By the first week of December the smell of roasting chestnuts has taken over the corner of Sol, the queue outside Doña Manolita’s lottery shop on Calle del Carmen runs round the block, and Calle de Alcalá is strung with lights from Cibeles to the Puerta del Sol. Madrid in December is cold, bright, busy and cheerful, and in many ways it is the month the city enjoys itself most. This page is the whole-month planner: weather, crowds, holidays, prices and what is worth doing. For the Christmas celebrations in depth, see our guide to Christmas in Madrid; for the grapes at Sol and the best places to see in the new year, see New Year’s Eve in Madrid.
Below you will find the December weather in real numbers, a week-by-week calendar, what the two public holidays and the Christmas period mean for opening hours and hotel prices, what to pack, and an honest verdict on whether December is a good time to come. Prices were checked in October 2026; treat them as the right order of magnitude. Some event details below are based on the 2025 edition, because the city confirms each year’s programme only in November.
Madrid in December at a Glance
| What | December in Madrid |
|---|---|
| Average high / low | About 10 °C / 3–4 °C |
| Coldest nights | Below freezing in cold snaps, with occasional frost |
| Rain | About 7 rainy days, roughly 50 mm across the month |
| Daylight | About 9 hours 20 minutes, the shortest of the year; sunset around 17:50 |
| Public holidays | 6 December (Constitution Day; observed on Monday 7 December in 2026), 8 December (Immaculate Conception), 25 December |
| Christmas lights | Switched on in late November, lit until 6 January |
| Plaza Mayor Christmas market | Late November to 31 December |
| Crowds | Heaviest around the public holidays and over Christmas and New Year |
| Hotel prices | High for the early-December long weekend and New Year; good value in mid-December |
| Verdict | Excellent for festive atmosphere and food; pack for cold evenings |
December Weather in Madrid
Madrid sits about 650 metres above sea level in the middle of the Iberian plateau, and in winter that altitude shows. December days are often clear, crisp and sunny, with afternoon highs around 10 °C that feel warmer in the sun on a sheltered terrace. The moment the sun drops behind the buildings in the late afternoon, the temperature falls fast. Nights average 3 or 4 °C, and cold snaps take them below freezing, with frost in the Retiro in the morning.
Rain is not a big factor. December has around seven wet days and about 50 mm of rain in total. Snow in the city itself is rare; snow in the Sierra de Guadarrama, visible from the high points of the city on a clear day, is common by late December.
The sun is lower and daylight short — a little over nine hours — so plan outdoor sightseeing for the middle of the day and save museums, shopping and long lunches for the dark. December also has the least sunshine of the year, but “least” in Madrid still means plenty of blue skies.
What to pack
- A proper warm coat, not a light jacket. Madrileños wrap up, and you will see why at 20:00.
- A scarf, hat and gloves for evenings, especially if you plan to wander under the lights or queue for Cortylandia.
- Layers underneath: shops, museums, the Metro and restaurants are heated, often generously.
- Comfortable, waterproof-ish shoes for cobbles and the odd wet day.
- Sunglasses — the low winter sun is surprisingly bright.
- Something smart for Christmas and New Year’s Eve dinners; people dress up.
What Happens in December: Week by Week
Late November into early December: the lights go on
The city switches on its Christmas lights at a ceremony in late November — in 2025 it was on Saturday 22 November, at Plaza de Cibeles — and they stay lit every evening until Three Kings on 6 January. The best-known displays run along Calle de Alcalá, Gran Vía, Calle Preciados, Calle Mayor, Serrano and around Sol, but most neighbourhoods get their own.
The Plaza Mayor Christmas market opens around the same time. In 2025 it ran from 27 November to 31 December, 10:00 to 21:00 from Sunday to Thursday and until 22:00 on Fridays, Saturdays and the evenings before holidays. The stalls sell nativity figures, Christmas decorations, joke-shop wigs and hats, and sweets. It is more traditional than beautiful and not a German-style Christmas market with mulled wine — go for the atmosphere, not the shopping.
