El Corte Inglés Department Store in Plaza Catalunya, Barcelona.
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| The famous El Corte Inglés building in Plaça Catalunya. |
El Corte Inglés Department Store is a Spanish institution that began in Madrid. Now with many stores throughout Barcelona, the one in Plaça Catalunya remains the largest. It is Barcelona's answer to Selfridges or Macys. If you are looking for anything from make up to electrical goods to a tin of beans they can all be found in El Corte Inglés.
The store's old school style may appeal to those looking for classic Spanish charm, however, those in search of the shiny and new stores should head to El Triangle, across from the Corte Inglés, or the shops on Passeig de Gràcia.
In this guide I have covered what is available on each floor of the store, what special services they offer, how to get to the store and opening times.
What is Available in El Corte Inglés
Second Basement
- Car Park
- Foreign Exchange Counter
- Passport Photograph Machine
Basement
- Supermercado - the store's supermarket
- El Gourmet Club - the store's luxury delicatessen area
- Pharmacy
- Tobacconist
- Opticians
- Shoe repair
For more information on what is available in the Supermercado and El Club Gourmet check our Supermarkets in Barcelona - A Guide to Some of the Main Supermarkets in Barcelona's Centre.
Ground Floor
- Perfumes and Cosmetics
- Accessories - jewellery, watches, bags, handkerchiefs, umbrellas
- Information Desk
The store's information desk is located just inside the central store entrance. They are helpful and will call any other sections of the store to answer your questions. They are multilingual.
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| The El Corte Inglés Entrance |
First Floor
- Woman's Fashion
- Beauty Parlour
To book an appointment at the beauty parlour and hairdressers you can call the main information number (see below) and they will arrange it for you.
Second Floor
- Men's fashion
- Men's Hairdressers
- Travel agency
Third Floor
- Children and Baby Fashion
- Shoes
- Lingerie
Fourth Floor
- Teenage Fashion
Fifth Floor
- Household Furniture
- Electrical Items
- Wedding Lists
Sixth Floor
- Textiles
- Furniture and Decorations
Seventh Floor
- Electrical department - DVDs, televisions, Videos
- Bookshop
- Toys
Eighth Floor
- Special offers
- Haberdashery
Ninth Floor
- La Rotonda - the store's restaurant and café.
If you want to see Barcelona from up on high without paying for entrance to the likes of the Pedrera, head to La Rotonda restaurant. For the price of a cup of coffee you can sit on an outdoor roof terrace and watch the world go by in Plaza Catalunya. If you wish to eat a full meal at the restaurant they offer lunches - call the main telephone number (below) to make a reservation.
Special Services at El Corte Inglés
Foreign Currency at El Corte Inglés
In the Second Basement of El Corte Inglés there is a Bureau de Change. This means that you can change your foreign currency on site without having to leave the building.
'Shopping Lists'
This is a useful idea if you plan to make purchases from various parts of the store. You can pick up a booklet from the Information Desk called 'Carta de Compres'. This is a booklet filled with stickers. Rather than paying in each separate department you can hand them the item that you wish to purchase and one of the stickers from the booklet. Once you have finished your shopping you can go to pay for it all in the Second Basement.
This is particularly useful if you are coming from outside the E.U. as you can pay for your purchases tax free. There is a charge of €6.00 to do this.
Make Overs
It is possible to get your hair and make up done at El Corte Inglés, either at their hairdressers and beauticians on the first floor or at one of their make up stands. For more information check the A Guide to a Hen Dos in Barcelona - Some Ideas for How to Organise a Hen Do in Barcelona.
Christmas Treats
Due to the fact that it is not a Catalan tradition to visit Santa Claus at Christmas it is difficult to find somewhere in the city where you can bring the kids to meet him. El Corte Inglés is one of the only stores offering this service. For more information check our page on Christmas family activities.
Sales at El Corte Inglés
Throughout the year there are various sales at the store. Sometimes they will only be in certain departments and sometimes they will be throughout the entire store. To check whether there are any sales or special promotions taking place during your trip it is worth checking the website (below) and looking under 'Campaigns and Promotions'.
One sale that takes place every year is the New Year sale. It starts on 6th January, the day after the Three Kings. El Corte Inglés has a reputation for competitive bargains during this period, so you will need to get to the store early and join the queues to find some gems.
How to Get To El Corte Inglés in Plaza Catalunya
The Corte Inglés is easy to find, as it sits right at the top of the Ramblas, in Plaza Catalunya. The nearest Metro stop is Catalunya - on exiting the station you will be right at the centre of the square. The building is hard to miss - it is modern in style and takes up a whole side of the square. All of the store's entrances will lead you to its ground floor area.
El Corte Inglés
Plaza de Catalunya, 14
08002 Barcelona, España.
Metro: Catalunya (Red Line, L1) or (Green Line, L3)
Tel: +34 90 211 9368
Opening hours:
Monday - Saturday: 09:30 - 21:30
Web: El Corte Inglés
Other El Corte Inglés Stores in Barcelona
El Corte Inglés
Av. Portal de l'Àngel, 19 -21
08002 Barcelona, España.
Tel: +34 93 306 3800
Metro: Catalunya (Red Line, L1) or ( Green Line, L3)
El Corte Inglés
Av. Diagonal, 617
08028 Barcelona, España.
Tel: +34 93 366 7100
Metro: Maria Cristina (Green Line, L3)
El Corte Inglés & Sfera
L'illa Shopping Centre
Av. Diagonal, 545
08029 Barcelona, España.
Tel: +34 93 494 1758
Metro: Maria Cristina (Green Line, L3)
Francesc Macià
Av. Diagonal, 471-473
08036 Barcelona, España.
Tel: +34 93 493 4800
Metro: Maria Cristina (Green Line, L3)
(and then take the T1, T2, or T3 line to Pl. Francesc Macia)
Hipercor Meridiana
Av. Meridiana, 350-358
08027 Barcelona, España.
Tel: +34 93 274 8500
Metro: Sagrera (Red Line, L1) or ( Blue Line, L5)
Can Dragó Shopping Centre
Passeig Andreu Nin, 51
08016 Barcelona, España.
Tel: +34 93 243 9000
Metro: Llucmajor (Yellow Line, L4)
Discount Centre
Travessera de les Corts, 268
08014 Barcelona, España.
Tel: +34 93 366 7100
Metro: Les Corts (Green Line, L3)
There is no doubt that El Corte Inglés is one of Spain's most recognised shopping brands. There are El Corte Inglés stores throughout Barcelona. However, if you wish to experience its largest and most traditional store, head to Plaza Catalunya. Even if you just buy an apple from the supermarket or have a coffee on the roof, it is worth a look.