Markets are a great place to experience the local culture, people and food of a city. They also allow you to get a glimpse of daily life of a city and the people who live in it! While Barcelona is known for its good food and parties the city has a lot of other things to offer: they have great local shops, flea markets and antique markets all around the city! So we have gathered together and prepared a list of the best markets in Barcelona!
Whether you are a foodie, a vintage lover or even a stamp collector – there is a market for everyone in Barcelona! When you are done with some sightseeing at the Picasso Museum or Park Guell, you can stop by one of these markets to wander around and check out the stalls. The markets are very vibrant here, they have loud speaking sellers, locals buying fresh goods and various produce. A market is the best place for you to get a real feel for the city and the people in it so here are our top 9 best markets in Barcelona!
1.MERCAT DE LA BOQUERIA
La Boqueria dates back to the 13th century where the first meat stalls of the market were known to be established in the area. The market has been remodeled a few times and it went under its last renovation 2015. It is popular among locals and travelers so it is often pretty crowded. However, it is one of the must-do activities if you are visiting the city. It’s a great place to see the range of local food items and to buy some fresh produce! It is also a great spot if you are looking for a quick bite to eat!
Times: Open everyday except Sundays
Address: La Rambla, 91
Phone: +34 933 18 25 84
2. FIRA DE NAUTUMISMO
In Barcelona coin and stamp collection is a huge activity, there are many small markets just opened for this! The best one is Fira de Nautumismo, the market is popular among collectors as it offers unique and rare items. It also sparks the curiosity for other people as well – mainly those who want to visit to see the displays and to see the rare finds that the market has to offer. Aside from coins and stamps, you can also find antique treasures or eccentric vintage objects. The market makes you feel like you are on a treasure hunt and you can lose yourself in the streets just by looking through all that the market has to offer.
Definitely visit if you are looking for a local-like experience!
Times: Only open on Sundays
Address: Plaça Reial
3. MERCAT DE GALVANY
Galvany is the local market for many Catalans in Barcelona. If you are looking for a place where local people are buying fresh produce in the middle of the city – this is where they do it. The building of the market is stunning, it dates back to the 10th century and has a gothic ambiance. Inside the market is lively and vibrant with vendors chatting loudly in Catalan and Spanish trying to sell their products. Locals can be found wandering around and tasting goods occasionally. It is a well-known market by the locals but not by tourist – so enjoy the real local Barcelona market while you are visiting here.
Times: Open everyday except Sundays
Address: Santolo, 65
Phone: +34 934 14 09 94
4. MERCAT DELS ENCANTS
Mercat dels Encats is one of the oldest markets in Europe dating back to the 13th century. Unlike other markets in the town, you will see here that the items are brand-new and the displays are more disorganized. If you are a good bargainer and ready to shop, this is the place to go! They offer a lot of daily used items and cheap stuff. There are different levels in the market and each floor is mostly focused on a specific category like clothes, second hand, goods and house items. You can even run into vintage stalls if you are lucky!
Times: Monday-Wednesday-Friday-Saturday
Address: Carrer de los Castillejos, 158
Phone: +34 932 46 30 30
5. MERCADO DEL NINOT
Markets are great places to get to know the culture and the daily life of locals in a city and the Mercado del Ninot is no different. Like Mercado de Galvany, this is a market that is frequented by locals and the ambiance is less touristy. There are bars and restaurants around the market where you can relax and enjoy some local food including tapas, pastries, drinks, and street-food. The displays are organized so well and they are so colorful that most stalls look like paintings! The food sampling also continues throughout the day! It is hard to beat the prices as well since it is one of the most budget-friendly markets in the town.
Times: Open everyday except Sundays
Address: Carrer de Mallorca, 133-157
Phone: +34 933 234 909
6. LOST & FOUND MARKET
Lost and Found Market offers a great variety of high-quality vintage and second-hand items. As they say in their own words they offer a variety of “curated treasures”. They bring together two passions: gastronomy and second-hand fashion. Here you will be able to see the trendy crowd of the city looking for the right pieces to fit into their closet. You can also enjoy some live music and a few bites next to the stalls. The market is always very surprising as the location changes each time and there is always a new thing going on.
Times: Its open every three months so you can check their Facebook page for dates and locations.
Address: Check their schedule, changes each season.
Phone: +34 674 696 177
7. MERCAT ABACERIA
Abeceria is a much smaller and more locally used market in Barcelona. Here you can shop in peace, explore the food products and taste them in the freshest way possible. The market is located in the Gracia neighborhood which makes it quite convenient to reach! You can find tapas bars, seafood stalls, good cheese stalls and local ham producers here – don’t forget to taste the olives as well! Make sure you go there hungry because its worth trying out everything the market has!
Times: Open everyday except Sundays
Address: Travessera de Gracia, 186
Phone: +34 932 13 62 86
8. LA CONCEPCIO
La Concepcio continues to work its magic in Barcelona since its beginning in 1888. The market has gone under multiple renovations during the years and remains to be one of the most popular local market in Barcelona. They offer everything from fresh produce to well made tapas! It is not well known by travelers so it is not as busy as other markets in the city. So if you are looking for a less busy and more peaceful market then this is the one for you!
You can buy fresh produce and goods such as ham, cheese, olives, and wine. The best way to enjoy the market is to eat some tapas for lunch and then walk around. Don’t forget to stop by the flower section as it is the most mesmerizing area in the market with the all the vibrant colors and the general display – not to mention the amazing aromas of the flowers.
Open: Everyday except Sundays
Address: Carrer d’Aragó, 313-317
9. MERCAT DE MERCATS
The direct translation in English for the name of this market is the Market of Markets – this is an annual market festival where all types of markets are gathered together in Barcelona. The event is pretty big and takes up to three days each year. The area is very vast and filled with many stalls, tents, and vendors. If you are looking for good and cheap food the Mercat de Mercats has infinite options. They offer a variety of traditional Spanish food along with regional wine however, they also offer food stalls that have food from Europe and Asia! The atmosphere is festive and the space is filled with people eating, drinking and chatting with their friends. If you’ll be around Barcelona during October, this market is a must see!
Times: Open every year near the end of October.
Address: Av. Icaria, 145-147
Phone: +34 934 13 28 90