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You come to visit Madrid and you want to go shopping but you do not know very well where to go? Prepare to be wowed. The Spanish capital is positively brimming with all sorts of retail opportunities, whether you want a straight-laced mall with high-street names or a bohemian bazaar in the open air.
Where to go shopping in Madrid?
This article will run through some of Madrid’s top places to go shopping. Big chains, exclusive shops, vintage fashion, shopping malls, antique shops, street markets… you’ve got it all! It’s no coincidence that Expedia has included Madrid in the TOP 10 of the best cities for shopping. Let’s start!
▶ Gran Vía, Preciados Street and Fuencarral Street: The heart of Madrid
Gran Vía is a main artery within central Madrid and is lined with remarkable architecture, shopping, dining and entertainment options. If you have never been to New York, this street might have a feeling and atmosphere of this city. Such an impressive broadway with superb buildings and a huge variety of shopping centres. It is a must-see while in Madrid! All the big-name shops are here: Zara, Stradivarius, H&M, Massimo Dutti, Nike, Adidas, Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid Stores, Loewe, Calzedona, Bershka, Oysho, Tous, Parfois, Ray-Ban, United Colors of Benetton, Lacoste (usual main retailers and quite a few smaller ones)… Watch out, don’t get lost at the largest PRIMARK in Europe.
Located in the heart of Madrid, between Gran Vía and the Puerta del Sol (walking south from Gran Vía), tens of thousands of people also walk through Preciados Street every day. This is perhaps the second busiest shopping street in the center of Madrid (after Gran Vía). Preciados was a small shop founded on this street in 1943, at the beginning dedicated to tailoring for children but that ending given rise to the two most important department store chains in the country: Galerías Preciados (now disappeared) and El Corte Inglés (with 142 sales centers in Spain in Portugal, 3 of them on Preciados Street).
There are endless stores: huge ones like FNAC (store specialized in electronic articles, music, movies and books), Desigual, Sfera, Foot Locker, Mango, Pull & Bear or Swatch. There are few spanish brands also like Purificación García (bags and wallets), Camper (shoes) or Pikolinos (shoes). Plus there is also the Hard Rock Café Shop.
Fuencarral shopping street runs off Gran Via (walking north from Gran Vía). A large part of the street is pedestrianized and most of the shops that are clustered here are recognisable brands that cover the range of sports, clothing, handbags, etc. . Great selection of shops, from big international brands ( Calvin Klein, Michael Kors, the North Face, Diesel, Victoria’s Secret, Levi’s, Quicksilver, PUMA, Jack & Jones, Decathlon, etc) to small spanish companies (El Ganso, AG25, Elena Fernandez Shoes, Morrison, Kaotiko) and individual designers as well as a local market in the middle.
As we walk along, we’ll begin to perceive the more festive atmosphere of Malasaña and Chueca. That’s the other side of Fuencarral; a side full of bars, restaurants and all kinds of terraces. Here, alternative stores make their way and we find one of the places that best describes Fuencarral: the market of San Ildefonso. In the past, this location used to host street markets, but in the early nineteenth century it became the first covered market in Spain. The new building consists of multiple floors and provides an innovative approach to gastronomy. It has about twenty stalls, and they host multiple events.
▶ Malasaña: Vintage fashion and concept stores
Very close to Fuencarral Street we’ll be finding Malasaña District. Malasaña is hailed as the heart of Madrid’s counterculture scene. When Franco’s dictatorship ended in Spain, Malasaña became an area full of freedom, drugs and underground culture. Today, Malasaña is known for the bars and restaurants, It’s a perfect place to have a drink or to have dinner with friends and taste the tasteful tapas that cover the counters of the bars.
Malasaña is a commercial tribute to vintage fashion (both streets Espíritu Santo and Valderse are filled with vintage stores), where you can find second-hand products (specially clothes from the 60’s to the 90’s) and concept stores. If you wanna know more about vintage fashion and about the stores you can find in Malasaña, please check the “Vintage Madrid” article out ! Just have a look to El Templo de Susu, Flamingo Vintage Kilo, Kinda Kinks, Williamsbourgh or the 0 to 6 years old store My Little Retro (to give just a few examples)
Comic shops such as Generación X, Madrid Cómics, Elektra Cómic, Crisis Cómics Otaku Center or Viñetas are also abundant in the area along with small independent designer stores, art galleries, bars, restaurants and cafes.
