Madrid is the capital city of Spain and the beating heart of Spanish culture. Visitors to Madrid are spoilt for choice for things to do, including museums and sightseeing. Many people, however, visit Madrid specifically for its shopping opportunities, whether its fashion or food. Like any modern metropolis, Madrid has several shopping centres or malls to choose from, dotted about the city. But Madrid is also a historical city, and small family-run shops selling traditional goods are still to be seen. The more upmarket Salamanca neighbourhood, based around the streets of Serrano, Velazquez and Goya, is the place to go for the top designer boutiques and more expensive stores. For more avant-garde tastes, areas such as Chueca, Fuencarral and the Rastro Flea Market are excellent choices. Whatever you wish to buy, Madrid has everything under the sun. Shop opening times in Madrid are quite standard in all shops in Madrid and Spain, although some variations do occur. Generally, shops in Madrid open at 10 am and stay open until 2 pm. Between 2 – 5 pm there is nowhere to shop in Madrid as the shops all close for lunch and an afternoon siesta. Shops in Madrid open in the evening at 5 pm and remain open until 8 pm. Spain is a predominantly Catholic country and although religion in Spain is not as important as it used to be ,Sundays are still respected as a holiday. Many shops in Madrid do not open at all on Sundays although there is a chance to do some shopping at a few shops that stay open until about 2 or 3 pm on Sundays.
El Rastro
El Rastro is the biggest flea market in Madrid, Spain and probably Europe, and a great place to do some shopping. The locals of Madrid have been doing there shopping here for 500 years, while sellers from all over Spain converge here to sell their goods. Even if you’re not interested in shopping here, it’s well worth coming just to sample and experience the atmosphere of Madrid at this flea market. Shopping can only be done at this market in Madrid on Sundays between 8am until mid afternoon when shoppers disperse and sellers go home. This is a particularly good place to come to in Madrid if you are shopping for collectors items such as antique books, stamps or coins.
Goya and Salamanca
Situated in the select area known as Barrio de Salamanca, Calle Goya is one of Madrid's main shopping streets. This emblematic street is home to literally hundreds of shops and exudes a unique, exclusive ambience, a veritable showcase of luxury for those who can afford it. Boutiques, jewellers and elite shopping centres stand amongst the more commonplace high-street fashion outlets aimed at younger shoppers, endowing the area with a high-class, yet casual, atmosphere. You can enjoy the shops of the most important designers like Valentino, Yves Saint Laurent, Lacoste, Donna Karan, Channel, Gianni Versace, Gucci and renowned designers of Spain such as: Pedro del Hierro, Vittorio y Lucchino, Adolfo Dominguez, Hermenegildo Zegna, Agata Ruiz de la Prada, etc. The majority of the shops concentrated on Serrano Street are situated between Maria de Molino and Puerta de Alcala. Besides boutiques, you can also find large department stores like El Corte Ingles.
Gran Via & Sol
The biggest brands have their biggest stores in this area. Most prominent are the Inditex chains owned by Amancio Ortega Gaona, such as Zara, Pull & Bear and Stradivarius. This behemoth of the Spanish clothing industry is now expanding into other parts of Europe, but their mother ships can be found on or near Gran Via. Be sure to look skyward on Gran Via - many of the buildings are at their most interesting on the roof. This is also where you will find Madrid (and Spain's) biggest cinemas.
Principe Pío
A bus and train hub, there is also a modern shopping mall built above it. The most central large covered shopping mall in Madrid, perfect for when you don't want the rain to spoil your shopping. The quickest way to get to Principe Pío is by the metro shuttle from Opera metro station.
Fuencarral & Hortaleza
Just off Gran Via is the hipster paradise of c/Fuencarral and c/Hortaleza. To the right is Chueca, one of the most genuine and cosmopolitan areas in the city centre, to the left is Malasaña, the trendiest part of town. In the middle is where they do their shopping. Though many of the trendier stores are being pushed out by the big brands, you can still get some funky and quite individual clothing in the Fuencarral market. Don't be put off if the first thing you see is exorbitantly expensive, there are bargains to be had. Cheap shoes in particular can be found on c/Hortaleza. The nearby streets of Almirante, Piamonte and Argensola. Also, quite a way away but satisfyingly out of place is the hippy market in Plaza Felipe II near Metro Goya.
El Corte Inglés
Spain's omnipotent and omnipresent chain of department stores - they're so big they count as districts of their own. If you can't get it in one of their many branches, you're unlikely to find it anywhere. Many try to avoid the chain in an attempt to keep alive the smaller stores, but it is often difficult to do so. Nothing beats El Corte Inglés for convenience, no matter how begrudgingly you go.
Los Austria
Probably the best place to go shopping for traditional Spanish handicrafts and souvenirs of Spain is the Los Austria quarter of Madrid. A visit to this sector of Madrid will give you the chance to soak up the atmosphere of historic Madrid as the buildings in this district are amongst the oldest in Madrid.
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