El Rastro is the largest open air flea market in Madrid, and with the misnomer of Rastro meaning ‘Trail’ in Spanish, you can easily get lost in the crowds, along winding curves of the market through the streets. El Rastro 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).  It is open all Sundays and public holidays from 9.00 – 15.00.

There are something like 3500 stalls of goods being sold.  You honestly will find everything you need here – from gas masks, to clothing, to power strips, to lawnmowers, to porn, to artwork and much much more.  There is even a section where you can come and trade your football cards (or whatever cards the kids are trading these days).

On one particular El Rastro visit we happened across a massive crowd outside the restaurant Capricho Extremeño.  On one side was the longest, thickest queue I’d seen in Madrid and on the other side were small clusters of Españols happily munching on gigantic tostas topped with things like salmon, gambas, jamon.  Note that I when I say gigantic, I absolutely mean it.  We decided to venture as the locals did – and were not let down. I think this would be a great El Rastro ritual, to help you fuel up to make it out of the labyrinth that is El Rastro.  And then after go to La Latina’s Cava Baja for a Sunday afternoon tapas crawl.

When you visit I want to warn you to be very careful of your things.  It will likely be insanely packed which makes it prime conditions for pick pocketing.  Hold your things very close and try to bring as little as possible.

El Rastro: Open Sundays 900-1500, Metro: La Latina