Madrid shopping: El Rastro, street market

In Madrid, you can do the nicest shopping in the most famous street market in Spain.
Go to el Rastro in Madrid and experience one of the funniest days of your life.

The route of el Rastro in Madrid along the city is the same the slaughtered animals did in the past along the river Manzanares leading them to the Ribera de Curtidores street. It was there where their skins were tanned and manufactured. Nowadays, animals don't do this journey anymore. The route has become one of the largest and nicest street markets in Spain where thousands of people go every Sunday morning. You can have a safe,nice stroll around the market while browsing, chatting to people and maybe buying something nice!

I suggest you to get up early on Sunday morning and start your shopping experience at Plaza Cascorro. There you will see the first stalls run by young people selling alternative clothes, t-shirts with funny messages and a lot of products manufactured in leather, from sandals to bracelets.

Go to the painters street, called San Cayetano street. But first, go past military clothing and adventure shops, also stores selling blinds. Once you are in the painters street, you can have the chance of buying marinas and hunting scenes belonging to the kitsch tradition of Madrid, as well as watercolor paintings with motifs of Madrid at low prices. Don't let anyone cheat you. It is said that you can find there paintings by Zurbaran or Goya, but this is not true, it's just a legend. Be careful with forgeries.

All kinds of music from the past and the present are waiting for you in la Ribera street. The music stalls have any kind of music you would like to buy, as well as homemade jewelery. Get the chance to buy some traditional flamenco music or Spanish popular pop and rock cds.

There are also stalls selling pets. You can find them along Fray Ceferino González street. In the past, this street looked like Noe's Arch as shops used to sell and exchange all kinds of pets. From parrots to cats and dogs, and even hens! Nowadays, the number of animals to sell is much lower than before, but what is increasing is the number of stalls selling accessories for hunting and breeding birds.

On the way, you'll bump into peddlers selling food and drinks, as well as bizarre people singing and playing music in the streets to make your walk more enjoyable.

Do you want to get some bargains and old books? Go to Carlos Carnero Arniches street, where they keep early editions and curiosities of all kinds, from old postcards to serious books. Besides, antique shops will be waiting for you in the streets around the books street. There you will be able to get any kinds of pieces of furniture. If you like having some fun, go to the market before 11 and haggle as much as you like. After 11, the market is crowded and less easy to bargain, as hundreds of people take up the streets. You might also find some good bargain at the end of the day, before closing time.

If you are a cinema lover, you can't leave el Rastro in Madrid without going to Mira el Sol street. There you will find movies of all kind of genres, old and modern movies, Hollywood and independent cinema... It is a little paradise for anyone considered as a movie buff. If you are more into comics or stickers and want to increase your personal collection, go to Rodas street and General Vara del Rey street. The shops there have also modernised and updated, so you can buy video games and software, too.

I hope I have already convinced you to visit el Rastro in Madrid. I invite you to experience it yourself and enter the most famous street market in Spain where you can find anything you could dream of. Don't waste more time and go to el Rastro. It won't disappoint you!

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