Shops are a fundamental part of any city. But in Zaragoza, as well as big high-street names, there are countless opportunities to find the most original products at affordable prices. And best of all, it’s all found in an urban environment where art and culture cross your path almost without you realising.

The city of Zaragoza, thanks to the Festival Asalto amongst other initiatives, has become a sort of giant open-air museum where murals and art installations decorate the walls of our streets and plazas. And these are the same streets and plazas that hold the Sunday street markets, where you’ll find clothes, music, books, toys and much more.

The Mercado de las Armas, for example, is the ideal place to enjoy a Vermouth to the sound of live music by a local group before browsing the various stalls selling clothes, books, music, decorations, food, etc. On the second Sunday of each month, the street, Calle Las Armas, becomes an obligatory pilgrimage site for bargain-hunters. It’s a relaxed environment which always has some hidden surprises, with the added bonus that it’s just a stones’ throw away from the greatest concentration of murals in the city.

In the Magdalena district , vintage clothes and urban fashion go hand in hand. Here, the modern and traditional are intertwined under the beauty of the tower of La Magdalena and can be found throughout the shops, markets, artisan workshops and tapas bars. In this area, you’ll also find various examples of the urban art that peppers the streets of Zaragoza.

Other interesting events are held in the more traditional Plaza de San Bruno or in the annual Market Re-Place, which each year brings the ancient activity of bartering back to the city and the buying and selling of clothes, music, books and any second-hand object you can think of at token prices.

Nor should we leave out the great circuit of vintage and second-hand shops offering clothes, shoes and accessories at very reasonable prices. It’s an authentic paradise for avid treasure hunters, who have the chance to venture each day on a new expedition through fashion and decor.

Zaragoza also boasts a significant network of artisan shops called Made in ZGZ. Formed by artisans, designers, illustrators, artists and small-business owners, it aims to bring their creativity to the public. Original-brand shops that project a unique and innovative philosophy and lifestyle, present the fruits of their talent and hard work, turning the city into a big open shopping centre which stands out for its intimacy, community and personal touch.

Fairtrade also plays an important role in the city, with a good number of establishments offering all kinds of products and collaborating with projects in developing countries. Encouraging responsible consumption, sustainability and solidarity, there’s also the Mercado de Social de Aragón, a cooperative which works as a distribution, production and consumption network for all manner of goods and services catering for ethical and ecological concerns.

Don’t miss the opportunity to discover new ways to shop. Shop with both your heart and your head and collaborate with the local economy, all out in the street whilst enjoying the impressive open-air art displays. Find all this and much more in Zaragoza.