With the holiday season underway and everyone's thinking about New Year's Eve dinner, it's easy to overlook something on the shopping list. Between family gatherings, trips, and toasts, it's hard to know Which supermarkets are open on New Year's Eve and how does the New Year's Day holiday work? It becomes almost as important as choosing the menu.
Although December 31st is a working day, The main supermarket chains in Spain are adjusting their opening hours to allow their staff to arrive in time for the celebrations. In contrast, January 1st is a national holiday and the general rule is complete closure, with only a few exceptions in very specific formats or tourist areas.
General information: this is how schedules change on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day
In general terms, Spanish supermarkets face December 31st with the same idea: Stay open for a good part of the day, but close earlier.Especially in the afternoon. The usual closing time is between 15:00 PM and 20:00 PM, depending on the chain and the city.
Most brands, like Mercadona, Lidl, Carrefour, Aldi, DIA, Alcampo or El Corte InglésThey point to a very similar pattern: opening in the morning and closing earlier than on a normal workday. Often, this reduction primarily affects the afternoon hours, when commercial activity slows and staff prepare for New Year's Eve.
By contrast, On January 1st, virtually all large stores remain closed.Mercadona, Lidl, Aldi, Alcampo, most of Carrefour, El Corte Inglés, Hipercor, Supercor, DIA and other operators suspend activity throughout the day, with few exceptions in convenience formats or in very touristic areas where regional regulations allow it.
In this scenario, the 31st becomes the last key day to stock up before New Year's, both for festive dinners and lunches and for basic shopping on the first day of the year.
Opening hours of major supermarkets nationwide
Mercadona
Juan Roig's chain maintains its usual policy of closing on holidays, but It makes a slight exception to the schedule on December 31st.Mercadona supermarkets are present in practically the entire country. They are open on New Year's Eve from 9:00 to 19:00That is, they bring forward the closing time by about two hours compared to a normal day.
This schedule is repeated fairly consistently in cities like Madrid, A Coruña or ZaragozaThe opening hours are announced as 09:00 AM to 19:00 PM, and this also applies in other parts of Spain. Some stores located in shopping centers may open at 10:00 AM, adapting to the center's own opening hours, but maintaining the special closing time of 19:00 PM.
Talking about New YearMercadona continues its strict policy: All of their establishments will remain closed on January 1st.with no activity at any time. The official recommendation is to check the store locator in case there are any very specific changes, but the general rule is total closure.
Carrefour
Carrefour operates with several formats (hypermarkets, Market, Express, Bio) and this is reflected in its opening hours. Generally speaking, the chain It opens on New Year's Eve in most centers between 9:00 and 19:00 or 20:00 hours, with slight differences depending on the type of store and the location.
In cities like Madrid, A Coruña or Mallorcahypermarkets usually close between 19:00 PM and 20:00 PMSmaller stores, such as some Carrefour Express locations, may extend their opening hours slightly or adapt to the local holiday schedule. In several areas, it is explicitly stated that December 31st will be a reduced workday compared to a normal weekday.
For January 1The general trend across the chain is the complete closure of its hypermarkets and most supermarkets. However, Some Carrefour Express stores in very touristy or central areas may open with holiday hours or reduced hours, so the company itself refers to its store locator to check each specific case.
Aldi
Aldi opts for a more conservative strategy: It opens on December 31st but concentrates its activity in the morning.In much of the country, especially in cities like Madrid, Mallorca or ZaragozaThe network announces a Early closing time around 15:00 PMHowever, in other areas the workday may extend until 18:30 or 19:00 p.m., according to locally published information.
This earlier closing time means that if you want to shop at Aldi on New Year's Eve, It is essential to go before mid-afternoonLike other competitors, the brand recommends checking the opening hours of your usual store on its website to avoid last-minute surprises.
As to January 1The position is clear: Aldi closes all its stores In Spain, there is no activity, not even reduced hours, on New Year's Day. The same applies to Three Kings' Day, which is also considered a public holiday in most regions.
Lidl
Lidl follows a very similar pattern to Mercadona in most Spanish cities. The chain It opens on December 31st with reduced hours, usually from 9:00 to 19:00.designed to serve last-minute purchases but guaranteeing closure with plenty of margin before nightfall.
This pattern is repeated in capital cities such as Madrid or A Coruña and it is fairly evenly distributed across the country, although in some tourist areas the schedule may vary slightly. In any case, Closing time at 19:00 pm is the most common reference point. that communicate the network and the timetable search engines.
The holiday of New Year It leaves no room for doubt: Lidl It does not open on January 1st. in almost all of its establishments. Only in very specific locations, especially tourist areas, might there be some exceptions, always subject to regional and municipal regulations.
To field
Alcampo maintains its policy of continuous opening throughout the year, but on special dates such as New Year's Eve reduces their working hours compared to a normal workdayIt is common for the hypermarkets and supermarkets of the chain open from 9:00 to 19:00 or 20:00depending on the center.
