The noise and festive bustle of Christmas fairs, the smell of caramel and chocolate, endless shopping lines with traditional Christmas paraphernalia and thousands of lights, not only decorating buildings and shop windows but also simply floating in the air, attract travellers from all over the world to Madrid in December. Hundreds of thousands of tourists come to the capital to enjoy the unique atmosphere of Spanish Christmas.
We will tell you about the peculiarities of travelling in early winter and share information about the most exciting sightseeing routes in the city.
Photo: pixabay.com
Holidays in Madrid in December: advantages and disadvantages of a trip
The whole city in December becomes one big Christmas fair with carousels, creches and traditional festive sweets. The weather at this time is not warm. However, the whole winter in Madrid is more like a late cool autumn, and subzero temperatures during this period are practically not observed.
Reviews of holidays in Madrid in December are excellent: how can you remain indifferent if the feeling of holiday is in the air? Let's name other advantages of the trip:
- Holiday organisation. Fairs start in November and keep visitors happy for a month and a half. In many squares, there are rides, sweets and entertainment for children. You won't be bored for a single day.
- Weather. Despite the coolness and the average air temperature of about +10 ° C, snowfalls and rain are rare here; most of the month is sunny days, so that the weather will be only favourable for walks. However, you should not forget about a warm scarf.
We also note the disadvantages of the December trip — you should know what features of the trip you will have to face:
- The influx of tourists. Going on a trip, be prepared that together with you in it will go several tens of thousands of tourists worldwide. Accordingly, you will not have a quiet holiday — you must come for it in early or mid-autumn. The second half of December will be incredibly saturated in tourist activity.
- High prices. Demand gives birth to higher prices, and there is no escaping it. And given the popularity of holidays on Christmas Eve, the cost of flights, tours and hotel rooms in early winter increases significantly.
- Queues and lack of available hotel rooms. Be prepared that it will be almost impossible to choose the hotel room you need before your trip. You must book accommodation, just like buying air tickets, in advance.
Weather in Madrid in December
Winter is the coldest time in the Spanish capital, and the weather between December and January confirms this. It is the time of chilly winds. Madrid does not spoil its guests with snow and subzero temperatures either. And if you add sunny days to these facts, then winter is not so terrible — frost does not scare you and does not linger for long.
The weather in early December, as well as in November, is not stable. There are days when the thermometer columns reach +17 ° C, and it happens that the air temperature during the day does not rise above +8 ° C. A warm jumper and scarf will be an excellent addition to an autumn jacket.
The temperature in Madrid in the middle of December is also unstable. At night it can fluctuate from +3 ° C to +13 ° C, and there are still cool and warm sunny days during the day. However, despite temperature fluctuations, you should dress warmer for an evening walk any day — it will get colder when it gets dark.
The weather in Madrid at the end of December can be warm and cool. At night the temperature can drop to +2 °С, and in the daytime, it rises to +10 °С and above.
Air temperature
Madrid's moderately continental climate ensures snow-free, dry winters with no frost. The sea, located a few hundred kilometres from the capital, does not influence it, so the weather here is more like European weather, with mild winters and hot summers.
Air temperature in Madrid in December
The average daytime temperature in Madrid in December is +12.2°C, while the average night-time temperature is around +4.9°C. Over the past few years, the maximum daytime temperature was +19 °C, and the minimum night-time temperature was +2 °C.
Precipitation
There is very little precipitation in the form of rain, and sometimes snow, at the beginning of winter — about 20.1 mm, and there are no more than two days of rain.
December is one of the driest months of the year, so sudden rain or snowfall will not spoil your outdoor program.
Sunny, cloudy, overcast days
The daylight hours in December are minimal — 9.3–9.5 hours. However, the short day more than compensates for the sunny weather. With a cloudless clear sky, Madrid in December pleases 18-19 days during the month (61% of the total number of days).
Cloudy days are only 3-4 (13% of all days of the month), and there are a few more days with partly cloudy — about 8 (26%).
Tour Holidays in Madrid
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In the run-up to Christmas, all your excursions will be related to the upcoming holiday in one way or another. It's worth walking around the city in the evening, when thousands of lights flash everywhere, decorating houses, shop windows, and even floating in the air.
The Christmas fairs open in the last week of November and, by early December, are in full swing. Dozens of festive stalls with sweets and Christmas souvenirs and, of course, Christmas trees are displayed in several squares of the city. Master classes are organised for children, and skating rinks and merry-go-rounds are installed. Entertainment is provided every evening of the trip.
For this purpose, it is worth going to any of Madrid's squares and, after waiting for the evening, enjoy the festive illumination, warm yourself with a cup of hot chocolate with churros and choose the best souvenirs in the fair stalls.
