Spring is a time of inspiration, a time to make new plans and bring them to life. Nature has finally shaken off the remnants of winter doldrums and is in full bloom. People in this period also often experience an unprecedented emotional uplift. So why not use your energy boost to travel?
Kidpassage is confident that mid-spring will be one of the best time to visit the capital of Spain — sunny Madrid.
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Holidays in Madrid in April: pros and cons
Spain can be cold and windy in winter, too hot and dry in summer, so the best time to travel here is the off-season. Reviews about holidays in Madrid in April can not be negative, because there are many advantages of visiting the capital of Spain in this period.
But let's consider everything in order. So, why is Madrid so attractive to tourists?
- Comfortable weather. The first and foremost advantage is the warmth, which everyone is still waiting for in northern latitude countries. After the prolonged cold weather, you want to spend more time outdoors, especially if it is the magnificent streets of Madrid.
- Natural attractions. In spring, you finally have the opportunity to take long walks in the city's lush parks and gardens, many of which are in Madrid.
- Delightful travel photos. Have you seen how beautiful the spring sunset in Madrid is? Share your impressions with your friends by bringing back unique and colourful pictures from your holiday.
- A chance to see the Catholic procession on Good Friday. Such a spectacle is impossible to miss, but we will discuss it in more detail later.
The disadvantages of visiting Madrid in the middle of spring are quite difficult to highlight. Negative reviews are mainly left by tourists who are unlucky with the weather: there are often rains in April. But they are not prolonged: after intense heavy rainfall, there is warm sunny weather for several days.
Weather in Madrid in April
Spring is in full swing in Spain, and the weather in Madrid in April and May beckons tourists with warmth and plenty of sunshine, which is plentiful in the city at any time of the year. Even the name of Madrid's central square, Puerta del Sol, translates as "Gate of the Sun".
The weather in early April can be pretty unpredictable. April is considered the rainiest month of the year, so 2-3 days a week may be cloudy at the beginning of the month.
Temperatures in Madrid become warmer in mid-April, but the nights are still cool. Sometimes there can be strong winds at this time. But the weather in Madrid at the end of April usually pleases residents and tourists with no precipitation and high temperatures. In this period, spring is already rapidly taking a course for warmth.
Air temperature
Madrid's moderately warm climate has a variable character. As the city is Europe's "highest" capital (located on a plateau 650 metres above sea level), it is almost always windy, and the temperature is a few degrees lower than in other regions of this climate belt.
Air temperature in Madrid in April
The favourable temperatures in Madrid in April seem to be made for long walks, with daytime and night-time averages of +19.2°C and +8.7°C, respectively.
Precipitation
The annual rainfall in April is about 43.6 mm, with about three rainy days per month. Most of the rains are expected in the first half of April. With this indicator, April is the rainiest month of the year.
Sunny, cloudy and overcast days
It is quite natural that in Spain's sunniest city, 60% of the days in April will be clear. Cloudy days are expected to be about 30%, and overcast days will be even less — only 10%.
Tour Holidays
Ancient Madrid's intricate architecture, elegant parks, winding streets and cosy cafes are the best place for sightseeing holidays.
This motley bustling city is as ardent and cheerful as the whole of Spain. There are ideal conditions in April for long walks and sightseeing in the fresh air.
Palacio de Santa Cruz
If it rains in early April, hide from it under the roof of the Palace of the Holy Cross (Santa Cruz).
This building used to be a court and prison for notorious criminals, where even the creator of the famous play "Dog in the Hay", Lope de Vega, served his sentence. Today it houses the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The palace is open for visits every day except for public holidays. Entrance is free of charge.
Maritime Museum
The Maritime Museum is firmly established as one of the top three maritime-themed museums in the world. The exhibits include detailed models of ships, portraits of famous navigators, a collection of images of naval battles, nautical maps and much more.
Parque Buen Retiro
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At the end of April, when it’s already quite warm outside, it’s nice to spend time in the Buen Retiro city park, where you can find graceful sculptures, beautiful fountains, a rose garden and even a lake on which you can take a boat trip on every corner. Bright parrots live in the crowns of park trees. In addition, there are interesting buildings in the park, including the Glass Palace, the Casa de Vacas (“House of the Cows”) pavilion, the Velasquez Palace and others.
Spaniards love children, so the locals have taken care of entertainment for young tourists. Here are a few places we recommend to visit in April:
- The Faunia park, where 13 zones are home to numerous species of animals and birds.
- The train museum, which boys will surely appreciate.
- Magic Forest Children's Park in the Kinepolis Madrid shopping centre. It entertains children of all ages and is one complete playground.
- Madrid Rio Leisure Park, where all the structures are made of ecological material. The centre is open-air, so visits are recommended towards the end of the month.
