Christmas has clear protagonists: the little ones, so having a good list of Christmas plans for children is key for these dates.
Madrid offers a wealth of options. The central streets are filled with lights, the squares with their special markets and from the end of November until the first week of January, activities for children take place in cultural centers, theaters and shopping malls.
Pixar World
Starting December 5, Madrid will become the first European city to inaugurate Pixar World. The largest immersive experience in the world of the factory, will land in the 5.1 space of the IFEMA Madrid Exhibition Center for children and not so children to enter, immerse themselves and walk through the scenarios (life-size) of their favorite movies: Carl’s living room in Up, the ocean depths of Finding Nemo, Andy’s room in Toy Story, the warehouse of essential memories of Inside Out… You can buy your tickets now.
Space 5.1 of the IFEMA Madrid Exhibition Center: Avenida del Partenón, 5.
Price: tickets from 12,80€.
2. Ice rinks
One of the Christmas plans that has become fashionable in Madrid in recent years is skating on the ice rinks. In addition to wearing out the copious meals typical of these dates and make room for the following, skating is also a perfect activity to spend some time with the family.
The rink in Plaza de España will be open from November 23rd to January 7th and is expected to repeat the ones in Palacio de Cibeles and Matadero, although the dates have not yet been made public.
Several locations.
3. Christmas in the Villa – Fernán Gómez
Vacations are a good time to go to the theater with the family and the Fernán Gómez Cultural Center has a special program for children this Christmas. Superhéroe and Don Quijote nómada recover puppet theater and classic characters to give them new plots. The third, El hombre que plantaba árboles, is a hymn to the preservation of the environment and coexistence with other animals. The plays within the Christmas in the Village umbrella will be on stage between December 22 and January 4.
Plaza de Colón, 4 (Recoletos)
4. Christmas markets
One of the first Christmas stops is to visit some of the flea markets that will take over some streets and squares of Madrid. The one in Plaza Mayor is a must, especially if you are looking for figurines of the Nativity Scene (from November 24 to December 31), but in Plaza de España there is another one, with ice rink included (dates to be confirmed). It is also a good time to discover with the little ones the value of handmade crafts at the Feria Mercado de Artesanía de la Comunidad de Madrid (from December 1 to 30).
Various locations.
5. Cavalcades
The best way to end this season and one of the most exciting moments is with the Christmas parades. The main and largest is the one that runs along the Paseo de la Castellana to Cibeles, on the afternoon of January 5. Although almost all neighborhoods and towns in the Community of Madrid have their own, but it is important to make sure of the dates because some are usually held the days before, such as Chamartin which is on the 3rd and Carabanchel on the 4th.
Various locations.
6. Cortylandia
For Madrid’s children, Christmas has two big moments: the cavalcades and when Cortylandia starts-even if you’re older, it’s worth going to see their excited faces. The return date of this iconic show is yet to be confirmed, but it is usually from the end of November until January 5 at the Corte Inglés on Preciados Street. As usual, the assembly will take place on the façade of Maestro Victoria Street, and attendees will be able to watch this children’s show from the Plaza del Celenque for another year.
Maestro Victoria Street, 4 (Center).
7. Nativity Scenes
Nativity scenes are a good way to know what is celebrated on these dates and also discover that art can also be in miniature. There are two cribs that are traditionally the most visited: the Madrid City Hall and the Municipal Bethlehem of the Plaza de la Villa, which are usually from late November until January 5. In the Royal Palace a Neapolitan Nativity Scene is exhibited, which has been completed since the 18th century, when Charles III started the tradition as a gift for his son Charles IV.
Various locations.
8. Circo Price Christmas
Another good and very cultural Christmas plan for children is the one proposed by the Teatro Circo Price from November 24 to January 6. Its now classic special show for this time of year is called La casa del árbol (The Tree House). The dream of any child comes true for Sarah and Jose, from their tree house they travel the world through their imaginary friends who will discover the many ways to say goodbye and welcome the new year.
Ronda de Atocha, 35 (Embajadores).
9.
Naviluz
Seeing the Christmas lights is good, but seeing it from a bus is much better. This special bus service, which runs through some of the most central areas of the city, is a perfect plan for children to enjoy the Christmas decorations without getting tired. This year there will be a new edition that will start on Friday, November 24 and will end on January 7.
The schedule of this Christmas bus is from 18h to 22:50h, with intervals of between 5 and 10 minutes between one bus and the next. It will run every day except December 24 and 31 and January 5.
Departure from the Discovery Gardens (Serrano Street in front of No. 30).
10.
Amazonia by Sebastião Salgado
The photographic exhibition of the Prince of Asturias Award, Sebastião Salgado, is a journey that the youngest members of the family will enjoy: a look at other cultures, an immersion in the wildest and purest nature, a reflection on the importance of conservation and protection of this immense space that we can still call “the green lung of planet Earth”.
Here the little ones of the house will learn through 7 films, 203 photographs and a soundtrack (composed by Jean-Michel Jarre) with the real sounds of the Amazon rainforest, all about the natural phenomena of the jungle, about the different ways of life of the indigenous populations and about the risks and threats they suffer.
Plaza de Colón, 4 (Salamanca district)
Tickets from 11,90€.
11.
Naturaleza Encendida
Naturaleza Encendida has a new light show at the Royal Botanical Garden: Insects. The tour takes place around the development of the life of bugs in a dreamlike landscape with a didactic side. This year the location changes and will be held in the Enrique Tierno Galván Park, from November 21 to January 21.
Calle Meneses, 4 (corner with Avenida del Planetario)
12.
The Christmas multi-adventure space
Zip lines, sledding mountain and a slide will be some of the activities of the multi-adventure space that will be installed from December 15 to 30 in the center of Parla. Tickets can be purchased at the box office of the Jaime Salom Theater and access will be allowed for ages 6 to 14 years old. The 24th and 25th will be closed.
In the vicinity of this space, in the same square and on the same dates, there will be a Christmas craft market.
Plaza de la Guardia Civil (Parla)
13.
The visit to Mom and Santa Claus
Alopeke is the children’s school in the vicinity of El Retiro that focuses on leisure and plans for children every Christmas. In addition to creative and cooking workshops, storytelling and even a breakfast buffet with Micky and Minnie, this year there will also be a visit from Mom and Santa Claus, in which the elves will also be present.
Calle de Alcalá, 91 (Salamanca neighborhood)