Shopping in Madrid is a rare occurrence for most travelers and shopping enthusiasts. This city is not officially recognized as the capital of fashion or the center of commerce. But in fact, in this cozy Spanish capital there are many places where you can find goods for every taste and budget. Well, let's find out in detail what shopping in Madrid can be. The reviews say it is quite successful and enjoyable. Check it out?
All for sale!
For a budget shopper, the SALE sign is a direct challenge, which is simply impossible not to accept. If you are a lover of buying clothes and accessories at low prices, then study the “discount schedule” in advance. Small local designer houses are the first to sell their products - in December. By the middle of winter, an avalanche of discounts covers chain boutiques and shopping centers, and savings sometimes reach 80 percent. But the February shopping in Madrid is no longer so exciting, as there are no new collections yet, and everything that remains of the previous ones is dismantled in January. The second wave of sales begins in July. It is worth having time to visit the city this month, since by August you will not be able to find any decent models, although the sale is not officially over yet.
Flea market “Rasto”
Sunday's business card has long been the flea market, which residents call Rasto. It literally surrounds the street of Ribera de Curtidores, occupying the entire quarter and all the adjacent alleys. Come here without fail if you want shopping in Madrid to be not only budgetary, but also exciting for you. Mostly vintage exhibits are sold here - dresses of the mid-20th century, brooches and jewelry of Spanish grandmothers, caskets and hats. In addition to clothing, rare books, tea sets, and even antique furniture can be found on the market. Numismatists will appreciate the variety of old coins that are for sale, and lovers of retro style will definitely buy a pair of shoes that will complement the corresponding outfit.
On the main street of the capital
Gran Via is considered the main street in the city, and it is with it that for most tourists shopping begins in Madrid. The reviews of 2016 tell us that in this place are concentrated middle-class stores, the so-called budget brands, which are in great demand all over the world. On Gran Via you can find boutiques Zara, Bershka, Pull and Bear or Mango. Next to them are shops of little-known Spanish, French and Italian designers. Prices there are slightly higher than in the brands of the previous category, but sometimes you can find incredibly beautiful specimens that you are unlikely to meet on someone when you return to Russia. In addition, often in such stores you can personally get acquainted with the designer and even order an exclusive model for yourself. After all, everyone knows that a thing sewn to order is the best that can be in the wardrobe.
Madrid: Luxury Shopping
For those who come to the capital of Spain in search of elite brands, the Bario de Salamanca quarter affably opens its doors. This expensive area is located between the streets of Paseo de la Castellana, Calle de Alcalá, Avenida de la Paz and Avenida de America, and here you can find both shopping centers and freestanding boutiques. Such designer houses as Versace, Dolce and Gabanna, Giorgio Armani, Chanel, Valentino and many others are presented to your attention. Along with these giants of world fashion, there are more modest, but no less talented Spanish designers. The prices of their products are slightly lower, but the quality and elegance of the cut is sometimes not inferior to world-famous brands. In this category should be called “Victorio and Luccino”, as well as “Adolfo Dominguez”. As for the shopping center, which is located in this elite area - this is "Hardin de Serrano." It also contains very famous brands of clothes and shoes, which, perhaps, all the mods of our planet dream of.
For those who prefer outlets
For most, shopping in Madrid, however, as in any other European fashion city, is a chance to buy a designer gizmo at a huge discount. And fashion houses suit such bonuses only because a new collection is being released, and the old one becomes unsuitable for sale. These are the things that get into the outlets, and it is them who are very hunted. So, what establishments should you pay attention to if you plan on shopping in Madrid for yourself? Brands often bring unsold products to the capital's suburbs, to the huge shopping mall Las Rozas Village. You can get to it in just half an hour from the center by bus No. 628 or 625, a ticket will cost you 5 euros. In this center you can find absolutely everything. The past Versace and Chanel collections, colorful models by Spanish designers that were not sold at the starting price, clothes from “middle class” stores, which are sold at an even lower price here ... Also in the outlet there are a wide variety of accessories . Here there are shoes, and bags, and jewelry, and even goods for travel and beach holidays.
Clothing for fans to shock the audience
Having visited the zone of the city of Barrio de Chueca, you are immediately convinced that shopping in Madrid is not only a modern fashion and the latest inventions of designers. Shops are concentrated in this area, in which dresses are pierced with rhinestones and spikes, rough leather is combined with chiffon and silk, and shoes ... The most intricate platforms and heels, incredible combinations of colors and textures, non-standard perforation - all this can be found here. The Barrio de Chueca area has a creative atmosphere. The creators of all the masterpieces sold here create literally in front of visitors and do not hesitate to translate their wildest ideas into reality. By the way, it is in this corner of Madrid that the Mercado de Fuencarral market is located. People say that goods here are a little cheaper than in stores, but the assortment is sometimes much more diverse and extravagant. This district is a real find for informal personalities. Here hippies, rock lovers and just art natives can draw inspiration. It is worth emphasizing separately that photo and video shooting in this quarter is prohibited, even if you buy something.
Let's check the graphs
Above, we have already talked a little about what time the biggest sales of all goods take place in the city, regardless of price and brand. But what happens in the remaining months of the year and what to do if your travel schedule in Spain does not coincide with the "treasured period"? So, in March, the winter sale finally ends, and new collections arrive on the shelves of all stores. But the thing is that in the capital of Spain, products of famous brands are sold at prices that are much lower than in Russia. Judging by the reviews, here you can buy the famous Chanel handbag at a price that will be 4, or even 5 times less than in Moscow. A similar situation awaits you if you plan on shopping in Madrid in October. You will not find the treasured “Sale” signs, but the new collections and relatively low prices will delight you.
Features of the shops
Every shopper should know that Sunday in Madrid, like throughout Spain, is a day off for every citizen of the country. This also applies to employees of boutiques and outlets located in this country. The opening hours of the shops are as follows: from Monday to Saturday, inclusive, while the last day is often reduced to lunch. Opening hours - in most cases, from 10 am to 10 pm, and there are no interruptions anywhere. But do not forget that on Sunday from early morning a huge flea market opens with various retro goods. Therefore, after long trips to modern branded boutiques, you will be able to take your mind off that day and buy a little thing for yourself, which will become for you a symbol of your successful shopping in the capital of Spain and will be remembered forever.
Reviews: what shopping is really in the capital of Spain
Madrid 2016 was a revelation for many shoppers. Previously, this city was not considered the center of European trade, few people knew that world boutiques, houses of Spanish designers, and shops from the "massmarket" category are concentrated here. Due to the fact that this capital of fashion was opened recently, and at the moment not many people know about it, the prices here, according to experienced travelers, have remained affordable. If you believe the reviews, shopping in Madrid will not cost you such a lot of money as in Milan or Paris, and it will even be cheaper than a shopping trip in your native country. This city invites all lovers of fashion and beauty, moreover, people note that the most famous quarters of boutiques are concentrated in the historical part of the city. Therefore, you can combine the shopping trip with the sightseeing of this excellent city.