Flea Markets in Madrid
One of the traditional visits in Madrid is to go shopping at the street markets or flea markets. You can find all sorts of things such as antiques, second-hand clothes, pottery, handicrafts, furniture, etc. The flea markets may be monographic and highly specialized, such as the stamp market, or Moyano hill, where old books are sold.
Madrid has a long tradition of street markets and flea markets offering the most varied products. This type of selling place, so typical in the Community of Madrid, is usually found outdoors, in public places and on certain days.
El Rastro Flea Markets – Madrid, Spain
El Rastro de Madrid or simply el Rastro is the most popular open air flea market in Madrid (Spain). It is held every Sunday and public holiday of the year, from 9 am to 3 pm, along Plaza de Cascorro and Ribera de Curtidores.
El Rastro de Madrid encompasses a large, almost triangular block marked by Calle de Toledo, Calle Embajadores and Ronda de Toledo, and spreads into various streets in the area, such as San Cayetano, Fray Ceferino González, Carlos Arniches, Mira el Río or Plaza de General Vara del Rey and Plaza de Campillo del Mundo Nuevo.
From antique furniture and decor items on display in some of the small squares and galleries, to second hand clothes, jewellery, old flamenco records, old photos of Madrid, faux designer purses, grunge T-shirts, household apliances and electronics, it is possible to take home anything imaginable from El Rastro. For every 10 pieces of junk, there’s a real gem: a lost masterpiece, an Underwood typewriter, or the internal mechanism of an old door lock.
The organizers of El Rastro advise those wanting a “tourist experience” to go to el Rastro at 11 am, as this when the market is busiest. Those wishing to haggle for a bargain in the stalls should be at the market a little earlier, between 8:30 and 9 am. The crowds usually begin to thin around midday, as people head for the bars at the edges of the market and around La Plaza de Cascorro for a drink and some tapas. The stalls gradually shut and by 3 or 4 pm (depending if it is winter or summer).
Certain streets or areas within El Rastro are associated, either by tradition or by the gathering of specialist stalls, with particular wares:
- Calle Fray Ceferino Gonzales is known as “calle de los Pájaros” (‘street of the birds’): domestic animals, birds and associated paraphernalia.
- Calle San Cayetano is also known as “calle de los Pintores” (‘street of the Painters’): paintings, drawings and art supplies.
- Calle Rodas and the Plaza de General Vara del Rey (formerly Plaza de Antonio Zozaya) and Plaza de Campillo del Mundo Nuevo: magazines, trading cards and stamps.
- Calle Carnero and calle Carlos Arniches: old, rare and collectible books.
- The Plaza de Cascorro: funky clothing and accessories.
- Calle Mira el Sol: DVDs ranging from Andrei Tarkovsky to Pajares.
Where: Plaza de Cascorro and Ribera de Curtidores, between Calle Embajadores and the Ronda de Toledo (just south of La Latina metro station)
When: every Sunday and public holiday of the year, from 9 am to 3 pm
Puerta de Toledo Flea Market – Madrid, Spain (DISCONTINUED)
Formerly a busy fish market, this deluxe selection of antique locales is located amid a conglomeration of 60-odd shops at the Puerta de Toledo, a short stroll from Ribera de Curtidores. Antique shops, art galleries, fashion retailers, cafés, pubs, and restaurants abound here, so plan on spending the day adventuring.
However, you will quickly discover that one day may not be enough time to experience all there is to take in once you see the uniqueness that each establishment of this flea market holds for the traveler. Great places to look for quality vintage brass and ceramic goods.
Where: Metro Puerta de Toledo
When: Discontinued
Cuesta de Moyano Flea Market – Madrid, Spain
Located at Calle de Claudio Moyano, Cuesta de Moyano flea market is one of the busier street market centers in Madrid, well-known for the abundance of values that you can find there. Since 1925, the 30 wooden outdoor stalls lined up along Cuesta de Moyano have been providing the avid reader with over 300,000 books on diverse branches of the arts, science and humanities, dating from the 19th century up to the present day.
Serious book collectors from all over the world shop at this flea market, so be prepared to hear some of the finest negotiating you will hear anywhere in Madrid. Its location next to the Retiro Park means you can go and enjoy your book in one of Madrid’s best-known parks.
