Barcelona has many shops in all price ranges, from chains to boutiques and outlets, so you could shop-till-you-drop! Careful about opening times – there is a long siesta in the middle of the day when many shops shut (2-5ish). However, most are open until 9pm (21h) or 10pm (22h). Shops do not open on Sundays, and many are also closed on Mondays.
El Cortes Ingles is the department store chain – like Saks (US) or John Lewis (UK). Zara is the fashionable, affordable Spanish clothing chain. Massimo Dutti and Mango are also Spanish fashion chains, slightly more expensive. From Placa Catalunya at the top of la Rambla you can head up Passeig de Graica for a seemingly never-ending range of more expensive shops, predominantly clothes and shoes. Then turn left into Diagonal for even more! Rambla Catalunya, parallel to Passeig de Gracia also has a fair number of clothes shops. There are several French children’s chains including Du Pareil au Meme (between Mallorca and Provenca on Rambla Catalunya) which used to have real bargains but prices have really gone up in the last year. Still they have very attractive stock, especially for little girls. Down from Placa Catalunya, off La Rambla, there are lots of smaller boutiques selling more unusual expensive clothes, and many more selling cheaper more eclectic clothes and wares aimed at budget travelers. There are more idiosyncratic shops towards the cathedral and in el Born (near the Picasso museum, metro Jaume I).
Outlets: there is a shop called Charol that describes itself as an outlet, on Portal del Angel and an Italian factory-shop on Passeig de Gracia.
Citadines Barcelona in La Rambla, is a good place to stay if you’re interested in shopping for children’s clothing. The nearest shops are a minute’s walk away. Right across the square is Decathlon – a French sportswear chain which has lovely, practical and inexpensive clothes for children (and adults!) Also for kids: C & A (top floor) on Pelai just round the corner from the top of Ramblas. At the other end of Pelai, on Placa Universitat is Lefties – an outlet for Zara group. Children clothes are downstairs. Prenatal is a Spanish children’s specialist (clothes and baby equipment). One store is located on Ronda Sant Pere, opposite. El Corte Ingles and their outlet called Playmarket is in Galeries del Pi, a small shopping center off Placa del Pi. That location has a really nice mix of shops, not just clothes.