Many supermarkets across Spain will open this Saturday, November 1, despite the All Saints’ Day holiday.
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If you’re planning your weekly shop this weekend, here’s a quick heads-up: this Saturday, November 1, is All Saints’ Day – and it’s a national holiday in Spain.
That means the usual Saturday grocery run could get tricky, as many supermarkets and shops will keep their doors closed or shorten their hours.
Every November 1, Spain celebrates El Día de Todos los Santos – a day to honour saints and loved ones who have passed away. It’s what Spaniards call a “red day”, a public holiday observed across the country. Normally, every town and region has its own patron saint’s holiday, but this is one of those rare days where the whole country shuts down at once.
This year, though, it falls on a Saturday – a day most people rely on to restock their fridges. And since no autonomous community has chosen to move the holiday to Monday, Saturday shoppers could find themselves facing locked doors and dark shopfronts. Still, not every chain is closing completely. Some of Spain’s biggest supermarket brands are bending their rules a little, keeping certain stores open — though often just for a few hours.
Mercadona: Some stores will open, others will stay shut
Let’s start with Mercadona, Spain’s supermarket giant. The chain is known for being strict about its hours – open from 9am to 9:30pm, Monday to Saturday, and always closed on Sundays and public holidays. But this year, they’re making an exception.
The Valencian-based company confirmed that many Mercadona stores will open this Saturday from 9am to 3pm to help people squeeze in their shopping before the weekend.
However, not all Mercadonas are following that plan. Locations in Galicia, the Basque Country, Navarra, and some provinces like Huesca (Aragon) will remain closed for the entire day. If you’re not sure about your local store, you can check directly through Mercadona’s online store locator, which lists all updated opening times by region.
Lidl, Carrefour and Alcampo: Most will open, but check first
Lidl is taking a slightly more flexible approach. Most of its stores will be open on Saturday, November 1, though a few may reduce their hours. Usually, Lidl supermarkets trade from 9am to 10pm, but this can change on holidays depending on the location. It’s best to double-check online before heading out – every store sets its own schedule.
Carrefour, on the other hand, plans to keep most of its stores open – including Carrefour Market, Carrefour Express and Carrefour Bio. The French chain said that shops already authorised to open on Sundays and holidays will operate as usual on Saturday, though smaller local branches may adjust their hours. You can find specific information through Carrefour’s store search tool.
Alcampo will also open many of its supermarkets across Spain, with some keeping normal Saturday hours and others operating reduced timetables. As always, checking the Alcampo store locator is your safest bet.
Aldi, Dia, Supercor and Hipercor: Mixed opening hours
Aldi stores across Spain will mostly stick to their standard hours — 9am to 9pm — though the company has confirmed that certain branches will close earlier due to the national holiday. Others, especially those with special Sunday permissions, will open for limited hours. Use Aldi’s store locator to see if your local one is trading.
Dia supermarkets authorised to open on Sundays and public holidays will also raise their shutters on All Saints’ Day, although many will close earlier than usual. Again, checking the Dia store finder before you leave the house could save you a wasted trip.
For those who prefer shopping at Supercor or Hipercor, there’s good news – both brands, part of the El Corte Inglés group, will follow their usual Sunday and holiday timetables, so you’ll still be able to do a grocery run.
Plan ahead – or you could be left empty-handed
If there’s one takeaway from this weekend’s holiday chaos, it’s to plan your shopping early. Even though several supermarket chains will stay open for a few hours, many smaller stores, local markets, and independent shops will be completely closed.
It’s also worth noting that opening hours can vary even within the same chain, depending on the local regulations and the town’s size. In large cities like Madrid, Barcelona or Valencia, you’ll probably find more options open, while smaller towns and rural areas will feel much quieter.
So before you grab your shopping bags on Saturday morning, take two minutes to check your local store’s opening hours online. A quick look at the supermarket locator could make all the difference between a full fridge — and an empty one on a long holiday weekend.