There are markets to visit daily
along the Costa Blanca North. They usually start trading around 9-10am and wind
down around 2pm. Although people may tell you that stall holders will not
barter, I can categorically state that if you offer a price that you think is
fair, and it provides him with a profit, it’s likely to be accepted. If both
the seller and the purchaser can walk away smiling, then a deal will be struck.
The goods available to you are
myriad, from clothing, sunglasses, hats and shoes, to towels and bed linen, not
forgetting ceramic pots, dishes and ornaments. Of course fresh fruit and
vegetables are there in abundance too, along with spices and dried fruits.
It’s true to say, that prices are
substantially cheaper away from tourist hotspots, so it’s worth a visit to some
of the less well known locations. To help you plan your market schedule, here
are the locations for each day.
·
Mon – DENIA (next to
Mercadona supermarket)
·
Tue – ALTEA (at the top
of the town)
·
Wed – TEULADA (Calle Alicante)
·
Wed – BENIDORM (Near
Pueblo Hotel in Levante Beach area)
·
Thu – JAVEA (In the Old
Town)
·
Fri – MORAIRA (just off
Carretera Moraira Calpe, in town centre)
·
Fri – GATA DE GORGOS
(this is a typical Spanish food market)
·
Sat – BENISSA (near to
“Cathedral of the Marina”)
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·
Sat – CALPE (Avenida del Norte)
·
Sun – PEDREGUER (known as
“rastro” market, it’s located on the industrial estate. Here you’ll find second
hand goods too – handy if you’re trying to furnish somewhere within a tight
budget)
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·
Sun – JESUS POBRE (In the
town, just off the main road through it. I confess this is my favourite, though
it’s quite small. There are few
tourists and mainly Spanish people frequent it. In the summer it’s held in the
early evening. In the autumn/winter, it switches to morning)
It’s true to say that every town in
the area is likely to host a market during the week. Here are a few more for
you to keep in mind – Parcent and Callosa (Monday); La Nucia (Sunday and
Monday); Pego and Lliber (Sunday); Polop and Benitachell (Wednesday);
Benidoleig (Thursday); Villajoyosa (Thursday and Sunday too); Alfaz del Pi and
Finestrat (Friday) and Jalon (Saturday)
There will most likely be coffee
available and churros stalls, selling freshly made Spanish doughnuts. Most stall
holders will invite you to taste their fruit before you buy, so you’ll need to
complete several laps of the market, at a trot, to compensate for all this
intake.
Undoubtedly, everyone will enjoy the
buzz and bustle of any of these markets and it will surely make a pleasant
change from the beach, but just one word of caution is needed, however. Crowds,
in any country are a magnet for light fingered people keen to relieve you of
money and valuables. Be sure to make the day a rotten and unsuccessful one for
them. If you know anyone visiting the
Northern Costa Blanca feel free to send them a link to this article.