Jávea does not have just one market but several, each with its own day and rhythm. Thursday morning brings the big weekly market to the Plaça de la Constitució, the Mercat Municipal is open Monday to Saturday, and craft markets add to the mix: Sunday morning by the harbour, and on summer evenings along the Arenal too. This guide sets out, day by day, which market is where and what to expect.
Which market is on when in Jávea?
Every Thursday morning brings the main weekly market to the Plaça de la Constitució, the Mercat Municipal opens Monday to Saturday for everyday shopping, and Sunday morning sees the Artesanía de Autor craft market by the harbour. In summer, evening editions of two craft markets join the mix, and on the last weekend of the month there's the market weekend at the Riurau d'Arnauda.
First time visitors can use this rhythm as a rule of thumb: Thursday is the day for the traditional weekly market, the Mercat Municipal is the place for everyday fresh produce, and evenings and weekends belong to the craft and regional markets. The sections below cover each market's location, times and what's on offer.
What's on at the Thursday market?
Jávea's weekly market runs every Thursday from 8.30am to 2pm on the Plaça de la Constitució, right in the heart of the old town. The stalls sell mostly textiles, shoes, bags and household goods, along with a few selling fruit and vegetables and cured meats.
On Thursday mornings the stalls fill the whole square in the middle of the old town. Anyone after clothes or a pleasant morning of browsing is in the right place, though for fresh groceries the Mercat Municipal is the better bet.
What is the Mercat Municipal, and when is it open?
The Mercat Municipal is Jávea's covered market hall, a neo-Gothic building from 1946 with its own fish auction house. It opens Monday to Friday from 8am to 2pm and 5pm to 8pm, and on Saturday from 8am to 3pm.
Inside you'll find stalls selling fish, meat, charcuterie, fruit and vegetables, bread and olives, each run by a regular trader. Morning is the best time to go, when the choice is at its widest. Between errands, one of the bars inside the hall is a good spot for a coffee or a coca.
Which craft markets run on summer evenings?
In summer, from late June to late August, two separate craft markets run in the evenings: Artesanía de Autor by the harbour on the Paseo Marítimo Joaquín Sorolla, opposite the beach La Grava, and the Mercado nocturno de Artesanía on the Passeig del Tenista David Ferrer along the Arenal. Both start at around seven on summer evenings.
The two markets differ mainly in setting and mood. Artesanía de Autor by the harbour sits on the quay opposite La Grava, with the harbour as its backdrop. The Mercado nocturno de Artesanía plays out along the Arenal promenade, right in the middle of the summer evening beach buzz. Anyone combining a beach walk with an evening market can pick whichever location suits the rest of the evening.
Is there a market in Jávea on Sundays?
Yes: all year round, Sunday morning from 11am to 2pm brings the Artesanía de Autor craft market by the harbour. Recently, the last weekend of the month has added the market weekend at the Riurau d'Arnauda on top, with the Mercat d'Origen de la Marina Alta on Saturday and the Mercat d'Antiguitats i Vintage on Sunday.
Sunday morning by the harbour is a fixture: outside the summer season, this is the regular weekly craft market, while the summer edition returns every evening instead. The market weekend at the Riurau d'Arnauda is a newer initiative and not yet an established tradition, with the Mercat d'Origen de la Marina Alta focused on regional produce and artisan food on Saturday, and antiques and vintage finds at the Mercat d'Antiguitats i Vintage on Sunday. Opening hours vary by season, so check the current times in advance rather than relying on a fixed schedule.
Where else nearby has a market?
Anyone happy to drive a little further will find weekly markets in the surrounding towns too: Dénia holds its market on Monday morning, Moraira on Friday morning from 9am to 2pm by Parking Les Sorts, and Calp on Saturday.
These markets make a good addition for anyone combining a drive along the coast with a market visit, say when the Thursday market in Jávea doesn't quite fit the schedule, or simply for variety during a longer stay in the region.
Where do you park, and what else is worth knowing before a market visit?
On Thursdays the market square itself, the Plaça de la Constitució, fills up with stalls, so park at Parking Portal del Clot or arrive early for a space nearby. For the Mercat Municipal, morning is the best time, when the produce is still full and fresh.
Two things worth knowing: around the long December weekend, harbour shopkeepers and local associations put on a Christmas feria by the harbour, with stalls and activities in a festive spirit. And despite what some listings sites claim, Xàbia does not have a mercado medieval, so don't plan a visit around one.