Colourful mural on the façade of the Mercado del Carmen market building on Avenida de Italia, Huelva

Food markets · Metropolitana de Huelva

Mercado del Carmen, Huelva

Mercado del Carmen is Huelva's main food market, a modern hall of more than 150 stalls opened in 2010 in the Pescadería district, with Huelva white prawns, clams and fish to the fore.

About Mercado del Carmen, Huelva

Huelva's first Mercado del Carmen opened in the 1860s in the El Carmen neighbourhood, but during the 20th century it became too small. Its replacement opened on 9 February 2010 in the Pescadería district: a building of about 30,000 m², with 5,900 m² of sales floor and 189 stalls specialising in fish, meat, fruit and vegetables plus some general goods.

Fish and shellfish are the main draw: Huelva white prawns (gamba blanca), Norway lobsters, coquinas and chirlas clams, salt cod, mojama (cured tuna) from Isla Cristina and tinned fish. Other stalls sell Huelva ham and chacinas, artisan cheeses, honey and local tomatoes. Small gastro bars in the building cook traditional Huelva dishes with produce from the stalls.

The market opens Monday to Saturday from 08:00 to 15:00 and closes on Sundays; some seafood stalls open only Tuesday to Saturday. It is on Avenida de Italia near the city centre, with an underground car park of more than 700 spaces, and the modern building has wide, accessible aisles. It suits cooks with a holiday kitchen on the coast and seafood lovers.

Arrive before 11:00, especially on Saturdays, for the best prawns and fish; prices are per kilo, and fishmongers will clean fish if asked. Bring a cool bag if you are driving back to the coast, and ask for ham to be vacuum-packed.

Mercado del Carmen, Huelva in pictures

Prawns, langoustines and shellfish on ice at a seafood stall, Mercado del Carmen, Huelva

Aisle of fruit and vegetable stalls under the steel roof of the Mercado del Carmen, Huelva

Shopper at a greengrocer's stall piled with fruit and vegetables, Mercado del Carmen, Huelva

What you’ll find

Butchers and charcuterieMeat, ham and sausages (08:00–15:00)Buy
Car parkPaid parkingBuy
Fish marketFresh fish and seafood (08:00–15:00)Buy
Free entryFree visitFree
Local specialitiesRegional produceBuy
Market stallsFresh food shopping (08:00–15:00)Buy
Step-free accessAccessible visitFree
Tapas barTapas and drinksBuy

Nearby places to visit

The market is a good starting point for the Columbus sites on the Tinto estuary. Across the river in Palos de la Frontera, the Monastery of La Rábida (6 km), where Columbus stayed before his 1492 voyage, and the Martín Alonso Pinzón House Museum (6.5 km) are a short drive away. The nearest beaches are on the Punta Umbría spit: Playa de la Bota (8 km) and Playa de Punta Umbría (9 km). In the city, the old Riotinto Company pier on the Odiel and the British-built Barrio Obrero make a good walk after shopping.