After an exhausting day of sightseeing in the capital, you will probably fancy winding down with a spot of shopping: souvenirs for the family, exclusive bargains, or some original shop you have heard about in Madrid. In this article we tell you where to shop on your end-of-year trip to Madrid.
Like all great cities, Madrid has a wide range of shops of every kind: big chains, local neighbourhood shops, shopping centres, street markets, second-hand shops, and more. We give you a closer look at the commercial areas of Madrid so that when you plan your end-of-year trip, you can go «straight to the point» and not waste time wandering around aimlessly.
Streets and shopping areas where to shop on your school trip to Madrid
You probably already know that the streets surrounding the Puerta del Sol have the greatest number of shops, with Calle Preciados as the main thoroughfare, home to a huge El Corte Inglés and all the Inditex family brands, as well as a five-floor Fnac.
Nearby you can also find Calle Arenal, which leads to Ópera, lined with numerous shoe shops; the street and the Plaza Mayor, with its souvenir stalls; and, of course, the Gran Vía with Spain’s largest Primark, and other enormous flagship stores for multinationals (Zara, H&M, Stradivarius, etc.)
On these main streets you will find whatever you are looking for; however, if you are after something more exclusive and upmarket, head to Calle Serrano and the whole Goya neighbourhood. Here you will find all the well-known luxury brands.
On the other hand, if you prefer to browse smaller shops with original and artisan clothing or gifts and personal designs, we recommend strolling through the streets of Malasaña. You will find all kinds of quirky shops, vintage and second-hand stores.
Shopping centres
Another option — especially if it is cold or you want to keep a closer eye on your group — is to spend a few hours at a shopping centre on the outskirts of the city, so everyone can do all their shopping in one place, with food outlets and leisure facilities to enjoy in their free time. The most notable ones for shopping on your end-of-year trip to Madrid are:
- Príncipe Pío, in the old railway station, one metro stop from Ópera thanks to the metro branch line.
- Plenilunio, to the east of the city.
- La Gavia, located in the Ensanche de Vallecas, to the south-east of Madrid.
- Plaza Norte 2, in San Sebastián de los Reyes, to the north.
- Plaza Río, recently opened, situated next to the Manzanares river, opposite the Matadero.
- Isla Azul, on the southern outskirts of the city.
- Xanadú, the only one equipped with an indoor ski and snowboard slope, located on the outskirts of Madrid, to the south-west.
El Rastro and other street markets
Finally, the city of Madrid is home to a multitude of street markets covering all kinds of themes. If you are lucky on your visit to Madrid, you will probably coincide with one being held at the weekend.
If you come to Madrid at the weekend, you should save Sunday morning — you will always have the option of visiting El Rastro, a must-do in the city. Starting from the Plaza de Cascorro, between La Latina and Lavapiés, you will find a looong row of stalls (more than 3,000) stretching along the Ribera de Curtidores: T-shirts, antiques, furniture, denim clothing, home décor and all kinds of items and garments, both new and second-hand. It was born around 1740 as a semi-clandestine market for selling used goods. A visit to El Rastro is not just a shopping experience — it is also a cultural visit to soak up the atmosphere of the city.
Monthly and pop-up markets
Here is a list of some of the most important markets held in the city where you can shop on your end-of-year trip to Madrid:
→ Mercado del Diseño: held once a month at the Matadero, it brings together numerous and varied designers who create their products from scratch.
→ Lost& Market: a second-hand and vintage market born with the aim of offering a popular space to develop a fun and sustainable form of commerce based on direct buying and selling and the possibility of swapping. It is a free-access market where anyone can take part by bringing their personal items such as books, clothing, music, comics, IT products, toys, and much more.
→ Adelita Market: the philosophy of this market is to encourage a rational use of products, prioritising reuse and waste reduction whilst serving as an example of a sustainable project that can be replicated in other cities or neighbourhoods. It is held on the third Saturday of each month in the Plaza Dos de Mayo.
→ Rave Market: this is a street market in Madrid based on public participation, organised by a non-profit association keen to promote recycling and the exchange of second-hand goods, and aimed at creating a free market where everyone can offer their goods and services on a voluntary basis. It is held once a month, but takes a break during the summer.
→ Mercado de Motores: the Mercado de Motores is a famous monthly market held over an entire weekend at the old Delicias station, in the Railway Museum. It offers artisan goods and hipster-style vintage fashion and, of course, food trucks for a gastronomic break between all the shopping.
Guide to organising your school trip to Madrid
Find out more in this special travel guide we have prepared so that teachers can comfortably plan and organise your end-of-year trip. Tell us your needs and preferences and we will tailor the trip to suit you. Everything about your group trip to Madrid:
