A day of shopping at Spain’s most famous street markets
Rows of bright, cheerful stalls fill Spain’s streets with handicrafts, antiques, collectibles and all sorts of bric-a-brac that you’d be unlikely to find in any ordinary shop. A great opportunity to immerse yourself in an exciting and fun atmosphere – you never know what you might find!
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El Rastro street market, Madrid
One of Spain’s most iconic markets, where each Sunday the stalls are open from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. And if you’re lucky enough to be visiting Madrid on a public holiday, you’ll also find the market open for business. The stalls are located in Calle Ribera de Curtidores and the surrounding streets, so it’s an excellent opportunity to explore such well-known Madrid neighbourhoods as La Latina and Lavapiés as well.And if you’re feeling a bit peckish after all that shopping, you can always stop off for a few tapas at one of the bars in the area around the market.
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Granada’s La Alcaicería
Back in the day, La Alcaicería used to be an Arab silk market. Today it’s considered to be a fantastic bazaar with a rich history, one that’s been preserved and converted into a local cultural interest centre that’s open daily from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. Can you imagine yourself strolling down those narrow streets? Every day they’re packed with stalls selling fabrics, souvenirs and the typical handicrafts of the city. Marquetry, coloured glass lanterns and Fajalauza ceramics (glazed, decorated earthenware pieces that originated in the district of Granada known as the Albaicín), are all examples of wonderful souvenirs of the city to take home with you.
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Les Encants, Barcelona
If bargain hunting or browsing in shops selling handicrafts and antiques is your thing, then you’ll find a stroll around the Els Encants market absolutely fascinating!It dates back to 1300, which makes it one of the oldest markets still operating in Europe. Today, it’s located in the Plaça de les Glòries square, where you’ll find over 300 stalls open on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. The market champions sustainable commerce. There are spaces dedicated to the sale of second-hand products, and classic auctions which contribute to the circular economy are held here. But remember that you can only take part in these if you're up with the lark and visit the market on Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 8.00 and 9.00 a.m. A productive early start!
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El Jueves, Seville
The El Jueves street market is a gold mine for collectors, and a great meeting point for lovers of antiques, books, vinyl records, and things retro and vintage. Many of these products are second-hand items that have been recycled.The lively, picturesque atmosphere of El Jueves has also won the hearts of many writers who have mentioned it in their work. Cervantes wrote about El Jueves in his short story “Rinconete y Cortadillo” (1612).The market opens every Thursday (except Holy Thursday), from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. It’s located in and around Calle Feria in Seville’s old quarter, which means that this whole area is a marvel waiting to be explored.
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La Mola street market, Formentera
A craft market full of the spirit of the Mediterranean that’s well-known for being a true hippie market. Visiting it means taking a trip back to the sixties through the stories of artisan shopkeepers who, in their day, came to Formentera as alternative, nomadic young people who could not resist the charms of the island.The market is only held between May and October – specifically, on Wednesdays and Sundays starting at 4:00 p.m., in the town of Pilar de la Mola. The craftsmen sell ceramics, glassware, wood and leather items, and more. But they also set up workshops so that visitors can learn how to work with materials and create their own handmade items. It's an absolute dream of a fair, with live music, delicious dishes and a truly cosy atmosphere.
If you enjoy getting to know daily life in the cities you visit, you will love strolling through the streets of the Spanish street markets, where every stall is a real treasure trove of surprises!
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