Mercadona in Albir is the most complete supermarket in town: a staffed fish counter, butcher, deli and bakery, plus ready-to-eat food to take home. At Lidl and Aldi everything comes pre-packaged. It’s on Camí Vell d’Altea 47, a five-minute walk from the beach, with free parking underground, at ground level and on the rooftop. And if you’d rather not go in person, there’s online shopping with home delivery.
The range is the same as in any Mercadona in Spain. What changes is how you make the most of it: when to go so you don’t lose half the morning, how online ordering works, and when it’s worth heading to Consum, Lidl or Aldi instead. I’ve been shopping here since 2007 and order online every week.
📍 Quick facts about Mercadona Albir
- Address: Camí Vell d’Altea 47, 03580 L’Alfàs del Pi (El Albir), Alicante
- Phone: 966 86 61 43
- Hours: Monday to Saturday, 09:00 – 21:30
- In summer: closes at 22:00 and opens Sundays 09:00 to 15:00
- Rest of the year: closed Sundays
- Online shopping: home delivery, minimum order €50
- Parking: free with no time limit, underground, at surface level and on the rooftop
- EV charging: 4 x 22 kW Iberdrola points (paid, activated via their app)
- Accessibility: ramps, lifts and reserved parking spaces
- Beach: 5-minute walk
HOW MERCADONA IS DIFFERENT FROM OTHER SUPERMARKETS
If you’ve just arrived in Spain, Mercadona is the country’s leading supermarket chain: over 1,600 stores and close to 30% of the market, as much as its six competitors combined. In market share it’s what Albert Heijn is in the Netherlands or Tesco in the UK: the go-to chain where almost everyone shops.
But it works differently. It runs a short assortment: you’ll find brand-name products, but far fewer options per item than in a conventional supermarket, with a heavy focus on its own private labels — Hacendado for food, Deliplus for personal care, Bosque Verde for cleaning. Less choice, but lower prices and steady quality. In that sense it’s closer to Rema 1000 or Kiwi than to Albert Heijn.
That explains two things that surprise people arriving from abroad. First, you might not find the international brands you’re used to. Second, prices are the same here as in Madrid: Mercadona doesn’t charge more for being in a tourist area, which isn’t the norm on the coast.
If you’re missing products from home, Mendoza
is just 250 metres away and stocks British, Dutch and Scandinavian brands.
HOW TO GET THERE AND WHERE TO PARK
If you’re walking from the beach, up the Boulevard
or the path to the lighthouse, head up the main avenue: past the large pharmacy, another hundred metres and it’s on your right. Easy to spot by the green awning and the ramped entrance.
By car, the car park entrance is on Camí Vell d’Altea, clearly signposted with direct access from the street. Coming from outside town, you can get there directly via the N-332 without going through the centre; if you’re coming from further away, check the routes in our guide to getting to El Albir.
It’s in the part of town with the most services, next to the health centre and the municipal sports centre, and surrounded by hotels and apartments. That’s why there’s traffic all day, but also a lot of turnover in spaces: in August, when parking on the Boulevard is impossible, you can usually find a spot here within a few minutes. And you park in the shade, which in July is no small thing.
The spaces for people with reduced mobility are spread across the three levels, near the entrances, and rarely fill up completely.
The EV charging points are pay-per-use and are activated via the Iberdrola app: it’s worth having it installed before you arrive.
DISTANCES FROM KEY LANDMARKS:
- Albir Beach: 5 min walk
- Paseo de las Estrellas: 7 min walk
- Albir Lighthouse: 10 min by car
- Altea town centre: 8 min via the N-332
- L’Alfàs del Pi village: 6 min by car
WHEN TO GO
First thing in the morning it’s practically empty. From 11:00 it starts filling up, and in July and August the difference between going at nine and going at midday is a twenty-minute queue.
In summer the hours are extended and it also opens on Sunday mornings, because Mercadona adapts this in stores in tourist areas. On public holidays it can vary, so it’s best to check the app on the day.
THE SERVICE COUNTERS
This is what most sets this supermarket apart from Lidl and Aldi, where everything comes pre-packaged. Here there’s a staffed fish counter, butcher and deli, with ham sliced to order.
They take special orders. If you need a specific cut, seafood for a particular date, or a large quantity, you can order it in advance at the counter and they’ll have it ready for you. At Christmas and Easter, that’s the difference between getting what you want and getting whatever’s left.
It’s worth clarifying something you hear a lot: Mercadona doesn’t source from a local fish market for this store, but from a national network of suppliers. Where the fish comes from varies by day and season. Being fresh doesn’t mean it comes from Villajoyosa.
For more variety, go in the morning on a weekday, when it’s just been restocked. On Saturdays and the day before a public holiday, the best-selling items run out earlier.
WHEN IT’S WORTH GOING SOMEWHERE ELSE
Mercadona isn’t always the best choice. All four alternatives are within half a mile.
Aldi
— Rambla de l’Albir 12. Open Sundays year-round, 9am–9pm. Outside summer, it’s the only option in town on a Sunday. Lower prices and its own parking, though everything is pre-packaged.
Mendoza — Camí Vell d’Altea 20, 250 meters away. This is the one with international products: British, Dutch and Scandinavian. If you’re looking for something from your home country that Mercadona doesn’t carry, this is the place. Open 08:30 to 21:00, with underground parking.
Consum
— Av. del Albir 67. More brand variety than Mercadona, and a wider organic section. A bit pricier on the basics. It also has staffed fish and meat counters.
Lidl — Av. del Albir 84, 180 meters away. The closest one on foot. Good bakery and rotating weekly deals, but the car park fills up at peak times.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT MERCADONA ALBIR (FAQ)
IS IT OPEN ON SUNDAYS?
Winter: closed
Summer (June to September): open Sundays 9:00am to 3:00pm
CAN YOU WALK THERE FROM THE BEACH?
Yes, in just 5–7 minutes. It’s very well connected to hotels and tourist apartments.
DO THEY HAVE GLUTEN-FREE OR VEGAN PRODUCTS?
Yes. Mercadona has a wide range of gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan options, like veggie burgers, tofu and plant-based milk, among others.
IS IT ACCESSIBLE FOR PEOPLE WITH REDUCED MOBILITY?
Yes. It has ramps, lifts and wide, accessible aisles throughout the store.
DO THEY ACCEPT INTERNATIONAL OR CONTACTLESS CARDS?
Yes, you can pay by card (Visa, Mastercard, etc.), Apple Pay, Google Pay and other contactless options.
ARE THERE EV CHARGING POINTS?
Four, at 22 kW, run by Iberdrola. They’re pay-to-use and activated through the app.
SOURCES
Official hours and any last-minute changes: Mercadona store finder.
Weekly deals: Mercadona flyers.
The rest of the details—parking, entrances, sections, quieter times—come from shopping here every week since 2007.
WANT TO COMPARE MORE SUPERMARKETS IN THE AREA?
If you want to compare all the supermarkets in town, their hours and locations, check out the El Albir supermarket guide. And if you’re thinking about moving here, on liveinalbir.com I write about what day-to-day life is like in the village.
