Over the years the San Miguel Market in Madrid has become a favourite amongst locals and travellers alike. You’ll find this quirky space just a short distance from Madrid’s famous Plaza Mayor, making it an ideal place to meet up with friends or simply spend some time strolling around and discovering its stalls.
Don’t hesitate to go inside and experience the atmosphere of the market, as well as the different local food stalls. The variety of aromas and colours are truly overwhelming. Whether you grab a bite to eat or not, this place is totally worth a visit!
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History of the San Miguel Market
The San Miguel Market building dates back to the beginning of the 20th century, although its history can easily be traced back to medieval times. In the past, although it didn’t have the current structure, it was already used for buying and selling craft products.
It used to be a completely open market, but in 1913 a roof was built to protect it, inspired by other markets in Europe that also had an iron structure. In 1916 it already had the design that we know today, and in 2000 it was declared an Asset of Cultural and Monumental Interest.
Nowadays, this market has up to thirty different stalls with a high quality culinary offer, honouring some of Madrid’s best dishes. You will be fascinated by its architectural beauty, with high ceilings, numerous saw columns and ceramic crests . Don’t forget to bring your camera and take home some souvenirs of this beautiful place!
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Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
What to do in the San Miguel Market?
The San Miguel Market offers one thing in particular: food. Inside you will have the chance to stroll around its many stalls and discover all the dishes sold there, most of which are made from local produce. Even so, the star of the show is the tapas, generally accompanied by a glass of red wine.
You can try some of the most traditional Spanish tapas, as well as a wide range of pinchos and montaditos, portions of paella or rice dishes, croquettes and other local foods. What’s more, not only do they sell products to eat on the spot, but you can also buy them and cook them at home.
Visiting the Mercado de San Miguel can be the perfect weekend plan. Enjoy some delicious tapas with friends, or a high quality meal with the family. Or, if you prefer to let yourself be carried away by the aromas and products and let your culinary imagination run wild, you can always take a stroll around the stalls in search of new gastronomic ideas. And to finish off your visit, don’t hesitate to enjoy a glass of wine or a delicious ice cream to savour something sweet. A truly unique experience!
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What to see around the San Miguel Market?
Plaza Mayor
The Plaza Mayor, located just a 3-minute walk away, is one of the most famous spots in Madrid, as well as being one of the busiest meeting places. This square is part of the historic centre of the city, so you’ll find a number of other places to visit within walking distance.
This square is also one of the best places to have lunch or dinner while enjoying the good atmosphere of the square. There is usually live music and lots of entertainment, so don’t hesitate to go there either for a pleasant stroll or to relax and have a drink. If you want to discover more places to visit in the capital, don’t hesitate to check out our post about everything to see and do in Madrid.
Almudena Cathedral
Located just a 6-minute walk from the Mercado de San Miguel is the spectacular Almudena Cathedral in Madrid. This beautiful religious building is one of the most important landmarks in the capital.
It has an impressive neo-Gothic façade, as well as its vast size that invites you to go inside. Inside you can visit its numerous rooms and understand more about the history of this magnificent temple. Read our post about the Almudena Cathedral to discover all its secrets.
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El Retiro Park
The Retiro Park is one of the most iconic and visited spots in Madrid. This is not at all surprising, as it is the largest green space in the centre of the capital.
With 118 hectares, in this park you can go for a walk, play sports or even spend a whole day with friends or family. Thanks to the countless places to see and activities to do, this place will certainly become one of your favourites. To discover more details about this park, read our post about what to see in the Retiro Park.
How much does it cost to enter the San Miguel Market?
Entry to the market is completely free, although it is important to note that the food at the stalls is not particularly cheap. That’s why we recommend going with a good amount of money if you want to try a variety of foods.
What are the opening hours of the San Miguel Market?
The market is open from Monday to Thursday (including Sundays) from 10:00 to 00:00, and from Friday to Saturday from 10:00 to 2:00.
How to get to the San Miguel Market?
To get to the Mercado de San Miguel, we recommend heading to Plaza Mayor. The nearest metro stop is Sol, which you can reach on lines 1, 2 and 3. From there, you’ll only have to walk 3 minutes and you’ll have reached your destination.
How to plan your visit to the San Miguel Market?
Download the Passporter app:
- Get inspiration from the experiences of other travellers.
- Save important information about the destinations you want to visit that you have found on the internet. Just install the Chrome extension and save everything useful for your trip.
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- Organise your route on Google maps with your accommodation as the starting point or any other that you indicate.
- Find out the best travel option for each place.
- Save and publish your own photos and experiences as you go along, so that when someone asks you “How was your visit to the San Miguel Market?” you can reply “Visit my traveller profile on Passporter!”
If you want to learn more about how to get the most out of the Passporter app, you can read our post: How to create your travel itinerary with Passporter.
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