Madrid · Gran Vía, Malasaña and Plaza de España
Malasaña
A district north of Gran Vía that carried the 1980s movida scene and still has vintage shops, cafés and bars around Plaza del Dos de Mayo. It suits walking with no fixed target.
- 2 h 30
- Free
- Booking: not needed
- Gran Vía, Malasaña and Plaza de España
Data checked on October 4, 2026
The district is named after Manuela Malasaña, a seamstress who died in the 1808 uprising against French troops. In the 1980s it was the centre of the movida, a burst of music and art after the end of the dictatorship. Today it has vintage shops, small galleries, cafés and bars around Plaza del Dos de Mayo. It is a place to wander, not to tick off.
What to look for
- Plaza del Dos de Mayo and its arch
- Vintage and second-hand shops on Calle de la Palma and Calle del Pez
- Street art on the side streets
- Bars that fill up after dark
Opening hours
Always open.
Source: esMadrid, checked October 4, 2026
Tickets and booking
Free.
Getting there
Tribunal (Metro lines 1 and 10) and Bilbao (Metro lines 1 and 4) are on the edge of the district, and Plaza del Dos de Mayo is about 5 minutes from either.
Tip
Come in the afternoon for the shops and stay on for the bars, which fill after dark.