Spring Plans: Best Markets to Discover in Madrid

Spring is around the corner, and we want you to enjoy it to the fullest! At don Quijote, we take our coat off to recommend some of the best plans to explore Madrid in spring, as well as a perfect activity to enjoy the good weather while living the Spanish culture just like another local. We propose a tour through the 4 most important Markets in the city of Madrid. This tour can be done on the same day, since the walking distance from one to the other is not more than 30 minutes. In this way, you will make the most of your time in discovering the stunning stalls inside these historic markets.

Continue reading this post in English or click here to read it in Spanish.

Both the “Mercado de San Miguel” and the “Mercado de la Cebada” are located at squares that are called with the same name. Indeed, they were the squares the ones giving name to the markets. So, if you find the “Plaza de San Miguel” or “the Plaza de la Cebada”, you will also find these emblematic Madrid markets!

Mercado de San Miguel

The “Mercado de San Miguel” and the “Plaza de San Miguel” got their names from the church called “La Iglesia de San Miguel de los Octes”, where Lope de Vega —the famous playwright of the Spanish golden age— was baptized. The “Mercado de San Miguel” is representative of Madrid that it was declared Good of Cultural Interest. If you want to taste delicious Iberian ham, exotic seafood, paella or any of the many delights of the Spanish cuisine, the “Mercado de San Miguel” is a great point from which to start your market day in Madrid.

Mercado de la Cebada

Just 8 minutes walking from the “Mercado de San Miguel”, you´ll reach the “Mercado de la Cebada”, located in the charming neighborhood of La Latina. There, you will have the great opportunity to try excellent tapas and pintxos while discovering one of the oldest districts of the Spanish capital. Moreover, if you’d rather do the shopping, you’ll find delicious food in the different butchers, fruit and fish shops; or even many other high quality products like perfumes, flowers, crafts… and many more!

But if you prefer to spend the day just in one of them, the “Mercado de la Cebada” is a great choice, since it offers a wide range of cultural activities related to food and the products sold in the market.

Mercado de San Fernando

Just 8 minutes walking from the “Mercado de la Cebada”, you´ll reach the “Mercado de San Fernando”, located in the castizo —genuine from Madrid— neighborhood of Lavapiés. It is an area full of life, since the social and commercial activity revolves around the popular “Rastro de Madrid” —main flea market in Madrid— hold on Sundays. Since its opening in 1944, people can get food in most of the stalls, as well as artisan products, books, and many other things you’ll discover when you go!

And, if you stop by at the entrance for a while to see locals and tourists going by, you will discover that, eventually, the most diverse people in Madrid visit the “Mercado de San Fernando”: both elderly and young people; both from Madrid and other parts of Spain, and even from other parts of the world.

Mercado de Antón Martín

To end this tour though the best markets of Madrid, walk just 9 minutes to reach the “Mercado de Antón Martín” on Santa Isabel street. It is inside the old quarter of the Spanish capital, very close to important areas such as the Puerta del Sol or the Plaza Mayor. In this market, you will also meet people from all over the world and from all ages, from children accompanying their parents to old ladies and gentlemen who walk every day to do the shopping.