6–8 December: the long weekend (el puente de diciembre)
Constitution Day on 6 December and the Immaculate Conception on 8 December are both national holidays, and when they fall close together the whole country takes a “bridge” (puente) of several days off. In 2026 Constitution Day falls on a Sunday, so the holiday is observed on Monday 7 December, the day before the Immaculate Conception. Spaniards from other regions use the break to come and see the lights and shop, so expect crowds around Sol, Preciados and Plaza Mayor. Hotels fill and prices jump. Opening hours on the holidays vary from shop to shop and museum to museum, so check the places you have in mind. If you are coming for a quiet cultural break, avoid it; if you want the full festive crush, this is it.
Mid-December: the sweet spot
Between the puente and the run-up to Christmas, the lights are on, the markets are open, hotel prices drop back, and the city is going about its business. Office Christmas lunches fill restaurants at midday on weekdays, but evenings are relaxed. For most visitors, this is the best window of the month.
22 December: the Christmas lottery
The Lotería de Navidad, “El Gordo”, is drawn on the morning of 22 December at the Teatro Real, with children from the San Ildefonso school singing out the winning numbers in a chant broadcast live across the country. You will hear it in every bar and shop that morning. Buying a share of a ticket (a décimo) is a national ritual; the queues at famous lottery shops in the weeks before, especially Doña Manolita, are a sight in themselves.
24–26 December: Christmas
Christmas Eve (Nochebuena) is the big family night in Spain, and the city changes character. Many restaurants close early or entirely on the evening of the 24th, and those that stay open often serve set menus at set prices — book well ahead. Christmas Day is a public holiday, quiet in the morning and busy with families walking in the afternoon. 26 December is not a public holiday in Madrid; in 2026 it falls on a Saturday.
28 December: Día de los Santos Inocentes
Spain’s equivalent of April Fool’s Day. Do not believe the news that morning.
31 December: San Silvestre and the grapes
On the afternoon of New Year’s Eve, tens of thousands of runners take part in the San Silvestre Vallecana, a 10-kilometre race from the Bernabéu area to Vallecas. At midnight, the country eats twelve grapes, one on each chime of the clock on the Real Casa de Correos at Sol. The square itself is controlled and capacity-limited, and the practical detail — when to arrive, what the alternatives are, and where to go afterwards — is in our New Year’s Eve guide.
The Best Things to Do in Madrid in December
See the lights — on foot or by bus
The simplest way is to walk: start at Cibeles after dark, walk up Calle de Alcalá to Sol, continue up Preciados to Callao and along Gran Vía. It takes an hour with stops and costs nothing. The Naviluz bus is an open-top double-decker that tours the lit-up streets through the Christmas season, though not on 24 or 31 December or 5 January; check naviluz.es for this season’s timetable and fares before you go. It is fun with children and a good option for anyone who does not want to walk, but on a cold night the top deck is genuinely cold, and the walk shows you more.
Cortylandia
Every year the façade of El Corte Inglés on Calle Maestro Victoria, off Preciados, turns into Cortylandia, an animated show with singing figures; each performance lasts about 15 minutes, and esmadrid.com lists the showtimes. It is gloriously kitsch, it has been going for decades, and small children adore it. The crowds on weekend evenings are dense; go on a weekday afternoon.
Nativity scenes (belenes)
Nativity scenes are a serious Spanish tradition, and Madrid’s institutions compete to set up the best ones. The Real Casa de Correos, the regional government building on Sol, puts up its own belén each Christmas; Madrid’s official Christmas listing on esmadrid.com gives each edition’s dates and admission details. Churches, the city hall at Cibeles and several museums and foundations also display them, some very elaborate. Queues for the Sol belén can be long in the evening; go in the morning.
