Shopping tour of Madrid: why it is the best city in the world for shopping

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It doesn't matter what time of year it is.

There is always a good excuse to walk the streets of

, be it the arrival of good weather, Black Friday or the expected

in which we are already immersed.

And even more Christmas.

For a reason this year it has been chosen the best city in the world to go shopping, according to the prestigious British consultancy Wethrift, ahead of others such as

.

With a score of 75.89 out of 100, among the reasons its "safety index" stands out, in addition to the good quality/price ratio, the

, the ease of getting around by public transport, the weather to walk along the main shopping streets or the wide variety of options.

Not in vain, in the report they review

(and their decoration, their comfort, their location...), as well as countless

shops, shopping centers (there are 130 in the region)... Others Aspects such as the presence of international firms, sales campaigns or service are also taken into account by The Globe Shopper City Index, a study carried out by the research unit of the English publication

, which also always places the Spanish capital in the first positions in its

of the best cities to burn the bank card.

Interior of Seseña Layers.

With these endorsements on the table, the

route through Madrid could not be more eclectic and extensive.

From hundred-year-

to artisan workshops, luxury product boutiques or alternative venues only suitable for modern people.

There is everything up to the number of more than 76,000

throughout the community, which employ nearly 300,000 people.

Hence, it is one of the main pillars of tourism, "together with its heritage, leisure and gastronomy, musicals in Spanish or the hotel, which makes Madrid one of the

", says the councilor. Tourism delegate, Almudena Maíllo.

There is even a campaign,

, which seeks to position the region as an international benchmark in shopping tourism.

Its motto is "the best store in the world" and it includes

of the community.

We begin our tour of those traditional establishments, largely family-owned, which, generation after generation, continue to treat their products and customers with care.

A young woman walks past the shops on Calle de Fuencarral.

Not surprisingly, the City Council rewards their work with an identification plate and a diploma designed by the artist Antonio Mingote.

in the heart of Puerta del Sol, is an example.

It began its journey as a shop-workshop of fans, umbrellas, parasols, parasols and walking sticks in 1858. And the successors of Don Manuel de Diego, the founder, continue with their "royal fans".

Even

wore one of them at her own wedding.

The De Diego fan and umbrella shop, in the heart of Puerta del Sol.

Other hundred-year-old businesses are

(Espoz y Mina, 3), opened in 1886;

(at Calle de la Paz, 8, since 1882) or the bookstores

(at Fernando VI, 14, since 1909) and

(in the alleyway of the same name since 1650!).

continues

, the headgear that has been "dressing the heads of Madrid residents and visitors", as the fourth generation of the Enguitas, the owners, points out, with top hats, caps or bowlers in the Plaza Mayor since 1894. Anecdotally, here he bought

the omnipresent beret that he always wore during a stopover he made in our country on his way to Cairo in 1959. The list of shops continues with

(Calle de la Cruz, 23), where characters such as

Ernest Hemingway, Gary Cooper, Bruce Springsteen and Hillary Clinton have passed since 1901 in search of the perfect cape.

This is confirmed by Marcos Seseña, who took the reins in 2009 to "provide a less classical vision without losing the essence" of the place.

the golden mile

This legendary classification also includes exclusive firms made in Spain such as

which visited different locations from 1846 until occupying number 8 of the Gran Vía. A little later, in 1905, it became a

.

Today, it continues to be an icon of national luxury at an international level, with offspring spread all over the world, including the capital's golden mile.

Or the

where the journey continues.

Showcase with articles from Luque Gloves.

Most of its stores are concentrated in the streets of Serrano and Ortega y Gasset, where Loewe is accompanied by brands such as Dior, Carolina Herrera, Louis Vuitton, Versace,

Around, the offer continues in Jorge Juan and its pleasant alley, Ayala, Lagasca or Claudio Coello, where it is also possible to find independent boutiques with unique pieces among trendy restaurants, design hotels and cozy cafes.

The nearby area of

allows you to find large national and international chains such as those linked to the Inditex emporium, Sfera,

or even Ikea with not so cheap brands such as Prada, Lottusse, Tous or Yanes.

The spectrum would be similar in other areas such as

streets ;

that of Bravo Murillo or the one that surrounds Calle Princesa, in the neighborhood of Argüelles.

Once in Moncloa, you have to make a stop at some of the best bookstores in the city such as

On the other hand, one of the most popular is located in Plaza de España,

(Martín de los Heros, 11), specialized in the seventh art and other audiovisual media.

Its name pays tribute to the work of Federico Fellini and in 1995 it replaced the old

, located inside the cinema.

A few meters away stands

.

Its more than 7,700 square meters are spread over the famous España building.

Showcase of La Favorita hats.

We now turn to Gran Vía, an authentic open-air shopping center that attracts 10 million people each year.

The main textile groups (Inditex, Mango, Primark...) have planted a pike here and in its surroundings, between

It also highlights the large number of jewelry stores (from Swarovski to Grassy or Aristocrazy), sports brands (Adidas, Nike...), bookstores (La Casa del Libro, FNAC...) and department stores such as El Corte Inglés de Preciados.

Canalejas, the new benchmark of luxury

Nearby is the remodeled Canalejas area, another of the

, beginning with the homonymous gallery, attached to the five-star Four Seasons.

In it, it is not only possible to treat yourself to a culinary tribute in its market with more than 20 stalls (

), but also to acquire the most valuable objects from firms such as

.

Shopping in the Malasaña neighborhood.

We now move on to the Las Letras neighborhood, perfect for those looking for charming places or specialized stores such as

dedicated to footwear of this type;

y sus mieles or Licores Cabello, with all kinds of spirits.

In this beautiful area dedicated to writers such as

there are also a large number of antique dealers, bookstores and art galleries.

Examples: Unevenness, Crazy Mary, Modernario, La Integral, etc.

The Cartier store in Canalejas Gallery.

The next stop is at

, one of the most elegant corners of the metropolis, ideal for those looking for treasures from designers such as

Its concept stores such as Do (Fernando VI, 13), Despacio (Belén, 10), Gion (Barquillo, 18) and González & González (Pelayo, 68) also hold many surprises, as well as the furniture and decoration store Batavia (Mejía Lequerica, 2).

cultural center ,

where fashion stores alternate with taverns and cafes.

The most alternative and modern face is lived in the neighborhoods of Lavapiés (where the ethnic stamp dots most of the shops),

, with the streets of

-attention, lovers of the shoemaking universe;

this is your place - as epicenter.

In them shops selling clothes, tattoos, accessories and second-hand items proliferate.

Also spaces that combine gastronomy with sales and exhibitions such as the

at Corredera Baja de San Pablo, 17.

Kikekeller's 'concept store'.

We finish the tour accompanied by a vermouth and some very traditional tapas in the mythical

de los Domingos, the most important

, where it is possible to find everything.

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