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Mercado Central de Valencia
Valencia's Modernista food market, completed in 1928 opposite La Lonja, where hundreds of stalls sell fish, meat, fruit, vegetables and local specialities.
At a glance
- Type
- Historic food market
- Area
- Ciutat Vella (El Mercat), Valencia, Spain
- Opening
- Open 6 days a week (closed Sunday) · 07:30–15:00
- Official site
- mercadocentralvalencia.es
Good to know
- Food stalls
- Tapas bar
- Home delivery
Why we recommend it
The Mercado Central is the city's main food market and one of the best places in Valencia to see how locals shop and eat. Its iron, glass and ceramic building was designed by Alexandre Soler March and Francesc Guàrdia Vial, who won a design competition in 1910. Building work began in 1914 and was only completed in 1928 under Enrique Viedma. The result, covering more than 8,000 square metres, is one of the finest examples of Valencian Modernisme, with domes, sloping roofs at different heights, coloured glass and tiled decoration.
Inside, the market is organised into sections for meat, fish and seafood, fruit and vegetables, bakery products, spices, olives, cured meats, cheeses and international foods. Look out for local specialities such as Valencian rice, saffron, salt cod and the seasonal vegetables of the huerta. The fish and seafood stalls are particularly lively in the morning. The market is run by its own association of stallholders, who have voted to keep managing it themselves, and a restored statue of the Virgen del Mercat is on display.
The market is open from Monday to Saturday, from 7:30 to 15:00, and is closed on Sundays. Go in the morning for the best atmosphere and the widest choice, ideally before 11:00, when tour groups start to arrive. Saturdays are busy with local shoppers. Allow at least an hour to wander, longer if you plan to eat. Remember that this is a working market: ask before taking close-up photographs of stalls, and keep to one side of the aisles.
Eating here is part of the experience. Central Bar, run by chef Ricard Camarena, serves tapas and sandwiches at its counter, and several stalls sell ready-to-eat products, fresh juice and snacks. If you are self-catering, this is the place to shop for a picnic in the Turia garden. The market also offers home delivery and an online shop for local residents.
The market faces La Lonja de la Seda across the Plaza del Mercado, with the Baroque church of the Santos Juanes beside it, so it is easy to combine all three. The cathedral and the Plaza de la Reina are about ten minutes' walk away, and the bars and cafés of the Barrio del Carmen begin just to the north. Many city buses stop around the market.
Mercado Central de Valencia FAQs
When is the Central Market open?
Monday to Saturday from 7:30 to 15:00; it is closed on Sundays.
When is the best time to visit?
In the morning, ideally before 11:00, for the best atmosphere and choice.
Who designed the building?
Alexandre Soler March and Francesc Guàrdia Vial; it was completed in 1928 under Enrique Viedma.
Can you eat in the market?
Yes, Central Bar serves tapas and sandwiches, and several stalls sell ready-to-eat food.
What should I buy?
Local products such as Valencian rice, saffron, cured meats, cheeses, olives and seasonal fruit and vegetables.
How long should I allow?
At least an hour, more if you plan to eat there.
Is it OK to take photos?
Yes, but it is a working market, so ask stallholders before taking close-up pictures.
What is nearby?
La Lonja de la Seda, the church of the Santos Juanes and the Barrio del Carmen.