Madrid Shopping

Spain's capital has some stiff competition for Barcelona’s shopping scene. You’re sure to find plenty of traditional crafts, ceramics, guitars and leather goods, but as a world centre for contemporary design Madrid is also renowned for shops selling furniture and decorative items as well as chic clothing, shoes, and jewellery. Speciality shops are everywhere in Madrid, with shops selling solely olive oil, gloves or board games.

In the streets between Puerta del Sol and the Plaza Mayor there are plenty of kitsch souvenir items for sale, look for the obligatory flamenco dolls. The area that stretches from Callao to Puerta del Sol is home to major department stores and popular international brands such as H&M and Zara. Far more exclusive is the Salamanca district bounded roughly by Serrano, Juan Bravo, Jorge Juan and Velázquez.

The streets just off the Plaza de Colón have the widest selection of designer fashions – Prada, Armani and Louis Vuitton have boutiques here. La Latina plays host to Madrid’s famous flea market, rich with junk dealers, vintage homeware, and antiques.