Where to buy food on Sundays, evenings and late at night

Key rules

• Supermarkets: Plan Sunday shopping on Saturday, because most big supermarket chains are closed on Sundays.
• Always-open options: Petrol stations on main roads are the most reliable place for food at night.
• Tourist zones: Shops in designated tourist zones can open on Sundays and holidays, so central areas of big cities have more choice.
• Delivery: Sunday delivery is mostly through apps in cities, and online supermarkets rarely deliver on Sundays.

What is open outside normal hours

Plan ahead, because most big supermarkets are closed on Sundays. Supermarket chains usually open Monday to Saturday from about 9:00 to 21:00 or 22:00 with no midday break, and most are closed on Sundays. Outside those hours, you have six main options.

Shops in tourist zones

In a "zona de gran afluencia turística" (a designated tourist zone), shops set their own hours, including Sundays and holidays. Central Madrid, Valencia, Málaga, Benidorm and the Balearic and Canary resort towns have such zones. Barcelona has a central tourist area too. The region decides where the zones are, so ask your town hall or look at the shop's door for its hours. Malls and department stores open on Sundays mainly in these places, usually from 10:00 to 21:00 or 22:00.

Small and convenience shops

Some shops can open freely on Sundays and holidays:

• Shops selling bread, pastries, sweets, dairy, press, flowers and fuel.
• Shops in railway stations, bus stations, ports and airports, and tourist-souvenir shops.
• Convenience stores up to 500 m² that open at least 18 hours a day.
• Small independent shops under 300 m² that are not part of a large chain.

In practice, small-format branches of Dia, Carrefour Express, Ahorramas or Alimerka often open on Sundays in some areas. Check the hours on the shop's listing first.

Corner shops and bazaars

Foreign-owned corner shops, often called "chinos", usually stay open until about 23:00 to 01:00. Chinese bazaars sell cheap household goods, and many also sell packaged food, drinks, snacks and sweets, sometimes basic groceries. They usually open about 9:30 or 10:00 to 21:00 or 22:00, and many open on Sundays. Prices are low and quality varies.

Petrol stations and bakeries

Many petrol-station shops on motorways and main roads are open 24 hours. They sell basic food, drinks and snacks at higher prices. Bakeries and pastry shops can open on Sundays, so they are the easiest place for fresh bread. A few 24-hour convenience stores exist in big cities, but 24-hour supermarkets are rare. Vending machines also supply snacks. Rural areas have far fewer late options.

After 23:00

Expect little beyond petrol stations, a few city convenience stores and vending machines. Several regions restrict alcohol sales after certain hours. If you need medicine at night, look for a "farmacia de guardia", a pharmacy on night duty.

Delivery

In cities, delivery apps bring restaurant food until about 23:00 to 00:00 or later. Some also deliver from convenience stores and a few supermarkets. Online supermarkets deliver in scheduled slots, mostly Monday to Saturday, with little Sunday delivery. Coverage in rural areas is limited, so enter your postcode in the apps to see what reaches you.

If nothing is open, see the "What if" box below.

What if everything is closed when I need food or an errand?

You will almost always find something open, but the options depend on where you are and what time it is.

Sunday or late evening: start with bakeries and bars. Bakeries (panaderías and pastelerías) are exempt from Sunday closing. Most open on Sunday mornings until about 14:00-15:00, and many in cities open in the afternoon too. Bars and cafés are usually open on Sundays, often right through the midday break. Many sell bread or simple food, and a bar can give you a meal when no shop is open. Some bars close one day a week, often Monday or Sunday evening. In small towns, many close in the afternoon between meals.

Need groceries after hours. Try these in order:

• Convenience-store chains. A few big-city branches open 24 hours.
• Vending machines. These sell snacks and drinks, and some towns have 24-hour vending shops.

True 24-hour supermarkets are rare. In rural areas, expect very few of these options. If you want alcohol late at night, check local rules, because several regions restrict sales after certain hours.

Order in. In cities, delivery apps bring restaurant food into the evening, often until 23:00-00:00 or later, including on Sundays. Some also deliver from convenience stores and a few supermarkets. Online supermarket orders use scheduled slots. Most run Monday to Saturday, with some evening slots and little on Sunday, so book ahead rather than relying on them in an emergency. Coverage is thin outside large and medium cities, and services change often, so check the apps for your postcode.

August closures. Many small neighbourhood shops, bakeries, butchers and fishmongers close for two to four weeks in August, mostly in cities. Look for a "cerrado por vacaciones" sign, which often gives the dates. Supermarket chains stay open, sometimes with shorter hours. In tourist and coastal areas, shops usually stay open and may extend their hours. In some neighbourhoods, a nearby bakery covers the gap by rota.

Medicine at night or on a holiday. Each area has a rota of duty pharmacies (farmacia de guardia) that cover nights, weekends and holidays. Every pharmacy window lists the nearest ones on duty. You can also check the local pharmacy college's website, look in the local press or phone the local police. At night you may need to ring a bell and be served through a hatch. Prescriptions are dispensed as usual. Some regions add a small surcharge for non-urgent night purchases, but not for prescriptions.

Frequently asked questions

Which shops can open on Sundays without limits?

Bakeries, pastry and dairy shops, press and flower shops, petrol-station shops and small independent shops under 300 m² can open freely on Sundays and holidays. Convenience stores up to 500 m² that open at least 18 hours a day, and shops in stations, ports and airports, are also free to open. Regions may adjust the size limits.

What is a tourist zone where shops open on Sundays?

A tourist zone (zona de gran afluencia turística) is an area where shops can set their own hours, including Sundays and holidays. The region designates it, usually when a town asks. Examples include central Madrid, Valencia, Málaga, Benidorm and resort towns in the Balearic and Canary Islands.

Can I buy food at night in Spain after 23:00?

Yes, but options are limited: petrol-station shops on main roads are often open 24 hours, and a few big-city convenience stores stay open all night. Late corner shops often run by Chinese or Pakistani families usually close between 23:00 and 01:00. Prices at petrol stations are higher, and alcohol sales after certain hours are restricted in several regions.

Can I get groceries delivered on a Sunday evening?

Yes, in cities, delivery apps such as Glovo or Uber Eats bring food from restaurants, and from some convenience stores and supermarkets, often until 23:00 or later.

Are Chinese bazaar shops open on Sundays?

Many bazaar shops do open on Sundays and holidays, usually from about 9:30 or 10:00 to 21:00 or 22:00. They can do this as small independent shops or in tourist zones, depending on the region.