Towards the end of February, something happens in the Quinta de los Molinos, a park in the north-east of Madrid that most visitors never find. Hundreds of almond trees burst into pale pink blossom on the same week, and suddenly half the city seems to know about it. It is the first sign that the Madrid winter is breaking. Madrid in February is still cold, often grey at the start and bright by the end, and it is one of the quietest and cheapest months of the year to visit — which is exactly the point. Add carnival, Chinese New Year in Usera, the tail end of the sales and the best seats at the Prado, and there is a strong value case for coming now. This page covers the whole month: weather, events, costs, closures and an honest verdict.
Prices were checked in October 2026; treat them as the right order of magnitude. Some events below are dated from the most recent edition or the 2027 calendar where it is already published; carnival and several others are confirmed each winter, so check before you book.
Madrid in February at a Glance
| What | February in Madrid |
|---|---|
| Average high / low | About 12 °C / 4 °C |
| Rain | Around 5–6 rainy days, roughly 35 mm |
| Daylight | About 10 hours at the start, 11¼ by the end; sunset moves from around 18:30 to after 19:00 |
| Public holidays | None |
| Big events | Madrid Fusión (1–3 February 2027), Chinese New Year in Usera, carnival (around 6–10 February 2027), almond blossom at the Quinta de los Molinos (February or March, depending on the year) |
| Not in February | ARCOmadrid, the contemporary art fair, runs 3–7 March in 2027 |
| Crowds | Among the lowest of the year |
| Prices | Among the lowest of the year for hotels and flights |
| Verdict | The best-value month for a museum, food and shopping break |
February Weather in Madrid
February is a transition month. Afternoons average about 12 °C, and mornings can still be frosty.
Nights stay cold throughout, averaging around 4 °C, with frost on about three days of the month. Rain is moderate: about five wet days and around 34 mm across the month. Snow in the city is rare, though the Sierra de Guadarrama to the north is usually white.
The days are getting noticeably longer, too, which gives you more usable daylight than December or January.
What to pack
- A warm winter coat for evenings and early mornings.
- Layers: a jumper and a lighter jacket for sunny afternoons.
- Scarf and gloves, especially in the first half of the month.
- A compact umbrella.
- Sunglasses — late-February sun is bright.
- For carnival, something to dress up in. Even a hat or a painted face counts.
What Happens in February: Week by Week
Early February: Madrid Fusión
Madrid Fusión, one of the world’s leading gastronomy congresses, brings top chefs from Spain and abroad to IFEMA every year — in 2027, from 1 to 3 February. It is a professional event rather than a food festival for the public, and tickets are aimed at the trade. For visitors, the effect is indirect: the city’s restaurant scene is buzzing, some restaurants run special menus around it, and hotels near IFEMA are busier. If you are a serious food traveller, it is a good week to book a table at one of the city’s best restaurants — see our Michelin-star restaurants guide.
Early February: Chinese New Year in Usera
Madrid’s Chinese community is centred on the district of Usera, south of the river, and its Chinese New Year celebrations have become one of the most colourful events of the winter, with a parade featuring dragon and lion dances, food stalls, performances and fireworks. In 2027, the Year of the Goat begins on 6 February; check the city’s programme for the dates of the festivities. Even outside the festivities, Usera is the best place in Madrid for authentic Chinese food — a very different side of the city from the old centre.
Around 6–10 February 2027: Carnival
Carnival in Madrid is not Cádiz or Tenerife, and nobody should fly in for it alone. But the city’s version is fun, local and very Madrid, and if you are here, join in. The dates move each year with Easter; in 2027, Carnival Saturday is 6 February and Ash Wednesday is 10 February.
Based on recent editions, the programme runs over about five days:
- The pregón (opening speech) and a big parade on the Saturday. In 2026 the parade ran through Madrid Río, from the Puente de Toledo to Matadero Madrid, with bands, costumed troupes and floats, and the pregón was given at Matadero.
- Neighbourhood events across the districts through the weekend, with children’s workshops, costume competitions, concerts and dances.
- Costume parties in bars and clubs, especially in Malasaña, Chueca and Lavapiés.
- The Entierro de la Sardina (the Burial of the Sardine) on Ash Wednesday.
