I Went Shopping Where the Locals Actually Shop in Spain — My Honest Haul from La Marina

By Isa | IsaUnpacked

If you've ever been to Spain and wondered where people actually go shopping, not the tourist shops on the beachfront, but where locals spend a proper afternoon browsing, let me introduce you to La Marina. It has the perfect mix of well-known high street brands and more affordable local favourites, which makes it such a good spot for a real shopping day. And spoiler... I definitely found some good pieces.

I wanted to take you through the stores I visited, what I thought of each one, and what actually made it into my bag because not everything did.

The First Stop

My first stop was a store I always love visiting when I'm in Spain. It feels like a smaller Spanish version of Primark because it has absolutely everything bikinis, evening dresses, basics, accessories, you name it. It's one of those places where you can find pieces that look stylish, feel decent quality, and still don't break the bank.

I was very tempted by a pair of lace-detail jeans that caught my eye, but in the end I walked away with a pair of sunglasses instead. Affordable, stylish, and such a good find. Sometimes the best purchases are the ones you weren't even looking for.

The High Street Browse

I popped into Pull & Bear next, but the collection this season just didn't do it for me. Nothing really stood out, and I left empty-handed. Zara was pretty much the same story I had a look around but felt a bit underwhelmed by what was on the rails. There are options for men as well in both stores, which is worth knowing if you're shopping as a group, but neither one grabbed me this time around.

H&M was a little better. It's quite a large store at La Marina with a really good men's section, and I had a proper look around. I came close to finding something, but still didn't land on exactly what I was looking for. One of those "almost" shops nothing wrong with it, just nothing that made me reach for my wallet.

Bershka — The One That Never Disappoints

And then there's Bershka. The one store in Spain that never, ever lets me down. It is

genuinely one of my all-time favourite shops, and I wish it was in more countries because the style is just so me trendy without being try-hard, affordable without feeling cheap, and always full of pieces I actually want to wear.

Of course, I ended up finding something. This time it was a brown jacket, and it was such a good purchase. The colour was perfect, the leather felt soft, light, and easy to wear the kind of jacket you throw on with everything and it just works. Naturally, it came home with me. No hesitation.

If you only go into one store at La Marina, make it Bershka. I'm not even being biased. Okay, maybe a little.

The Post-Shopping Break

After all that walking and browsing, you definitely need a little break. I'd really recommend stopping at one of the cafés for a coffee and a pastry you've earned it. But if you're more in the mood for something sweet, the ice cream here is also such a good option. I'd highly recommend the mango and raspberry flavour. It's refreshing, fruity, and exactly what you need after a few hours on your feet.

Is La Marina Worth the Trip?

If you're staying on the Costa Blanca and want a break from the beach, La Marina is a really solid shopping day out. Not every store will blow you away some seasons are stronger than others but the variety is good, the prices are fair, and there's enough here to keep you busy for a proper afternoon. And if nothing else, Bershka and ice cream make it worth the trip every single time.

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Thanks for unpacking La Marina with me. Follow IsaUnpacked for more travel, food & lifestyle content — let's see what I unpack next.