The Jesus Pobre Market is the place to be on Sunday in Costa Blanca! After exploring many villages in the area, Mercat del Riurau has become one of our absolute favorite weekend activities. Its completely different from the other weekly markets in the area, but in the best way possible! Here’s what you’ll find at the Jesus Pobre Sunday Market in Spain, tips for your visit, and everything we love about it.
How to Get to Jesus Pobre Spain
Jesus Pobre is located just a quick drive from some of Costa Blanca’s best beach towns. Many people visit from Javea, but it’s easy to get there from Denia, Moraira, Calpe, and several mountain villages.
You’ll need to have a car, as there isn’t much public transportation to speak of. Luckily, we’ve found rental car deals for as low as 40 euros per week using this website.
There’s limited parking within the town. Yet, on Sundays they open up a bigger parking lot that cost 2 euros (in cash) to enter. Hostal Tres Molins is also right on the beautiful main street nearby if you’d like to spend the night in Jesus Pobre!
About the Jesus Pobre Sunday Market
The Jesus Pobre Market is held every Sunday in the gorgeous town square. The summertime hours from June to September are from 6pm till late in the evening to avoid the peak heat. While in off-season it starts at 9am and goes until 2pm in the afternoon.
It’s a small artesian market with local food, art, and clothing. This is different from some of the larger markets in the area that are mainly local produce. This style makes for the ideal place to meet with friends, grab lunch, and enjoy your Sunday. Also, the backdrop with the Montgó Massif standing behind creates a surreal market setting!
Special Times to Visit Jesus Pobre
In addition to the regular Jesus Pobre market, every first Sunday of the month it turns into a sprawling antique fair. This is called Fira de Brocanters, and offers a fun switch up to the typical Mercat del Riurau.
If you’re lucky, you also might visit during one of the different special events throughout the year. Sometimes on the street just above the Jesus Pobre Market, there will be live music and a stand set up with food and drinks.
This was the case during our last visit as they were celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day!
What You’ll Find at Mercat del Riurau
Traditional Valencian Treats: Our favorite thing about the Jesus Pobre Market is all the delicious local food. In the covered section you’ll find Valencian coca flatbreads, olives, fresh baked bread and pastries, cheese, and Spanish sausage.
There is also a grill set up on the front side where you can order toasted bocadillas (sandwiches) and drinks. These are simple but delicious, and we get one every time we go to the market. Our favorites are the black and white sausage, jamon and cheese, or figatells.
Organic Products: Another cool feature of the Jesus Pobre Sunday Market. There is a heavy emphases on organic and bio food here, and the vendors are proud to tell you about it. Things like olive oil are the same price as the grocery store, but the quality is top notch.
Local Crafts: There are some great local artists that set up in Jesus Pobre. This makes it a sweet place to get a souvenir or gift for someone back home. We bought a hand-sewn stuffed animal here for our nephew!
Beer & Wine: Some days the Jesus Pobre market really feels like a party! This is especially true on the summer nights or early afternoon in the fall.
There are some great wineries around Jesus Pobre that you’ll actually pass on the main road into town. There is a two euro deposit for a wine glass and then you can walk around sipping while you peruse the market.
It’s a fun way to taste some of the local favorites like muscatel. Plus, you can even buy the bottle you liked most before you leave. There is usually a local craft beer stand set up here and a coffee stand as well.
This is a huge draw to Mercat del Riurau, and one of the reasons it feels more social than just a normal shopping day!
Live Music: There is almost always some type of music going on at the Jesus Pobre Sunday Market. Just under the trees on the far side is a popular place to hang out and have a drink. This is where they’ll have music playing if not under the actual market roof.
Is the Jesus Pobre Sunday Market Worth Visiting?
Yes! If you couldn’t tell by now, it’s one of our favorite spots to go on Sundays. During our time living on the Costa Blanca, we’d go at least once a month if not twice.
It’s so nice to have a drank, grab a bite to eat, then take a lovely stroll through the town. We also enjoy the walking trail that goes past Església i convent de Jesús Pobre church and loops around the outskirts.
Have any questions about the Jesus Pobre Sunday Market or want to share your own experience? Let us know in the comments below!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
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We’re Brigitte and Jake! American travel bloggers currently based in Spain. If you can believe it, we started Nothing Familiar way back in 2015 on an Ipad in the Ecuadorian jungle. Ever since, we haven’t stopped traveling! We’ve now been to over 60 countries around the world, with our expertise being Europe and Southeast Asia. We love outdoor adventures, tasting local specialties, and island hopping through tropical destinations. Hopefully, our guides and authentic experiences will inspire you on your own travels!
