Your Guideline to December in Madrid!

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It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas, isn’t it? December in Madrid is all about that Christmas energy! Spending Navidad in a different country is a really magical experience, so don’t miss out on any of the unique and special things going on around the city for the month of December. Even if you don’t celebrate the holiday, you will still enjoy Madrid around this time of year because there is just so much to do! Check out our list below of some of the best things to do this month to fully experience a typical Madrileño Christmas!

1. See all of the Christmas Lights

Every year, each neighbourhood gets dressed up in their best Christmas lights! For the month of December in Madrid, the streets will be lit up by various light displays that have been created by artists all over the world. Typically, each barrio will have its own unique displays that are lit up every day between 18:00 and 23:00, with longer hours on both Christmas and New Years eve! So, take your camera, and explore Madrid’s festive streets!

Where: various neighborhoods

When: the whole month

2. Shop at the Christmas Markets

It wouldn’t be Christmas without the markets! The Spanish people love to be out and about, especially during special holiday seasons. That’s why, during December in Madrid, you will notice several plazas, street corners and churches transforming into adorable little Christmas markets. The best way to get the most of these markets is to simply explore your neighbourhood! There will be markets all over the place selling traditional food, artisan products and Christmas crafts! Some of the bigger markets worth noting are: Mercado de Navidad in Plaza Mayor, Fiera Mercado de Artesanía on Paseo de Recoletos, Mercadillo del Gato, the annual craft shop and Christmas Tree. For more information on the best holiday markets this winter season, check out our list of the top Christmas markets in Madrid here.

Where: the whole month

When: the whole month

3. Ice Skating Around the City

During the Christmas season, the city turns into a beautiful and festive outdoor playground. Have some coffee or hot chocolate and join in the holiday spirit with your friends at the various indoor and outdoor rinks around the city. You will find ice rinks located at Cibeles Palace and the Matadero Madrid.

Where: Cibeles Palace and Matadero Madrid

When: various dates

4. Christmas Tour Bus

This festive Christmas themed double decker bus tour will take you on a 50 minute night tour through Madrid. On the tour you will see all of the beautiful Christmas light designs around the city. You can catch the bus at Plaza Colon and tickets cost 6€! This isn’t a hop on, hop off type of tour. There is only one stop on the tour, at Serrano 30 where you will get on and off the bus! To check out the entire route visit the official Madrid events webpage! Some people have tried to walk this tour in the past, but for only 6€ the bus is a much better option! Purchase your tickets soon, as the Naviluz often sells out fast.

Where: –

When: the whole month

5. Spanish Christmas Lottery – El Gordo

El Gordo is a tradition that goes beyond a simple lottery, it’s the second longest continuously running lottery in the world and as measured by the total prize payout, it’s considered the biggest lottery worldwide. The draw is always made on 22nd of December, so buy your ticket soon! Most people join together to buy tickets between co-workers, families, and friends because it’s such a huge payout. The period of selling tickets for the draw starts in July with different priced tickets. The most exciting part is the moment when El Gordo is drawn. The prize of El Gordo is 4.000.000 €. The total amount paid out is 2,240,000,000€. Majority of locals have the belief that you can’t accept an El Gordo ticket as a gift, you must pay for it, otherwise, it will not win!

Where: –

When: 22nd of December

6. Christmas Lights at the Royal Botanical Garden

A Christmas tradition that started in 2019, Madrid’s Royal Botanical garden is turned into a Christmas wonderland during the month of December in Madrid! The property will decorated with lights – the trees, the gardens and even the pond – for visitors to stroll through. The Christmas Garden is open from November 14th – January 15th! For more information on entry tickets and specific hours, click here.

Where: Botanical Garden

When: November 14th – January 15th

7. Feasting on Holiday Foods

Typically this is the biggest meal with the largest amount of people as the whole family gathers to eat delicious food for hours! Traditional Christmas Eve grub consists of roasted lamb, roasted pig, various seafood soups, salad, and any kind of tapas you can think of! In addition to Christmas Eve, there is another important feasting day for the Spanish and that’s Día de los Reyes Magos (Three Kings Day) on January 6th. This is the day where children open presents and families celebrate the baptism of Jesus Christ. Typically on this day the family gathers for lunch where they enjoy all those delicious Spanish Sweets before heading to the big parades!

Where: –

When: 6th of January

8. Indulging on Christmas Sweets

The Spanish love their sugar and Christmas time brings out the most delicious recipes within each family. For the next few weeks, you will see stores and bakeries stocking their shelves with traditional Christmas sweets of the Christmas season. If you want to experience the most traditional Spanish Christmas possible, you must chow down on these delicious snacks! The most popular desserts are Turron, Marzapan, Polvorones, Mantecados, and Roscon de Reyes! You can find these delicious desserts at shops and markets but you can also try making them yourself!

Where: –

When: –

9. Marvel at the Nativity Scene Exhibitions

The majority of Spaniards still take the religion aspect of Christmas very seriously. So, there is no surprise that a pivotal part of the Christmas season is the story of the birth of Jesus Christ. Throughout the month of December in Madrid there are several locations around the city that set up large and beautifully detailed representations of the Nativity Scenes which feature entire cities. They are certainly something important to check out if you’re looking for a very traditional experience! Some of the most impressive scenes can be found at places like the Operations Hall at CentroCentro Cibeles, Plaza de la Villa, Puerta del Sol and Plaza de Chamberí. All exhibits are completely free to visit!

Where: various locations

When: November 25th – January 5th

10. New Years Eve in Puerta del Sol

New Years Eve is a wonderful evening to celebrate in Madrid! Before heading to their designated NYE bashes, madrileños gather in Puerta del Sol for the countdown! So grab some champagne, don’t forget the grapes and head to the plaza! Once you’ve reached the countdown, you have to try to eat all 12 grapes before the clock stops ringing! If you do, you’ll have good luck for the following year! Then you can pop your champagne, cheers with your friends and even the strangers around you and welcome in the new year! Soon after the final ring everyone will clear out the plaza and head to party the night away! This year, those who choose to ring in the New Year at Puerta del Sol will enjoy the lighting of the Real Casa de Correos at midnight, along with a fireworks and confetti show.

Where: Puerta del Sol

When: 31st of December

11. Christmas Parades

This one takes place in the new year, but keeps the Christmas vibes going! The biggest parade here in Madrid is the Three Kings Parade (Cabalgata de Reyes). A glorious night where the entire city gathers in the streets to receive the Three Kings on their journey through the city! The parade is extremely elaborate with camels, carriages, people dressed as shepherds, townspeople and the Three Kings all throwing sweets into the crowd. To add to the theatrics, there is always a marching band and several performances on each float! The parade begins at 18:30 in Paseo de la Castellana and continues to Plaza de Cibeles on the 5th of January! The parade usually ends around 21:00. For more information and a detailed map of the parade route, check here.

Where: Paseo de la Casatellana

When: 5th of January

12. Hanukkah Celebration in Madrid

On the occasion of Hanukka, several Spanish cities host public candle lighting events to which public authorities attend and where “sufganiyot” (typical snack) are offered and popular music and dances take place. Madrid´s City Council, the Jewish Community of Madrid and the Sefarad-Israel Center organize the “Hanukkah in the street” (“Janucá en la calle”) celebration. In the past, Ibn Gabirol Center´s choir, the Trotadanza company, Daniel Shai Ankaoua´s songs or the music of Emilia and Kamila Klimczak have performed on stage, and sufganiyot and teas have been handed out to the public.

Where: –

When: 18th -26th of December (unconfirmed)