Isla Cristina Market

This is a small market by Andalusian standards. Fifteen stalls under one roof means you can walk the whole floor in a few minutes, compare two or three fish counters, and be out again well before the 2pm close. Trading is a single morning shift six days a week, so the rhythm is local rather than touristic.

The hall is indoors, and it sits within a commercial block of shops at number 2, which is worth knowing if you are looking for a grand market facade and cannot find one. See municipal markets in Isla Cristina, or the street markets in Isla Cristina if you are after an open-air mercadillo instead.

Fish and seafood lead, which is no surprise in a town whose fleet works the Gulf of Cadiz. Ask the stallholder what came in that morning rather than arriving with a fixed list, because the counters change with the landings.

Around the fish, the stalls cover the rest of a week's shopping: fresh fruit and vegetables, cheese and dairy, and bread and bakery.

Staying near Town Centre puts you within easy walking distance of the market and the waterfront, which makes the whole visit much more relaxed.

If you want something a little more comfortable, Playa de Isla Cristina has a good selection of hotels and apartments along the beach, just a few minutes from the centre.

The address is Calle Emiliano Cabot, 2, 21410 Isla Cristina, in the town centre. Isla Cristina is compact enough that most of the centre and the port are within a walk of the door. There is parking available for anyone arriving by car, and the market is wheelchair accessible.