Discover Madrid, the best shopping destination

Take note of the following tips to advise your clients on the best places to shop in the city.

The centre is for all types of shopping

Exploring the city centre is a good place to start. It has plenty to choose from and is home to some of Madrid's main shopping areas. Gran Vía avenue, Puerta del Sol and streets like Calle del Carmen, Calle de Preciados and Calle del Arenal make for unbeatable shopping experiences. Establishments with years of history, recently-opened stores with innovative offerings and large department stores make this area one of most vibrant in the city.

Street names like Bordadores (Embroiderers), Curtidores (Tanners) and Botoneras (Button-makers) are a testimony to Madrid’s tradition of trade and serve as a modern-day reminder of the medieval guilds that settled near the gates to the city. Today, many centuries-old businesses and studios owned by new artisans continue to carry on this tradition.

The biggest shopping news in the city is the arrival of Galería Canalejas, a complex between Calle de Alcalá and Calle de Sevilla that has already become a byword for luxury in the heart of Madrid. Here, you’ll find over 40 shops selling fashion pieces, accessories, perfumes and fine jewellery by the world's top premium brands.

Following the “Made in Madrid” trail

“Made in Madrid” products are what set the city's shopping apart from other destinations. A saunter through the stores in Barrio de Las Letras (Literary Quarter), Madrid de Los Austrias (Hapsburg Madrid), Lavapiés, La Latina, Chueca, Malasaña, Conde Duque, Las Salesas and Barrio de Salamanca is a must.

All of these neighbourhoods house establishments that are part of the city's living history, such as Capas Seseña, which offers a selection of hand-made capes; Sombrerería Medrano, where you’ll find all types of hats; and Guitarras Ramírez, where five generations have been making artisan guitars for over 100 years. They are also part and parcel of Madrid’s way of life, in which luxury goes hand in hand with quality, design, detail and passion. Be sure not to miss a thing by following the suggestions provided in the Shopping: Madrid’s Artisans, Old and New map. It features 34 establishments, some with years of history and others that are relatively recent arrivals.

Don’t miss the uber-chic

Barrio de Salamanca is home to what’s known as Madrid’s Golden Mile. Big-name Spanish and international fashion brands, as well as top designers can be found on streets like Calle de Claudio Coello, Calle de José Ortega y Gasset, Calle de Jorge Juan and Calle de Serrano. The wide pavements and elegant building façades of this neighbourhood, a benchmark for 21st century urban quality in Madrid, make a wonderful backdrop for a perfect day of shopping.

All of Madrid’s districts have enticing offerings for shoppers. The neighbourhood of Las Salesas is a bohemian alternative to Barrio de Salamanca. Streets such as Calle de Argensola, Calle del Almirante, Calle del Conde de Xiquena, Calle de Bárbara de Braganza and Calle de Fernando VI are perfect places to enjoy not just a day of shopping but also other activities like eating in a trendy restaurant, having a cocktail, visiting an exhibition, listening to music or getting an up-close look at the artisan work of young artists and designers.

In search for the latest trends

Those looking to venture off the beaten track to find the latest trends in clothing and accessories have Calle de Fuencarral and the neighbourhood of Chueca close by, where they’ll find cool restaurants, avant-garde shops and plenty of bars and cafés. Malasaña is another very trendy area. Famous for being the cultural heart of the iconic La Movida Madrileña movement of the 1980s, it’s a favourite for today's designers and artisans.

Very close to Malasaña is Conde Duque, another of Madrid's most distinctive neighbourhoods. Many artists have opened studios and small shops near the cultural centre that the neighbourhood is named after. You’ll find everything from fashion items to vinyl records.

More than shopping

For those who want to add a little something extra to these appealing shopping itineraries, why not enjoy a rewarding walk and an unforgettable culinary experience? Ideally, you’ll want to save some time between purchases to stop and try some typical tapas, sit at a lively outdoor bar or café, or enjoy fine foods at one the city’s gourmet markets.

Madrid is well worth visiting, not only to experience what this unique city has to offer, but also to take advantage of the tax refund!

To find out more about

Madrid and the latest news

• LinkedIn: visitmadrid
• Web: esmadrid.com/en/trade
• Shopping in Madrid: esmadrid.com/shopping
• Tax refund: esmadrid.com