El Rastro

This is Madrid’s oldest and most iconic street market. Every Sunday at 9am, hundreds of stalls are set up in C/Ribera de Curtidores, in the Embajadores neighbourhood, filling the street with life and bustle. It’s a must for tourists and locals alike, who browse through the new and second-hand clothes, costume jewellery, decorative items, vinyl records, T-shirts of bands, souvenirs of Madrid, prints and drawings. At noon it’s almost impossible to walk down the street, and two streams of shoppers are created, one heading for Plaza del Cascorro and another heading down to the Ronda de Toledo. Haggling is the norm, as are the shouts of the vendors announcing their best deals. After snagging yourself a bargain and trying some classical Madrid wafers, the best thing to do is stop off for a drink and a bite to eat in the bars of La Latina.