La Boqueria / Markets, Barcelona

A beautiful old-style indoor market hall. A lot of stuff to see - seafood, meat, fruit, veg, spices, ham, olives, poultry, seeds, ...

What to buy: My favourite part is the fruit & veg section... very colourful and makes for a cheap & healthy lunch.

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Mercat de Sant Josep - La Boqueria is the food market that everyone visits in Barcelona. Really a must-see, lovely, but always crowded!! However, when you walk around the Old town (Gotic-Ribera-Born), close to the Cathedral (La Seu) it's easy to find this not-so-known but interesting place: Mercat de Santa Caterina

The old market there was closed for many years, later its re-building project was commanded to the Miralles & Tagliabue architect's studio. Unfortunately Enric Miralles died before seeing it finished. The new market was opened in 2005, its most interesting feature being its wavy and colorful ceramic roof (built in clear Modernista inspiration). Inside is not disappointing, and its interesting the conjunction of the old walls with modern elements and market stalls.

What to buy: You will find there all food market usual goods. The variety is nearly the same of La Boqueria (except for some very strange items you can only find at La Boqueria or very specific shops), as well similar quality and prices. There is as well a restaurant where you can sample some local delicacies at reasonable (but not cheap) prices

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I was amazed to find this market just off La Rambla, its called Mercat de San Josep, such wonderful attack on the senses, colours, sights, sounds, smells all the fruits and vegetables I have ever heard of and more. Not to be missed even if it's just to wonder around.

What to buy: Fruit, vegetables, drinks, chocolate, meat, everything

What to pay: Whatever is on the boards, haven't tried bargaining

I spotted a stall with many nice bijoux with 70' prints at very modest prices...Fabio managed to take me away only after I bought two pairs of earrings (6Euros a pair) and a necklace (7Euros). Pretty cheap!!

What to buy: earrings, bracelets.....made of mother of pearl and painted with many different colours!

What to pay: not more than 10 Euros for a necklace

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It's the most popular market in town. The market of St. Joseph is best know as Boqueria and its a world into itself. It's very interesting for both its architecture and its atmosphere where you can find a great variety of products. It's in a 19th century structure of glass and iron.

Es el mercado más popular de la ciudad. El mercado de San José es más conocido como de la Boquería y encierra un mundo en sí mismo. Es muy interesante tanto por su arquitectura como por el ambiente, donde puedes encontrar una gran vsariedad de productos. Está en una estructura de hierro y cristal del siglo XIX.

Opening hours / Horario de apertura

Mondays to Saturdays / Lunes a sábados: 8:00 - 20:30

What to buy: There are all kind of food, flowers and handmade stuf.

Hay todo tipo de comida, flores y artículos de artesanía

What to pay: Prices are reasonable and slightly cheaper than in bigger shops.

Los precios son razonables y ligeramete más bajos que en tiendas grandes.

as I already mentioned on other Barna tips, the market place of the town is just wonderful, to stroll around between all these little stores, to have a coffee or a bocadillo or something else for breakfast or lunch. You´ll find always something new and nice.

What to buy: mainly fruits and vegetables and cheese and ham and other meat.

What to pay: You should definetely compare prices, they change and are sometimes quite different from each other. Some old stores just have higher prices for their good name. if you want to buy some ham or meat, I can recommend a little place: if you come into the market from the Rambla go more or less to the left end of the hall, I got really good prices there. E.g. for a Fuet around 4 Euro, some Chorizos for ~6 Euro/kg. There are others where you pay easily 2 or 3 Euro more.

the most famous market in BCN is La Boqueria...in fact is a tourist spot so be carefull with your pockets .. besides its located in the ***ing ramblas street eveyday dirtier, polluted with dodgy people trying to *** your trip ...so be aware pls---

What to buy: mainly vegetables and fish

What to pay: a little bit more...obviously its a better food quality !!

When I was in Barcelona a couple of years ago at Christmas time, I was staying in a hostel near La Sagrada Familia. All around this popular tourist resorts were Christmas market stalls, selling souvenirs, Christmas goodies, and your usual everyday ameneties. It was a lovely and romantic atmosphere, and we enjoyed strolling through them each day on our way to other destinations. The prices all seemed very generous, and unlike certain other places, we weren't hassled by any of the stall owners or pressured in to buying anything, which tends to be something that really gets my goat.