Spain by campervan: food and supermarkets
Where to buy food in Spain, which supermarkets to use, opening hours and practical tips for eating on the road. What to know before you go.
Published 18 September 2026Last checked 21 September 2026
Currency
Euro
EUR. Cards are common. Keep some cash for small businesses
Driving
Right
Check your vehicle's weight for speed limits
Power
230V, type F
Two round pins
Emergency
112
Free from any phone
Overnight
Park, do not camp
Nothing outside the vehicle
City access
Check the ZBE
Foreign vehicles may need advance registration
Food and shops
Food and shops
For a good-value cooked meal, look for a weekday menú del día: a fixed lunch menu that usually offers several courses. It is normally served around Spanish lunch time, not all day. Markets and independent shops are useful for regional produce, while large supermarkets are easiest for a full van restock.
Opening rules differ between autonomous communities, and Sundays are not consistent across Spain. Tourist zones, small independent shops, convenience stores and petrol stations may open when a large supermarket does not. Restock before Sunday when heading inland or to a small town, and check the chain's own store locator rather than relying on general opening-hour advice.
Where to shop
- Best value: Lidl, Aldi or Mercadona.
- Full range: Carrefour or Alcampo.
- Camper access: Retail-park Carrefour and Alcampo hypermarkets are easiest for larger vans.
Practical food stops
- Buy drinking water and groceries before entering remote mountain or national-park areas.
- Use market halls in the morning. Many produce stalls close after lunch.
- Petrol stations are a useful fallback on Sundays, but with less choice and usually higher prices.
Eating out
- Ask whether the menú del día includes bread, a drink and dessert or coffee. The exact offer varies.
- Tipping is optional. Rounding up or leaving a small amount for good service is enough.
- Dinner service often begins later than visitors expect, especially away from tourist districts.