Do you want to take home more souvenirs than you can fit in your carry-on luggage? Did the zipper on your trusty suitcase break while you were packing it, and you’re finally convinced you need a new one?
There are times when you are in a new city and you’re in need of a new suitcase. But to avoid the tourist straps in the center and the typically overpriced suitcases at the airport, you need to know where else to go. So it’s good that you stopped by.
To save you time and help you keep exploring, we’ve rounded up the best stores to buy suitcases for every budget in the city of Barcelona.
El Corte Inglès
El Corte Inglès is one of the biggest and oldest department stores in town. Conveniently located at Plaça de Catalunya, the city center of Barcelona, El Corte Inglès has arguably the best selection of luggage brands and sizes of all other stores on our list.
Head to this store if you’re looking for premium luggage brands in the mid- to high-end price range, including American Tourister, Delsey, Eastpack, Samsonite, and United Colors of Benetton, to name a few.
Where to find it: Plaça de Catalunya, 14, 08002 Barcelona, Spain
When to go there: From Monday to Saturday from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm
Baqs Pere Antich
Baqs is a well-known luggage store here in Barcelona, and the Baqs Pere Antich store on Carrer del Consolat de Mar in the Gothic Quarter has a great location for anyone staying in Ciutat Vella, that is, in the old town.
Where to find it: Carrer del Consolat de Mar, 19, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
When to go there: Mondays from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, then 4:30 pm – 8:30 pm; from Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 am to 8:30 pm (closed on Saturdays)
Carrefour in Westfield Glòries
Carrefour is a French retailer and wholesaler with a strong presence in Barcelona.
Most Carrefour stores in the city are grocery stores, and you won’t find suitcases there. But the stores in the two Westfield shopping centers—Westfield Glories, our pick, and Westfield La Maquinista at the end of the city near Badalona—are hypermarkets that offer a good selection of travel cases.
Go to Carrefour if you’re looking for an inexpensive yet high-quality suitcase, and you aren’t necessarily interested in a particular premium brand.
Where to find it: Floor 0, Westfield Glòries shopping center, Avinguda Diagonal, 208, Barcelona 08018 Barcelona, Spain
When to go there: From Monday to Friday from 9:30 am to 10:00 pm (Closed on Saturdays and Sundays)
The Samsonite Store in Barcelona
If you’re a Samsonite traveler, as my wife and I are, why not go directly to the official Samsonite store in town? You know the brand, you know the suitcases, and you know the famed Samsonite warranty—so why risk it with something else?
Where to find it: Paseo de Gracia, 21, 08007 Barcelona, Spain
When to go there: From Monday to Saturday from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm (closed on Saturdays)
How to Shop for a Suitcase in Catalan and Spanish
Most websites claim that almost everyone in Barcelona speaks English, but that’s simply not true. If you want to find your way around the city, you need to know at least a little Catalan or Spanish.
In Catalan, “bag” is bossa, and “suitcase” is maleta (or maleta de viatge for “travel suitcase”).
In Spanish, “bag” is bolsa, and “suitcase” is also maleta (or maleta de viaje for “travel suitcase”).
| Size | In Catalan | In Spanish |
|---|---|---|
| Laptop bag | Bossa per a portàtil | Bolsa para portátil |
| Travel bag | Bossa de viatge | Bolsa de viaje |
| Carry-on suitcase (Cabin suitcase) | Maleta de mà (Maleta de cabina) | Maleta de mano (Maleta de cabina) |
| Medium suitcase | Maleta mitjana | Maleta mediana |
| Large suitcase | Maleta gran | Maleta grande |
If you go to a department store or hypermarket and find yourself in need of directions, in Catalan, “Excuse me, where are the suitcases?” is “Disculpeu, on són les maletes?” In Spanish, it’s “Disculpe, ¿dónde están las maletas?”
“I’m looking for a carry-on suitcase” in Catalan is “Buscant una maleta de mà.” In Spanish, it’s “Busco una maleta de mano.” (Replace the last three words with any of the terms from the table above depending on the type of travel bag or suitcase you need.)