If you're staying in a holiday rental in Calpe — which, honestly, is the smartest way to do it — one of the first things you'll want to know is where to shop. Where do you grab breakfast supplies on arrival? Which supermarket has the best wine selection under €5? Is there a local market worth dragging yourself out of bed early for? After a decade living on the Costa Blanca, I can answer all of this.
Shopping in Calpe is genuinely enjoyable once you know the lay of the land. The town is compact enough that nothing is far, but spread out enough that knowing which shop to head to saves real time. Here's the full guide.
Supermarkets in Calpe: Which One Should You Use?
Mercadona — The Local Favourite
The larger Mercadona is on Avenida de la Masia, close to the Arenal Bol beach area — easy to reach if you're staying in the southern part of town. Stock up here on your first day: olive oil, fresh fruit, jamón, manchego, and a few bottles of wine will set you up beautifully for self-catering.
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Consum — Good for Top-Up Shops
Lidl & Aldi — Worth the Short Drive
Local Corner Shops (Fruterías & Carnecerías)
Calpe's Local Markets: The Real Shopping Experience
The Weekly Street Market (Mercado Semanal)
This is a proper mixed market: you'll find stalls selling fresh vegetables, olives, local honey, dried herbs, saffron from Castilla-La Mancha, cheap beach gear, clothing, and shoes. It's lively, local, and a genuinely lovely way to spend a June morning before the heat really hits.
What to buy: local almonds, fresh strawberries (from nearby Carcaixent or Guardamar), olives marinated by the kilo, and small jars of local honey — all make brilliant picnic supplies or gifts to take home.
Parking tip: The market makes Tuesday and Saturday mornings particularly chaotic near the port. Come by foot or bike if you can. If you must drive, see our Calpe parking guide for the best options.
Mercat Municipal de Calpe (The Indoor Municipal Market)
If you're self-catering and want to do a proper paella at your apartment, this is the place to buy your ingredients. A good fishmonger here will even advise you on how much to buy for your group size.
Specialist Shops & Hidden Gems
The Old Town (Casco Antiguo) Shops
Look out for shops selling locally produced arròs bomba (short-grain rice, perfect for paella), saffron, and herbero — a local Alicante liqueur made from mountain herbs that you won't find at home.
Wine & Delicatessen Shops
Practical Shopping Tips for Calpe in June
- Opening hours: Most supermarkets open 9am–9pm Monday to Saturday. Many close Sunday afternoons. Small shops often close 2–5pm for siesta.
- Bring a bag: Spain charges for plastic bags everywhere. Throw a tote in your beach bag.
- Pay by card: Almost everywhere accepts Visa/Mastercard now, but some market stalls are cash-only.
- June timing: Summer heat means early morning shopping is much more pleasant. Get your supermarket run done before 11am.
- Fresh bread: Look for the local panaderías (bakeries) — fresh pan de pueblo in the morning is one of life's simple pleasures on holiday.
Make the Most of Self-Catering in Calpe
One of the real advantages of booking a holiday rental apartment in Calpe over a hotel is the freedom to cook when you want to — or not. A well-stocked kitchen means proper Spanish breakfasts of toast with olive oil and jamón, lazy lunches of cheese and local wine on your terrace, and the occasional home-cooked paella with ingredients from the market.
And when you book direct through JV Properties, you save up to 18% compared to booking the same property through Airbnb or Booking.com — meaning more budget for good wine, fresh fish, and market mornings.
Calpe's shopping scene is one of those underrated pleasures that makes a self-catering holiday here genuinely special. Enjoy it.
