Madrid Shopping

Fashion in Spain

Madrid is one of the best cities in Europe for shopping, yet as with everywhere, where to go depends on your budget, and what sort of style you are looking for. Here’s an overview of the different areas to shop in Madrid and what sort of shops you can expect:

Gran Vía

One of the main streets of Madrid, Gran Vía can offer you a range of typically European and well-known shops, with the likes of H&M, Bershka and Oysho.

Sol

In the streets surrounding Sol, such as Calle Carmen and Calle Preciados you will find more mainstream shops, such as another H&M, Zara, Mango, and the Spanish department store El Corte Inglés. You will also find lots of Spanish shoe shops and jewelry shops. This is a good place to start just to check out the latest Madrid fashion.

Chueca

This is the “gay” area of Madrid, where you will lots of Spanish shoe shops in particular, as well as bohemian style clothes shops.

Malasaña

On the other side of Fuencarral from Chueca, you will find many vintage shops in particular, which are very reasonably priced. This is the more alternative area of Madrid, and the main zone of the famousMovida Madrileña, the cultural movement in Madrid after the death of Dictator Franco. You will still find a few punk shops and record shops. Fuencarral can offer you more standard European shops, a few one-off and expensive boutiques, as well as the Mercado de Fuencarral for those who are on the lookout for Spanish clothing and individual style clothing, although it is more expensive than it used to be.

Salamanca District

This is the upper market area of Madrid which is home to the most expensive shops, and nicknamed ‘the golden mile’.  Chanel, Gucci, Prada and Dolce&Gabbana are what you can expect to find on Calle Serrano and Calle Velázquez, which are the main streets for shopping, but you will also find other shops on the smaller streets surrounding them. The best part for shopping on Calle Serrano is the part between Puerta de Alcalá and the U.S Embassy, and next to which you will find the small but very exclusive ABC Serrano shopping mall.

El Rastro

This is the flea market in Madrid, held on a Sunday morning up until about 2pm in the area of La Latina. Popular among locals and tourists alike, people come here looking for leather handbags, jewelry and clothes. Definitely worth a visit just to soak up the atmosphere even if you don’t buy anything; just make sure you watch out for pickpockets, as it can get very busy!