El Rastro Flea Markets - Madrid, SPAIN
El Rastro de Madrid or simply el Rastro is the most popular open air flea market in Madrid (Spain). It is held every Sunday and public holiday during the year and is located along Plaza de Cascorro and Ribera de Curtidores, between Calle Embajadores and the Ronda de Toledo (just south of La Latina metro station).
A great variety of products (new and used) can be found at el Rastro flea market. A number of antique shops in the local area are also open on Sunday.
According to municipal rules, el Rastro flea market takes place every Sunday and public holiday of the year, from 9 am to 3 pm, in the barrio de Embajadores (‘Ambassador’s neighborhood) in the Central District of Madrid.
The Madrid town council regulates the flea market. A maximum of 3500 stalls cover the area from the Plaza de Cascorro, with its statue dedicated to Eloy Gonzalo, who was a Spanish soldier who fought in the Cuban War of Independence in which he distinguished himself and is regarded as a hero, in the north, along the main thoroughfare of Ribera de Curtidores and adjoining streets to Calle Embajadores in the east and the Ronda de Toledo and Plaza del Campillo del Mundo Nuevo in the south.
Located around the Ribera de Curtidores, this flea market encompasses a large, almost triangular block marked by Calle de Toledo, Calle Embajadores and Ronda de Toledo, and spreads into various streets in the area, such as San Cayetano, Fray Ceferino González, Carlos Arniches, Mira el Río or Plaza de General Vara del Rey and Plaza de Campillo del Mundo Nuevo.
From Cascorro flea market it is possible to take home anything imaginable: From first and second hand clothes, jewellery, old flamenco records, even older photos of Madrid, faux designer purses, grungy T-shirts, household goods and electronics or any typical souvenir of Madrid, to old coins and antiques on display in some of the small squares and galleries.
But also with items you would never expect to see on sale: For every 10 pieces of junk, there’s a real gem (a lost masterpiece, an Underwood typewriter, the internal mechanism of an old door lock, or a part for a radio that stopped being made almost before this wonderful contraption arrived in Spain) waiting to be found at this flea market.
Where: Plaza de Cascorro and Ribera de Curtidores, between Calle Embajadores and the Ronda de Toledo (just south of La Latina metro station)
When: every Sunday and public holiday of the year, from 09:00 to 15:00
