Encants Vells - La Fira de Bellcaire

The most important outdoor market of Barcelona has an official name (La Fira de Bellcaire) but its popular name (Encantes, Encants in Catalan) is better known than the official. And Encantes are the Encantes Vells (old) because there are the Encantes Nous (new), but when the locals say Encantes they mean the old ones.

The Encants is an outdoor market but now, not that much. Not long ago the market was situated on a ground next to the present and under the clear sky; today the Encantes are protected by a vanguard structure. It really seems not to be the same (and possibly many people think so) but the truth is that modern and old are united in harmony.

And what can be found in the Encants?

Almost all: used and new furniture, antiques, clothing, books, stickers, collectors' items, electrical equipment, machinery, appliances, textiles, decorative products and anything you can imagine. Now the market is organized over various levels, on all levels you will find more or less large stalls and more or less well organized. On the upper level there are some food stalls, and on the lower all is exposed on the floor in total anarchy. A vinyl, a vhs video between rests of a lamp of the last century, fabrics, boxes .. But But the essence of the Encants is the auction: from 8:00 h to 9:30h in the morning, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday there are auctions and the items can be bought by anyone who has previuosly registered. These items can only be sold in the market if the buyer has a stall in the market . And we say the essence because the activity of the auction dates, according to some references, to the XIV century,  which would make it one of the oldest markets in Europe.

The numbers

Over 500 professionals and traders
33.300 m2
Visited every week by about 100.000 people

Opening hours

Days and hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday: 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Auction: Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.

Closing days 2024

• 1 January (New Year's Eve)
• 6 January (Epiphany)
• 29 March (Good Friday)
• 1 April (Easter Monday)
• 1 May (Labour Day)
• 20 May (Easter Monday Granada)
• 24 June (St. John's Day)
• 15 August (La Asunción)
• 11 September (National Day of Catalonia)
• 24 September (La Mercè)
• 12 October (Spanish National Holiday)
• 1 November (All Saints' Day)
• 6 December (Constitution Day)
• 25 December (Christmas)
• 26 December (Saint Esteve's Day)