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While London and New York are known as shopping meccas, Madrid, Spain is still a shopper’s paradise. You can really find anything you’re looking for whether it’s a small gift for someone back home, an antique piece of furniture, or a designer dress. In fact, if your primary purpose of tourism is shopping then think about choosing Madrid as your travel destination; you won’t be disappointed. A few words of advice, which apply to any city you’re in; make sure you’re getting what you pay for. If you’re buying something from a stall then make sure you can tell a fake from a genuine item. Know how much something should cost since you may need to bargain in antique stores and flea markets. Don’t get too excited and buy something that you can get cheaper back in the U.S.; check prices online and if you find it’s a deal you can return and purchase it later. Only trust reputable stores with shipping items back home; otherwise ship it yourself. Madrid has a huge outdoor flea market, El Rastro, where you can find just about anything second hand and some new things as well. There are some affordable antiques that borders on junk depending on what you’re looking for. There are also old clothes, jewelry, books and furniture. It’s a bit of a treasure hunt but that can be half the fun. During the week there are less crowds, and vendors are easier to bargain with but the variety is not as good as the weekends. If more stall shopping interests you then head to the hippie area in Lavapies or to the Plaza Mayor. There are stalls set up with vendors ready to strike up a deal. Beware of tourist traps and plan to bargain hard. Shopping for clothing is second to none in Madrid and you’ll have plenty of options. In the Alcala area you’ll find plenty of stores selling shoes, dresses and accessories. For men’s clothing head to Calle Princessa which has plenty of options including tailored suits and handcrafted shoes. Calle Preciado and Montera has both men’s and women’s fashions and they are located in a pedestrian zone which makes for pleasant strolling. If you want more upscale shops, Gran Via and Calle Serrano have plenty of designer clothing with price tags to match. The Mercado de San Miguel used to be a fish market but today you can find a variety of shops, including some food stalls and restaurants to keep your energy up for more shopping.
Article Source: http://article.selectionsguide.com
Leroy Calstard often publishes articles on issues related to Costa Blanca. One can discover his writings on Costa Blanca and costa blanca tourist tips here.
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