This year, November 1st, when Spain celebrates All Saints’ Day (Día de Todos los Santos), falls on a Saturday. It’s an official public holiday nationwide, and for many residents, the question of where to buy groceries that day becomes especially relevant. Major supermarket chains have announced changes to their store opening hours in advance.
Mercadona, Lidl and Aldi: how they operate on the public holiday
Mercadona, sticking to its tradition, normally closes on Sundays and holidays, but on November 1st will make an exception for some stores. In most regions, doors will open from 9 am to 3 pm. However, in Galicia, País Vasco, Navarra and parts of Aragón, shops will remain closed. Residents in these areas are advised to plan their shopping ahead of time.
Lidl also plans to open most of its stores, but there may be changes to opening hours. Shops are usually open until 10 pm, but on this day hours may be reduced depending on the region and customer flow. Aldi will mostly stick to its standard schedule from 9 am to 9 pm, but some cities may see changes, so it’s best to check the hours the day before.
Carrefour, Alcampo, Día and Ahorramas: where you can expect open doors
Carrefour, including its Market, Express and Bio formats, will not be open in every city. It depends on local authorities’ permits: in places where shops are usually open on public holidays, they will continue to operate on November 1st. Alcampo follows a similar system: some of its stores will open as usual, others will reduce their hours.
Día will open only those stores permitted to operate on weekends and public holidays. In most cases, they will be open only in the morning. Supercor and Hipercor supermarkets will maintain their usual holiday schedules. Ahorramas, a popular chain in Madrid, will keep almost all of its locations closed, except for stores in tourist areas and busy spots—those will be open until 3:00 PM.
Plan your shopping ahead
Since store opening hours on November 1 depend on the region and specific location, shoppers are advised to check up-to-date information in advance. This is especially important for those who tend to shop at the last minute. On the holiday, lines may be longer and the selection more limited than usual.
So, despite the nationwide holiday, some supermarkets will still be open, but with reduced hours. To avoid any unpleasant surprises, it’s best to find out in advance which stores in your area will be open and how late you can shop.
