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La Boqueria and Barcelona's food markets: opening hours and visiting rules

When La Boqueria and Barcelona's other big markets open, the rules for visitor groups, and what the renovation will change.

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The colourful wave-shaped roof of Santa Caterina market
The roof of Santa Caterina market.Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK · CC BY 2.0
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Sources (5)

Barcelona's food markets are working markets first: the city runs them for the people who shop there, and it has set rules to keep them that way. La Boqueria on La Rambla opens Monday to Saturday, 8:00 to 20:30, and is closed on Sundays.

La Boqueria

The Mercat de Sant Josep, La Boqueria, opens Monday to Saturday from 8:00 to 20:30; the nearest metro is Liceu (L3). It opens on a few Sundays before Christmas, which the city announces each year.

A renovation is under way: smaller works start after the summer of 2026, the central fish stalls are expected to move temporarily to Plaça de la Gardunya, and the main works on the roof and structure run from 2027 to 2029, with trading continuing where possible.

Rules for visitors

The Modernista sign over the entrance to the Mercat de Sant Josep, La Boqueria
The entrance to La Boqueria on La Rambla.Moheen Reeyad · CC BY-SA 4.0

Tour groups of 15 or more with a guide cannot enter La Boqueria on Fridays and Saturdays from April to October, all day. The rule dates from 2017 and the City Council restated it in August 2026.

Security staff can ask visitors to leave if they block the aisles, handle food to photograph it, eat or drink outside the eating areas, or make a lot of noise. In the streets of Ciutat Vella, guided groups are capped at 20 people.

Opening hours of the city's main markets
MarketOpening hours
La BoqueriaMonday to Saturday 8:00–20:30
Santa CaterinaTue, Thu, Fri 7:30–20:30; Mon, Wed, Sat 7:30–14:30 (September to June)
Sant AntoniMonday to Saturday 8:00–20:30
La ConcepcióMon and Sat 8:00–15:00; Tue to Fri 8:00–20:00
La LlibertatMon to Fri 8:00–20:30; Sat 8:00–15:00
El NinotMon to Thu 8:00–20:00; Fri and Sat 8:00–17:00

From the City Council's markets institute, checked on 12 October 2026. Market hours are the building's; individual stalls set their own.

Sunday book market at Sant Antoni

Around Sant Antoni market, the Sunday book, comics and collectables market runs every Sunday from 8:30 to 14:00, including Sundays that are public holidays.

Tips

  • Check the day: hours vary by market and by weekday, as the table shows.
  • Monday afternoons are short at Santa Caterina and La Concepció, which close at 14:30 and 15:00.
  • Buy something: these are food markets, and the stallholders' living depends on sales, not footfall.
Is La Boqueria open on Sundays?
No. It opens Monday to Saturday from 8:00 to 20:30, plus a few Sundays before Christmas announced each year.
Can tour groups visit La Boqueria?
Not groups of 15 or more with a guide on Fridays and Saturdays from April to October.
What time does La Boqueria close?
At 20:30, Monday to Saturday; each stall sets its own hours within that.

Keep reading

Sources

This page cites official and primary sources. If you spot an error, let us know.

  1. Mercat de Sant Josep - la Boqueria — Institut Municipal de Mercats de Barcelona
  2. Mercat de Santa Caterina — Institut Municipal de Mercats de Barcelona
  3. Mercat de Sant Antoni — Institut Municipal de Mercats de Barcelona
  4. Mercat dominical de Sant Antoni — Institut Municipal de Mercats de Barcelona
  5. Nota sobre la reforma de la Boqueria (27.08.2026) — Ajuntament de Barcelona

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