A concept store… what is it?
As its name suggests, a concept store is a store based on… a concept. Whether it’s fashion, books, whatever: it’s not the type of product that makes the concept store but the particular segment of consumer the products you find in the store appeal to. Cool, alternative, solidarity, luxury, products exclusively for men … Since the store itself has a general concept with regard to the merchandise available, the design and decoration of the store often matches that concept. A store that is meant to appeal to “urban” or “street” trends might have bare brick walls, perhaps decorated with artistic graffiti and a design that reinforces the concept of the store. On the other hand, a concept store for “hipster” culture might feature dark walls, stark lighting, and play independent music that is popular in hipster circles. In Malasaña there are many. Here are some of them:
- El Moderno Concept Store (Corredera Baja de San Pablo, 19): From stationery (wonderful notebooks, pens and other exquisite design items), to gardening items, handbags, leather complements, ceramics, posters and other decorative items for home.
- Amen Store (San Andrés, 3): Industrial decor with cement walls, white floors and high ceilings hung with fantastic chandeliers. At Amen you will find clothing from national and international brands, 3D printed jewelry, Korean jewelry and many original gifts.
- Popland (Manuela Malasaña, 24): articles (toys, telephones, gadgets, watches, bath curtains, bags, t-shirts, record players…) inspired by the cinema and 60’s, 70’s and 80’s TV shows , such as Maya the bee, Mazinger Z, Audrey Hepburn or Playmobil’s ‘click’.
▶ Chueca: Gay shopping and much more.
Chueca is perhaps the most famous neighborhood in Madrid. It is known for its young vibe, its bars, its restaurants, its inclusivity, and of course for the fact that it is very openly a gay neighborhood.
Shopping in Madrid: All you need to know
In some ways, Chueca can be reminiscent of neighboring Malasaña. While Malasaña has a stronger mix of traditionalism and modernity, Chueca is more willing to let go of the traditionalism.You will find more unique stores in Malasaña, but it’s not a competition, and Chueca is still great cause there are also a lot of them! You can spend a day exploring both of these neighborhoods, as they are right next to each other.
Hortaleza Street (also Pelayo Street) is certainly the one that appeals to the LGBT audience. It hosts a large number of establishments where tight-fitting clothes play the leading role in the windows. There are also sports centers, sex shops and specialized bookstores not only for this type of public – like the pioneer Berkana – but also in illustrated books and comics like Panta Rhei or in gastronomy, such as A Punto Librería, a space that also offers cooking workshops.
Another of the specificities of this neighborhood is the concentration around Augusto Figueroa Street of a large number of shoe stores that offer factory sales where it is possible to find single pairs of shoes, from other seasons and at very interesting prices.
- Anclademar (Barquillo, 37): Entering “Anclademar” is like suddenly finding yourself in a small store on any Mediterranean island. Clothing, accessories, books and decorative objects of maritime inspiration.
- Dirty Pop (Gravina, 1). A very nice store dedicated to LGBT culture. Merchandising related to RuPaul’s Drag Race, gift wrap with the faces of Drake and Rihanna, funny t-shirts of Britney Spears or Drew Barrymore in the movie Scream and all kinds of objects that until now, they were accessible only via the internet.
▶ Luxury stores in the Salamanca neighborhood
If you prefer world-renowned luxury brands, in Serrano Street (and in the neighboring streets of Ortega y Gasset, Velázquez, Goya, Castelló, Jorge Juan or Lagasca) you can find them all.
The Salamanca District dates from the second half of the XIXth century and was built to house the aristocratic and bourgeois classes of Madrid. In a typical 19th century style, its buildings are particularly interesting for their architectural quality and the beauty of the facades. Today, this residential character rubs shoulders with other entrepreneurial, diplomatic and especially commercial activities, as it is one of the most important luxury fashion districts in the capital.