In places like Mallorca, A Coruña or ZaragozaIt is announced that stores are adjusting their closing times, setting them around 19:00 p.m. in most cases. Certain establishments, such as supermarkets located in shopping centers, adapt to the overall opening hours of the complex, which may slightly lengthen or shorten their service.
El January 1, the large hypermarkets and supermarkets of Alcampo remain closedSome smaller stores under the Mi Alcampo brand may open on holiday schedules in certain municipalities, but in general the company recommends checking the opening hours of each store on its official search engine.
DIA and other national chains
Supermarkets DAY They also participate in the special schedule. The chain It opens on New Year's Eve, normally with its full morning hours.However, it brings forward the closing time in the afternoon, with a range from 15:00 PM to 18:00 PM depending on the establishment and the area.
In some cities, a schedule close to the usual one is maintained for much of the day, while in others Much earlier closing times are chosenespecially in residential neighborhoods. Precisely because of these internal differences, DIA emphasizes the importance of checking its website or store locator before going.
El On January 1st, DIA supermarkets close almost en masseFollowing the trend of other major chains, there may be exceptions in very specific franchises or in tourist areas, but it's best to expect no service on New Year's Day.
Alongside these major brands, other brands with a regional or national presence, such as Supeco, Maskom, BonÀrea or local chainsThey also maintain a similar pattern: opening with special hours on the 31st (usually until mid-afternoon) and total or almost total closure on January 1st, except for convenience formulas or neighborhood establishments that opt ​​for particular hours.
Schedules by city and region: examples in Spain
Madrid and its metropolitan area
In the Community of Madrid, the demand for last-minute shopping is particularly high. Major chains are advertising New Year's Eve openings with reduced hours and an almost universal shutdown on New Year's Day.
In the capital, Mercadona is open on December 31st from 09:00 a.m. to 19:00 p.m.Lidl has virtually the same schedule, also opening at 9:00 and closing at 19:00, with no afternoon service beyond that time.
Carrefour, for its part, operates with a somewhat wider range: Most establishments close between 19:00 PM and 20:00 PMHowever, some specific stores may vary by a few minutes depending on customer traffic and local regulations. Aldi in Madrid has opted for close in the afternoon and limit opening until 15:00 pm in many cases.
Talking about El Corte Inglés, Hipercor and SupercorSupermarkets and department stores in Madrid will operate on reduced hours on December 31st, around 10:00-19:00 h in the general sales areas and 9:00-19:00 h in the food sectionHowever, this margin may vary slightly depending on the center.
El January 1in Madrid practically All these chains remain closedOnly small convenience stores, gas station shops or neighborhood supermarkets can decide to open with special hours, but the big operators (Mercadona, Lidl, Carrefour, Aldi, Alcampo, DIA, El Corte Inglés) are not opening.
Mallorca and other parts of the Balearic Islands
En MallorcaNew Year's Eve opening hours also revolve around early closing. Mercadona maintains the brand's general operating schedule and Open from 09:00 a.m. to 19:00 p.m.Lidl offers a similar service until 19:00 p.m., with special attention to tourist areas.
Carrefour centers in Palma (such as Porto Pi or Coll d'en Rabassa) announce Open from 9:00 a.m. to 19:00 p.m. on the 31st y closing on January 1stThe same applies to the Alcampo hypermarket on the island, which operates on New Year's Eve with reduced hours from 9:00 to 19:00 and does not open on New Year's Day.
DIA maintains Its usual morning hours and a good part of the afternoon on the 31stHowever, the company refers customers to its website for the specific opening hours of each store, as some establishments may close earlier. The El Corte Inglés group, in its Palma stores, schedules Opening on New Year's Eve in the food section from approximately 9:00 a.m. to 20:00 p.m. y total shutdown on January 1st in its two large warehouses.
Among the more local chains, there is Agromart, which by December 31st had announced a Special opening hours from 8:00 a.m. to 18:00 p.m.with a complete closure on New Year's Day. These types of regional operators tend to concentrate their activity in the morning and early afternoon.
A Coruña and metropolitan area
En A CorunaNew Year's Eve afternoon is also marked by early closures in supermarkets and shopping centers. Most shopping centers reduce their activity around 20:00 p.m., and many shops inside begin turning off their lights from 18:00 p.m.
In the food sector, Mercadona works on December 31st with Special hours from 09:00 p.m. to 19:00 p.m. in practically all of its establishments, with the particularity that the store located inside Marineda City It opens at 10:00 and closes at 19:00.adapting to the general opening of the shopping center.
Carrefour in A Coruña Open from 09:00 a.m. to 19:00 p.m. on New Year's Eve y It closes on January 1st.It should be noted that some Carrefour Express stores may have different opening hours depending on the neighborhood and license type. Other chains such as Gadis, Froiz or Familia They slightly extend their working day, with special closing times around 19:30-20:00 pm in urban supermarkets.