Strolling through Plaza España in mid-December and tired of the noise of the fairgrounds, check out the Museum of the Americas, which has no analogue in Europe. It's a fun place for everyone, a great lesson in culture and history for schoolchildren and a fascinating walk for adults.
Five thematic expositions offer ethnographic and archaeological exhibits with 25,000 objects from the Americas. There are 16 permanent collections and 3 changing collections. A separate room presents a screen exhibition where you can see rare and valuable exhibits belonging to the museum, which are not on public display due to their fragility.
Photo: therobotmuseum.eu
If you come to Madrid at the end of December and the whirlwind of noisy fairs completely turns your head, diversify your holiday program with a visit to ... the future, or rather, to the very future, as the creators of the exhibits of the Museum of Robots saw it.
The Madrid exposition has assembled the most extensive collection of robotic dogs planned to replace human friends. It also features machines designed for entertainment and research.
The museum is not open all day, so it's worth checking the schedule on its official website in advance.
In addition, with children, we recommend visiting:
Holidays, events and festivals
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The high spirits, noise and Christmas bustle create a sense of constant festivity in Madrid in December. Squares with creches, fairs, and magical illuminations will accompany you wherever you go. So there will be plenty of entertainment and a festive atmosphere on Christmas Eve.
In the first half of the month, on 6 December, the whole country celebrates Constitution Day (Spanish: Día de la Constitución). Cultural events in Madrid usually begin a few days before the holiday:
- Interactive exhibitions are held.
- Classical music concerts are organised.
- Official celebrations with the participation of the royal family take place.
- Spaniards have a day off on this day, and public institutions do not work.
And on the 25th of December comes the very day for which you have been preparing all the previous month — Catholic Christmas. On a festive evening, you will not see lavish celebrations or fun in the streets — Spaniards gather around the family table, and some attend church services afterwards.
All the activities usually take place on the eve of the holiday. So, if you want to feel the very spirit of Christmas and immerse yourself in the magical atmosphere of waiting for a miracle, plan your trip at least a week before the festive evening.
Cost of vacation in December
The Christmas rush and the large number of people wishing to celebrate the New Year in the heart of Spain justify the increase in prices in Madrid in December. Of course, you should immediately start organising your holiday — both tickets and tours risk being almost sold out by December, and the price will be higher than if you had paid for a holiday, say, a few months earlier.
Package Tours
Tour operators are alert and use the increase in tourist activity and holiday hype to their advantage. The cost of tours in December increases by 25%, so, as we recommended, organize your vacation in advance.
Airfares
Air ticket prices are also increasing rapidly compared to the previous month (by 19%). The noise of Christmas fairs and delicious churros with chocolate are too attractive; the main thing is to take advantage of the time and book a flight.
Accommodation
The average cost of staying in a hotel in December increases by about 10% and is about 100-110 euros per person per night, while in the previous month, this amount was lower and equalled 90 euros.
Food and Transport
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Spaniards love to eat, and that's a fact. They infect all tourists who come to Madrid with love, convincing them that jamon, turrón and churros are not the only local cuisine favourites.
Everywhere, in any café or restaurant, Spaniards eat tapas. These are small sandwiches with a variety of fillings. Two people can eat a whole plate of such snacks. An assortment of tapas in a café will cost you about 10 euros.
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Madrid cafes are also famous for their seafood menu. Here you will find prawns, langoustines and all kinds of fish. On average, a portion of sea delicacies will cost 15 euros.
Public transport in the Spanish capital works perfectly and is clean and punctual. The metro network is the fastest way to get around the city. In addition, you can use taxis or rent a car.
Just as cheap, fast and clean as the metro are the buses. You can buy a bus or metro pass for ten journeys for around 12 euros and use it to travel around the capital.
Buses run from 6.00 to 23.30, and taxi is better for night journeys.
Tips for travelling with children
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A holiday in Madrid with children on Christmas Eve is a great gift, a journey into a fairy tale. There are no usual New Year's attributes in the form of snow and drifts, but there is a unique festive atmosphere, fun entertainment, creches and unusual sweets.
For travelling with kids, noisy and crowded with tourists, Madrid in December is not the most suitable place, and the weather for walking is not always favourable. Therefore, we recommend choosing September or October for holidays with young children.
For younger and older school-aged children, a Christmas trip is an excellent opportunity to see how the sunniest city celebrates the holiday, try the local turron, ride the carousel and visit the planetarium and robot museum.
Kidpassage wishes you a Merry Christmas, unforgettable experiences and enjoyable family holidays. We hope that the tips and recommendations in this article will help you plan the best New Year holiday and organise an exciting trip to the city of the sun — Madrid.
