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Supermarkets and shops open today in Barcelona for Sant Joan
Barcelona is experiencing a public holiday this Wednesday, 24 June, after the Sant Joan eve celebrations, and this will also be felt in supermarkets, markets and shopping centres. Many establishments will remain closed, but not the whole city is left without options for a last-minute purchase.
Sant Joan is a public holiday in Catalunya, so retail opening will be more limited than on a working day. The general rule is simple: most large supermarkets and municipal markets will not open, although some local shops, premises in tourist areas and convenience formats may raise their shutters.
Among the chains with partial openings are Caprabo establishments, Aldi and some Mercadona shops, depending on the specific premises. The key is not to assume that the whole chain opens or closes: there may be differences between neighbourhoods, formats and locations.
Carrefour will also operate unevenly. Some Carrefour Express and small-format shops may open during the holiday, while hypermarkets and large stores usually face more restrictions. In these cases, checking the opening hours of the specific shop is almost compulsory before leaving home.
Condis, Dia, Alcampo, Bonpreu, Esclat and other supermarkets may have special opening hours depending on the establishment. Shops located in high-footfall areas, tourist zones or places with holiday activity are more likely to open, though not always for full hours.
Barcelona’s municipal markets, on the other hand, usually close during Sant Joan. This affects those who planned to buy fresh produce after the festival celebrations, so the most likely alternative will be small supermarkets, neighbourhood food shops or convenience stores.
Shopping centres will not open across the board either. Some restaurant, leisure or cinema areas may remain active, but the shops will not always be available. On a holiday like this, it is advisable to check each complex before travelling there, especially if you are looking to shop rather than just eat or go to the cinema.
The day after Sant Joan usually combines rest, a festive hangover and practical needs: water, bread, something quick to eat or basic products forgotten before the festival celebrations. That is why the shops that do open usually see more activity in tourist areas, central neighbourhoods and areas close to the coast.
The most useful recommendation is to check each supermarket’s opening hours online before leaving. On a holiday such as 24 June, two shops from the same chain can operate differently in Barcelona. Today, finding an open supermarket will be possible, but it will depend heavily on the neighbourhood, the format of the premises and not relying on the usual opening hours.