Main Streets Across the World 2025: Spanish retail corridors at the heart of global retail dynamics
Cushman & Wakefield presents the 35th edition of its Main Streets Across the World External Link offering a comprehensive analysis of the world’s most emblematic retail corridors. In a context of economic uncertainty, the Retail sector continues to demonstrate its resilience: super-prime locations worldwide recorded an average rental growth of +4.2%, driven by persistent demand for physical, experiential shopping and the enduring appeal of iconic destinations.
London leads the global ranking with New Bond Street overtaking Milan and New York, consolidating the strategic importance of these high-visibility international retail hubs.
Spain: stability and growing appeal across its leading retail streets
Spain strengthens its position among Europe’s most attractive Retail destinations. Passeig de Gràcia, in Barcelona, is the most expensive commercial street in the country, with a prime rent of €3,420/m²/year, followed by Calle Serrano in Madrid (€3,300/m²/year) and Gran Vía (€3,120/m²/year). This continued performance reflects the solidity of the Spanish super-prime retail market, supported by limited availability of quality units and sustained interest from major international brands.
The sector also benefits from exceptional tourism momentum: between January and September 2025, Spain welcomed 53 million international visitors, with strong inflows from the United States, the United Kingdom, and France. This reinforces the dynamism of its flagship retail axes, consolidating their exclusivity and long-term attractiveness.
Passeig de Gràcia, in Barcelona, leads the ranking of the most expensive commercial streets in Spain with a prime rent of €3,420/m²/year (€285/m²/month), according to the Main Streets Across the World report by Cushman & Wakefield. It is followed by Serrano street, in Madrid, with €3,300/m²/year (€275/m²/month). Gran Vía in Madrid ranks third with €3,120/m²/year (€260/m²/month). The limited availability of spaces continues to drive up rents, and international tourism, which reached 53 million visitors between January and September 2025, boosts the superprime retail sector. This growth, led by tourists from the United States, the United Kingdom, and France, has benefited the most relevant commercial areas in the country, consolidating their attractiveness and exclusivity.
Global trends: resilience and transformation shaping the sector
- Rental growth: Super-prime corridors worldwide achieved an average increase of +4.2%, outperforming global inflation.
- Intensified competition: Emerging brands increasingly compete with established luxury houses for the most strategic locations.
- Omnichannel strategy: Accelerated adoption of digital tools enables more granular analysis of footfall, consumer behaviour, and retail performance.
- Demand for physical experience: Despite digitalisation, consumer appetite for physical, high-quality retail experiences remains strong, reinforcing the prominence of iconic shopping streets.
