Girona Shopping and Districts

(Girona, Catalonia, Spain)

Shopping in Girona is definitely a pleasure rather than a chore. This is the sort of city that sells pretty much everything. Shops range from small independent stores to contemporary designer boutiques and retail outlets that sell global brands.

Shoppers souvenir hunting will find a very decent mix of cosmopolitan and traditional goods for sale. In particular, Girona is home to several open-air markets, which provide a great opportunity to pick up handcrafted gifts.

If you are planning to visit Girona in January or July, then your trip will coincide with the city's winter and summer sales. The sales offer an opportunity to purchase last season's collections at a discount.

When to Shop / Opening Hours

Shop opening hours are regulated by the Spanish government, so it is relatively easy to get to know when your favourite shops are going to be open for a spot of retail therapy. During the week, standard opening hours are 10:00 to 13:30 or 14:00 in the early afternoon, and then from 16:30 or 17:00 to 20:00 in the evening.

Department stores are an exception, usually staying open throughout the day during the week. Shops are only open during the morning on Saturdays and, on Sundays, most shops are closed.

Where to Shop

Shopping in Girona can be separated into shops found in the old town and those that are centred on the other side of the river, in city's modern main business district. The main shopping area extends from the Carrer de la Barca, at the heart of the historic centre, to the Carrer d'Emili Grahit in the south of the city.

The best shopping streets include both the Rambla Llibertat and the Placa Catalunya. In addition, smaller city neighbourhoods have their own local shopping areas.

Girona's markets include the Ter River Bank Market, which is held on Tuesday and Saturday mornings and sells everything from clothes and bags to fresh produce and souvenirs. An arts and crafts market is also held on alternate Fridays at the Placa Miquel Santalo from February to June and from September to December.

On the first Saturday of each month, an artisan food fair is held on the Rambla Llibertat. For antique lovers in Girona, there is a collectors' fair based on the Placa Catalunya on Sundays.