Madrid Shopping Tips by Jefie Top 5 Page for this destination

Rey Samsa Libreria: Nice second-hand bookstore

Books in Spanish are a rare commodity in Quebec City so shopping for books was pretty high on my list of things to do while in Madrid. Since books are rather expensive in Spain, I was looking for a good second-hand bookstore and I quickly realized that there aren't that many of those in the city. I did however find a nice little one in the Barrio de las Letras. Rey Samsa is a small store, but they've got a good selection of used books that are sold at a very decent price. The owner was muy simpatico, with a real passion for books. I doubt you'll leave this place empty handed!

What to pay: Paperbacks were about 5 Euros each...

Address: No. 3, Calle de San Jose

Directions: Barrio de las Letras, just off Calle de las Huertas

Other Contact: reysamsa@hotmail.com

Phone: 91 420 15 73

Theme: Books

Calle de Serrano: Madrid's "Fifth Avenue"

Calle de Serrano runs through the very posh Salamanca area. It is one of the most expensive neighborhoods in all of Madrid, and it most likely is where your country's embassy is located. The most popular activity in the area is high-end shopping, and you'll find all the big names on Calle de Serrano and its side streets: Prada, Gucci, Dior, Cartier & Co. are all there, along with the very popular Spanish store Zara. Looks like Madrid knows how to live up to its title as one of the world's fashion capitals!

What to buy: I don't know much about fashion but I'm guessing you'll find designer bags, shoes, etc.

What to pay: As much as you can possibly want to spend!

Directions: Salamanca area, near Plaza de Colon (Metro Serrano)

Theme: Women's Clothes

Calle del Arenal: Plenty of postcards and souvenirs

Calle del Arenal is a large pedestrian street that stretches between Puerta del Sol and the Opera. If you're looking for postcards or that very typical Spanish souvenir, it's a pretty good place to go. I thought it was rather difficult to find a gift that didn't scream "cheesy tourist souvenir", but luckily that's exactly what some of my friends had asked for! Besides all the shops, it's also fun to walk down Calle del Arenal as it's always teeming with people and street performers, especially in the evening.

What to buy: Decorated fans (abanicos) and anything with a bull on it are pretty typical Madrid souvenirs.

What to pay: 5-15 Euros per item

Directions: Old Madrid

Theme: Gifts

Casa del Libro: Great bookstore in Madrid

I guess the Casa del Libro is the Spanish equivalent of bookstores like Borders and Waterstones. It's fairly big and they've got a great selection, so you'll almost surely find the Spanish book you're looking for, whether it's a classic, a bestseller, a recipe book or a travel guide. There's also a small English books section, where I happened to find a novel edited by my thesis director :o) There are several Casa del Libro stores in Madrid, but perhaps the nicest one is the three-storey store located on Gran Via. Casa del Libro is open Monday to Saturday - 9:30 am to 9:30 pm; Sunday - 11:00 am to 9:00 pm.

What to pay: In general, books are more expensive in Europe than in America, but you can usually find some paperbacks (bolsillos) that sell at a decent price.

Address: No. 29, Gran Vía

Directions: Metro Gran Via or Callao

Phone: 91 521 21 13

Theme: Books

Website: http://www.casadellibro.com