Visitors Staying In Madrid Hotels Can Explore Some Of Europe's Best Markets

When on holiday, many people like to indulge in a little retail therapy. The lure of exciting and exotic products, coupled with the carefree view that comes with holiday spending, makes shopping a regular pastime for holidaymakers the world over. Street markets in particular can offer some of the most enjoyable and eclectic shopping experiences of all, and are also a great way to discover local customs. Whether you’re looking to buy food, clothing or gifts you’ll find many stalls selling just that. For a great value shopping holiday head to Madrid, where you can find low-cost restaurants, competitive hotel deals and many markets to browse in.

Madrid’s flea markets are some of the best-kept secrets in Europe - full of colour and character, there is a huge variety of markets across the city. The most popular is certainly El Rastro, held every Sunday of the month and on public holidays, where stallholders gather to sell absolutely anything, from clothing to antiques to artwork. Even if you don’t come to buy it’s well worth exploring. However El Rastro is extremely popular with tourists, who flock there from late morning, so to beat the crowds visitors should leave their Madrid hotels early and start their browsing at around 9am.

The Toledo Gate Market (locally known as Mercado Puerto de Toledo) is a shopping haven, near the grand Toledo gate and conveniently close to many Madrid hotels. What used to be a fish market is now a huge collection of galleries, shops and cafes, and it’s easy to spend a whole day here looking around. Meanwhile, avid readers will love the Cuesta de Moyana book market, held every Sunday morning with over 30 stalls both buying and selling all kinds of literature and both new and secondhand books.

Food markets are part of the Madrid way of life, offering a grand selection of fresh foods. Whether you’re staying in self-catering Madrid hotels and plan to cook, or you feel like picking up some items for a picnic lunch, it’s fun to look around the various produce stalls. The Centro Comercial La Paz market is open every day except Sunday, and visitors can find butchers, fishmongers, greengrocers and bakers competing to sell the best of their wares. It’s not always the cheapest food on offer but it is some of the freshest, and even if you don’t plan to buy it’s well worth strolling about and watch the goings on. Some stalls offer tastings, and you may get to try some delicious local olive oil or cheese. Alternatively, visit Mercado de los Mostense, a food market which dates back to 1875, and is the best place to shop for Mexican, South American or Asian delicacies.