Barcelona's grand flea market
Mercat dels Encants Barcelona: flea market, hours and guide
The Mercat dels Encants is Barcelona's grand flea market. Here, you'll find antiques, second-hand items, furniture, clothing, decor, collections, and new or outlet products. Set beneath a spectacular mirror roof near Glòries, it is one of the city's most unique markets.
Barcelona's grand flea market, featuring antiques, second-hand goods, vintage items, and a spectacular mirror roof.
- Free entry
- Flea market
- Antiques and second-hand goods
- Mirror roof
At a Glance
The Mercat dels Encants at a Glance
| Type of place | Flea market, antiques, second-hand goods, and shops |
|---|---|
| Neighborhood | Glòries |
| Address | Carrer de Castillejos, 158, 08013 Barcelona |
| Opening Days | Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday |
| Opening Hours | From 9 AM to 8 PM |
| Entry | Free |
| Visit Duration | Approximately 1 to 2 hours |
| Must-See Attractions | Antiques, second-hand items, furniture, collections, and auctions |
| Best Time | In the morning, especially on auction days |
| Metro | L1 Glòries |
| Official Site | encants.cat |
| Good to Know | Some shops may close between 2:30 PM and 4:30 PM |
The market is open on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 9 AM to 8 PM. However, the commercial regulations allow some stalls to close during the afternoon break.
Not to be missed
What to See at the Mercat dels Encants?
© Jahidalgoaloy, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Antique Stalls
© Jahidalgoaloy, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Flea Markets and Second-Hand Goods
© Encants Barcelona
The Auctions
© Alvesgaspar, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Mirror Roof
Come in the morning, when the market is at its liveliest and you have the most options. Take the time to explore the simplest stalls: it's often there that you'll find the most unexpected items.
Les Encants are especially worth a visit if you enjoy browsing without knowing exactly what you're looking for.
Why Go
Why Visit the Mercat dels Encants?
Les Encants are unlike the traditional food markets of Barcelona. Here, people come mainly to search, rummage, and negotiate.
The offerings mix antiques, vintage decor, collectibles, clothing, furniture, tools, art, new products, end-of-line items, and second-hand goods. This diversity is precisely what gives the market its charm.
It's also one of the few places in Barcelona where you can move from an antique piece of furniture to an old vinyl record, then to a light fixture or a collectible item just a few meters away.
The Joy of Bargain Hunting
What Can You Buy at the Encants?
You can find practically everything at Encants: furniture, lamps, paintings, dishes, clothing, shoes, books, vinyl records, watches, toys, vintage appliances, decorative items, and collectibles.
Alongside antique dealers and second-hand sellers, some stalls also offer new or outlet products: textiles, home equipment, accessories, or electronics.
It is therefore both a flea market, a second-hand shop, a collector's haven, and a popular commercial space.
© Jahidalgoaloy, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A Stand Filled with Objects
A Unique Tradition
The Auctions at Mercat dels Encants
Auctions are an integral part of the market's historical identity. Some lots are publicly offered in the morning, before the regular commercial opening.
The public can attend the sales, observe the lots, and discover a much more traditional side of the Encants. This practice greatly contributes to the unique character of the market in Barcelona.
A Historic Market
The History of the Mercat dels Encants
Les Encants is one of the oldest markets in Barcelona. Its tradition dates back several centuries, even though the market has changed locations several times throughout history.
In 2013, it moved to its current building near Plaça de les Glòries, under a spectacular reflective roof designed by b720 Fermín Vázquez Arquitectos.
This contemporary architecture has profoundly changed the market's image while preserving its popular operation: open stalls, flea market, antique dealers, and auctions still coexist under the same structure.
Astonishing Architecture
The Mirror Roof of Encants
The current building is instantly recognizable by its immense roof made of inclined reflective surfaces.
It acts like a giant mirror: when you look up from the stalls, you can see the goods, visitors, and market colors reflected above you.
This open architecture also maintains the feel of a street market while protecting a large portion of the stalls.
© Alvesgaspar, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Mirror Roof
A break on site
Where to Eat at Mercat dels Encants?
Les Encants offer several bars and dining areas: cafés, tapas, sandwiches, Mediterranean cuisine, and street food.
The market highlights establishments such as Bar Encants, Bar la Palmera, El Mirall dels Encants, and El Peixet dels Encants.
It's not a culinary destination like La Boqueria, but it's convenient for taking a break during a long treasure hunt.
© Encants Barcelona
El Peixet dels Encants
Around Glòries
The Mercat dels Encants and the Glòries District
Les Encants are located next to Plaça de les Glòries, in an area of Barcelona that has been significantly transformed in recent years.
The Torre Glòries, the Design Hub Barcelona, and the Poblenou district are within walking distance. The market easily fits into a stroll dedicated to contemporary architecture and the more modern side of Barcelona.
To extend your day, also check out our ideas for things to do in Barcelona.
© Jahidalgoaloy, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Torre Glòries Area
Different Atmospheres
What Other Markets to Visit in Barcelona?
Food markets, flea markets, or neighborhood markets: each has its own specialty. Discover our complete selection of Barcelona markets.
© Barcelona.com
Mercat Gòtic
© Enric, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Mercat de Sant Antoni
© Barcelona.com
Boqueria Market
Getting there
Getting to Els Encants
Els Encants trades under its mirrored canopy at Plaça de les Glòries, at the eastern end of the Eixample. Metro L1 at Glòries leaves a three-minute walk, and the tram stops even closer.
Getting there
Nearby
Barcelona Design Museum - DHub Barcelona
The zinc-clad building facing the market holds four collections, from medieval ceramics to industrial design - objects sorted where the market leaves them jumbled.
Museu de la Música de Barcelona
Inside L'Auditori, some 500 instruments are on show, among them guitars from the workshops that supplied Catalan players for two centuries.
La Monumental Bullring
The 1914 bullring, tiled in ceramic and topped with egg-shaped domes, stopped holding corridas in 2011.
Sagrada Família
Gaudí's basilica is the closest major monument to the market, a walk of just over a kilometre through the Eixample grid.
La Concepció Market
A covered food market from 1888 with a flower hall that never closes - the daily counterpart to the flea market's weekly rhythm.
FAQ
FAQ: Mercat dels Encants Barcelona
The market is open on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 9 AM to 8 PM. It is closed on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday.
You'll find antiques, furniture, vintage items, clothing, books, vinyl records, collectibles, decorations, tools, as well as new and outlet products.
Yes. Auctions are part of the traditional market operations and are open to the public when they are held.
Yes, especially if you love flea markets, antiques, and quirky items. It's a market that's very different from La Boqueria or Santa Caterina and one of the best places in Barcelona for treasure hunting.