This area is also known as “the Golden Mile”. There are stores such as Loewe, Cartier Bulgari, Dolce & Gabana, Tiffany & Co, Chanel, Gucci, Bulgaria, Dior and a large Corte Ingles that also sells luxury products. And among all these stores, you will find restaurants and cafes.
Serrano Street
- Liu Jo. Serrano, 12
One of the largest stores of this Italian clothing brand outside its country of origin. - Versace. Serrano, 16.
Italian brand of clothing, accessories and perfumes, a luxurious and contemporary space. - Carolina Herrera. Serrano, 16
Creations of international haute couture, which also offers perfumes and accessories - KENZO. Serrano, 17.
A space dedicated to the vibrant colors and improbable prints of this famous brand. - Bimba y Lola. Serrano, 22.
Spanish brand famous in the fashion and accessories sector, especially known for its bags. - ZARA. Serrano, 23.
The flagship store of the Spanish brand that has conquered the world. - Prada. Serrano, 26.
Some of the most desired shoes and leather goods in the world. - Roberto Verino. Serrano, 33
Brand of clothing and accessories for women and men. - LOEWE. Serrano, 34.
This is where the spectacular figurehead of this internationally oriented Spanish luxury house is located. - Saint Laurent. Serrano, 34
One of the great classics of French fashion. - Aristocrazy. Serrano, 42
Beautifully crafted jewelry, the ideal fashion accessory. - Armani. Serrano, 44
One of the most elegant Italian firms of collections. - El Corte Inglés. Serrano, 47
This shopping mall hosts many luxury brands. - Gucci. Serrano, 49.
Fashion and accessories that are no longer available. - Choppard. Serrano, 51.
One of the most prestigious jewelry stores in the world. - Bombonería Santa. Serrano, 56.
A cozy establishment dedicated to chocolates and other chocolate delights. - Yusty. Serrano, 56
The historic sewing workshop has been renewed as a multi-brand space. - MANGO. Serrano, 60.
This Spanish brand offers the public a large space of 2,000 m², with a terrace for customers. - ABC Serrano. Serrano, 61, is a magnificent building that was the headquarters of the centenary newspaper ABC. It is now home to many shops and restaurants, in addition to the
Sweet Space Museum and The Robot Museum. - Louis Vuitton. Serrano, 66.
One of the paradigms of Italian design. - Cartier. Serrano, 74.
Jewelry and watches for the most demanding of audiences. - Bang & Olufsen. Serrano, 94.
Danish company specializing in audiovisual products, such as televisions, telephones and speakers.
Ortega y Gasset Street
- Dior. Ortega y Gasset, 6.
Another inimitable classic among French couturiers. - Tiffany & Co. Ortega y Gasset, 10.
The jewelry store that made Audrey Hepburn dream while having lunch… - Hermes. Ortega y Gasset, 12.
- Dolce & Gabbana. Ortega y Gasset, 14.
This Italian brand has consolidated itself as a synonym for glamour and sophistication. - Valentino. Ortega y Gasset, 16.
First store opened by this Italian designer in Spain. - Chanel. Ortega y Gasset, 16.
A timeless elegance, the quintessence of French fashion. - Lavinia. Ortega y Gasset, 16.
Certainly one of the best wine stores in the city. - Bulgari. Ortega y Gasset, 17.
Italian brand dedicated to jewelry and luxury products. - Oriol Balaguer. Ortega y Gasset, 44.
The prestigious Catalan pastry chef has set up his Madrid store here: haute pâtisserie.
