When is the best time to visit Madrid? Here’s your season-by-season guide
Madrid is the pulse of Spanish culture, with lively art and cultural events happening year-round. From world-class museums to expansive green spaces, there’s a sight to behold in each season.
When is the best time to visit Madrid? The answer depends on what you’re looking to experience when on vacation. The Spanish capital’s enduring arts-and-culture appeal makes it a fantastic city to explore any time of the year. (Those world-class museums are ready to welcome you whenever you visit.) Plus, if you ask us, any season is a great time to indulge in a tapas crawl. But there are definitely specific reasons why an exciting trip to Madrid should be timed to different parts of the year. If you’re planning a Madrid tour, read on to find out which season will best suit your travel wish list.
The best seasons to visit Madrid
Looking to see Madrid decked out in holiday cheer? Winter is a great season to visit to wander through Christmas markets, spot elaborate Nativity scenes, and celebrate into the new year. Or maybe spring’s sweet-smelling flowers and hearty culinary delights are more compelling reasons to visit Madrid. The long days of summer are great for sipping sangria and enjoying camaraderie well into the evening in true Spanish style. And fall brings changing leaves, cultural events, and grape harvests (wine lovers, rejoice!). Each season has a reason to enjoy a trip to Madrid.
Winter in Madrid
Months to experience Madrid in the winter
December, January, and February
Go for the festive atmosphere and fewer crowds
While some prefer to experience big European cities during the summer, visiting Madrid in the winter can be rewarding due to the number of festive activities that create a uniquely celebratory mood around the city. Christmastime is important not only for Madrid but also the rest of Spain, and because Madrid’s the capital, the city sees a lot of special events that are worth admiring for visitors and locals alike.
Weather in Madrid in December, January, and February
Winters in Madrid are cool and dry, with average temperatures ranging around 30 F to the mid-50s. While rare, snow in late-December or January is occasional. Bundle up during Madrid’s colder months and enjoy seeing a different side of Spanish culture.
December
If you take one of our Madrid tours from late-November to late-January, you’ll see the Spanish capital covered with twinkling lights—from installations in public squares to shop windows—celebrating the festive season. Many of these are designed by famous Spanish architects and designers.
Enjoy the festive ambience while sightseeing as you come across Nativity scenes and Christmas trees set up in many of the city’s most popular neighborhoods and plazas.
Explore Madrid’s largest holiday market in Plaza Mayor Square, then warm up with churros and a cup of rich, creamy hot chocolate—perfect for dunking—during a winter trip to Madrid.
January
If you want to keep the celebrations going into the new year, take our 10-day New Year’s Eve in Madrid with Barcelona & Seville tour, and ring in the new year in the Spanish capital with new travel buddies.
Revel in an exclusive celebration with a Castilian feast and live tuna music (a tradition that dates back to the 13th century) in one of the oldest restaurants in the city.
Witness the Three Kings’ Day Parade on January 5, in observance of Epiphany. This Catholic holiday, known in Spanish as Dia de Los Reyes Magos, celebrates the arrival of the three wiseman to Jesus’s manger to bestow gifts. In fact, many families in Spain exchange presents on this day rather than on Christmas.
Visit Madrid’s impressive museums to escape winter’s chill. See works from the masters in the Prado, appreciate maritime history at the Naval Museum, and admire surrealist paintings by Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, and Joan Miró at the Reina Sofia—one of our top 10 museums to visit in Europe.
February
If you’re a gourmand, you’ll love winters in Madrid, too. You can tuck into the decadent combo of a warm churro and a cup of hot chocolate. It’s one of our favorite Madrid must-dos.
No trip to Madrid is complete without tasting Spain’s renowned tapas. One of our favorite spots to get our fill of these tasty, sharable bites is Madrid’s San Miguel Market.
If learning to make tapas yourself from an experienced chef is on your wish list, you can participate in a hands-on cooking class at a local culinary school on our Spain for Solo Travelers: Barcelona, Madrid & Seville tour.
Put these on your Madrid winter to-do list
Spring in Madrid
Months to experience Madrid in the spring
April, May, and June
Go for blooming flowers and lively Easter celebrations
As weather in Madrid starts to thaw, springtime welcomes blooming flowers that transform the city. Expansive parks, such as El Retiro Park and Casa de Campo (beloved by locals), take on a colorful and fragrant personality as roses, lilies, peonies, and rosemary begin to blossom. The streets of Madrid also spring back to life as celebrations like Semana Santa draw in spectators with tradition and regalia.
Weather in Madrid in March, April, and May
Slowly but surely, spring brings warmer weather to Madrid. The average temperature in Madrid in March hovers around 40 F, b ut by May highs reach the mid-70s. Although spring can mean rainy afternoon showers, if you visit Madrid in spring you’ll be rewarded with perfumed air of almond trees and other blooming flowers.
March
Enjoy sunny spring days perfect for dining outdoors and cool evenings made for lingering around the dinner table to converse, a Spanish tradition known as sobremesa.
Shake off the chilly days of early spring with one of Madrid’s culinary specialties, cocido. Less a dish and more a three-part meal, cocido is a hearty lunch consisting of a bowl of broth with noodles, a plate of chickpeas and potatoes, and usually a large serving of mixed, stewed meats like chorizo, pork shoulder, or chicken thighs.
Wine and dine your way through Spain’s cosmopolitan capital city during shoulder season—the time just outside of the busiest travel months. If you want to get a taste for other parts of Spain, too, check out our Food & Wine: A Taste of Spain tour.
