Madrid Flea Market
El Rastro is Madrid’s most popular and authentic open-air flea market. It takes place every Sunday and on holidays in the morning in the Embajadores neighborhood, right in the heart of the historic center, centered around Ribera de Curtidores Street and Cascorro Square. It stretches across some twenty streets and several squares, with a maximum authorized number of around 3,500 stalls organized by trade: new and secondhand clothing, books, prints, paintings, leather goods, antiques, curiosities, and used items. The atmosphere combines traditional haggling with the local taverns, where it’s customary to end the morning with an aperitif. The market is typically open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the shopping experience continues at the antique shops in the nearby arcades, which are open all week long.
What will I find at this market?
General, Food, Fruits and Vegetables
Everything You Need to Know
Get to Know the Market
A little background
he documented origins of El Rastro date back to the mid-18th century, around 1740, when a semi-clandestine market for used goods began to take shape in the area surrounding the city slaughterhouse and the tanneries along the Manzanares River. The name itself comes from the trail or trail of blood left by the cattle dragged from the slaughterhouse to the tanneries down the slope of what is now Ribera de Curtidores Street, formerly known as Calle de las Tenerías. Trades related to leather and textiles—tanners, shoemakers, tailors, and weavers—proliferated around this hub, giving the neighborhood its commercial character. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the market was gradually regulated by successive municipal ordinances and established its Sunday schedule. Writers such as Ramón Gómez de la Serna immortalized it in literature, and filmmakers such as Pedro Almodóvar used it as a setting, cementing its role as an emblem of Madrid’s popular culture.
How to Find the Market
Address
Who's in the market?
There are currently no vendors with valid authorization in this market.
Coming Soon
The list of vendors will appear here as soon as the first valid authorizations are granted.
A unique experience
Tradition and Experience
A historic market, organized by the City Council with all the necessary safeguards.
Wide variety
Dozens of street vendors selling local products, handicrafts, and more.
Unique Setting
Enjoy the town's atmosphere and get to know the local shopkeepers.
Easy access
Well-connected and with a parking area nearby.
How to Get There and Park
Parking, public transportation, and services near the market.
⏱ Estimated time: 60–120 min
Where can I park?
We don't have any mapped parking lots near this market. Check with City Hall to find out the best parking options.
How do I get there by public transportation?
We don't have any public transportation stops mapped near this market. Check with City Hall to find out how to get there by bus or train.
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♿ Accessibility for People with Limited Mobility
Market status regarding accessible ramps, restrooms, and parking.
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Upcoming Dates
Calculated automatically based on market trends and the holiday calendar.
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Sun11OctNext
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Sun18Oct
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Sun25Oct
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Sun8Nov
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Sun15Nov
Holidays are automatically excluded.
Nearby markets
Other markets located near this one due to their geographical proximity.
How to Get a Stall at the Madrid Flea Market
Would you like to set up a stall at the Madrid Flea Market market, located at Madrid? To sell as a street vendor, you need a municipal street vending permit or license: this is issued by the town council, not the market itself, and typically requires that you be registered as a self-employed individual or a business, be in good standing with the tax authorities and Social Security, and have liability insurance that covers the stall.
Madrid Flea Market is held on Sundays. The exact fee is set by the Madrid town council; please check it before submitting your application.
Applications are submitted to the town council, usually online or in person, and may be granted directly (if there are open stalls) or through a public call for stall applications with a waiting list when demand exceeds the number of available stalls.
You can contact the Madrid town council at atencionalciudadano@012.madrid.org.
- Contact the town council's commerce or markets department
- Gather the necessary documentation: registration as a self-employed individual or business, proof of being up to date with the tax authorities and Social Security, and liability insurance
- Submit the application for a street vending permit (through the online portal or at the registry office)
- Pay the applicable municipal fee, if required by the town council
- Pick up your authorization and bring it with you on market day
Frequently Asked Questions for Merchants
What do I need to set up a stall at the Madrid Flea Market market?
How much is the fee for the stall?
Where and when do I apply for the permit?
Who should I contact at the Madrid town council?
Are you interested in this market? Write to us
Leave us your contact information, and we'll forward it to the town council so they can let you know how to get your stall.
Documents and Resources
All official market documentation in one place.
Madrid Flea Market — street market in the municipality of Madrid
The “Madrid Flea Market” is one of the most popular street markets in the municipality of Madrid. Its stalls offer a variety of products—textile products, footwear, fresh food, handicrafts, accessories, and household goods—in a lively, family-friendly atmosphere that makes it a regular destination for locals and visitors alike. The municipality has 3,506,730 inhabitants.
Madrid Flea Market opens on Sundays, from 09:00 – 15:00.
The "Madrid Flea Market" has been part of the commercial and social fabric of the municipality of Madrid for decades. Street markets have a long tradition in the province of Madrid, and this one is a must-see for anyone looking for fresh produce, local crafts, and market prices.
If the Madrid Flea Market is too far away, or if you want to plan a route through several markets in the area, here are the closest street markets by geographical proximity:
- Agüimes Weekly Market (Agüimes)
- Mercadillo Diario del Puerto de Mahón (Maó)
- Mercadillo Vintage de Mahón (Maó)
- Mahon Weekly Market (Maó)
See also all the practical information about the market: interactive map of the market · vendor directory · Bodega y Cocina Gárate · Feria-Mercado de Artesanía de la Comunidad de Madrid · Alcorisa-Silvano Street Market.
The street market is located in the neighborhood of Región del Mar Negro, one of the districts or areas of the municipality of Madrid.
Madrid Flea Market FAQs
Where is the "Madrid Flea Market"? Madrid Flea Market is located in the municipality of Madrid.
What can you buy at the "Madrid Flea Market"? At Madrid Flea Market, you'll find textile products, footwear, fresh food, handicrafts, accessories, and household goods, among other typical items from street markets.
On which days is the "Madrid Flea Market" open? Madrid Flea Market opens on Sundays, from 09:00 – 15:00.
What time does the "Madrid Flea Market" open and close? Madrid Flea Market is open from 09:00 – 15:00. We recommend arriving early to find the best stalls.
Market Calendar
Is the "Madrid Flea Market" open today? No, Madrid Flea Market is not open today, 6 October. The next market day will be Sunday 11 October.
Is the "Madrid Flea Market" open tomorrow? No, Madrid Flea Market isn't opening tomorrow, 7 October.
Madrid Flea Market—when is it open next? Madrid Flea Market is once again hosting Sunday 11 October 2026 (5 days from now). The schedule is available at from 09:00 to 15:00.