Ash Wednesday: the Burial of the Sardine
This is the strangest and best part of Madrid’s carnival. A mock funeral procession, led by the Alegre Cofradía del Entierro de la Sardina — a “brotherhood” that has kept the tradition going for decades — carries a coffin containing a sardine through the streets, with mourners in black, top hats and veils, a band playing, and a great deal of theatrical weeping. In 2026, the procession left the Ermita de San Antonio de la Florida (the chapel with Goya’s frescoes) at 18:00, crossed the river on the Puente de la Reina Victoria, and ended in the Casa de Campo, where the sardine was buried and a bonfire lit at around 21:00. According to tradition it dates back to the 18th century, and Goya depicted the celebration in a painting now in the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando.
Dress in black, bring a hat or a veil, and join the crowd. It is free and it is one of those events that tells you a lot about Madrid’s sense of humour.
14 February: Valentine’s Day
San Valentín is celebrated in Spain much as elsewhere — restaurants fill up and set menus appear. If you are in Madrid for a romantic weekend, book dinner well ahead, and consider a rooftop bar for sunset: see our rooftop bars guide.
Mid to late February: the last of the sales
Many shops carry the winter sales into February, though each retailer sets its own dates; El Corte Inglés ran its sale through 28 February in 2026. Choice is thinner by now, so go with a short list. Our guide to the rebajas explains how it works, and non-EU visitors should read about tax-free shopping.
Late February: almond blossom
The Quinta de los Molinos is a former country estate known for its almond trees, and when they flower — in February or March, depending on the year — the park is spectacular. Go on a weekday morning to avoid the crowds, and take Metro Line 5 to Suanzes, a short walk from the park. Check local news or social media for the peak; a cold snap can delay it by a week or more.
Early March: ARCOmadrid
A note, because many guides still place it in February: ARCOmadrid, Spain’s big international contemporary art fair, now runs at the start of March. In 2027 it is from 3 to 7 March at IFEMA. If contemporary art is your priority, time your trip for the first week of March instead, when galleries across the city also stage their best shows. See our guide to contemporary art galleries in Madrid.
The Best Things to Do in Madrid in February
See the Prado without the crowds
February is arguably the best month of the year for Madrid’s big museums: the crowds are low, the queues are short, and a cold afternoon is the perfect excuse to spend three hours with Velázquez, Goya and Bosch. Do the Prado one day, the Reina Sofía and Guernica another, and the Thyssen on a third. Combine them with the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando, where you can see Goya’s Burial of the Sardine in the week of the real thing.
Eat the winter menu
February is still stew season. It is the month for cocido madrileño, for callos, for judiones (big white beans) and for hot chocolate with churros. Once carnival is over and Lent begins, bakeries start selling torrijas, Spain’s rich, cinnamon-dusted answer to French toast, which stay on the counters until Easter. And the menú del día is a warming bargain on a cold weekday.
Catch a game or a show
La Liga is in full swing, and the Champions League knockout rounds usually begin in February, bringing big European nights to the Bernabéu and the Metropolitano. Tickets for those are hard to get, but ordinary league matches are more realistic — see football in Madrid. The theatre, opera and flamenco seasons are also at full strength; see flamenco tablaos.
Soak in the Hammam
On a cold, grey February day, the Hammam Al Ándalus on Calle de Atocha, near Sol, is a very good idea: a 90-minute session in warm, hot and cold pools and a steam room, from around €69. Book ahead; sessions are non-refundable and cannot be changed.
Take a winter day trip
Toledo, Segovia and Alcalá de Henares are all quiet in February, and a sunny day in Toledo’s narrow streets with almost no tour groups is a real pleasure. Dress warmly: Segovia and Ávila are higher and colder than Madrid.
Have a rainy-day list
February is not especially wet, but grey days happen. Our guide to what to do in Madrid when it rains has more than enough to fill them.
What February Costs
February is one of the cheapest months to visit Madrid, and in some years the cheapest. There are no public holidays, no big tourist events, and demand is at its lowest.
- Hotels: among the lowest rates of the year in central Madrid. Watch for trade fairs at IFEMA, which can push up prices on specific dates, especially in business hotels.
- Flights: low-season fares, especially midweek and outside school half-term holidays in the UK and elsewhere.
- Attractions: prices do not change, but queues are much shorter.
- Shopping: final sale reductions.
