
Shopping in Alicante
The heart of the shopping district in Alicante is in Avenida de Maisonnave and its vicinity. A vast array of shoe shops, boutiques, specialist shops and department stores (such as El Corte Inglés) can be found here. Other more conventional shopping centers are the Avenida Alfonso el Sabio, La Rambla, Calle del Teatro, Panoramis and Calle Gerona. A wonderful selection of turrón (nut nougat), the local delicacy, can be found at Teclo (situated at Calle Mayor 23). The Esplanade is an ideal place for buying painting, handicrafts, leatherworks and costume jewellery from street vendors.
The Central Market on Avenida Alfonso el Sabio is worth mentioning as well. It is open from 7:00 AM to 2:30 PM on weekdays, and from 7:30 AM to 3:00 PM on Saturdays. Fresh fish of many exotic varieties can be bought from here. Campoamor, Carolinas, and Benalúa y Babel are the biggest street markets. They are open on Thursdays and Saturdays. Stamp collectors and antique collectors meet, trade and barter in the flea market held in the Town Hall square on Sunday mornings.
Most shops in Alicante open approximately at 9:30 AM, closing temporarily at around 1:30 PM for lunch, and reopening at 5:00/5:30 PM on weekdays. On Saturdays, the shops usually open only for half a day, and remain closed on Sundays. However, numerous larger stores stay open throughout the day, even on Saturdays.
Shopping in Alicante