Madrid is a cheerful city, the people have a sunny and welcoming spirit. This characteristic atmosphere is even more emphasised during the Christmas period.
The city multiplies the festivities, the lights and colours make the streets even more lively, everywhere there is a magical energy that both locals and tourists can feel.
Although Spain is considered a mainly summer destination, Madrid is actually one of the most popular European capitals to spend the winter holidays in. The city offers plenty of attractions and, from the last week of November, the Christmas markets are set up and the traditional events of this time of year begin. Everywhere you will find opportunities for fun, lots of things to do, opportunities to relax and spend time with friends, family, or your partner, all in perfect Christmas style. So, if you are planning a trip or moving to the city, in this article you will find the ideas you need to live Madrid to the full during Christmas and the New Year in Madrid.
Madrid during Christmas
One thing you should know is that Christmas Eve in Madrid (24 December) is even more important than Christmas Day itself (25 December). In fact, Christmas Eve is the main time when families gather to organise lunches and dinners and to all wait together for the arrival of the next day.
In any case, from November until the second week of January, Madrid turns into a real Christmas village. The city dresses up for the festivities and is full of colour, sparkling with the lights that decorate the streets, buildings, and shops.
Among the things to do, shopping in Madrid is an experience not to be missed. It encompasses a world of wonders that take you from the elegant and opulent brands of Salamanca to the independent boutiques of Chueca. In short, there really is something for all tastes and availabilities.
In the meantime, don't miss the city tour on foot or by bus to enjoy all the city's most famous sights and places adorned with decorations. In between strolls, warm up with traditional churros, the elongated fried sweets that can be filled or dipped in white or black chocolate or dulce de leche.
When the evening approaches and you are looking for something to eat for dinner, here are some of the typical Madrid dishes you should try: fried cod while sipping a beer, Cocido madrileño, the typical Madrid stew and mainstay of menus in traditional restaurants, or Pollo en pepitoria, chicken in almond sauce, one of the great classics that is also prepared within the families.
Among the typical sweets of Madrid, but especially of the Christmas period, you must try nougat, both hard and soft and in variations with chocolate, caramel, or almond paste. Or negro con arroz, a mixture of dark chocolate and puffed rice.
Many of these sweets and other gastronomic products can be found in Madrid's traditional Christmas markets. We now take you on a discovery of the best ones.
Best Christmas markets in Madrid 2022
What is Christmas without the markets? And in Madrid there are so many of them and they make the city atmosphere even more exciting. You absolutely must include them in your programme!
They are set up every year in various places and squares of the capital, attracting locals but also many tourists looking for unique experiences and special objects to give as gifts or to keep as souvenirs.
Christmas market in Plaza Mayor
Let's start with one of the biggest and best-known Christmas markets in Madrid, the one that is set up every year in Plaza Mayor. Here you will find more than 100 stalls with their characteristic red colour and pointed roofs, in the style of Northern European markets. On offer are handicrafts, traditional objects, children's toys, Christmas decorations, nativity figurines and gastronomic specialities.
It has already been open since 25 November 2022 and will be available until 31 December 2022 with the following opening times: Sunday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday, Saturday, and public holidays from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Market in Plaza de España (La Navideña)
Let's move on to another of Madrid's most important squares, Plaza de España, where you will find another beautiful Christmas market, La Navideña.
Open from 25 November 2022 until 8 January 2023, it hosts craft and food stalls. Here you will also find an ice-skating rink, a 19-metre high Christmas fir tree and a nativity scene.
In addition, for an even more festive atmosphere, there will be circus performances and street artists performing to entertain young and old.
Market of Encanto de Gran Vía
This market is located right in the city centre on Madrid's famous Gran Vía, one of the most important buildings in Spain.
Here you will also find a large number of restaurants, shops and cinemas, in fact it is always very busy and is also known as 'the Madrid broadway'. If you go as far as the intersection with Alcalá, right in front of the Metropolis building, you can admire the spectacular 12-metre diameter 3D light sphere with 43,000 LED lights that creates a colourful spectacle all around.
Returning to the market, it will have around 25 exhibitors and a wide range of decorations, fashion accessories, jewellery, toys and much more. Strolling among these stalls is made even more beautiful by the setting in which they are located.
The Mercato del Encanto will be open from 3 to 10 December 2022, from 11.30 am to 9 pm.
Madrid Handicrafts Market Fair
If you are looking for real handicrafts, the Madrid Handicrafts Market is the place for you and is located at Paseo de Recoletos. More than 155 artisans from all over Spain take part in this fair, which has been held since 1988, to offer their work.
The market is organised by the Association of Artisans of Madrid (AMOA) who exhibit jewellery, ceramics, toys, leather goods, bound books and many other handmade items. Here you can find the perfect Christmas presents for all those who love original and unique products.
It will be open from 1 to 30 December, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., except on Christmas Eve, when it will close at 3 p.m., and on 25 December, when it will be closed.
Christmas market El Corte Inglés
El Corte Inglés is a Spanish department store chain. In the large courtyard in front of the shop in Madrid, a delightful Christmas market has been set up in the traditional atmosphere.
There are many stalls selling decorations, food and many Christmas products. Here you can also find a wide selection of sweets, such as churros and crepes, but also savoury delicacies, hamburgers and mulled wine. There are tables and benches where you can stop and eat.
It will be open until 5 January 2023, from 12 noon to 11pm, but on the 24th and 25th it will follow special hours due to the holidays.
Pop Up Chic Market
From the end of November 2022 to 5 January 2023, there will be the proposals of Pop-Up Chic, a vintage fashion shop, distributed in three shops within the Salamanca district, with a total of 50 exhibitors.
Fashion, accessories, costume jewellery, decorative objects, bags and many other surprises, here you can find perfect gifts to put under the tree.
Where? At Calle de Serrano 3 and 14 and Calle Goya 23. Open Tuesday to Sunday from 11am to 9pm.
Del Gatto market
This particular market was born in Madrid and has become part of its tradition. El Gato (The Cat) is one of the largest Christmas markets in the Spanish capital. Among its characteristics is that it is itinerant, ephemeral and known for being set up in emblematic buildings in the city.
This year it returns with two dates, the first at The Westin Palace Hotel, from 2 to 9 December 2022, and the second at the Army Cultural Centre from 16 December 2022 to 5 January 2023. Admission from 11am to 9pm.
You will find vintage items, jewellery, clothing, gifts and much more
Christmas events in Madrid 2022
Madrid's Christmas programme also includes special events, shows and installations not to be missed.
Here is a list of activities not to be overlooked:
- Ice skating in the Plaza Espana, the Matadero and the Crystal Palace Gallery de Cibeles;
- The Spanish Christmas Lottery, known as El Gordo (The Fat), is one of the largest in the world and both locals and tourists participate. The winners are announced live on television on 22 December;
- Tour of Christmas cribs and trees that are built and installed in various parts of the city by public and private organisations. These are popular traditions that have continued for years. Don't miss the municipal nativity scene in Plaza Mayor and the illuminated nativity scene in Plaza de Espana; but also, the Neapolitan nativity scene in the Royal Palace or the one in the Historical Museum of Madrid;
- Origin, an event at the Royal Botanic Garden, open from 14 November 2022 until 15 January 2023. It is an installation that invites the public to take a journey into the heart of nature through an experience of light;
- Naviluz, the Christmas bus that takes you around the city and runs several times a day until 6 January 2023;
- Articus, Casa de Campo, a place to find a variety of Christmas events: walking through places where light comes to life, watching ice shows, participating in games and playful activities.
If you thought Madrid was a summer destination, now you'll have to think differently!
