Whether you are a bargain hunter who loves nothing more than a good rummage through other peoples bric a brac or merely looking to while away your time soaking up the atmosphere of a typical Spanish market, there is more than enough variety on display at the various markets to satisfy your curiosity.

The spanish markets fall into two distinct categories: brand new goods and second hand items. The former provides an array of good quality leather items such as belts, handbags and shoes, a must have for most women, to clothing stalls offering reasonable items through to the expected fruit n veg stalls. These, incidentally, are considerably cheaper than those on display in the supermarkets if you are on a budget conscious, self-catering holiday. The only draw back to this style of market is that the type of goods on offer tend to be repeated every fifth or sixth stall, thereby negating the need to explore the entire market.

The traditional car boot sale offers a different insight into Spanish life with hawkers proclaiming their wares and particular deals of the day in a vigorous fashion, sometimes almost too insistently if you happen to linger too long on their stall. As expected in a market of this nature, the variety of goods is fairly wide, from furniture, electrical goods, mobile phones to haberdashery, carpets and rugs.

The market held at the feria ground in Fuengirola, which means fair in English, is where traditional Spanish fairs are held on the numerous bank holidays the Spanish appear to have. It is one of the largest local markets on a Saturday and has a surprisingly wide range of goods with varying degrees of quality.

As you approach the entrance to the feria ground, you will be serenaded by a group of native American Indians kitted out in full headdress and leather outfits. They are a regular feature on Saturday mornings and have their own CD’s for sale. Admittedly, this is not Spanish in the slightest but it seems to be fairly popular with everyone so until their public get bored, I’m sure they will continue to be regulars here. Indeed, it certainly adds a different flavour to the day as you browse amongst the stalls. Imagine, if you will, buying a second hand car whilst listening to the chimes of pan pipes because yes, at this car boot sale, there are even cars for sale. Only in Spain!

If you are looking for antique pieces of furniture there are a number of stalls with interesting pieces on display. Within this category, some quite impressive carved ivory tusks are usually to be found amidst this type of ware and would make for striking additions to any home. High standards of paintings depicting typical Spanish scenes such as the white washed hilltop village look can also be found. There are a number of jewellery stalls to explore with prices ranging from 1 euro upwards selling ethnic style necklaces and earrings to silver, gold and precious stone items.

There are a number of clothing stalls throughout the market with items ranging from 1 euro upwards. The majority of clothes are, of course, second hand, but if you look carefully, you will spy a few stalls stocking brand new English clothing at a fraction of the cost that you would expect to pay in England. Brands vary from Wallis, M & S to Kickers, Hugo Boss and Jasper Conran. One such stall belongs to an English couple, Lyn and Dave, who moved to Spain 3 years ago and have been running the stall for the past year. Some stalls have a small selection of the traditional, brightly coloured flamenco dresses and for any parents of little girls who love to dress up, the dresses are an absolute must. They also serve as a gentle reminder that you are in fact in Spain, a detail which, due to the predominance of English bars in the area, you could actually forget where you are at times. Andalucia is also the region where the flamenco originated.

If you run short of reading material whilst on holiday for those days spent lazing on the beach, these are ideal places to pick up second hand books in English, costing from 1 euro. Some stalls offer contemporary new magazines for sale such as Cosmo, Nuts etc. However, these are usually a month or so behind the time but this is reflected in the price. New editions can of course be purchased in the tourist shops along the seafront but at hugely inflated prices.

Another feature of the markets that you will find is the unmistakeable presence of hustlers trying to flog pirate CD’s and DVD’s of the latest smash hit Hollywood blockbusters. A word to the wise here, whilst the quality of the CD’s are generally perfect, the same cannot be said of the DVD’s. As long as you use the same common sense that you would at home, as in, if you think it’s too good to be true, it probably is etc then you won’t go far wrong in this area.

There are ample places to stop for refreshments at Fuengirola as there is a row of cafes running parallel to the market which are usually packed to the rafters mid morning. At the other markets, you will find a mobile seller pushing a trolley full of bottles of water, soft drinks and even beers, up and down the stalls. If there is ever any sign of a police presence, you might notice these mobile vendors make a sudden dash for freedom, clattering trolley wheels included, which makes for a rather comical spectacle, as, like anywhere else in the world, licences are required to sell their goods.

The observant amongst you may well encounter some lively arguments amongst the Spanish as you ramble around, complete with raised voices and wild gesticulations of the hands as they try to sort out whatever dispute has arisen. In extreme cases, the police will appear and the whole incident can take some time to be resolved. As an innocent bystander, it can be quite amusing to watch the drama unfold as the emotions of the participants can run very high. Another interesting feature is the number of bystanders who will actually involve themselves in the issue whether they were originally involved or not and before you know it, the number of people shouting and waving their arms about has risen dramatically.

The majority of stall holders know some basic English but, as you will find, the nationality of the traders varies from Spanish, English and Scandinavian. This results in the market place having a vibrant, bustling, cosmopolitan spirit. A useful phrase to enquire about the cost of items is, quanto valet or que precio, what’s the price. Be careful to pronounce the ‘v’ as a ‘b’ though, otherwise you might well receive some quizzical looks. On the whole though, the Spanish are very patient with non native speakers and do appreciate, however small, your attempts to speak their language. If you are a regular at markets, then haggling over the price is the order of the day here. Though not a traditional concept for the English I accept, it is definitely worth asking for a reduction as the majority of stalls will oblige you. Of course, which market you visit will be dependant on your location but as long as you go with an open mind, your visit should be an enjoyable one with some delicious bargains to boot.

Fuengirola Tuesday & Saturday 9am-2pm Feria Ground
Benalmadena Wednesday 9am-2pm Adjacent to Paloma Park
Nerja Sunday 9am- 2pm Calle Cisne