Shopping in Madrid

Spain is a shopping haven, with generally cheap prices and some fantastic brands which you can’t find anywhere else. As the birthplace of such high street favourites as Zara and Mango, as well as world renowned designer names, you’re bound to find the perfect style to suit your budget. Here’s our guide to the best shopping area in Madrid – make sure you’ve left room in your suitcase!

Gran Vía
Metro stations: Gran Vía, Callao
The biggest shopping street of all in Madrid, Gran Vía is the equivalent to London’s Oxford Street. Start at the end nearest to Gran Vía metro and work your way down chains focused on the young and hip. Classics such as H&M and Zara have incredibly well-stocked stores with plenty of variety and a high turnover of stock. You should also try the hip Stradavarius, trendy Bershka and the more refined Springfield, all along the first half of the street. If you can make it all the way down Gran Vía with your wallet intact, congratulations! However, if you want something a bit more unique than chain stores, read on – more interesting places are to be found if you head either north or south…

South down Calle Preciados, Calle Montera or Calle del Carmen
Metro stations: Gran Vía, Callao, Sol
Next to Callao metro in the middle of Gran Vía you’ll find two of Madrid’s largest department stores – the enormous Corte Ingles, which contains virtually everything you could ever want or need, and the European chain Fnac, home to CDs, DVDs, video games and books, including a secluded cubby hole where you can sit with a book and while away the hours. Head down these smaller streets towards Sol and you’ll find more of the same chains – however, there are also a number of cheaper and more unique clothes and shoe shops. The shoe shops in particular can be a great find if you want something cheap and easy to walk in. Just remember to stick to these streets in the daytime – at night this becomes Madrid’s red light district…

North up Calle de Fuencarral
Metro stations: Gran Vía, Chueca, Tribunal
This very long street heading north from Gran Vía metro runs through the trendy neighbourhoods of Chueca and Malasaña, meaning there’s a truly eclectic mix of one-off shops. Head up the street then peel off onto the side streets if you spot anything interesting – this is where the true gems are to be discovered. Biscuit (C/ del Divine Pastor, 15) has a great collection of romantic, vintage style clothing, Emiika Style (Corredera Baja De San Pablo, 53) sells hip T-shirts and locally made accessories, while in Las Bailarinas (C/ de Piamonte, 19) you can find some of the funkiest shoes in the city.

Salamanca
Metro stations: Retiro, Serrano, Velázquez
If you model your personal style on Victoria Beckham, Penelope Cruz and Princess Letizia, skip Gran Vía and head up the Calle de Alcala to Salamanca, Madrid’s most exclusive shopping district. If Gran Vía is Oxford Street, this is Knightsbridge, home to some of Spain’s finest designers such as Adolfo Dominguez, Loewe and Vittorio & Luccino. For the best stores, stroll along the Calle de Serrano and its parallel streets of Claudio Coello, Legasca and Velázquez. It’s also a beautiful area for strolling around in, with wide leafy boulevards and beautiful buildings, so well worth a spot of window shopping even if you don’t go inside.