Guide of Madrid
Shopping
Madrid offers a wide variety of retail options for the most demanding shopaholics: Shopping centres, shops in every corner, and the most exclusive local and international brands which revamp entire districts that had been forgotten about in the past. What may start as window shopping can end up in the discovering of a whole new fantasy world full of enticing opportunities for all tastes and budgets.
Street markets, art galleries, handcraft workshops and antique shops coexist with cutting edge retail spaces, exclusive shops and shopping complexes which combine both leisure and retail.
Spain's capital has different specific areas to satisfy your shopping needs: El Rastro (mainly for antiques and second hand articles), Barrio de Salamanca (high-profile shopping) and Gran Vía (mainstream multinational franchises). In all of them, shopping swifts from being a necessity to become a real pleasure.
Interesting facts
Opening Times:
Most shops and shopping centres open from 10 am to 8:30 or 9:30 pm. Traditional/ family run shops have approximately the following timetable: 10am to 2pm and 4:30 pm to 8:30 pm.
Sales:
Winter season: They usually start the second week of January and last until the end of February.
Summer season: Take place from the 1st of July until the end of August.
Payment methods:
Cash and credit cards are accepted everywhere with a valid photo ID.
Tax Free:
Non E.U. residents have the right to have V.A.T. reimbursed as long as their purchase over 90.15 Eur.
SHOPPING WITH STYLE:
In Madrid there are always many options for every style. Visitors are able to find anything from luxury boutiques and the most exclusive jewelleries located at the Salamanca district to the traditional Rastro bazaars and chic avant-garde designer shops at Fuencarral and Hortaleza streets.
Around 60,000 shops open every day in Madrid offering one of the most varied selection in Europe. Surely a tempting option for almost any visitor, let alone their style or budget.
* Handicraft
* Tradition
* Avant-garde
* Design
* Luxury
PDF Shopping itinerary
OTHER SHOPPING AREAS
Beyond the streets and districts associated with a specific shopping style, Madrid has many shopping centres with a more mainstream and varied focus where almost anything you can think of can be found.
The always busy Preciados street, the financial district located Orense street, a popular Princesa street and the more exclusive Goya street offer the visitor a huge shop selection, from famous department stores to multinational franchises preferred by those looking for casual wear. We must not forget though the small traditional shops, a very important reference in our city.
* Goya
* Orense
* Preciados
* Princesa
SHOPPING CENTRES
If you wish to find a large number of shops in one same space, do consider going shopping to one of Madrid's shopping centres.
These modern retail spaces are much more than just purely shopping centres, as they are chosen by many families and groups of friends as day to day meeting spaces. In most of these you can find cinemas, bowling lanes, sports facilities, night clubs and a great variety of restaurants.
The larger shopping centres are located outside of the capital, in places such as Alcobendas, Arroyomolinos, Getafe and Las Rozas. Some of these are targeted to outlet shoppers, as fashion brands are sold here at reduced prices.