Madrid is not only seen in its monuments but also felt in its streets, squares and, of course, its street markets.
In the markets, the most adventurous tourists mix with local people looking for or offering products that deserve a second life.
Come with us in search of hidden gems in Madrid’s best street markets; from handicrafts to paintings, clothes, furniture or books. Keep an open mind and let yourself be surprised.
Best and most popular street markets in Madrid
El Rastro
Who are we not to start our list with the most important, biggest and most popular flea market in Madrid? And we could almost talk about the best known flea market in the country, the unique and inimitable Rastro de Madrid.
The Rastro, as well as being the most renowned of all, is also the oldest known flea market in the city of Madrid. It is known that in the middle of the 18th century it was already part of the history of the capital.
El Rastro fills the heart of the La Latina neighbourhood with even more life every Sunday and public holiday. Come from 9am onwards, and although you might think that you’ll have plenty of time until 3pm, don’t be so sure.
The Rastro is visited by hundreds, thousands of people, and has just over a thousand stalls. This is on normal dates, but if we are talking about some kind of festivity, its capacity can increase to more than three thousand stalls.
With these numbers, it goes without saying what you can find at the Rastro; everything. And that’s not just a figure of speech, if it’s not at the Rastro, seriously consider that you won’t find it anywhere else.
El Rastro de sábado
If you’re already seeing that it’s going to be impossible to take in the whole of the Rastro, or you’ve simply visited it and you’re still hungry for more, don’t worry, you’re not alone.
On the first Saturday of every month you can kill the Rastro bug at its unpacking fair. It continues with the same proposal of great bargains on everything you can imagine. The perfect aperitif a day before you can go to the most famous flea market in the country.
Mercadillo hippie de Goya
It may not be the best known, but the Salamanca neighbourhood has a little surprise in store for you, full of gems
From the name of the market, we don’t think there’s much doubt as to what it has to offer its visitors. With just over twenty stalls, Avenida de Felipe II is loaded with hippie products and lots of leather from 10am Monday to Saturday.
Feria de Artesanía de Recoletos – Recoletos Craft Fair
Congratulations, we now have the complete calendar of when the Recoletos Craft Fair will be held in 2025. The Asociación Madrileña de Oficios Artesanos is in charge of organising this fair with the soul of a street market.
Paseo de Recoletos will be ready to receive unique creations on the following dates:
5 to 20 April
From 25 May to 15 June
From 20 October to 2 November
From 1 to 30 December
Face-to-face talks with the creators of pieces with soul, jewels of craftsmanship, toys, ceramics and other fields of the manual arts. 50 true masters of the crafts await you this year.
Mercadillo de Salesas
We continue with craftsmanship and with the passion of what is made with soul, calm and affection. The Salesas Market brings together the best of the traditional crafts and puts them at your disposal.
Handmade clothes, original drawings, candles, clothing accessories and countless other creations that are waiting to be discovered by restless minds like yours.
Known as The Festival by Salesas, the market is held on the first Saturday of every month in Campoamor, Orellana and Santa Bárbara streets. We recommend you to follow them on social media because it may change one day due to another event. Don’t let anything separate you from this flea market that takes place from 11am until 8pm.
Mercadillo Cuesta Moncayo
Book lovers, this way please. Very close to the Retiro Park and the Royal Botanical Gardens, the pedestrian street Cuesta Moyano offers stalls dedicated solely and exclusively to books.
You’ll find new editions, second-hand books, bookbinding and all the craftsmanship you can imagine that surrounds the world of books. All of this is spread out over 30 stalls along the street.
Mercado de las Ranas
Another well-known flea market in Madrid is that of Las Ranas, which is held in the famous Barrio de las Letras. As is customary in many flea markets, it takes place on the first Saturday of every month.
The shops in the area decide to take their wares to the street, creating a flea market that takes to the streets with an incredible range and variety of products. Hundreds of shops on the street, with an incredible atmosphere.
Mercado de Motores
We finish our tour of the best street markets in Madrid with another of the best known by locals. The Mercado de Motores takes place the second weekend of every month in the well-known old Delicias train station.
From home decor to luxury gastronomic products, you’ll find hundreds of products. The only problem is that you’ll want to take them all.