Where: Calle de Claudio de Moyano, 1 – 28014 Madrid (Neighborhood: Retiro)
Nearest Transit Station: Atocha (Atocha Renfe)
When: Mon-Sun 10 am – 2:30 pm and Mon-Sun 5 pm – 7:30 pm
El mercadillo numismático de la Plaza Mayor (Stamps and coins market) – Madrid, Spain
El mercadillo numismático de la Plaza Mayor de Madrid is one of the oldest flea market in Madrid, set in the enviable location of Plaza Mayor. On Sundays, and amid the throngs of painters, caricaturists and living statues, this traditional square finds room for the coin and stamp stalls that attract onlookers and enthusiasts on the lookout for little gems.
The coin booths are organized under the arcades of the square, but as they do not all fit there, some booths are set around the arcades. The center of the square, which is a very large space, does not holds any stalls but it is usual to see some groups of collectors chatting. Every trader has an assigned booth so anyone who has visited the mercadillo numismático a few times, will be able to head straight to the tables that interest him. Some of the brick and mortar numismatics and philately shops located under the arcades around the square, sometimes open on Sunday morning to benefit from the business opportunity provided by this Sunday flea market.
Where: Plaza Mayor (Zone: Puerta del Sol – Austrias)
When: Sundays and public holidays, from 10 am to 2 pm
Feria del Juguete y Comics de Madrid, “La Estación” (Coleccionismo) y Feria de Modelismo Ferroviario – Madrid, Spain
When a museum opens its doors to host a market, it turns into something unique and very special. This is exactly what happens at the Museo del Ferrocarril de Madrid (Railway Museum) when it hosts the Feria del Juguete y Comics de Madrid, “La Estación” (Coleccionismo) y Feria de Modelismo Ferroviario. This toys flea market, allows enthusiasts and visitors to purchase and admire scale model railway engines and carriages displayed alongside the originals they replicate.
On the first Sunday of the month (except in August), the market’s 80 stalls will happily sell you anything from vintage cars and Scalextric and railway-related items, such as photographs, badges and postcards. Enthusiasts can get advice from veterans on this topic, and collectors will discover or trade exclusive pieces to complete their collection. The Feria del Juguete y Comics de Madrid is also an excellent choice for those simply looking for an original gift.
Where: Madrid Railway Museum . Pº Delicias 61 – 28045 Madrid
When: first Sunday of every month, from 10 am to 3 pm
Avenida de Felipe II Flea Market – Madrid, Spain
Set in the heart of the Salamanca district, between Goya and Alcalá streets, you’ll find this flea market whose distinctive style has earned it the nickname of Goya’s hippies.
Its prices, affordable to most, and its quality have made the Mercadillo Avenida de Felipe II a regular fixture in the area, with its own loyal customer base, from young to old. This market offers a wide choice of fresh fruits and vegetables, fish, meat and seafood as well as handmade ceramic vases and knitwear.
Where: Avenida de Felipe II (Zone: Salamanca)
When: Every day Monday to Saturday (all day)
Paintings Flea Market – Madrid, Spain
Every Sunday the Taller Abierto de Madrid painters’ association holds a flea market and painting exhibition in Plaza Conde de Barajas. Here visitors can admire the works on display, buy one of the canvases or commission portraits, reproductions of well-known paintings or Madrid scenes, such as the Hapsburg Quarter, where you can take a walk afterwards.
Where: Plaza Conde de Barajas (Zone: Puerta del Sol – Austrias)
When: Sundays from 10 am to 2 pm
Mercadillo de Coleccionismo Plaza Dos de Mayo (street Flea Market) – Madrid, Spain
The Mercadillo de Coleccionismo Plaza Dos de Mayo is the place where you’ll get two for the price of one. Every Saturday, this square located in the heart of the Malasaña neighbourhood hosts two flea markets squeezed-in happily together and complementing each other.
One flea market is the Collectors’ and Bargain market, selling records, books and miscellaneous items. And the other flea market is the young DosdeMarket, where you can pick up handmade clothing and other items dreamed up by young designers.
Plaza del Dos de Mayo street Flea Market is the perfect way to start your weekend and prices at both flea markets tend to be lower than on more centrally located squares.
Where: plaza del dos de Mayo, Madrid 28004
When: Monday to Sunday from 12 am to 9 pm
