If someone round here says "let's go to the market" on a Sunday, they mean the one in Cabo de Palos: it's the big one, held all year round, where half of Mar Menor goes for fruit, clothes and a bite to eat. But it isn't the only one. Between La Manga, Cabo de Palos and the surrounding villages there's a market almost every day of the week, and in summer the ones on the Mar Menor coast join in.
Here are the ones that really make sense if you are staying in La Manga, with their day, approximate times and location, checked against the councils of Cartagena and San Javier and the local press in 2025 and 2026.
Quick fact
The Cabo de Palos market is on Sunday mornings, on the open ground next to the Las Dunas shopping centre, at the entrance to La Manga. With around 247 stalls according to the Cartagena council, it is one of the biggest in the municipality and runs all year round.
The Cabo de Palos market (Sunday)
It is set up every Sunday on the open ground at Las Dunas, between the Cabo de Palos road and the shopping centre, just before you enter La Manga. It was moved for a few months because of resurfacing works and returned to its spot in December 2024 with a new layout: roomier stalls, fruit and veg grouped in their own area, a rest area with a pergola and benches free of stalls, and a food truck area at the end furthest from the shopping centre (as explained by the Cartagena council).
It's a morning market: the stalls are set up from 8:00 or 8:30 and start packing away from 13:30 or 14:00. There's a bit of everything: fruit and veg from the Campo de Cartagena, clothes, shoes, kitchenware, bags, pickles and nuts. Afterwards, the thing to do is head down to the harbour in Cabo de Palos for a drink or stay for lunch; if you fancy rice, there's our caldero guide and the places in Cabo de Palos in the directory.
The La Manga market (Saturday)
In the part of La Manga that belongs to San Javier, the weekly market is on Saturday morning, all year round, next to the Tomás Maestre marina, just past the Estacio bridge. It is much smaller than the one in Cabo de Palos (about 50 stalls) and more about clothes and accessories than fruit.
That is why, when someone searches for «La Manga market Sunday», the answer is the one in Cabo de Palos: it is at the entrance to La Manga and it is the only big one held on Sundays in the area.
Summer and night markets
In July and August, San Javier holds an evening craft market in La Manga: on Thursdays on the promenade behind the Paquebote and on Saturdays on Calle Puerto Tomás Maestre, from 19:00 to 1:00. It's a different kind of outing: costume jewellery, crafts and a stroll rather than the weekly shop. In Cabo de Palos, on some summer nights there's also La Hormiga Hippy Market, a crafts and design market with music on the way up to the lighthouse; its dates change every year, so check its social media before you go.
And from 1 July to 15 September, the Cartagena council runs the summer markets on the Mar Menor coast, from 8:30 to 13:30: Los Nietos on Sunday, Los Urrutias and Islas Menores on Friday. Playa Honda and Mar de Cristal have no weekly market of their own; the nearest are Islas Menores in summer, Los Belones on Tuesday and Cabo de Palos on Sunday.
Local markets, day by day
| Day | Where | When |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | Los Belones (around 30 stalls) and La Unión | All year round, in the morning |
| Wednesday | Cartagena, next to the El Cénit shopping centre (the largest in the municipality) | All year round, in the morning |
| Thursday | La Manga, craft market on the promenade behind the Paquebote | July and August, 19:00 to 1:00 |
| Friday | El Algar (avenida de Filipinas) | All year round, in the morning |
| Friday | Los Urrutias and Islas Menores | 1 July to 15 September, 8:30 to 13:30 |
| Saturday | La Manga, next to the Tomás Maestre marina | All year round, in the morning |
| Saturday | La Manga, craft market on Calle Puerto Tomás Maestre | July and August, 19:00 to 1:00 |
| Domingo | Cabo de Palos, Las Dunas esplanade | All year round, from 8:00 to 14:00 approx. |
| Domingo | Los Nietos | 1 July to 15 September, 8:30 to 13:30 |
There is no market on Mondays in this part of the Mar Menor (the nearest is in Barrio Peral, already in Cartagena). And watch out for holidays: if a Sunday clashes with an event or roadworks, the council may move or cancel the market that day.
Tips for going to the market
The list
- 1Get there before 10:00, especially in summer: the Cabo de Palos one has very little shade and at midday the tarmac is scorching.
- 2Bring cash and coins. More and more stalls take Bizum or cards, but not all of them.
- 3Leave the fruit and veg until the end: buy it last so you are not carrying the bags around the whole time, and late on there are sometimes discounts.
- 4In August, parking near Las Dunas on a Sunday is tricky. If you are staying in La Manga, consider the bus or walking, and go over our tips for parking in summer.
- 5If you're after proper shops rather than stalls, the directory has the La Manga and Cabo de Palos shopping listings.
Frequently asked questions
What day is the Cabo de Palos market?
Sunday morning, every week of the year, on the open ground next to the Las Dunas shopping centre.
Is there a market in La Manga on Sunday?
The Sunday one is in Cabo de Palos, at the entrance to La Manga. The market in La Manga itself (the San Javier side) is on Saturday morning next to the Tomás Maestre marina, all year round.
Are the markets held in winter?
Yes, the year-round ones: Cabo de Palos, La Manga, Los Belones, El Algar and La Unión. The ones in Los Nietos, Los Urrutias, Islas Menores and the evening craft markets in La Manga are summer only.
To plan your visit: what to do in La Manga in August and the best time to visit.
