Spain in May is already enjoying summer weather indeed; the whole country is drenched in nature's greenery and flowers. Madrid is wonderful at this time of year. The city impresses with its splendour in any season, but it is in the last month of spring that its charm is fully felt. Kidpassage has found out what to do in Madrid on the May holidays and what weather Spain will delight you with at the end of spring.
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Photo: pixabay.com
Holidays in Madrid in May: pros and cons
Reviews of holidays in Madrid in May are always positive — almost 100% of tourists return here happy and confident that the holiday was a success. It is simply impossible not to fall in love with this city. Its refined sophistication takes you back in time, sharing palace secrets, introducing majestic architecture and giving unforgettable impressions to foreign guests.
So what are the main holiday benefits Madrid offers to visitors in May?
- Weather conditions. It is already summer in Spain but without the exhausting heat. May is just an ideal month for sightseeing walks.
- A lot of holidays and events. Special attention deserves, of course, the Day of Madrid, celebrated on May 2nd.
- Rich sightseeing and entertainment programme. It is simply impossible to see all the sights of the Spanish capital in one holiday; there are a lot of palaces, ancient monasteries, museums and parks in this magical city.
As for the disadvantages of holidaying in Madrid during this period, they are few. Tourists who were dissatisfied with the trip are probably just unlucky.
The disadvantage is unpredictable weather. Usually, in May in Madrid, it is warm, but on cloudy days you can regret your decision to leave your windbreaker in the hotel room. The second disadvantage is that the May holidays attract more tourists, so you must forget about a calm and leisurely holidays.
Weather in Madrid in May
The end of spring and the beginning of summer is the ideal time to visit the Spanish capital. The weather in Madrid in May and early June is warm enough, but not hot. The absence of rainfall is also pleasing. The climate in early May is characterised by not the highest temperatures — during the day, it will be approximately from +13 °С to +19 °С, and at night it can cool down to +11 °С.
The temperature in Madrid in mid-May is steadily rising. It is getting warmer and sunnier day by day.
But the weather in Madrid at the end of May resembles a typical summer — at this time, the citizens and guests of the capital are bathed in sunlight and warmth.
Air temperature
The climate of Madrid combines the features of continental and Mediterranean regions. The city ranks fourth in the ranking of Europe's hottest capitals, and in May, you can see that this is justified.
Air temperature in Madrid in May
Feel free to leave your jumpers at home, as the average daily temperature in Madrid in May is +23.3°C. At night, the thermometer drops to +12.6 °С.
Precipitation
April rains were left behind, so the average precipitation rate decreased to 30.6 mm. There will be about two rainy days during the whole month.
Sunny, cloudy and overcast days
In May, Madrid will also confirm its title as the sunniest city in Spain, with 77% of sunny days expected at the end of spring. It will be cloudy in the capital about 20% of the time. The number of overcast days is only 3%.
Tour Holidays
Madrid has a way of captivating even the most sophisticated travellers. It is not for nothing that the city of a million people attracts thousands of tourists worldwide — there is a lot to see here. Madrid has over 70 museums, about 40 parks, and many cathedrals, squares and monuments.
The Golden Triangle of the Arts
The Golden Triangle includes three of Madrid's most famous museums: the Prado, the Queen Sofia Art Centre and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum. The collections in these museums are considered the best in the world. But it's more than just the aesthetically pleasing exhibits; the Golden Triangle is located from Plaza Cibeles to Prado Boulevard, with plenty to see and do.
Visit these places at the beginning of May, and take the end of the month for natural sightseeing.
Almudena Cathedral
Photo: museo.catedraldelaalmudena.es
The first thing that attracts you to the Almudena Cathedral is its appearance: the church is built in the shape of a cross. The church's architecture also has one unique feature — a mix of styles. The interior decoration of the main church of the Diocese of Madrid is characterised by refined taste and luxury, with sculptures, wall paintings and ancient icons.
Museum of the Americas
Photo: facebook.com/MuseodeAmerica
A trip to Spain can also add to your knowledge of the Americas. There are no analogues of such a museum in Europe, so you should visit this unique place.
There are about 25,000 exhibits in five thematic areas: "Knowledge of America", "Real America", "Communications", "Society", and "Religion". The neo-colonial style of the building itself, in addition to the exhibits, deserves special attention.
Casa de Campo
At the end of May, nature is so colourful that it would be a big mistake not to visit one of the city's parks. One of the best is Casa de Campo. Here holidaymakers enjoy the beautiful scenery, feed squirrels and birds, go on boat trips on the lake, have picnics on May Day, and visit the zoo and amusement area.
If you doubt that the kids will enjoy museum and cathedral tours, there are plenty of other good family-friendly places to visit in Madrid:
- Warner Madrid Amusement Park.
- Aquopolis Villanueva de la Cañada
- Xanadu shopping centre (where, even in the heat of May, you can go skiing).
