The Best Flea Markets and Thrift Stores in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain

This lively mercadillo (as general or flea markets are called in Spanish) is certainly the best-appointed in Jerez: every Sunday, it occupies the leafy park that separates the city’s cathedral from the Moorish Alcazar. In the shadow of these great monuments, you can hunt for everything from antiques and clothing to books and posters.

The Jose Ignacio flea market (named after the street it occupies every Saturday morning) is located a good forty-minute walk out of the city centre, but if you want to experience a truly local (i.e. totally chaotic) Andalusian mercadillo, it’s perfect. Its stalls sell goods ranging from fresh fruit and vegetables to footwear and clothing.

The mercadillo de los gitanos (gypsy market) is a colourful collection of stalls that can be found every Monday morning on Calle Higuela de las Coles, on the city’s eastern extremity. Many of the puestos (stalls) are manned by gypsies (hence the nickname), who sell goods such as toys, footwear and handbags – all at bargain prices.

Shoppers seeking out vintage-style clothing at decent prices will want to check out Sherry Vintage Shop. Situated right on the edge of town in a quiet residential area, this funky outlet also has a website if you’re feeling too lazy for the walk, where you can order Hawaiian shirts for as little as €15 (USD$17.60) or urban-style t-shirts for just €13 (USD$15.25).

Surely the business with the longest name in Jerez, this chaotically-arranged shop is every bargain hunter’s dream. It’s packed with second-hand items of every conceivable kind, from furniture and bathrooms fittings to glasswear and fabrics. If you can’t find what you’re after, ask the helpful staff – because the chances are it’ll be lurking somewhere on the shelves.

Bookworms on a budget shouldn’t leave Jerez without checking out Planeta ZOCAr, a magical second-hand bookshop located in the heart of the city. There’s no classification system whatsoever, leaving you to wander amongst the stacked towers of books to see what you come across (and it might well be an out-of-print treasure). If you’re overwhelmed by the selection, ask the knowledgeable owner for guidance.