Ice skating
Temporary ice rinks appear in several parts of the city in December, including in district squares and shopping centres. They are small, cheap and popular with families, and some are free. Check the city’s Christmas programme when it is published in November.
Eat for the season
December is the best month of the year for Madrid’s heavy, warming classics.
- Cocido madrileño, the chickpea, meat and vegetable stew served in courses, is at its best in winter. See our cocido guide.
- Chocolate con churros after a cold evening under the lights — our churrerías guide lists the best.
- Roast chestnuts (castañas asadas) from street vendors.
- Turrón, polvorones and marzipan, the Christmas sweets, sold everywhere from supermarkets to historic confectioners.
- Sopa de ajo, garlic soup with egg and bread, on the menu at traditional places such as Botín.
Museums on dark afternoons
December’s short days are made for the Prado, the Reina Sofía and the Thyssen. Mid-afternoon on a weekday in mid-December is one of the quietest times of the year in the big museums. Remember that many museums close on 25 December and 1 January and shorten their hours on 24 and 31 December. Our free museum hours guide is handy for fitting in a second visit.
Theatre, concerts and Christmas shows
December is peak season for Madrid’s theatres. Gran Vía musicals run through the holidays, the Teatro Real has its winter opera and ballet season, and plenty of venues stage Christmas concerts and children’s shows. Our guide to theatres in Madrid covers where to go.
Christmas shopping
For Christmas shopping, head to the streets around Puerta del Sol and Gran Vía: Preciados, Fuencarral and Gran Vía for high-street brands, with Serrano and the Salamanca district for luxury. Late-night opening is common, but Sunday and holiday hours differ between shops. The big January sales start after Three Kings, so if you are not in a hurry, wait. For ideas, see our Madrid shopping guide.
A day trip in the frost
Segovia and Toledo are beautiful on a cold, clear December day, with fewer visitors than in spring. Segovia’s aqueduct in winter sunlight, followed by roast suckling pig in a warm dining room, is hard to beat. Leave early to make the most of the daylight. See Segovia day trip and Toledo day trip.
Madrid in December with Children
December is one of the best months to bring children to Madrid, because so much of the city’s Christmas is built around them. Cortylandia, the Naviluz bus, the ice rinks, the joke-shop stalls in Plaza Mayor selling wigs and fake moustaches, and the nativity scenes with moving figures are all aimed squarely at families, and most of them are free.
A few practical points. Evening crowds around Sol and Preciados on weekends are genuinely dense, and a pushchair is hard work; a carrier or a weekday afternoon visit is easier. The Retiro is lovely on cold sunny mornings, with the boating lake open and the playgrounds busy. And children in Spain stay up late during the holidays — you will see toddlers out under the lights at 21:00 — so a long afternoon rest can make the evenings much more fun. For more ideas, see our Madrid with kids guide and family attractions in Madrid.
Where to Stay in December
In December, being able to walk back to your hotel on a cold night is worth a lot. The streets around Sol, Las Letras and Ópera put the lights, Plaza Mayor and the Christmas market on your doorstep, though Sol itself is noisy and crowded at weekends and on New Year’s Eve. Salamanca is calmer, smarter and right on the Serrano lights and shops. Chamberí feels more local and is a short Metro ride from everything. If you are coming for New Year’s Eve and want to be near Sol, book months ahead, and check whether your hotel lies inside the security perimeter set up around the square that night. Our where to stay in Madrid guide compares the areas in detail.
What December Costs
December has two price seasons. The puente around 6–8 December and the period from roughly 27 December to New Year are expensive: central hotels can cost double what they do in mid-November, and New Year’s Eve dinners come as fixed menus from about €80 upward. In between, prices settle back to normal winter levels.
| Item | Mid-December | Puente / New Year |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-range central hotel, per night | Normal winter rates | Often much higher, and scarce |
| Flights | Fares vary by route and date; compare live quotes | |
| Naviluz lights bus | €15 in 2025 | |
| Plaza Mayor market, Cortylandia, lights, Sol belén | Free | |
| Chocolate con churros | About €5–€8 for two | |
| Menú del día | Usually available on weekdays; not on holidays | |
For the cheapest months overall, see the cheapest time to visit Madrid, and for day-to-day costs, Madrid daily costs.
