How to Experience El Rastro

Imagine a place where the open air markets of North Africa meet Spain’s unique culture and lifestyle. That place is El Rastro: the largest open air flea market in Spain, an integral part of Madrid’s identity for centuries and an experience not to missed.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Wake up early. The stands in El Rastro are open every Sunday by 9 a.m., but close by 3 p.m. Also, El Rastro becomes incredibly crowded around 11 a.m. If you want to have time to shop and haggle, not to mention to pick out something special, arrive as close to 9 a.m. as possible in order to beat most of the crowds.
2. Start your day with Churros con Chocolate, fried dough that you dip in cups of hot liquid chocolate, which is a specialty of Madrid. This will give you the energy you need to fight the crowds, haggle with tricky merchants and make the most out of your experience at El Rastro.
3. Head to the Plaza Mayor. Although unconnected to El Rastro, every Sunday morning a coin and stamp fair is held in the plaza’s ancient porticos. Browse among the coins for a little while before following the crowds heading south, downhill, into El Rastro.
4. Begin at the northern edge of El Rastro at the Plaza de Cascorro where it’s traditional to greet the statue of Eloy Gonzales. Beware, if you don’t pay your respects, you may leave the market empty handed. From there, head south along the Ribera de Curtidores, which is the main street of El Rastro. Wander out to the Calle Embajadores in the east and the Ronda de Toledo in the south.
5. Decide what you want to buy. Do you want to shop for clothes? Books? Antiques? El Rastro has it all, but the key is knowing where to find it. For example, the Ribera de Curtidores primarily sells antiques, knickknacks and homemade clothing; the Calle San Cayetano specializes in artwork and Calle Carnero and Calle Carlos Arniches sell rare and antique books.
6. Haggle. Everyone will take your money, but that doesn’t mean you need to give it to them. One of the keys to shopping at a flea market is to try to get the best possible deal. Also, who knows, you might enjoy it.
7. Get lost. One of the joys of El Rastro is simply wandering around without a set destination in mind. Take a right instead of a left. Stop and watch the crowd as it rushes past. Eavesdrop on a conversation between two strangers. El Rastro is yours, enjoy it.
8. Stop for a drink. El Rastro is not only about shopping. An integral part of any Sunday at El Rastro is stopping for a drink and tapas at any one of the many small restaurants and bars that dot the area.

Tips & Warnings

• Wear comfortable clothes, especially shoes.
• Be careful. Due to the large number of people, El Rastro is an ideal environment for pickpockets.
• Do not bring any valuables with you. Leave your passport, credit cards and anything else that you cannot afford to lose at the hotel.