17 Nov 2025 Madrid is a city that never sleeps, offering fantastic activities day and night to all visitors who come to discover its history, culture, and atmosphere.
Add to that the Christmas season, and the plans and activities multiply for the whole family to enjoy.
Join us on this tour of the capital, discovering the best things to do with the whole family and making this Christmas season even more special.
We've compiled all kinds of plans, from those that are strictly Christmas-related to others you can do with your family anytime, but which have a more magical touch at Christmas.
The more than 120 hectares of Madrid's true lungs await visitors with open arms. Walking along its paths, getting lost in its gardens, and visiting its monuments is always a great idea.
You can't leave Madrid without visiting such iconic places as the Crystal Palace or the navigable pond, with the Alfonso Monument at its center. Sometimes a recreational area, sometimes a forest, El Retiro Park has everything you need for a fantastic family Christmas day.
Christmas lights illuminate Madrid's nights from the end of November until the arrival of the Three Wise Men. Walking through any of Madrid's 21 districts will be magical thanks to its more than 12 million bulbs.
Although the most iconic places will have more special lighting, such as the city center like Puerta del Sol or Gran Vía, the entire city will shine during this beautiful time of year, and a photo here is the perfect souvenir of your visit to the capital.
Visiting Madrid's main Christmas markets is a must-do if you're in the capital. Admission is free, but we can't guarantee you won't spend a little money, especially after seeing all the quality crafts and food on offer.
The most popular and the first one you should visit is the Christmas Market in the Plaza Mayor, with more than a hundred stalls full of Christmas decorations and perfect places to eat its famous calamari sandwiches.
Right outside the Reina Sofía Museum, in Plaza Juan Goytisolo, is another favorite spot for Madrid residents to do their more traditional Christmas shopping.
Other favorites include Plaza España and its Christmas market, as well as an ice rink. Finally, and just because we've named the most iconic, don't forget to stop by Plaza Isabel II with the whole family. And if you like crafts, don't forget to visit Paseo de Recoletos between Colón and Cibeles. You'll thank us for it.
Another lovely route to take with the whole family is the one that takes us to see several Nativity scenes in the center of Madrid. It's a fantastic way to explore the city center and share the Christmas spirit.
We start with the Nativity scene at Madrid City Hall, which brings us the magic of Christmas every year with craftsmanship worthy of the finest masters. Alongside this one, we can find the one located in Plaza Mayor, which we already visited in search of our Christmas market.
The Prince's Nativity Scene, at the Royal Palace, displays, as it does every Christmas, its wonderful Neapolitan Nativity scene composed of more than 200 pieces, a true historical treasure. And we can't forget the Madrid History Museum, which displays its Nativity scene with more than 50 pieces. Historical Nativity scenes in emblematic locations in Madrid are certainly an unbeatable combination.
Although there is an entrance fee, it's an experience worth experiencing with the family. Imagine Madrid, Christmas, and an ice rink—it's a unique experience. The Matadero ice rink is always a hit, and it's a little less crowded, although it is still crowded, than the Cibeles ice rink. The latter's location is truly impressive.
Although we mentioned it previously when referring to Christmas markets, we want to highlight the Plaza de España ice rink again, both for its location and for everything surrounding it, starting with its famous market.
Visiting the best museums in Madrid is just like visiting some of the best museums in the country or on the continent. Going with the family is an added advantage because you'll discover that art knows no barriers or age limits, especially at Christmas.
Although we recommend checking the websites of the museums that most interest you for their promotions and offers, here is a list of the most important museums with the times when admission is completely free.
The Prado Museum is open without interruption from Monday to Saturday, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and on Sundays and holidays, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. They also have El Prado de Noche, an initiative for free nighttime visits on the first Saturday of every month from 8:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
The Reina Sofía Museum has free admission Mondays and Wednesdays through Saturdays, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM, and Sundays from 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM. The Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza is free all day Mondays and Saturdays from 9:00 PM to 11:00 PM.
The Royal Botanical Garden has free admission on Tuesdays from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Although all museums offer this option, we'll close with the National Museum of Natural Sciences, a favorite with the little ones, which is free on Sundays from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, except on holidays.
Whether it's during Christmas or any other time of year, the best place to stay with your family in Madrid is Latroupe Prado. And there's not just one reason, but several. It's the hostel with the best location, where you'll be a stone's throw from all the fantastic Christmas activities. It boasts unbeatable facilities, the best atmosphere in the city with people from all over the world, and what's more, we love families. Latroupe Prado is a place in Madrid where you can feel right at home.
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17 Nov 2025 