These major brands coexist with prestigious Spanish companies. The fashion brand Ailanto (Orellana, 14), born in Barcelona and created by these basque twin brothers, the bags and creations of the basque Balenciaga (Lagasca, 75), the shoes of the Canarian designer Manolo Blahnik (Serrano, 58), the Valencian porcelain of Lladró (Serrano, 68), the jewelry of Suárez (Serrano, 63), a century-old house born in Bilbao (basque region), or those of the Barcelone brand Rabat (Serrano, 32) offer a wide range of luxury items of international prestige. The Spanish jewelry, accessories and fashion company All (Serrano, 50 and Gran Via, 38); the store Puig (Serrano, 46) dedicated to perfumes and high-end luxury fashion; the brand Sargadelos (Narváez, 6) of handicrafts, jewelry and articles for the home and decoration ; Castañer (Claudio Coello, 51), specialized in espadrilles and shoes in general; and Eduardo Rivera, which sells not only clothing, but also decorative items and accessories such as jewelry, bags, watches, glasses, shoes and books.
▶ Las Rozas Village: Luxury Outlet
Only 30 minutes from the center of Madrid, it is one of the eleven shopping destinations of the Bicester Village Shopping collection. The Village features more than 100 boutiques from the best national and international fashion and lifestyle companies, including Chloé, Ferragamo, Kenzo, Sandro, Boss Hugo Boss, Scalpers, Montblanc or Karl Lagerfeld, with discounts of up to 60% off the original price throughout the year.
The Village is the ideal place for those who are looking for a unique, safe and outdoor shopping experience. Walking along its boulevards and ending up on the terrace with a view of the best sunset and incredible views of the Sierra de Madrid is the perfect end to a day of shopping. Las Rozas Village offers €50 and €100 gift cards that include a VIP pass for a 10% discount on all village stores and a refreshment voucher to enhance your experience. You can buy them here buy here
Shopping in Madrid
You will also find restaurants, cafes and cinemas. To get there, you can take a bus from Moncloa every 10 minutes! You can take the 628 or 625!
▶ Literary neighborhood (Barrio de las Letras)
This neighborhood, also known as the Neighborhood of the Muses or Parnassus (in honor of the poem by Cervantes, Journey to Parnassus), plunges its inspiration in literature. Some of the streets that make up this area have seen some of the most majestic writers of the Spanish Golden Age live, write and die. Today it is one of the most pleasant areas to walk through the alleys, hosting many shops that are worth a visit.
Lovers of tradition and old-fashioned businesses will find a large number of stores that have preserved their historical charm, such as Don Flamenco, a store dedicated to the shoes of this musical genre, Casa Pajuelo, dedicated to honey or Licores Cabello, which has been offering its wines and spirits since 1902. Not to mention Roberto Garrudo‘s store, which specializes in dance shoes and flamenco clothes.
But this neighborhood has also been able to open up to contemporary creative proposals, often linked to artists and creators in different disciplines. Modernario is one of the neighborhood’s most well-cared-for decoration stores, rich in antiques and galleries like La Integral. It was born to welcome self-published artists and has become today an ideal place to find the original gift, especially for film lovers. Not to mention the boutiques of young designers, where innovation reigns supreme: an example is given with the handmade shoes of Franjul.
We can also mention the store of the Spanish brand SantAna which sells gloves and hats, Peseta, which sells sustainable clothing designed and made in Spain for women and men, Nuilea Well Being, natural cosmetics, the Intrusa, vintage style clothing, and Lolita McTisell, a creative store that sells clothing and accessories designed for events.
▶ Flea Market: El Rastro
Today, the Rastro is home to more than 1,000 vendors who start their day around 9 a.m. and end it around 3 p.m. Located along Ribera de Curtidores Street, with Cascorro Square as its nerve center (the square that divides the neighborhoods of La Latina and
Lavapiés), The market occupies an almost triangular area, delimited by the streets Toledo, Embajadores and Ronda de Toledo, and extends to the Streets Fray Ceferino González, Carlos Arniches, Mira el Río or the squares General Vara del Rey and Campillo del Mundo Nuevo.
Every Sunday morning, all the people of Madrid goto this gigantic flea market. From the Latina metro station, a maze of streets opens up where secondhand booksellers, secondhand goods dealers and other peddlers display real little treasures or brilliant impostures. It is necessary to arrive there early (well, early Spanish time, that is to say, around 10:00 am) to leave (after having visited it, of course) the main street (Ribera de Curtidores and Cascorro Square) where clothes/textile sellers, mostly new, tourist souvenirs, etc, are crowded.
