Spanish street markets are a great way to pick up some amazing bargains and offer an enormous range of products for sale, including clothes & accessories, shoes, beauty products, household items, soft furnishings as well as some of the freshest fruit and veg around.
Tips
Fruit and veg are generally one of the best options at weekly street markets as the Region of Murcia Region produces so much, and although quality at the markets varies enormously the seconds or mis-shapes are often sold extremely cheaply to domestic buyers.
When buying fruit, choose stalls that have prices clearly marked and always ask for the receipt ("ticket") so you can check you've not been overcharged. It is illegal in the Murcia Region to sell anything at a street market without issuing a receipt, so if you believe that you have been overcharged you can ask for a refund or a re-weigh.
Watch out for pickpockets. As anywhere else in the world, a crowded market is a hunting ground for pickpockets and a top choice for thieves, particularly during tourist season.
Police are always patrolling street markets, but take a few simple precautions; don´t take a handbag unless absolutely necessary; wear a bumbag or waistbag which is more difficult for "dippers" to access; keep wallets in front, not back pockets; be careful where keys, phones and purses are stowed in backpacks; don´t carry more cash than is absolutely necessary and avoid high denomination notes and don´t put a purse or wallet down while selecting produce.
In general, shopping at street markets is a fun way to buy local produce and there are some real bargains for the canny shopper, as well as being a great place to practice your Spanish!.
The municipality of San Javier has 3 weekly markets:
Every Thursday, from 8:00 to 14:00
Address: Calle Coronel Fernández Tudela.
Every Wednesday morning
Address: Avenida Patrulla Aguila Nb: Street name has changed from Carrero Blanco.
Every Saturday morning
Address: Esplanade next to Calle Puerto Tomás Maestre roundabout.
Click here for more information about the municipality of San Javier.