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Holidays, events, festivals
In Spain, there are noisy fiestas throughout the year. The locals cannot live without fun. Tourists should see the celebrations in Madrid in April.
Good Friday (Semana Santa)
This strict religious holiday is one of the most important events of the year and is celebrated on Easter, in March or April. Solemn processions through the city streets, an amazing, slightly creepy atmosphere of the action, and the bright, unforgettable costumes of the participants are all integral features of Good Friday.
Church music concerts are held in cathedrals and churches, and local restaurants prepare traditional dishes — sweet croutons, fish dish "Soldaditos de Pavia" (a dish of fried cod wrapped in a slice of roasted red pepper), cod croquettes and more.
World Book Day (April, 23)
At the end of the month, Madrid turns into a paradise for bibliophiles as the city hosts a big book fair on 23 April.
This holiday is celebrated worldwide, but the tradition originated in Spain.
In 1923, booksellers from Catalonia decided to hold a grand fair in honour of the writers who died that day — Miguel de Cervantes, William Shakespeare and others.
Cost of vacation in April
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Tourists go to Spain all year round, and with the warming weather, the flow of holidaymakers increases significantly. This trend, of course, affects the prices in Madrid in April, which will also increase slightly during this period.
Package tours
The cost of the April tour will be 13% higher than the cost of the March tour. In May, on the other hand, prices are expected to decrease — a package tour to Madrid at the end of spring will be 10% cheaper.
Airfares
You will have to pay 4% more for a flight in March than in April. Flights to the Spanish capital will be 3% cheaper on the May holidays.
Accommodation
In the middle of spring, hotels will raise the cost of accommodation by 9%. If we compare the average room rate in April and May, it will be almost the same — 160 euros.
Food and Transport
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Be sure to visit Madrid cafes or restaurants that serve delicious paella, cold gazpacho soup and, of course, jamon.
A standard lunch in an inexpensive café in Madrid costs about 15-20 euros per person. If you fancy a more refined meal in an expensive restaurant, prepare to pay around 35-40 euros for dinner without wine.
You can get around the city by any mode of transport, be it bus or metro. A separate Título Turístico pass is available for tourists, valid from 1 to 7 days.
Children between 4 and 11 are entitled to a 50 per cent discount when purchasing a travel pass. You can buy a tourist pass at one of the ticket machines in the metro, tabaquerias and other official outlets. If you are willing to pay more for comfort, rent a car. A medium-class vehicle will cost a minimum of 50 euros per day.
- What to Eat in Spain — 48 Spanish Foods You Must Try
- Spanish Fruit and Vegetables — A Seasonal Guide
What clothes to pack for Madrid in April?
For comfortable walks around the city in the middle of spring, it is better to dress in layers — a T-shirt, a pullover or sweater on top and a light jacket or windbreaker. If the sun is scorching, you can take off your outerwear.
As a reminder, April is considered one of the rainiest months of the year, so be sure to bring an umbrella with you on your trip.
You should wear shoes in Madrid that keep you as comfortable and warm as possible. It is best to wear sturdy, waterproof shoes.
Shopping
The Spaniards have excellent taste and understand both good clothes and gastronomic delights. Almost everything is sold in local stores, and sellers will always help you make the right choice. It is most convenient to shop in a shopping centre, where different categories of goods are presented in one building: from leather shoes and accessories to wine and cheese.
The most popular shopping centres in Madrid are:
- Palacio de Hielo. Apart from several hundred shops, this mall has a bowling alley, a cinema, children's playgrounds and several restaurants. After shopping in the mall, tourists can relax quite comfortably.
- Madrid Xanadú is a large shopping mall and entertainment center in Arroyomolinos, Madrid.The most distinctive attraction is Madrid SnowZone, an indoor ski slope.
- Centro Comercial Príncipe Pío Shopping Center. This shopping centre offers visitors a vast selection of furniture, appliances and household goods. Clothes are also on sale here; it's just that the choice is less varied than in other shopping centres.
- Fnac. This mall sells books, films and music discs to suit all tastes. A wide range of appliances and electronics is also available.
Tips for holidays with children
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The best time to visit Madrid with children is spring and autumn. Clear sunny weather, lack of extreme heat or cold, mild Spanish climate — all this is conducive to a comfortable acquaintance with the Spanish capital. The abundance of children's and family entertainment allows you to plan a leisure program for more than one day.
Even with infants in the capital you can have a great time — young mums can take a stroll with a pram through the local parks, of which there are many.
There is never a dull moment in this city. The endless fiesta is replaced only for a couple of hours by a quiet, calming siesta, after which Madrid is filled with noise and crowds of curious tourists and residents.
To make the preparation for your trip more exciting, we suggest you look at our article "10 interesting facts about Madrid". We are sure you will be impressed by this information.