- Events: carnival, the Burial of the Sardine, Chinese New Year and the almond blossom are all free.
| Period | Crowds | Hotel prices |
|---|---|---|
| Madrid Fusión (1–3 Feb 2027) | Low for tourists; busy near IFEMA | Higher near IFEMA |
| Carnival weekend | Moderate in the centre | Low to moderate |
| Mid-February | Low | Low; Valentine’s weekend busier |
| Late February | Low, rising towards March | Low |
For more on value, see the cheapest time to visit Madrid and how to save money in Madrid.
Opening Hours and Closures
The city’s 2026 working calendar has no public holidays in February, but check each venue’s hours before you go. The usual weekly closures apply: many smaller museums close on Mondays, and the Reina Sofía closes on Tuesdays. The Retiro and other parks may close temporarily in strong winds or snow for safety. During the Burial of the Sardine and the carnival parade, expect road closures along the routes.
Madrid in February with Children
February is a good month for families who want Madrid without the heat or the crowds. Carnival is a highlight for children: many Spanish kids dress up at school, and the parade and neighbourhood workshops are aimed at families. The Chinese New Year parade in Usera, with its dragons, is another hit. On cold days, the museums with family programmes, the zoo and aquarium, and the planetarium are good options — see Madrid with kids. If you are coming from the UK, February half-term is a natural fit, though flight prices rise that week.
Where to Stay in February
With low prices across the board, February is a good month to upgrade. A hotel in Las Letras or near the Paseo del Prado puts you walking distance from the museums; Salamanca is quieter and good for shopping the last of the sales; Malasaña and Chueca are best for carnival nightlife. If you are coming for Madrid Fusión or a trade fair, weigh up staying near IFEMA against the easy Metro ride from the centre. Compare the options in where to stay in Madrid.
Is February a Good Time to Visit Madrid?
Yes, if value and space matter more to you than warm weather. February is the quietest, cheapest time to see Madrid’s world-class museums, eat its best winter food and shop the final sales. Carnival and the Burial of the Sardine add a dose of local eccentricity, and late February brings the first sunny terraces and the almond blossom.
It is not the month for long evenings outdoors or reliable warmth. If you want contemporary art, wait for ARCO in early March. And if carnival is your main reason to travel, Madrid’s is fun but modest — Cádiz or Santa Cruz de Tenerife are the places for the full spectacle.
Our pick: come in the last ten days of February, when the sun has warmth, the almond trees are in flower, the sales are at their cheapest and hotel prices are still at winter lows. For the month before, see Madrid in January, and for the full year, the best time to visit Madrid.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Madrid cold in February?
Cold in the mornings and evenings, pleasant on sunny afternoons. Highs average about 12 °C and lows about 4 °C.
Does Madrid celebrate carnival?
Yes, on a modest, local scale, with a parade, neighbourhood events, costume parties and the Burial of the Sardine on Ash Wednesday. In 2027, carnival runs from around 6 February to Ash Wednesday, 10 February.
What is the Burial of the Sardine?
A mock funeral procession for a sardine held on Ash Wednesday to mark the end of carnival. Participants dress as mourners in black, and the procession ends with the sardine’s burial and a bonfire in the Casa de Campo.
Is ARCO in February?
Not any more. ARCOmadrid runs from 3 to 7 March in 2027.
When do the almond trees bloom in Madrid?
In February or March, depending on the year, at the Quinta de los Molinos park. The exact timing depends on the weather.
Is February a cheap time to visit Madrid?
Yes. It is one of the cheapest months, with low hotel prices and flights and no public holidays.
Are there public holidays in Madrid in February?
No. The city’s 2026 calendar has no public holidays in February; check each venue’s hours before you go.
Is Madrid busy in February?
No. It is one of the quietest months of the year for tourism.
Related Madrid Guides
- Madrid in January
- Cheapest Time to Visit Madrid
- Best Time to Visit Madrid
- The Rebajas: Madrid’s Sales
- The Prado Museum
- Contemporary Art Galleries in Madrid
- Madrid Events Calendar
- Madrid Travel Tips
Photo Credits
Almond blossom at the Quinta de los Molinos: Almendro – Parque de la Quinta de los Molinos – Madrid 09 by Javier Perez Montes, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Carnival drummers: El gran desfile multicultural, la radio vecinal y el concierto de Play’N’Kids, protagonistas del sábado de Carnaval 01 by Diario de Madrid, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Mourners at the Burial of the Sardine: Adiós al Carnaval con el entierro de la sardina (01) by Diario de Madrid, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.