DIA in the city of A Coruña applies a variable New Year's Eve scheduleSome shops close at 15:00 PM and others stay open until 18:00 PM, while on January 1st all establishments remain closed. Lidl, for its part, operates in the city with Reduced opening hours until 19:00 pm on New Year's Eve and no opening on New Year's Day.
In the chapter on exceptions, formulas of convenience stand out, such as Claudio Express or Spar Express, which they maintain longer opening hours or even opening on New Year's Day in some locations. However, their hours may vary by store, so it is recommended to check each specific address.
Zaragoza
En ZaragozaThe Christmas campaign includes openings on several Sundays in December, but as far as New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are concerned, the pattern is very similar to the rest of the country: Opening with reduced hours on the 31st and almost total closure on the 1st.
Mercadona supermarkets in the Aragonese capital They are open on December 31st from 9:00 a.m. to 19:00 p.m. y They are not open on January 1stThe Hipercor stores of El Corte Inglés (GranCasa, Puerto Venecia, Independencia and Sagasta) operate on New Year's Eve within an approximate timeframe of from 9 p.m to 30 p.m. and they rest on the 1st.
The Alcampo hypermarkets in Los Enlaces and Utebo They maintain a schedule of 9:00 a.m. to 19:00 p.m. on New Year's Eve and they close on New Year's Day. Some of the local Mi Alcampo stores may open on January 1st with holiday hours, although they are more the exception than the rule.
Other chains present in the city, such as AldiThey announce Open only on the 31st from 9:00 to 19:00 and close the following day. Local supermarkets or regional brands like BonÀrea tend to maintain their usual hours on the 31st and individually assess their activity on New Year's Day, within the framework of regional legislation.
Malaga and its surroundings
En MalagaRetailers are also adapting to the double celebration of New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. On December 31st, most supermarkets and shopping centers will be closed. They bring forward the closing time., while on January 1st they opt to close almost all of them.
Mercadona applies the company's general pattern in the province: Open from 9:00 to 19:00 on New Year's Eve and completely closed on New Year's DayLidl also closes early, around 19:00 p.m., according to timetable search engines.
Other chains such as Carrefour, Aldi, DIA, Eroski or Maskom They are reducing their opening hours in a similar way: many Carrefour stores are closing earlier. 18: 00 pmAldi and Maskom place their closing time between 18:00 and 18:30 h, and Eroski communicates a Open until approximately 18:00 PM on New Year's EveIn all cases, these brands remain closed on January 1st, except for possible exceptions for small establishments.
In the area of ​​shopping centers in Malaga, El Corte Inglés will be open on the 31st with reduced hours, with the supermarket from 9:00 and the rest of the departments until around 20:00 pm.Other shopping centers such as Alameda, Larios, Málaga Plaza, La Rosaleda, Plaza Mayor, Vialia or Málaga Nostrum generally maintain their usual opening hours on the 31st, but They close completely on New Year's Day..
January 1st: a day with almost no supermarkets
At the state level, the January 1st is a closing holiday for the vast majority of chains. Supermarkets such as Mercadona, Lidl, Carrefour (in its large formats), Aldi, Alcampo, DIA, El Corte Inglés, Hipercor or Supercor They don't open their doors all day., both due to regulations and internal company policy.
Only some convenience formats Smaller shops are exceptions to this rule: gas station supermarkets, certain convenience store chains like some Claudio Express, Spar Express, or Carrefour Express stores in tourist areas, and small neighborhood shops licensed to open on holidays. In these cases, they usually offer very specific and often reduced hours, aimed at covering mainly urgent purchases.
Therefore, if you plan to make your purchase on January 1st, the wisest course of action is check each store specifically. Or, simply assume that the commercial offer is minimal on that day and do the essential shopping on the 31st.
Tips for leisurely shopping on New Year's Eve
The high concentration of customers on December 31st means that, in many supermarkets, Queues and rushing are the norm in the morning and at middayTo avoid the classic last-minute chaos, it's best to get organized a little beforehand.
A first recommendation is anticipate purchases by December 30thThis is when most chains maintain a virtually normal schedule and the pressure at the checkout lines is somewhat less. This leaves New Year's Eve only for a possible quick review of what's really missing.
It is also useful to prepare a detailed list Pack everything you need for New Year's Eve dinner and New Year's Day meals, including essentials like bread, milk, drinks, and breakfast items. This way, you avoid forgetting things and extra trips on a day with shorter hours.
Furthermore, almost all the chains (Mercadona, Carrefour, Lidl, Aldi, DIA, Alcampo, El Corte Inglés and regional operators) offer up-to-date information on their websites and mobile apps. Check their online store search engine It allows you to know with considerable accuracy the opening and closing times of each establishment on December 31st and January 1st.
With these guidelines in mind and knowing that New Year's Eve is the last big day to do your shopping before the New Year holiday.It's easier to coordinate menus, schedules and travel, avoid unnecessary stress and arrive at the New Year's Eve countdown with a full fridge and the peace of mind of having everything ready.
