Alicante Shopping and Districts

(Alicante, Costa Blanca, Spain)

The Alicante area offers an enormous variety of shopping opportunities, ranging from the bustling local markets, full of Spanish charm, to popular indoor complexes and malls. When shopping in Alicante, you are never far from cafés, which provide the perfect place to rest your feet and bags, and enjoy the nearby scenery and action.

For traditional shops in Alicante, be sure to head to the Rambla de Méndez Núnez, a lively street lined with a good choice of small Spanish stores and interesting speciality outlets. Larger and more modern high-street stores are available around the Maisonnave area, with late-night opening hours often being popular. Those looking for indoor malls should head to the enormous Gran Via Centre, which is full of fashion boutiques, or the vast Panoramis Complex, which combines shopping with entertainment and leisure.

Opening Hours

The day in Alicante generally commences between 09:00 to 10:00, with the majority of shops in the city closing at around 13:00 or 14:00, for a traditional three to four hour siesta. Most shops tend to reopen once more late in the afternoon, staying open up to 20:00 and usually remaining busy until they close. A number of the largest shops, malls and supermarkets stay open the whole day, from around 09:00 to 18:00.

Open Monday to Saturday, many shops in Alicante operate shorter hours on Saturdays, often not reopening when the close in the afternoon. On Sundays, most shops are closed, with only a small selection of shops open in the main parts of the city.

Shops and Shopping Centres

Jewellers
Most Spanish jewellery in Alicante is made from 14-carat gold and is generally inexpensive, with a good range of necklaces, bracelets and rings, together with more contemporary and stylish jewellery, which often incorporates gemstones into the design.

Leather Goods
Leather goods are in good supply throughout the Alicante area and if you are looking for handbags and purses, leather jackets and coats, or just a nice pair of shoes, you will have plenty to choose from here. Many leather shops can be found in the city centre, with local markets also being an excellent place to find cheap local leather goods.

Local Markets
Alicante is known for its local markets, which take place regularly each week. One of the most popular markets is held around the Esplanada, moving to the Paseo del Doctor Gadea during the winter months, offering an authentic Spanish market feel and a memorable shopping experience. Also, a popular antiques market takes place on Sunday mornings in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento. Further markets can be found around the Paseo Gadeo, with regular street markets taking place along the Benalua y Babel, Campoamar and the Carolinas.

Handicrafts
Ranging from embroidery and lacemaking, to wicker-weaving and pottery, a range of traditional handicrafts can be found in Alicante, particularly at local markets, although be sure to check the label to ensure that it is the 'real thing'.

Gran Via Shopping Centre
Address: Avenida Gran Via, Jose Garcia Selles 2, Carolinas, Alicante, Costa Blanca, Spain
Tel: +34 965 25 06 42
The Gran Via is an outstanding place to spend your hard-earned money and is home to an enormous array of more than 100 shops, including high-street fashion with designer brands, homewares, shoe shops, newsagents, gift stores, toys shops and more. This indoor mall offers several floors with plenty of cafés if you need to take a break.

Plaza Mar 2 Shopping Centre
Address: Centre Commercial Plaza Mar 2, Avenida de Denia, Alicante, 03016, Costa Blanca, Spain
Standing close to Postiguet Beach, the Plaza Mar 2 is the perfect spot for a little clothes shopping, with plenty of fashion boutiques, music stores, gift ideas and impressive views.

El Corte Inglés
Address: Avenida Maison Nave 53, Alicante, Costa Blanca, Spain
A famous chain of Spanish department stores, El Corte Inglés is known for its quality goods and provides everything from clothing and perfumes, to electrical goods and sports equipment, together with a large supermarket area. Alicante actually contains two different branches of El Corte Inglés, situated close to each other and specialising in a range of different products.

Panoramis Complex
Address: Calle Muella de Poniente 6, Alicante, Costa Blanca, Spain
A popular mall, the vast Panoramis Complex overlooks the main harbour area and contains a large number of shops, together with an enormous multi-screen cinema complex, several restaurants and bars, and impressive sea views. The Panoramis Complex is actually open 24 hours a day and is the perfect place for some late-night shopping and entertainment.

Mercado Central
Address: Avenida de Alfonso el Sabio, Alicante, Costa Blanca, Spain
The Mercado Central can be found in a particularly historic building and attracts large numbers of market traders who come here to sell all kinds of fresh produce, including fruit, vegetables, cheeses, meats, fish and bread, together with hot snacks and local specialities.