25 Reasons Why Barcelona's La Boquería Market Is Heaven on Earth

You can find pretty much any kind of dried fruit and nut you could want, including papaya, confit ginger and the juiciest dates and figs.

The fruit stalls sell pretty much every kind of exotic fruit you can think of, such as custard apples, dragon fruit, persimmon and plantain.

There are strawberries that actually taste like strawberries, not just versions grown in a greenhouse…

…and tomatoes that taste like tomatoes.

If you can’t wait until you get home to tuck in, then there are fresh fruit bowls to eat on the go, full of juicy strawberries, tangy pineapple and sweet oranges.

If you’re a fan of juices then you might want to grab one of the freshly made fruit juices and smoothies to keep you cool while you shop.

If you’ve got a sweet tooth there are plenty of fruit flavoured sweets – and some pretty crazy-flavored ones too – to choose from as well.

Or you can opt for these sweet offerings, made using rich chocolate and a mixture of dried fruits and nuts.

There’s fresh fish arriving straight from the nearby coastline from Monday to Saturday – look out for a clear eye, shiny skin and undamaged fins.

There are more types of seafood on offer than you thought existed: sea snails, barnacles and urchins are just the beginning.

There are some pretty impressive-looking creatures on offer for adventurous eaters. This octopus is a fine specimen.

Did someone say charcuterie? Spain makes a great a variety of different salted, cured and preserved meat products which can all be found at the market.

Of course when it comes to Spanish cured meats, jamón Iberico is king. At the market you can buy vacuum-packed slices to take away or even whole legs.

There are spices from every corner of the world ready to buy in small or large quantities.

Be sure to pick up some Spanish saffron, a key ingredient in traditional dishes such as paella.

If you like hot spicy food, there’s a plethora of different fresh and dried chillies to choose from, including a few you’d have to be mad to try.

Mushroom season brings everything from truffles to morels and more to the vegetable stalls of La Boquería.

Watch out for these mushrooms in particular which are called rovellons in Catalan and are a local delicacy.

There’s more than just fresh ingredients on offer at La Boquería thanks to the market restaurants serving up authentic tapas.

And there’s no question about it: you really need to try some fresh grilled prawns, crayfish or lobster while you’re there.

The market restaurants are a great place to rub shoulders with the locals and ask for tips on what to buy and where.

For something on the go, try a freshly-baked empanada or stuffed pastry to keep your energy levels up.

At the bakery stalls you’ll find crusty bread baked fresh every day.

And did we mention that there were so many picture-perfect spots that you won’t know what to Instagram first?