Opening Hours and Closures
- 6 and 8 December: public holidays; in 2026 Constitution Day is observed on Monday 7 December, followed by Tuesday 8 December. Opening hours vary by venue, so check each museum or shop before you go. Banks and offices close.
- 24 December: the Prado opens from 10:00 to 14:00 and the Reina Sofía’s main museum is closed; ask shops and restaurants about their hours, especially for the evening.
- 25 December: most museums and many attractions closed. Some restaurants open for lunch.
- 26 December: not a holiday in Madrid (a Saturday in 2026).
- 31 December: the Prado again closes at 14:00, and the Reina Sofía’s main museum stays shut all day; confirm each restaurant’s New Year’s Eve menu and hours when you book.
- Public transport changes its hours over the holidays: in 2025 the Metro opened later on Christmas morning, and Sol station closed from 18:00 on 30 and 31 December. The Consorcio de Transportes (crtm.es) publishes each year’s holiday timetable.
Is December a Good Time to Visit Madrid?
For most people, yes, and for some people it is the best month of all. December combines Madrid’s great strengths — food, street life, museums — with a festive atmosphere that feels local rather than laid on for tourists. The cold is dry and manageable, the skies are often blue, and mid-month hotel prices are good.
It is not for you if you want to sit outside in the evening, if short days frustrate you, or if you hate crowds and can only travel on the puente or at New Year. And if you are on a tight budget and not interested in Christmas, January is cheaper still.
Our pick: arrive around 10 December, stay four or five nights, walk the lights on your first evening, do the museums in the afternoons, eat cocido at lunch and churros at night, and take one day trip to Segovia. For a longer comparison with other months, see the best time to visit Madrid.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Madrid cold in December?
Cool by day and cold at night. Afternoon highs average about 10 °C, and nights about 3–4 °C, occasionally below freezing. Sunny days feel much warmer.
Does it snow in Madrid in December?
Very rarely in the city. Snow is common in the Sierra de Guadarrama, about an hour north.
When do the Christmas lights go on in Madrid?
In late November — the 2025 switch-on was on 22 November — and they stay on until 6 January.
Is Madrid busy in December?
Busiest around the public holidays (7 and 8 December in 2026) and from Christmas to New Year, especially around Sol. Mid-December is noticeably calmer.
Is everything closed on Christmas Day in Madrid?
Most museums and many shops close, but the city is not dead: some restaurants serve lunch, the lights stay on, and families fill the streets in the afternoon. Christmas Eve evening is quieter than Christmas Day.
Is 26 December a holiday in Madrid?
No. Boxing Day is not a public holiday in Spain, and shops and museums open as normal.
Does Madrid have a Christmas market?
Yes. The main one is in Plaza Mayor, from late November to 31 December, selling nativity figures, decorations and novelty items rather than food and mulled wine.
Is December cheap in Madrid?
Mid-December can be good value. The early-December long weekend and the New Year period are expensive.
Related Madrid Guides
- Christmas in Madrid
- New Year’s Eve in Madrid
- Best Time to Visit Madrid
- Cheapest Time to Visit Madrid
- Chocolate con Churros in Madrid
- Madrid Events Calendar
- Madrid Travel Tips
- What to Do in Madrid When It Rains
Photo Credits
Christmas market in Plaza Mayor: Madrid – Plaza Mayor – 121212 140648 by Barcex, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Plaza de Callao lit for Christmas: Encendido de la Navidad by Alfredo Sánchez Romero from Madrid, España, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Temporary ice rink: El reencuentro con la Navidad 02 by Diario de Madrid, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.