Shops in Alava offer highly diversified products, but as a whole they are distinguished by their constant dynamism and modernity.

In Vitoria-Gasteiz, the urban activity of the Ensanche area (Calle Dato and environs) is especially rich in specialist establishments, with confectionery shops enjoying special protagonism: local sweets known as “vasquitos” and “nesquitas”, truffles, homemade turrón (a kind of nougat), Gasteiz cake, Goxua, crystallised fruits... are all local products of renowned fame.

Also distinguishable by their quality are the fashion and accessories shops, which carry names that make their offering even more attractive.

Traditional shops offer the most representative products of Álava in their most varied forms, with the Mediaeval Quarter of Vitoria-Gasteiz displaying many of them.

Fournier playing cards are famous worldwide; outstanding craft items include popular Basque pottery, silverware, leather, wineskins, stained glass, and woodwork such as walking sticks, yokes, chests and boxes, musical instruments, etc.

The "Market on the First Saturday of the Month" is very popular and apart from its commercial activity it includes a range of cultural events: visits to buildings in the Mediaeval Quarter, theatre, puppets, musical performances, etc. Other busy markets are the "Mediaeval Markets" of Vitoria-Gasteiz and Artziniega, the "Road Market", with traditional products from the regions crossed by the Road to Santiago, the Christmas Fair full of farming products or the Craft Fair around New Year.

The areas of expansion in the city constitute new, active areas for shopping, stretching from the Calle Siervas de Jesús to the Avenida Gasteiz and Calle Gorbea in the eastern area, and from the Calle Paz-Desamparados area and past Los Herrán in the western part.

Newly built shopping centres are distributed around the areas of Lakua (Lakua Centro), Etxabarri-Ibiña (Gorbeia) and Zaramaga (El Boulevard).

The province’s main urban centres: Amurrio, Llodio, Salvatierra, Laguardia, Labastida, etc., are also points that offer active and varied shopping possibilities.

Visiting Álava also means visiting the wine cellars of Rioja Alavesa to buy or sample its wine, famous around the world. Oyón, Labastida and Laguardia are villages where these establishments can be easily found.

Articles bearing the Designation of Origin stamp, such as the wines of Rioja Alavesa already mentioned, Idiazabal Cheese, or Txakoli from the Valley of Ayala, amongst others, can be a nice gift to round off and further savour the visit.