If you’re spending Christmas in Madrid, it’s a great chance to see the city completely lit up with thousands of sparkling lights, making everything feel festive and magical.
The decorations and store window displays are seriously stunning, and they’re definitely worth checking out.
You’ll also want to wander through the Christmas markets. They’re the perfect spot to find unique gifts and soak up that holiday vibe. And if you’re with family, the magical Three Kings’ Day parade is must-see as it really capture the spirit of the season.
But more than anything, it’s the perfect excuse to take a break, relax, and create some unforgettable memories.
If you’re planning on spending Christmas in Madrid, here are some fun and cool things you might want to do!
How is Christmas celebrated in Spain?
Christmas in Spain is a festive season lasting from December 22 to January 6, filled with unique traditions and family gatherings.
- December 22: The celebrations kick off with El Sorteo de Navidad (the Christmas Lottery) on, where everyone participates in hopes of winning the grand prize, “El Gordo”.
- December 24 (Nochebuena): Christmas Eve is spent with family, and some children receive presents from Papá Noel (Santa Claus).
- December 25 (Navidad): A relaxed day for rest after the family gatherings.
- December 28 (Día de Los Santos Inocentes): It’s the Spanish equivalent for April Fool’s Day (a date that we don’t actually celebrate) and people play pranks on each other.
- December 31 (Nochevieja): Spaniards welcome the New Year by eating 12 grapes, one for each stroke of midnight, to bring good luck.
- January 1: A day to relax after the New Year celebrations.
- January 5: The Cabalgata de los Reyes Magos parade takes place in cities across Spain, where the Three Wise Men throw candy to children.
- January 6 (Día de los Tres Reyes Magos): The Three Kings Day marks the end of the holiday season, with children receiving gifts, much like on Christmas Day in other countries.
Spanish Christmas also includes fun traditions like bélen displays (nativity scenes) and light decorations throughout the streets.
Unlike in most of the world, Santa Claus is not the main figure. Instead, the Three Wise Men hold more importance.
Follow a self-guided walk to admire Madrid Christmas lights
In recent years Madrid has made an important effort to reduce electricity costs allowing the Council to increase the number of illuminated areas. Moreover, some of the best architects, artists and designers have been recruited to create original and cutting edge displays.
So why don’t you discover Christmas the way Madrid does it walking along the best illuminated streets and avenues?
Enjoy this Madrid Christmas lights walk and take lots of pictures of the city’s original festival lights.
Get lost in a Christmas market
Madrid is no short on Christmas markets (mercado de navidad). The most famous and popular is the one located at Plaza Mayor and attracts thousands of visitors every year. However, if Plaza Mayor is very crowded you can always go to Plaza de Santa Cruz or Plaza del Carmen located nearby.
And while you are there, buy your own belén. It’s a lovely souvenir that will always remind you your special Christmas in Madrid.
The Nativity scene or Belén (Spanish for Bethlehem) has special significance in Spain. Every family, shop and office has it’s own one. The size and complexity varies from a mere three figures of the Crèche to a whole town with rivers, lights and hundreds of figures.
Try some Spanish Christmas sweets
If you have a sweet tooth, tasting the traditional Spanish sweets is one of the things that you should do while you’re spending Christmas in Madrid.
The smell of the typically Spanish Christmas sweets simply and wonderfully surrounds you and it will surely makes your head go around in circles!
Turrón (a kind of nougat), mazapán (a yummy marzipan), polvorones (a kind of floury delicious sweet), mantecados (a sort of shortcake but with that special Spanish touch) and roscón de Reyes (a delicious a ring-shaped sweet bread) are all a part of the Spanish Christmas tradition.
All of them are seasonal sweets and can only be found in Christmas. So you would find it hard to see a Spanish home without a platter full of these absolutely fabulous Christmas sweets at this time of the year!
You can buy them in my favorite specialized bakeries and pastry shops and bring them home as a gift for your friends and relatives.
Forget about calories for a few days and enjoy the Christmas season to its full!
Enjoy Christmas in Madrid visiting a public belén
One of the typical Christmas activities that Madrileños enjoy is to visit Nativity scene exhibitions (known as belenes). Many public displays, contests and even “living nativities” (with real people dressed up!) are on everywhere during Christmas. Organizations, groups of co-workers, families and students across the city work together to elaborate re-creations of the scene of Jesus’ birth.
There are thousands all over the city, in every church there is one and in almost every office of any organization, both private and public, another one is exhibited.
Most have expanded visiting schedules and free entrance throughout December and until January 7. In many cases, the exact opening dates of each belén are not officially confirmed until the same day the visits begin, usually by December 1-15.
Moreover, bear in mind that in some cases, you’ll find long lines formed to enter, so I recommend you to come first time in the morning or afternoon.
Here’s a list of my favorite nativity scenes in Madrid:
- Ayuntamiento de Madrid (Plaza de Cibeles). November 28 to January 4, Monday to Sunday from 10:30 to 19:00. December 24, 25 and 31 from 10:30 to 13:00. Closed on Mondays and January 1.
- Museo de San Isidro (Plaza de San Andrés, 2). December 2 to January 18, Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 20:00. Closed on Mondays, December 24, 25 and 31, January 1 and 6.
- Museo de Historia de Madrid (Calle Fuencarral, 78). December 1 to February 1, Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 20:00. Closed on Mondays, December 24, 25 and 31, January 1 and 6.
- Real Casa de Correos (Calle del Correo, 1). November 28 to January 6, Monday to Sunday from 10:00 to 22:00. November 28, December 5 and January 6 from 15:00 to 22:00. December 24 and 31, and January 5 from 10:00 to 18:00. Closed on December 25 and January 1.
