Shopping in Madrid

Madrid is a phenomenal place to go shopping, perhaps even the best city in all of Spain. But it’s such a big metropolis that you better set aside a number of days to tackle all the shopping in Madrid.

Shoppers will have no trouble finding traditional crafts, such as ceramics, guitars, and leather goods, albeit not at quaint countryside prices. Known for contemporary furniture and decorative items as well as chic clothing, shoes, and jewelry, Spain's capital has become stiff competition for Barcelona. Keep in mind that many shops, especially those that are small and family run, close during lunch hours, on Sunday, and on Saturday afternoon.

The biggest brands have their biggest stores along Gran Via. Mercado de San Miguel is also worth checking out: a massive covered market that’s been doling out fabulously fresh fare since 1916, attracting a wide variety of Madrileños and tourists daily, from local homemakers hunting sliced ham to statuesque Spanish ladies relaxing over oysters and champagne.

One of the most famous flea markets in the world, meanwhile, is El Rastro, which sells everything from clothes, jewelry, and antiques to music, DVDs, and vintage 1970s Playboy magazines. Every Sunday, multitudes of people from all walks of life descend on the sunny Plaza de Cascorro in search of the best shopping deals on any goods imaginable.

No matter what you’re looking for, there are so many Madrid shopping opportunities that you won’t know what to do with yourself.