From the Campillo del Nuevo Mundo square, where comic book, book and object sellers reign, you have to go up the small streets nearby where furniture and antique sellers line up in a joyful capharnaeum.
Although there is no set organization, booths are usually grouped according to the type of items or merchandise being sold. For example, the plaza del General Vara de Rey gathers a good number of thrift shop stands, while the streets of Carnero and Carlos Arniches host stands selling old books at low prices (perfect for collectors). The conditions of sale and purchase are those of a traditional street market, but you can also haggle.
And when there is no Rastro?
La Calle Ribera de Curtidores. This long, steep street is home to a number of specialized stores, including mountain sports (brand-name technical clothing, both new and used, at Makalu, Barrabes, OS20, El Rincón de la Montaña, etc.), handcrafted furniture, photography (Fotocasión is one of the city’s leading establishments) and antiques: on both sides of the street you will find two patios with remarkable architecture (Galerías Piquer and Nuevas Galerías) where a large number of antique shops and restorers are concentrated. You will also find bookstores, fabric stores, hardware stores and pet shops.
The area around the Ribera de Curtidores is full of amazing shops filled with unexpected objects: from hardware and old relics straight out of a storage room to vintage furniture and collectibles. The changing and organic environment of this market makes it difficult to establish a fixed map of the area and the ideal is to get lost in the middle of its stands. However, some spaces have a certain notoriety. The Nuevas Galerías (Ribera de Curtidores, 12) and the Galerías Piquer (Ribera de Curtidores, 29) are home to a good number of stable and specialized businesses.
You can also visit the Antigüedades Salas store, which specializes in antiques, or the Mercedes Cabeza de Vaca store, famous for its porcelain dolls. Finally, plan a stop at Berenis, one of the most famous antique stores in this neighborhood, or at El Jueves, a reference for 18th, 19th and 20th century furniture.
In nearby Calle Arganzuela, or in the Plaza del General Vara del Rey and other nearby streets, there are many shops dedicated to vintage furniture, original or reconstructed, bibliophily, military objects or ephemera. Don’t miss the stores El Transformista (Mira el Río Baja, 16 and 18) or La Europea (General Vara del Rey, 11).
▶ Shopping centers
Madrid has many shopping centers, some of which are easily accessible on foot or by public transportation. Read more about Madrid’s shopping centers.
This is the case of the shopping center WOW, in the heart of the Gran VíaIn the building that used to house the Hotel Roma, a boutique designed as a multi-brand, multi-product shopping mall, where you can find hundreds of items from brands born on the internet, complemented by a relaxing and innovative restaurant offer. The consumer is offered a unique and different shopping experience, both digital and physical.
In his 5500 square meters, spread over 8 floors, WOW will have a temporary, rotating and, at times, exclusive offer of fashion, decoration, technology, design and entertainment, as well as technological leisure spaces, e-gaming, a cooking school, fitness and instagram studios, a digital museum and even a café where the waiter is an articulated robot.
Only 15 minutes walk from the Royal Palace, the former North Station (now Príncipe Pío) and an example of the The modernist architecture of the late nineteenth century which, after losing its role as a railroad station, was closed for many years and then became a cultural and leisure center as well as a shopping mall with all kinds of stores and restaurants.
Some of the stores you will find at Principe Pio shopping center are: Clothing (Bershka, H&M, Imtimissimi, Mango, Levi’s, Punt Rome, Pimkie, Pull & Bear, Misako, Natura, Sphera, Springfield, Stradivarius, Benetton, Women’s Secret, etc.) & shoes and accessories (Elena Fernández, Skechers, Parfois, Misako, Ulanka, etc.).
The Principe Pio shopping center
Opening hours in Madrid
The opening hours in Madrid are liberalized. In general, supermarkets, multinationals and shopping malls are open every day of the year, from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm.
Local stores and small stores operate on a more traditional schedule, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. In tourist areas, most stores – even if they are small – do not close between 2 and 5 pm.
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