Summer in Barcelona abuzz with cultural, culinary delights

SHOP

Passeig de Gracià is a stunning historic shopping avenue in central Barcelona, where you can source everything from high-end fashion to boutique novelties in some of the city's trendiest stores. Artisanal shoppers will love the El Born neighbourhood; it's the old part of town, bursting with guilty secrets from handmade leather bags and shoes to vintage furniture and accessories of all kinds, making it a dream district for discoveries.

If outlet shopping is your bag, then 40 minutes from Barcelona you'll find La Roca Village, filled with outlet stores for all the big brands at great prices, from homewares to fashion. Or head to the Encants Vells flea market, an excellent spot for bargains, set in an uber-modern building in an increasingly hip part of the city.

Palo Alto Market is another kind of hipsterville, with its numerous food trucks and pop-up concept spaces, but it only runs on the first weekend of each month. Pre-book online and you'll be laughing as you skip the queues to discover locally made eyewear, books, bags, furniture, woodwork, jewellery, baseball caps and more.