s famous coffee shops.
Near Dam square you will find also Magna Plaza, it has many stores and coffee shops. Even if you are not a shopping fan, the structure itself is considered very impressive and unique so it’s worth touring in it or at least looking at it from the outside.
The department store Debijenkorf is also located near Dam square. It’s a more prestigious store and it is considered a pilgrimage site for shopping fans in the city. It’s recommended going up to the top floor of the store, it will provide you with a fabulous view point over the city.
Those looking for a more authentic and modest shopping experience, it’s recommended to arrive to Albert Cuyp market. It’s an old market and very known in the city, it offers many products in lower prices comparing to the bigger stores in the city. The market has many stands of fashion accessories and clothing alongside food stands, fruits, chocolate and cheese. The market is open every day except for Sunday’s. The market is a 30 minutes’ walk from Dam square.
Shopping in Barcelona
Barcelona is a city of food, sports, history and of course fashion. From the famous Ramblas Avenue up to Vell Port you will find every kind of store and in every price range. Like in Madrid, in Barcelona you will all so find many branches of the Spanish department store chain El Corte Ingles, but also many competitors’ branches, like Mark and Spencer. A recommended shopping street is the luxurious Garcia de Passeig, it has brand stores and more “simplicity” stores.
A big and new shopping center is Arenas center; it is located in Plaza de Espana, near the famous magic fountains. The shopping center was built on the ruins of a bull fighting arena and that’s how it looks like until today. In the shopping mall you will find around 180 stores, places of business, restaurants, a supermarket and a movie theatre. On the top level of the mall you will find many restaurants and a fabulous view point over the entire city.
Another nice shopping center you will find at the end of Ramblas avenue, nearby the port. It is the Mare Magnum shopping center. The road to the mall goes through a wooden bridge and a marina, this road connects the shopping center and Ramblas Avenue. In the mall itself you will find many stores, cinemas, exclusive restaurants beside fast food restaurants, coffee shops, night clubs and more attractions like Barcelona’s aquarium. One of the most worthwhile stores in the mall is Lefties, it is ZARA’s outlet store, and you will find there the known clothing in more convenient prices. You will also find in the mall brands like ZARA, Bershka, Mango, alongside the the store of Barcelona’s loved football club.
Apart from the shopping centers in the city center and the impressive and rich of stores streets, if you have time before the flight and you are interested in more shopping before flying back home, you can visit the Grand Via 2 shopping mall. The shopping mall is located 15 minutes’ drive from the airport. The mall offers around 200 stores, like ZARA, Pull&Bear, Bershka, Nike and more, together with restaurants and coffee shops.
For those looking for a little different shopping experience, will love visiting the gothic neighborhood in the city. Here the atmosphere is different and the stores are not as big and expensive as the rest of the city. This is the place for antique, boutique and homely coffee shops fans.
