What to do in Madrid at Christmas?

Christmas is a wonderful holiday and spending it in a city like Madrid will make you fall in love. At Christmas, Madrid offers the opportunity to enjoy many activities for all types of audiences. The capital of Spain lights up, shines and glows under the Christmas lights. In this article, we are going to share with you what you cannot miss in Madrid during Christmas.

The Christmas Market in the Plaza Mayor

This Madrid Christmas market is the most popular in the city. It is located in the central square of the city: the Plaza Mayor. You will find a multitude of stalls selling sweets, nougat, you can buy a tree, chocolates, and much more. Children's paradise! The atmosphere is very warm and charming. You can not lose this!

In addition to this, there are several markets throughout the city that you cannot miss, including the Puerta Toledo market.

Naviluz: The Christmas Bus

Taking a walk through the streets and enjoying the Christmas lights is a blast. At Christmas time, opening your eyes and discovering the bright and illuminated city is pure wonder. In Madrid, there is a very special service: Naviluz. Also known as "The Christmas Bus", it allows you to see the most beautiful lights in the capital. Over the years, this bus has gone from being a simple tourist attraction to becoming a classic. In general, the lights are turned on at the end of November until January 6. It is very popular and famous, so we recommend you book online in advance.

Recommendation: the key areas to enjoy the lights are the following:

Gran Vía
Plaza Mayor
Montera
Preciados
Calle Alcalá
Jorge Juan…

Ice skating outdoors

Open-air ice rinks have become a Christmas classic in many countries. If you like to skate and let yourself be carried away by the speed of the ice, the Christmas rinks in Madrid will make you fall in love! Generally, every year the Madrid City Council installs several ice rinks. Among them, the Matadero track stands out, a space of more than 750 square meters, where children and adults can skate, and sometimes a show is held. You can also visit the Cibeles track, it is smaller, but if you are a lover of skating and Christmas parties, you will love it. As for tickets to do this activity, you don't have to worry, they can be purchased directly on site.

The Nativity Scenes of Madrid

Do you have kids? Then we recommend you do the Nativity Scene Route in Madrid. Walking through the city, you will find several nativity scenes with their figures and popular scenes. Traditionally, the route begins with the Neapolitan Nativity Scene at the Royal Palace, from the time of King Carlos III. Then you can enjoy the Belén de las Carboneras, on the way to Puerta del Sol. In addition, you can see:

The Nativity Scene of the Community of Madrid.
The Nativity Scene in the Plaza de la Villa.
Or the Nativity Scene at the Puerta de Alcalá.

Enjoy the route with your children and experience some unique moments!

Where to stay in Madrid at Christmas?

Are you looking for a hotel in Madrid to spend Christmas? You are in a good place! At B&B Hotels we offer you the opportunity to stay in one of our very well located hotels in Madrid. You can access Christmas activities and shows easily and rest whenever you want without taking long to arrive. We have hotels in the most interesting places of interest. A hotel in Puerta del Sol or a hotel on Calle Fuencarral. This street is one of the busiest and is located in the city center. In the surroundings of our hotels, you will find everything you need to have a good stay in Madrid. Bars, restaurants, markets, shows…

Enjoy Madrid and its Christmas wonders. It only remains to wait for the Three Wise Men to pass!