Shopping? Better by taxi: how to go round the shops in Madrid without a car

Going shopping by taxi pays off when you will come back laden, parking at your destination is difficult or expensive, or you are heading to an out-of-town shopping centre without a car. The taxi drops you at the door, your bags travel in the boot and on the way back you do not have to trek through car park levels or along platforms with your parcels. If you are a visitor and you shop on your last day, it also lets you go straight from the shops, or the hotel, to the airport with all your luggage.

Shopping streets in the centre

Around Preciados, Gran Vía and Fuencarral many streets are pedestrianised and parking is scarce, so the practical thing is to arrive by metro or taxi and explore them on foot. In the Salamanca district, centred on Serrano and Ortega y Gasset, there is more traffic, but parking is still difficult; if you are interested in the area beyond the shops, read what to see in the Salamanca district.

Out-of-town shopping centres and outlets

Places such as Xanadú in Arroyomolinos, Las Rozas Village, La Vaguada or Plenilunio are designed to be reached by car. Without a car of your own, a taxi is the direct way to get there and, above all, to get back with your shopping. If there are several of you, the cost is shared between everyone.

Markets and weekend shopping

The Rastro on Sundays or the food markets are experiences to enjoy at a leisurely pace. On the way back, with a bulky purchase or two, a taxi sorts out the journey home. You have a selection in the best markets in Madrid, and more shopping ideas by neighbourhood in shopping in Madrid.

Many visitors leave their shopping until the end. It works if you plan it:

• Make room in your suitcase or bring a foldable bag. Check your airline's weight limits; in luggage in taxis we also explain how everything fits in the car.
• If you live outside the European Union, you can claim a VAT refund on many purchases. The process is validated at the airport before check-in, and you may be asked to show the goods, so keep them within reach and allow extra time when you arrive.
• Work out your margin: two hours before the flight for European destinations and three for international ones, plus the time for the VAT refund process if you are doing it.

To get from the hotel to the airport with your shopping, a taxi at a fixed price avoids surprises: from inside the M-30 it is €33, and you will find the other areas on our fares by area page. If you are staying near Serrano, see the pickup details in taxi from the Salamanca district to the airport; and if you are spending the afternoon at Xanadú before flying, you have the information in taxi from Xanadú.

For a big, planned shop at a shopping centre with free parking, your own car may be the most practical option. The taxi wins when the destination is in the centre, when you do not have a car, when you are going to have a drink during the day or when the shopping is the prelude to a trip.