Weekly Saturday market in Archena

Fresh fruit and veg and a range of other goods at two Wednesday markets in Alcantarilla

For many expats and visitors, one of the great joys of shopping in Spain is the opportunity to buy fresh products and bargain clothes in the weekly local markets, which are awash with colour and noise as shoppers jostle for space, queue to be served, stand and chat, get in each other’s way and generally socialize as they go about the business of stocking up on food and picking out other bargains.

For newcomers, a couple of tips: don’t be scared to choose your own fruit and veg (otherwise you may be given the bruised items!), check that the amount you’re charged is related to the marked prices and look out for pickpockets. But that makes it sound as though the markets are simply a hotbed for petty crime: not the case at all, and the best advice of all is to bear these precautions in mind while rummaging, searching around and enjoying the organized chaos of the event!

The weekly market in Archena takes place on Saturdays in the southern outskirts of the town, on Camino Pago Barranco (click for location), and is a good-sized event with around 145 stalls.

Click for more information regarding the weekly markets in central Murcia, or for more local information visit the Archena section of Murcia Today.