If you’ve followed my blog, you might already know that I’m heading to Madrid soon for about five weeks. I’ve rented a vacation home in the city center, and now I need to figure out how to live like a local.

That means buying groceries, toiletries, and, in my case, allergy medication. I’m bringing my own, but sometimes, I need eye drops or nasal sprays to alleviate my allergies fully.

So, what are the options? 

Many options are available if you are in Madrid and need to purchase essentials. Here are seven different places to shop for essentials and toiletries in Madrid.

1. El Corte Inglés: 

This is one of the largest department stores in Spain and has multiple locations throughout Madrid. You can find many products here, including cosmetics, toiletries, and personal care items.

This typical department store has everything from booze to meat products, toys, and furniture. 

While you may not want to buy furniture during your vacation, if you need to buy blankets (because your vacation rental doesn’t have enough. This has happened to me before), add El Corte Inglés to your list.

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2. Aldi: 

This popular chain is well known. Luckily for us, Madrid has several Aldi stores where you can buy all your essentials, including toiletries like shampoo, conditioner, soaps, and anything else you might need for that manly body of yours. As you may already know, Aldi also sells groceries. It’s the perfect all-purpose place.

3. Mercadona: 

This is a popular supermarket chain in Spain that offers a variety of products, including toiletries and personal care items. Mercadona has multiple locations throughout Madrid, making it easy to find one near you.

This typical market is great for all your cooking and grocery needs. They have everything you want to fill your fridge for the week.

4. Sephora: 

This beauty retailer offers a range of cosmetics, skincare, and personal care products. Sephora has several locations throughout Madrid, including shopping centers and department stores.

Even though Sephora is not well known as a men’s store, it has a range of products men can use, such as shaving products, skincare lines, and acne facewashes.

5. Primor: 

This chain of beauty stores offers a wide range of cosmetics, skincare, and personal care products at affordable prices. 

Like Sephora, Primor is known as a women’s beauty shop. However, they have men’s products such as shaving kits, aftershave products, toiletries for men, deodorants, and colognes.

6. Carrefour: 

This popular supermarket chain offers a range of products, including toiletries and personal care items. Carrefour has multiple locations throughout Madrid.

Many are open 24 hours a day and contain all your supermarket items for grocery shopping and cooking. Carrefour also has shampoos and over-the-counter painkillers like aspirin.

7. Pharmacies and Drugstores: 

There are many pharmacies throughout Madrid where you can purchase essentials and toiletries. These include chains like Farmacia Internacional and Farmacia Lastra.

Think of pharmacies in Madrid like your local CVS or Rite Aid. They have a pharmacy, but they also sell all essential toiletries, hair dye, deodorant, bug spray, smell-good fragrance for the restroom, and the like.

Of course, some pharmacies only sell medications for all your pains and ailments.

The difference between pharmacies and drugstores is that drugstores have more products than just medications.

Those are just a few places to shop for essentials in Madrid. With this list, we will live like a local, save money cooking a few meals, and get our perfect smell-good body wash for the month.