Wanderlust World Wanderlust World From Madrid's famous Plaza Mayor, it is easy to find your way to El Rastro if you simply tag along with the hoards of shoppers heading down the hill toward Puerta de Alcala. The market continues through a web of streets and tangles in and out of the main road.
You can find a mix of goods anywhere in El Rastro, but a general guideline is to remember that you'll find mostly clothing at the starting point, with artwork on streets to the left. To the right, you'll come across a flea market of new and used items, including antiques. At the bottom of the hill, you're likely to run into dealers selling electronic items.
Many products made in Spain are sold at El Rastro, making it a good place to pick up souvenirs, as well as original art sometimes sold at the market by the artists themselves.
El Rastro is open year-round on Sundays from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
The market can become so crowded during the tourist season that you may literally be swept along; especially at this time you should take care to avoid becoming a victim of pickpockets.