One of the best ways of exploring and enjoying Alicante and the surrounding province is to visit the street markets. There we will find not only local products, such as sausages and cured meats, fruit and vegetables, which are usually examples of something authentic and appreciated by the city’s inhabitants. These street markets and flea markets are also there for us to get lost in them; to discover bargains in used or second-hand objects; to be enticed by a multitude of vintage items that are now difficult to find, perhaps displayed next to a fork or a piece of electric plug.
If you want to shop for groceries where the locals do, head into town down the Rambla de Méndez Núnez and you’ll find the city’s main market-Mercado Central de Alicante. It is open until about 14:30 and there are two levels on which people and local farmers sell all the fresh meat, seafood, cheeses, fruit and vegetables anyone could need.
As well as every Thursday and Saturday there are some local markets on the streets. A large selection of fresh food products from farmers and other items is for sale between 8:00 in the morning and 14:00 in the afternoon. They open them almost in every neighborhood like Mercadillo de Carolinas, Mercadillo de Benalua, but the biggest one is Mercadillo de Teulada which is located on Teulada 17 street. It’s very much recommended to visit any of these open air markets.
To immerse ourselves in this welter of bargains and discoveries, we recommend you pay a visit to the following street markets in Alicante:
Babel Street Market
This generalist market is one of the best known in Alicante and here you can find books, LPs, bicycles or even a teapot, all distributed among 538 stalls. In short: all kinds of second-hand items and handicrafts at the best price.
Where and when: This market stretches along the streets of Pardo Gimeno, Asilo and Guillén de Castro. It is open on Thursdays and Saturdays from 8 am to 2 pm, unless these are public holidays, when it is held the day before.
El Campello Street Market
In the province of Alicante we also find the popular street market of El Campello, which has about 180 stalls. Here we can buy fruit, food, bags, clothing, glasses, accessories, jewellery, decorative items, plants or household items. This is a market with a wide range of goods on sale, many of them second-hand and at a very good price.
Where and when: The market is held on Wednesdays (except public holidays) from 8 am to 1 pm in the Plaza Saint Christol Lez Ales, and has free parking.
Gran Vía-Teulada Street Market
This generalist market has 65 stalls. Here we can find all kinds of second-hand and antique bargains. It also has ample parking as well as bars and other dining options nearby. There is a good selection of fruit, vegetables and other food products too.
Where and when: The market is open from 8 am to 2 pm in the Calle Teulada, Alicante, on Thursdays and Saturdays, unless these are public holidays, when it is held the day before.
Muchavista Street Market
What stands out most about the Muchavista Street Market is the variety of the goods on sale: jewellery, household textiles, footwear, nuts and dried fruits, sausages and cured meats, vegetables, antiques, and much more… Highly recommended for its excellent prices, and there are some bars and takeaway food places nearby.
Where and when: The market is open on Fridays and Sundays from 8 am to 2 pm and has free parking. It is located at the Avenida Elda in San Juan de Alicante.
Alicante’s Surrounding Markets
It really is a matter of preference and driving distance when visiting Alicante’s surrounding markets as the majority, be it street markets or flea markets, will sell a choice of very similar items, some of the same stall holders travelling to different ones on different days. However, if you combine your market visit with a visit to some of the particular areas attractions, this can make for a great day out that all the family can enjoy.
Santa Pola Market – This is one of the closest of Alicante’s surrounding markets, being just 20 minutes drive south from the city. Located next to the Red Cross Centre and open on Saturday and Monday mornings, Santa Pola Market offers the usual street stalls selling a wide variety of products. Depending on what you may be looking for, Saturdays tend to feature much more food stalls such as meat, fish, fruit, vegetables, bakery and delicatessen items, as well as dried fruit, nuts and sweets, whereas Mondays offer more non consumable items.
Torrevieja Market – A bit further south, the city of Torrevieja boasts one of the largest street markets in Europe with over 1,200 stalls on most days. Held on Friday mornings from around 09:00 – 13:00, the market is handily located across from the main bus terminus making it possible to easily visit by bus which run regularly from Alicante and cost less than 10€ a ticket. The market gets very busy, with many of the locals doing their weekly fresh goods shopping, but if you’re prepared to brave the crowds there are some super bargains to be found. Within 15 minutes drive from Torrevieja there are further street markets in Orihuela Costa, San Miguel, Guardamar and Quesada that are open on various days of the week.
Jalon Market – Some of Alicante’s surrounding markets are located inland such as the two Jalon Valley markets. This is the main wine producing area of the Alicante Province, and indeed when visiting the Saturday antiques/flea market, right across the road is a bodega (winery) that is popular with market goers and offers wine tasting and the chance to buy a few bottles to take home. Jalon’s Tuesday Market offers a good selection of fresh food stalls as well as non perishables such as clothing, accessories, electronics, arts & crafts, toys and household goods.
Benidorm Market – This is another large and extremely popular market held each Wednesday and Sunday from around 08:00 – 13:30 in the area around the Municipal de Foietes Sports Stadium. Hundreds of stalls offer some great bargain hunting and with the vast crowds of holidaymakers that visit the city each year, you can be assured there are plenty food stalls. Benidorm also receives regular buses from Alicante, making it possible to visit without a car.
El Cisne Flea Market – Of all Alicante’s surrounding markets, El Cisne offers the best chance to find some genuine antiques and collectables. Held in a converted farmhouse next to the Benisol and Villamar camping grounds on the outskirts of Benidorm, the market is held on Saturday and Sunday mornings and boasts a good selection of indoor and outdoor stalls that will delight any antiques dealer of collector. Here visitors can also enjoy food and drink while listening to live music played by a variety of local musicians and bands.
Calpe Fish Market – An article on Alicante’s surrounding markets would not be complete without mentioning at least one fish market, and the Calpe Fish Market is one of the finest on the Costa Blanca. Held in the town’s port from Monday to Friday at 17:00, the market’s lovely building displays a number of paintings showcasing Calpe’s important seafaring history, and the lively atmosphere and frenzied bidding is delightful to witness.