- Palacio Real de Madrid (Calle Bailén, s/n). December 5 to January 5, Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 17:00 and Sunday from 10:00 to 15:00. December 24 and 31 from 10:00 to 15:00. Closed on December 25, January 1 and 6.
- Plaza Mayor de Madrid. November 24 to December 31, Monday to Sunday from 9:00 to 21:00.
- Imprenta Municipal (Calle Concepción Jerónima, 15). December 16 to January 17, Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 20:00.
- Consejería de Cultura y Turismo de la Comunidad de Madrid (Calle Alcalá, 31). December 4 to February 1, Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 20:30 and Sunday from 11:00 to 14:00. Closed on Mondays, December 24, 25 and 31, January 1 and 6.
- El Corte Inglés department store
- Paseo de la Castellana, 69. November 13 to January 6, Monday to Sunday from 10:00 to 22:00.
- Plaza de Callao. November 21 to January 6, Monday to Sunday from 10:00 to 22:00.
- Calle de Serrano, 47. November 13 to January 6, Monday to Sunday from 10:00 to 22:00.
- Plaza de Felipe II. November 13 to January 6, Monday to Sunday from 10:00 to 22:00.
- Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales (Plaza de las Descalzas, 3). December 16 to January 5, Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to to 18:15, Sunday from 11:00 to 14:45. Closed on Mondays, December 24, 25 and 31, January 1 and 6.
- Monasterio de la Encarnación (Plaza de la Encarnación, 1). December 1 to January 7, Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 18:15, Sunday from 11:00 to 14:00. Closed on Mondays, December 24, 25 and 31, January 1 and 6.
- Monasterio de Santa Isabel (Calle de Santa Isabel, 48-46). December 1 to January 7, Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to18:15, Sunday from 11:00 to 14:00. Closed on Mondays, December 24, 25 and 31, January 1 and 6.
- Monasterio Jerónimo del Corpus Christi (Plaza del Conde Miranda, 3). December 8 to January 9, Monday to Sunday from 8:30 to 13:00 and 16:30 to 19:00.
- Hermandad del Silencio (Calle Atocha, 87 bis). December 1 to January 5, Monday to Saturday from 11:00 to 13:00 and 18:30 to 20:00, Sunday from 18:30 to 20:00. Closed on December 24, 25 and 31, and January 1.
- Iglesia de Las Calatravas (Calle Alcalá, 25). December 15 to January 8, Monday to Friday from 7:30 to 13:00, Tuesday to Friday from 18:00 to 20:00.
Celebrate New Year’s Eve at the Puerta del Sol
Have you thought about spending New Year’s Eve in Madrid?
Well, there are tons of things that you can do during this special day, but the most traditional and fun activity is to eat 12 grapes at midnight at the Puerta del Sol square.
Thousands of people converge in front of the clock in Puerta del Sol to eat the 12 grapes and see the arrival of a new year. The tradition consists of eating one grape with each bell strike just after midnight, about 36 seconds before the end of the year, if you do so a year of luck will be yours!
The idea is to eat them all in time, and then wash them down with a glass of cava (a Spanish sparkling wine similar to champagne). After the last chime, the square turns into a great party with a fantastic atmosphere.
Join the crowd and eat your 12 grapes or find other cool ideas to do during this special date!
Check these unique Christmas present ideas from Madrid
It’s time to start your Christmas shopping!
And the best idea for this year is to buy Christmas gifts for your friends and family that will reflect on the time you spend in this beautiful city.
You’ll find no shortage of inspiration for your Christmas shopping in Madrid. From the dozens of shops along Gran Via to all the side streets covered in Christmas lights, the center of Madrid is an incredible source for everyone on your list. And don’t forget to stroll around the Barrio de Salamanca, where all the high-end shops are.
Whether you’re looking for an easy stocking stuffer, or something to really impress that special someone with, I’m sure that this list of the most original gift ideas to bring back home from Madrid will help you find what you’re looking for.
Go with your family to the Cabalgata de los Reyes Magos
Spanish children believe that the Reyes Magos (Three Wise Men) Melchior, Gaspar and Balthazar are responsible for bringing Christmas presents instead of Santa Claus.
The Cabalgata de los Reyes Magos is celebrated each year on the evening of January 5, the eve of the Catholic feast of the Epiphany, when the Magi of the Orient gave the Child Jesus gold, incense and myrrh.
So the Cabalgata recreates the arrival of the Magi in Madrid and marks the beginning of the distribution of gifts that will take place that night.
This massive parade weaves through one of the city’s main avenue, Paseo de la Castellana, and during that time children hurry to catch candy thrown from the floats. The centerpieces of the parade are 3 elaborately decorated floats carrying the Reyes Magos and lots of gifts.
If you’re spending Christmas in Madrid with your kids, you should definitely taken them to experience this fabulous event that happens once in a year!
Interested? Here’s all the practical information you need on how to celebrate the Three Kings’ Day in Madrid.
This article is part of a complete tutorial about Christmas in Madrid where you can read all the information you need to enjoy the best Christmas holidays in Madrid.
Here is a complete summary of all the guide:
1. Spend an unforgettable Christmas in Madrid
2. 11 things to do in Madrid for Christmas
3. 12 awesome things to do on New Year’s Eve in Madrid
4. How to celebrate Three Kings’ Day in Madrid
5. The best Christmas markets in Madrid
6. 10 unique Christmas present ideas from Madrid
7. My favorite 5 Spanish Christmas sweets in Madrid
8. Enjoy the Madrid Christmas lights walk
