Alicante Shopping

Shopping is often an important part of a holiday and in Alicante you will find many opportunities to purchase authentic local handicrafts, the most popular of which include ceramics from Agost, bags and baskets from Gata de Gorgos, rugs from Crevillente and footwear from Elda.

Shopping here is a leisurely affair with opening hours stretching into the evening so that you can combine your shopping with a night out. And if you hate shopping and end up being the bag carrier, then you will be delighted to hear that there are plenty of cafés and bars along the way for you stop at to regain your strength

The Rambla de Méndez Núñez is the traditional shopping area of the city, and in the streets between The Rambla and Avenida Federico Soto you will find a number of individually owned shops selling shoes, jewellery, fashion clothes and home decoration items.

The area of Maisonnave has the larger department stores and high street stores that often stay open until 9.00 pm. At either end of the street there is an El Corte Ingles which the largest department store chain in Spain. The one at the start of Maisonnave sells household items with a small café and supermarket section, and the one at the other end of the street sells a wide range of fashion, cosmetics and jewellery, giving you an opportunity to choose from and wide range of diamond rings and engagement rings! Also on this street you will find Mango, a large Zara and Springfield which is a popular fashion store for men.

There are a couple of large impressive shopping centres which are accessible by car on the outskirts of the city. If you decide to hire a car in Alicante then you will be able to easily get to Gran Via which is a large light and airy mall with a huge choice of shops selling everything from fashion to household goods along with the usual bars and cafes you find everywhere in Alicante.

At the Playa Postiguet end of the city is the new Plaza Mar 2 shopping centre which is on Avenida Denia and has some excellent fashion shops and good music stores.

In a privileged position on the new marina with views of the seafront you will find the is the Panoramis Complex. It is open 24 hours a day and as well as being a shopping area it is a complete entertainment centre with a wide variety of shops, bars, restaurants and a 13 screen cinema.

If you are doing some self-catering then you must make a trip to the fabulous old modernista building houses the huge Mercado Central on the Avenida de Alfonso el Sabio. It offers locally grown fruit and vegetables fabulously displayed in a riot of colour, along with an amazing choice of fresh fish and meat. If you are planning on eating out, then take a look at our restaurant guide which lists some of the most popular places to eat in the area. Behind the market is a flower sellers' square where you can sit at one of the cafes and really absorb the spectacle and smell of the huge floral display.

There really are too many markets to mention in Alicante, but the easiest to find is the daily one held on the Explanada d'Espanya where you can buy anything from clothes to pottery, jewellery and decorative items here. For more information visit our guide to markets in Alicante

If you are planning to explore the area outside of the city centre and play some golf or go to some of the more out of the way beaches then you might consider hiring a car. There are a number of car hire firms based at Alicante Airport who will be pleased to have a vehicle awaiting your arrival. This also cuts down on transfer costs for you and your family.

We also provide information on sporting and leisure amenities in Alicante which includes an Alicante Area Guide detailing Alicante Shopping Areas, Alicante Markets, Golf Courses in Alicante, the different types of Alicante Beaches, recommended Restaurants in Alicante , details of Alicante Amusement Parks for family days out and Alicante Local Attractions