The main resorts are crammed with shops and if you have forgotten something vital you should have no trouble in tracking it down. Many coastal resorts also have a good selection of household and interior-design shops where you may find attractive ornaments, china and glass. Leather goods are usually a good buy, with soft and well-designed shoes top of the list. For serious shopping the main towns of Alicante and Murcia have a good range of shops of all sorts.

Murcia

Calle Plateria is one of the smartest shopping streets in the old town and a good place to look for up-market fashions. Shops worth checking out include Spaghetti for chic women’s wear, Ylos for reasonably prices clothes for the young and trendy, as well as Carla for handbags.

Murcia’s market takes place around Avenida La Fama, near the General Hospital to the east of the city on Thursday mornings.

The Gran Via Salzillo, the main road leading to the river west of the old town, is well equipped with mainstream shops including the large department store, El Corte Ingles.

Alicante

Alicante’s local market takes place in the Plaza Campoamor (near the bullring) on Thursday and Saturday mornings.

Central Market – this mosaic-fronted food market is great to wander through just to see all the shiny sun-ripened produce on offer. Open mornings only Monday to Saturday.