Find something unique to take home with you
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 a fun and exciting atmosphere – you never know what you might find!
El Rastro street market, Madrid
One of Spain’s most iconic markets, where each Sunday the stalls are open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Located in Calle Ribera de Curtidores and surrounding streets, it’s an excellent opportunity to explore well-known neighborhoods such as La Latina and Lavapiés. And if you feel a little hungry after all that shopping, stop off for a few tapas at one of the bars near the market.
Els Encants, Barcelona
Dating to 1300, it is one of the oldest markets still operating in Europe. It is located in the Plaça de les Glòries, with over 300 stalls, open on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. The market champions sustainable commerce with spaces dedicated to the sale of second-hand products and classic auctions which contribute to the circular economy.
Granada’s La Alcaicería
Back in the day, La Alcaicería was an Arab silk market. Today it’s considered to be a fantastic bazaar with a rich history, open daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Every day the streets are packed with stalls selling fabrics, souvenirs, and the typical handicrafts of the city. Marquetry, colored glass lanterns, and Fajalauza ceramics (glazed, decorated earthenware pieces that originated in the district of Granada known as the Albaicín) are examples of wonderful souvenirs to take home with you.
El Jueves, Seville
This market is a gold mine for collectors and a great meeting point for lovers of antiques, books, vinyl records, and things retro and vintage. The lively, colorful atmosphere of El Jueves has captured the imagination of many writers who have mentioned it in their work such as Cervantes, who wrote about it in Rinconete y Cortadillo (1612). The market is open every Thursday (except Maundy Thursday) and is located in and around Calle Feria in Seville’s old quarter, an area worth exploring.
La Mola street market, Formentera
A magical market with live music, delicious food, and full of the Mediterranean spirit. Visiting this place is a trip back to the sixties through the tales told by the artisans who arrived in Formentera back then young, free-spirited nomads seeking an alternative lifestyle and who fell under the island’s spell. The market only takes place from May to October on Wednesdays and Sundays from 4 p.m. in the village of Pilar de la Mola. There, craftsmen sell ceramics, glassware, wood and leather items, and more. They also set up workshops so that visitors can learn to work with these materials and handmake their own souvenirs.
If you enjoy discovering the everyday customs of the cities you visit, you’ll really enjoy a stroll through the street markets of Spain where each and every stall is a world of surprises!