April
If you love spiritual celebrations, you should take a Madrid tour around Easter and Holy Week (or Semana Santa) when the city comes alive with traditional festivities—many of which are staged in public. It’s also a fantastic time for floral lovers to visit Madrid.
Witness the grandeur of Holy Week processions throughout the week, as Madrileños in traditional attire march through the streets carrying statues of saints while singing religious hymns.
El Retiro Park, a favorite green space of the locals, blossoms during April, literally. Along with fields of flowering almond trees, the rose garden displays a stunning collection of more than 4,000 roses. Stop and smell the flowers during your free time on our Grand Tour of Spain.
May
The sweet spot before the warmest days of the year and before people begin their summer travels is May—the perfect month for sightseeing in Madrid.
Check out iconic spots like the Royal Palace (it’s Spain’s largest royal residence), the Temple of Debod, which was brought over from Egypt and reassembled in the heart of the city, and important squares, such as Plaza Colon and Plaza Neptune. Let an expert guide show you these sites and more on our 10-day Barcelona, Madrid & Seville tour.
Venture out of the city for a day trip to nearby Toledo, a walled medieval city ripe with charm and impeccable views. Visit on the optional excursion on our A Week in Spain: Barcelona, Madrid & Seville tour. Walking around this historic (and hilly) city might be our favorite springtime day trip when visiting Madrid.
Put these on your Madrid spring to-do list
Summer in Madrid
Months to experience Madrid in the summer
June, July, and August
Go for warm, sunny days
Given its high elevation (it’s the second-highest capital city in Europe), Madrid enjoys hot summer days. The city’s leafy parks, outdoor cafes, and pool bars take on a joyful energy this time of year, and our Madrid tours give you plenty of opportunities to soak up the social atmosphere. Don’t forget that on hot days, it’s best tot do as the Spaniards do and take an afternoon siesta before enjoying a flavorful dinner out once the evening cool sets in.
Weather in Madrid in June, July, and August
The temperature in summer in Madrid typically falls between 60 to 90 F, but can get hotter, especially during midday. Be sure to hydrate and wear sun protection while enjoying the long, sunny days.
June
Summer ushers in longer days, which in Spain means even later evenings with prime nightlife. Dinner at 10 p.m. is a common occurrence in the summer, and it’s a leisurely ordeal to be savored, typically for two or more hours.
- Get a taste of local life on the optional Traditional Spanish Evening excursion on our Spain for Solo Travelers: Barcelona, Madrid & Seville tour. You’ll stroll through Plaza Mayor, the city’s always-lively main square, before heading to dinner at one of the oldest restaurants in the city—complete with conversation, camaraderie, and live traditional tuna music.
July
A summer trip to Madrid is also about festivals. We’re not exaggerating when we say hundreds of concerts, theater and dance performances, art exhibitions, and family-friendly activities take place in dozens of venues throughout Madrid.
- One noteworthy festival is the nearly 40-year-old Veranos de la Villa, a season-long cultural and entertainment celebration that takes place for much of July and August all over the city. (Check out some of these other festivals that are worth a trip to Spain.)
August
On our 14-day Grand Tour of Spain, you’ll have three days to enjoy summer in Madrid, hitting up the classics on a city tour.
- Take a break from the sun during a guided visit to the Prado, a museum dedicated to the marvelous works of Spanish masters.
- Need a reprieve from the heat? That sounds like the perfect reason to sip sangria on a rooftop bar or take a refreshing dip in the outdoor pool at Parque Deportivo Puerta de Hierro.
Put these on your Madrid summer to-do list
Fall in Madrid
Months to experience Madrid in the fall
September, October, and November
Go for cultural events and mild weather
If pressed to identify the best time to visit Madrid, some of us might say autumn. Warm, sunny days seamlessly flow into cool nights that might inspire you to put on your favorite lightweight jacket. Fall is when it feels like you can do anything in Madrid—and our Madrid tours take advantage of that, especially if you’re interested in soaking up the city’s rich cultural offerings. In fact, you might see people from all over descending on Madrid in the fall for high-profile events like Madrid Fashion Week and Autumn Festival.
Weather in Madrid in September, October, and November
Fall might just be the ideal sightseeing weather in Madrid. September is full of long, sunny days, and sees temperatures ranging from around 50 F to the low-80s. Things quickly cool off as October and November roll around—these months bring lows around 40 F to highs in the 60s.
September
Peak summer travel has ended, but warm, sunny weather remains, meaning September is one of the best months to visit Madrid. Our nine-day A Week in Spain: Barcelona, Madrid & Seville tour shows off the best of the city.
- Catching a flamenco show is a must-do in Spain, and September is a great time to enjoy it after a day spent sightseeing. When you join our Madrid Flamenco Show excursion you’ll witness one of Spain’s unique artistic expressions—a performance that combines passionate, seductive dance with the gorgeous sounds of Spanish guitar.
October
Grape harvest season wraps up in October, which means it’s an ideal month for a wine-lover’s trip to Madrid.
- On our Food & Wine: A Taste of Spain tour, you’ll see the process of wine-making in action as you visit the Ribera del Duero and La Rioja wine regions before exploring Madrid. And of course, you’ll get to sample the goods along the way.
November
When visiting Madrid in the fall, we also love spending time digging into all that the city’s world-class museums have to offer.
Our Madrid tours typically include a guided trip into the Prado. In your free time, you can also check out institutions like the Reina Sofia, where you’ll find “Guernica,” one of Picasso’s most important works. So impressive are these museums that we’re convinced Madrid beats out Barcelona when it comes to art.
If you’d rather deep dive into history than admire fine art, check out the National Archaeological Museum, or learn about Spain’s maritime history at Madrid’s Naval Museum.
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