El Rastro Market

El rastro market is the most important market in Madrid. You can find it just on Sundays in the neighborhood of La Latina in the heart of the historical center of the Spanish capital. You'll find there everything you need: music albums, shoes, clothes, antique trade, and many other interesting objects, but anything will be really expensive.

But, most important, you'll see thousands of people walking down the streets, in a multicultural and fantastic environment: you'll be fascinated and impressed by the number of people looking for something in the market. Don't miss it, I'm sure you'll find something really interesting!

El Rastro is one of the most well-known street markets in Madrid, being oft-frequented by many tourists and also by locals. The market is incredible, it's very big and you can find anything you want there. The market features a plethora of curious objects, including antiques, clothes, books, kitchen supplies, electronics, and even sex shops. All this in a very familiar, animated and unique environment.

El Rastro is the best place to fine cheap souvenirs from Spain, such as key chains, vases, fans, clothes, etc...

You can find anything you want throughout the specialized streets that sell specific objects:

• Calle San Cayetano ("Painter's Street): Paint supplies and materials.
• Calle Rodas: Magazines, books and decks of cards.
• Calle del Carnero: Antique books.

The History of El Rastro

This market counts over 400 years of history, its very peculiar name derives from the slaughterhouse which used to exist back then. In the streets, there used to be formed a "blood trail" that was left during the transfer of the cattle to the tanneries.

How to get there?

El Rastro is located in the Latina district and due to its large size, you can actually reach it from several metro stations:

• La Latina (Green line/Line 5).
• Embajadores (Yellow line/Line 3).
• Puerta de Toledo (Green line/Line 5).

When is it held?

The informal kiosks set up every Sunday and holidays from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. During the week, however, you can sometimes find some open kiosks, but those are usually the more formal ones.

Stuff to keep in mind...

1. As you're gonna spend most of the time outside, wear sunglasses and confortable clothes.
2. Dress very simply as to not call attention to pickpockets.
3. Look after your belongings and your bags at all times. There are many pickpockets that take advantage of tourists' distractions in order to steal their bags or wallets.
4. Bring cash.
5. Arrive early as to avoid peak hours when the streets are jam-packed.

El Rastro is the famous flea market taking place in Madrid every Sunday from 9am to 3pm. Most people that visit it come from La Latina metro station which leads you directly to the beginning of the market. So be ready to see hoards of tourists and locals from that station when it is time for Rastro. There will be stalls placed on both sides of the street, sometimes making two lines so you could see one pair of them going one way and another one on the way back. Those streets really come to live when it is time for Rastro as it is very different from a week day.

The stalls: Source

La Latina

One of the older districts in Madrid is La Latina. The wider neighborhood is called Latina and also represents a poorer part of Madrid where I was living with a family from Ecuador during my Erasmus + because it was cheap and still close to the center. You can connect its name to the high percentage of residents coming from different countries in Latin America that moved to Madrid to get themselves a better job, quality of life and so on. Many people mix those two terms as the touristic part is limited to La Latina district.

It is the oldest part of the city so you can expect to see many old buildings around giving it a special atmosphere. It consists of many narrow streets and local shops and bars, especially the ones with tapas. The neighborhood does not have something as characteristic as for instance Malasaña's hipster bars, but it is a lovely place to visit. And perhaps the thing that really makes its name is el Rastro taking place throughout some of the streets every Sunday and holiday. You can get a lot of products that are ''typical tourist' oriented, but taking time there you can also discover real treaties.

La Latina: Source

The offer

So what would bring you to El Rastro, besides being able to say that you have been there? There will be many people everywhere so you should be ready for walking between the stalls in a slow pace and people stopping right before you to take a picture. That can actually be one of the reasons as it enables you to se Spaniards in their ''shopping mood'' trying to bargain for the prices.

But besides that, the offer is large. You can visit it if you want to find a gift for your friend. I found a metal plate with Calle de Madrid written on it. You can get here to buy typical souvenirs such as keychains, bracelets or fans. On many places you can find clothes - not really ordered, though, but rather thrown on a pile where people are digging to find something they like. Nothing strange if something gets thrown on the floor, dirty or torn so make sure you check thoroughly before buying. You can also get some leather products, such as: jackets, handbags and backpacks. Close to the La Latina metro station you can get some retro pictures from pop art to Mona Lisa.

Retro pictures: Source

Antiques

If you prefer buying second hand products, el Rastro is a place where you can find them. Making a tour around the stalls, you will see some people putting a blanket on the floor with many small objects they are trying to sell for a small amount of money. But they are also selling them on the stalls, like: old coins, clocks, tea pots, cameras, books, vinyls etc. In general things you could find in your grandparents' attic waiting to become important to someone again.

To me, the most enchanting thing were the suitcases I saw in one of the store that were also sold outside. They looked like coming directly from one of Harry Potter's movies so obviously in a good condition just waiting to be bought for my next trip around Algarve with retro VW blue van. In the end, I decided not to buy one as I could not transport it back home and it is not the most handy method of luggage transport when doing traveling my way. So maybe I am going to buy one myself next time I visit Madrid.

Suitcases: Source