- The Perez Mouse Museum.
Holidays, events, festivals
You get the impression that this is the city of the eternal fiesta. Holidays in Madrid in May are a real extravaganza of impressions because the Spaniards know much about entertainment. San Isidro's Feast Day deserves special attention. Some tourists come here on May 15th to see the festivities in honour of the patron saint of the city — Isidro. But let's get to the point.
Labour Day (May 1st)
As in many other countries, the May holidays in Spain start with Workers' Solidarity Day, traditionally celebrated worldwide on 1 May. On this day, rallies and parades are held in the city. In addition, the holiday has a second name — because of the church's support, Labour Day in Spain is also called San José Obrero (San José the Worker) Memorial Day.
Madrid Day (May 2nd)
The day after Labour Day, Spaniards honour the capital. On Madrid Day, the city hosts military parades, entertainment, concerts, performances, and many other events. Many restaurants even offer special festive menus for visitors.
St Isidro's Day (May 15th)
St Isidro the Farmer is the patron saint of Madrid and all Spanish peasants. On the 15th of May, a lot is going on in the city: a series of bullfights begins at the Las Ventas arena, and from that day on, fights will take place every day for most of the month.
On May 13th, processions and parades take place in the city's main squares to open the festival. On this day, citizens perform the national dance "chotis": children and adults dressed in traditional costumes demonstrate their choreographic talents to the public everywhere.
St Isidro's Day is celebrated over three days, with concerts, musical and pyrotechnic shows, themed exhibitions and more.
Cathedrals hold solemn masses. The end of St Isidro's Day is celebrated with a colourful fireworks display.
Cost of vacation in May
Photo: pixabay.com
At the end of spring in Spain begins the high tourist season, the city is already flooded with holidaymakers. The number of tourists increases especially sharply during the May holidays — accordingly, the prices in Madrid in May increase.
Package Tours
In May, a package tour will be 10% more expensive than in April. There will be another price hike in June — the voucher cost will increase by another 5-10%.
Airfares
The May airfare will be lower than the April price by only 3%. In June, prices will decrease by another 1%.
Accommodation
At the end of spring, hotels will raise their prices by a few per cent compared to April. In June, the average cost of a hotel room will decrease and return to the level of April prices. In May, the average room rate per night is 154 euros.
Food and Transport
Sangria, jamon, fabada asturiana, tapas, tortilla — even the names of Spanish cuisine sound like music. Be sure to visit the local cafes and restaurants, where you will have an absolute gastronomic ecstasy. You can eat in an inexpensive middle-class café for about 15 euros. But the cost of a meal in a fashionable restaurant is much higher — about 35 euros.
You can get around Madrid's streets by bus, and the city also has an excellent metro system.
For one trip on both means of transport, you will have to pay about 1.5-2 euros, a season ticket for several trips at once will help you save money.
- 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 May?
Even though Madrid is already warm in May, you should still pack a few warm clothes in your suitcase, such as light jumpers or windbreakers, just in case. The weather in Spain is unpredictable, and it is often windy.
T-shirts will also be helpful for you in the Spanish capital at the end of spring because in sunny weather it is most comfortable to walk in light clothes. Remember sunglasses and a cap. Clothes and shoes should be practical and comfortable because people come to Madrid mainly for sightseeing holidays, which implies long walks.
Shopping
Photo: pixabay.com
In Madrid, money can be spent on every corner: the city is full of shopping malls, boutiques with brand-name items, more budget shops, cosy little shops and city markets. Need to buy designer clothes from the latest collections? Head to the Salamanca district. Want to buy some tech? Then head to Barquillo.
The most popular shopping districts in Madrid, apart from those mentioned above, are:
- Sol – Preciados – Carmen.
- Azca – Orense.
- Gran Via.
- Fuencarral and Chueca
- Argüelles.
Here you can buy absolutely everything: from souvenirs and magnets to jewellery. But it is most convenient to purchase in shopping centres, where all the shops are gathered in one area.
Among the most popular for shopping are the following shopping centres:
- El Corte Ingles.
- Xanadu.
- Plaza Río 2 Shopping Center
- Palacio de Hielo.
Visit one of these malls, and you will not leave empty-handed. A pleasant shopping experience in Madrid is assured.
Tips for holidays with children
If you still have doubts about whether to take small children on a trip, the answer is definitely yes! When else to go to Madrid than in the warm spring?
The weather conditions of the off-season are perfect for even the youngest travellers.
In addition, the city's infrastructure is perfectly adapted for parents and their babies. There will be no problems with baby food, medication, public transport with a pram and other nuances that mums and dads face daily.
Kidpassage hopes to have collected only the most valuable tips for visiting Madrid in May. We want to add that this magical city deserves to be captured in memorable photos that will take the place of honour in your photo album with the most dear to your heart memories.
