Join locals in the mornings sampling the delights at Valencia’s Central Market (Mercat Central), a busy indoor marketplace. Since its opening in 1928 by King Alfonso XIII, the market has expanded to 1,000 stalls and remains one of Europe’s oldest food markets. Buy fresh fruit, vegetables, cheeses and cured meats.
If you visit early enough you’ll see the traders setting up their stands with great care. Buy a pastry and coffee from a bakery and watch as the market becomes a hive of activity.
Navigate the market’s different sections for each type of food. Browse the fruit area and then choose from salmon steaks, crustaceans and prawns in the fish market. The cured meats section offers hams and salamis. Ask to try the famous Spanish cured jamon.
Enjoy lunch outside the market at one of the tapas or paella stands. Artisanal ice cream sellers stand alongside stalls selling trinkets and cookware.
From outside you can appreciate the market building’s distinctive stained-glass windows and iron domes. The marketplace was designed and built by two Barcelona-trained architects, Alejandro Soler March and Francisco Guardia Vial between 1914 and 1928. The symbolic green parrot perched on top of one of the building’s domes is a nod to the lively activity within the market.
Central Market is located in Valencia’s Old Town and is just a short walk from many of the city’s attractions. Drivers can use the market’s indoor parking lot. Collect points with every purchase in the market to get credit towards a parking ticket. Otherwise, you’ll need to pay to park.
The market is open from Monday to Saturday year-round from early morning to mid-afternoon. Entry is free. See the Market website for details about opening hours and parking.
