El Rastro flea market (Sundays)

What to expect

El Rastro is Madrid's big open-air flea market, held on Sundays and public holidays around Plaza de Cascorro and Calle Ribera de Curtidores. The name means the trail, probably after the blood of cattle driven from a nearby slaughterhouse to the tanneries on that street. It grew over several centuries into a market of thousands of stalls, with sellers of new and second-hand goods and curiosities.

Stalls are grouped by theme on side streets: books and prints, paintings, pets, vintage clothes and collectables. Antique shops along the lower part of the street open on market days too. It is crowded, noisy and loved by locals, who make it a Sunday ritual with a vermouth afterwards in La Latina. Plan around two hours of slow wandering.

Don't miss

• Stalls on Calle Ribera de Curtidores
• Old books on Calle del Carnero
• Paintings and art supplies on Calle de San Cayetano
• Vintage clothes around Plaza de Cascorro
• Antique shops along the way

Tips for your visit

• Arrive earlier in the morning to avoid the worst crowds.
• Keep wallets and phones secure, as in any big crowd.
• Haggle politely; prices on many stalls are flexible.
• Finish with tapas and a vermouth in La Latina, just up the hill.