Mercado Municipal de Puerto de la Cruz: Market and Rastro Guide

Market building or rastro: what is the difference?

The Mercado Municipal is a shopping building on Avenida Blas Pérez González. You can visit its food counters, other shops and places to eat during the market's normal opening days. It works as a practical local market, not only as an occasional tourist event.

The rastro is the browsing market associated with the site, held on Wednesday and Saturday mornings. It is the better choice if you want a mixture of stalls and the pleasure of seeing what turns up. The regular building is open more often than the rastro. Do not plan a Sunday visit on the strength of a video filmed on a rastro day.

What can you find inside?

The traditional side of the market brings together fruit and vegetables, meat, fish, cheese, honey and Canarian specialities such as mojos. It is a useful stop if you are staying somewhere with a kitchen, or if you simply enjoy seeing local produce. Other businesses sell everyday goods and offer services, making the building more than a food hall.

There are also places to eat or drink. You can make a relaxed visit of it: browse the counters, choose somewhere to pause and then explore the surrounding streets. Individual traders, menus and their hours can change, so treat any particular shop you see in an older video as a snapshot rather than a promise that it will be open today.

When is the rastro?

The municipality lists the rastro for Wednesdays and Saturdays, 09:00–14:00. It is distinct from the building's longer general hours. If the rastro is the main reason for your visit, aim for the morning and allow time to browse. The mix of sellers and any special activities can differ from week to week.

For an ordinary shopping visit, you can also come on other weekdays. The building’s published general hours are at the end of this guide; particular food counters and shops may open for less of the day.

Take a look around the market

Come along on our original walk around the Mercado Municipal to get a feel for the place. The video shows a real visit, including the kinds of stalls and atmosphere you may encounter. As with any market, the businesses and displays you see on film may change. Use the video to decide whether you would enjoy a visit, then use the current opening information below to plan your own day.

From the old recova to today's market

The present Mercado Municipal opened in 1986, replacing the older recova near the town hall. The new building kept the traditional fresh-food role while adding a wider range of shops and services. For residents it remains a place for routine errands and familiar traders; for visitors it is a glimpse of everyday life beyond the seafront.

The market continues to be used for occasional cultural and community activities. These are announced separately, so the permanent guide focuses on what you can generally find here rather than carrying an old event programme.