As far as flea markets go, this one is a pretty world-class one. They have so much stuff here! This…read moreisn't just some parking lot where people sell things out of the back of their car- nooo! This is a permanent structure that's set up for haggling over cheap stuff at the mercado! First, there's an architecturally interesting roof covering, with an angled, interesting reflective surface, so you can look up and see yourself in the multitude of bargain hunters. The roof covers the crowds and merchandise from the sun, so the antiques don't yellow in the Catalonian sun. There's so many vendors here! It's all well-organized, with each vendor having their turf taped off on the floor, or in front of rented lockers where they can stash their stuff to sell on a regular basis. Everything is for sale, everything is negotiable. They have a little diner on the bottom floor. I got a cup of coffee and a tortilla to go- good stuff. There's lots and lots of junk to wade through around here, but there's a bit of method to the madness- as the walkway spirals up and over the trading floor below, the merchandise themes sort of change- it goes from clothing, to bolts and yards of cloth and textiles, to electronics, to housewares, to memorabilia and souvenirs to bathware. The stuff on the bottom is all sort of a mishmash of antique stuff. I was not amused to see American flag door mats for sale. There's restrooms in the corners of the structure. They're free- no haggling there.

We sat and dined at a table on the sidewalk. It was lovely! Food was excellent. Service was good,…read moretoo! Will visit again!

We were lucky enough for our trip to Barcelona to coincide with the first weekend of the month when…read morethe Palo Alto Market takes place. We heeded the warning and purchased our tickets online and bypassed those that were in line to purchase theirs. This place was magical even in the rain. The food truck offerings were incredible, offering tons of variety of delicious noms at reasonable prices. Eating our way through the market we shared an incredible pastry, coffee, an empanada, and paella. We obviously didn't leave hungry. When the rain was heavier, we ducked into the various buildings set up with local vendors and designers. It looked like Etsy threw up! Shoes, clothing, leather goods for starters. The vendors were friendly and met us halfway with our mangled Spanish. There are various bars set up around the market. We grabbed some Vermut and ducked in to catch some live music. Don't let people scare you away. It's totally worth cost of admission!

This first weekend of the month staple of Barcelona is well deserving of its popularity. A mixture…read moreof food trucks, flea market and music, the atmosphere is friendly and easy-going. We've even taken our dog a few times. Many complain about the €3 entry fee and the long line (sometimes over an hour) to get in. But the fee and the line ensures that inside, it does not become overly crowded and there is not crazy long lines for the food trucks (although the lines can get long, they are not too bad). Personally, I would much rather pay to get in and have a relaxing time inside, than not-pay and spend most of the time waiting in line to get food and drinks. Only advice would be ensure you get there on the early side, or well after the lunch rush. The line to get in can get too long during lunch time.