This Spanish capital is home to the oldest Christmas Market in the country, dating back to the 19th Century. The Madrid Christmas Markets are an absolute must-visit if you are planning to see the Spanish Christmas Markets. Christmas markets in Spain differ from what you will find in other parts of Europe. Spanish Christmas markets, while charming in their own way, are not quite as over-the-top as the German Christmas markets. After three visits to Madrid, I’ve decided that December is one of the best times to visit. The weather is moderate, there aren’t many tourists, and the Madrid Christmas Market brings a festive feel to the city. Madrid is transformed during the holiday season, from Christmas markets, beautiful lighting displays, and various Winter activities. There are plenty of things to do to make your Christmas visit to Madrid special.
Table of Contents
Madrid Christmas Market Overview
Madrid Christmas Markets 2023 Dates
The 2023 Christmas Market dates are TBT. It will run through December 31st, yet the official start date has yet to be announced.
The official Madrid Christmas markets 2022 dates are from November 25th to December 31st, 2022.
Madrid Christmas Market Hours
Monday-Thursday: 10am-9pm
Friday, Saturday, and Christmas Eve: 10 am-10 pm
Where to Stay When Visiting Madrid’s Christmas Market
You may be wondering where the best place to stay in Madrid at Christmas is. As the Christmas market in Madrid is located in Plaza Mayor, you should consider finding a hotel nearby. Here are a couple of the top recommendations:
Pestana Plaza Mayor
For a hotel near Plaza Mayor, I recommend the Pestana Plaza Mayor, a luxurious hotel in the historic center of Madrid. This hotel overlooks Plaza Mayor, where the Christmas market is held. Be sure to book a room with a Plaza Mayor view; you won’t regret it! Not only are you nearby to the Madrid Christmas Market, but you will also be in a fantastic central location for exploring the rest of Madrid.
Hyatt Centric Gran Via Madrid
Find More Great Hotels Near the Madrid Christmas Market
Check out this Booking.com map to see what hotels are available during your visit. Keep in mind that Christmas is a busy time to visit Madrid, so be sure to secure your hotel by booking now.
Madrid Christmas Market Locations
While there is one main Christmas Market in Madrid, there are various Christmas Markets popping up in the city that are well worth checking out.
Plaza Mayor Christmas Market
The Plaza Mayor Christmas Market is the official Madrid Christmas Market. This market dates back to the 19th Century and is one of the longest-running and most well-known Christmas markets in Spain. Madrid’s Plaza Mayor is transformed into a Christmas Market with 104 stands. These red stands have a festive feel and sell various nativity scene figures and toys.
This market is open all day, yet the best time to visit is early in the evening when Plaza Mayor is illuminated with Christmas lights. One of the best illuminations in Madrid is the candles on the buildings in Plaza Mayor.
Feria Dulces de Navidad (Christmas Sweets Fair)
If you have a sweet tooth, be sure to visit the Christmas Sweets Fair in front of the Royal Theater in Plaza Isabel. Here you can try delicious Christmassy treats from all over Spain. There aren’t any stands selling Christmas sweets at the Plaza Mayor Christmas Market, so you will want to visit both in order to get the full Madrid Christmas Market experience.
Feria Mercado de Artesanía
The Feria Mercado de Artesanía is an annual artisan market featuring 180 workshops. This is a great spot to go for Christmas gifts. You’ll find everything from handmade toys, musical instruments, jewelry, ceramics, and more.
What to Buy at the Madrid Christmas Market
Belén
The number one thing to buy at the Madrid Christmas Market is a Belén, which is the Spanish name for the Nativity Scene. At the Christmas market in Madrid, you can find everything you will need to build your Nativity Scene, including figurines, moss, and more.
Joke Items
One unusual thing you will find at the Madrid Christmas Market is stands selling various joke items. These are sold for the Day of the Holy Innocents, which is Spain’s version of April Fool’s Day on December 28th. These joke items make a fun gift, especially for kids.
Other Things to do in Madrid at Christmas
Naviluz Christmas Bus
Madrid is beautifully decorated with lights during the holiday season. If you want to experience the light displays without walking through the cold, there is the Naviluz Christmas Bus. The Navilus Christmas Bus is a 45-minute long bus tour that brings you past the best light displays in the city. Costing only 4 euros for adults, this bus tour is a great way to experience the Christmas decorations in Madrid.
Madrid Light Displays
Throughout the Christmas season, Madrid decorates the streets with elaborate light displays. No matter where you visit in the city, you are sure to find twinkling lights and decorations in various squares and streets. Some of the best spots to see lights in Madrid are the Plaza Mayor, Alcala Street, Velázquez Street, and along the Gran Via. Yet, there are wonderful light displays in the entire city.
The Lights of the Royal Botanic Garden
Madrid’s Royal Botanic Garden, located next to El Retiro Park, is transformed into a sparkling Christmas Garden with Christmas lights and original light figures. This exhibit is part of the “Christmas Garden” project and is a wonderful way to experience the gardens in the evening.
Churros at Chocolateria San Gines
While Chocolateria San Gines is not technically a Christmas- time thing to do, I couldn’t think of a time to enjoy churros from this Madrid staple. Warm up with a serving of churros in this iconic spot. Nothing says “the most wonderful time of the year” like a bit of indulging in churros and chocolate.
Special Christmas Lottery
Each year there is a Special Christmas lottery, which almost all Spanish residents enter. The best part is this lottery is open to everyone. As a visitor, you are free to enter the lottery and join in on the fun. The lottery is drawn on December 22nd at the Opera House. Attending the lottery is free, on a first-come-first-served basis. This is a great way to experience a big Spanish Christmas tradition and see the interior of the Opera House.
Madrid Christmas Market: Wrap-up
This wraps up the guide to visiting the Christmas Market in Madrid. December is a wonderful time to visit Madrid and Spain in general. The temperatures are really mild, and the Christmas Market adds an additional thing to experience. While I wouldn’t visit the Madrid Christmas Market with the notion that you will have the quintessential European Christmas Market experience, you will surely enjoy your time visiting Madrid. If you’re looking for other Christmas Markets in Spain, be sure to check out the Barcelona Christmas Market.
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