Christmas plans in Madrid make use of all kinds of illusions: those awakened by Christmas Eve with Santa Claus, the family Christmas meal, the days off to rest, the grapes on New Year’s Eve and, of course, the three Wise Men with their clothes, roscones and gifts.
Far from what many may think, the events that occupy these dates have a lot to do with sharing, leisurely recreation and stroll under an exceptional sky of lights. Here’s how we tell you about the new Christmas season.
Christmas Lights 2025 in Madrid
Madrid welcomes Christmas 2025 with an even more spectacular display of lights. This year, the switch-on will be held on November 22 in Plaza de Cibeles, which takes over from Puerta del Sol as the epicenter of the inauguration. More than 13 million LED bulbs will illuminate 240 points in the 21 districts, covering 157 kilometers of streets and incorporating 126 cherry trees, 13 giant fir trees and thousands of energy-saving garlands.
Highlights include new designs by renowned designers and elementary school children, as well as the use of warmer tones and sustainable structures that seek to create an enveloping and festive atmosphere. The lighting will remain on until January 6, consolidating Madrid as a reference in art, tradition and creativity during the holidays.
📍 Location: Various locations
🗓️ Dates: from November 22, 2025
Christmas Markets
Madrid’s best-known Christmas markets start in mid-November and last until early January, such as the one in Plaza Mayor or Plaza de España. If you want to get out of the classic, the city is full of pop ups and there are usually other themed markets such as the Xmas Shop of the florist Sally Hambleton or the Mercadillo del Gato at The Westin Palace with accessories, jewelry, jewelry, crafts, cosmetics … Among many others that are scattered around the city.
Location: Various locations
Concerts of Christmas classics by candlelight
Christmas is less Christmas if there is no music. Especially if it is the one that speaks of a certain child with a certain drum on the way to Bethlehem or the one that likes river fish. Christmas hymns that this season we can enjoy under the candlelight with Candlelight concerts in some of the most emblematic places of the city.
A live concert where you can listen to Silent Night, It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas or Christmas soundtracks by a string quartet? Even Balthazar would trade his myrrh to go to one.
📍 Location: Círculo de Bellas Artes, Four Seasons Hotel, Ateneo de Madrid and ICOMEM
🗓️ Dates: 21, 26 and 27 December
🎫 Price: tickets from 14,50€.
Brilla Zoo at La Alhóndiga Park
Among the outdoor Christmas plans, Brilla Zoo transforms La Alhóndiga Park in Getafe into a route of more than one kilometer with luminous sculptures of animals such as elephants, pandas or octopuses. An educational and family walk that explains the habitats and their place in the world through light, color and fantasy.
In addition, this park adds to its program a novelty: its own ice skating rink that is the icing on the cake for an afternoon at the festival of light. But beware, to access the ice rink you must get a separate ticket, since the entrance to the park does not include the entrance to the rink (and vice versa).
📍 Location: La Alhóndiga Park (Getafe)
📆 From December 5
🎫 F rom 9€
Avatar: The Experience in Espacio Delicias
Among lights, carols and warm walks, this Christmas also brings a plan for those who grew up dreaming of other worlds. Avatar: The Experience lands in Espacio Delicias on November 26 with an immersive tour that activates that part of the memory in which everything was giant, blue and full of magic. A journey through Pandora designed for true fans of the saga -and for anyone who wants to feel like a child again for a while- among animatronic creatures, bioluminescence and landscapes that seem to come out of a dream.
📍 Location: Espacio Delicias (Paseo de las Delicias, 61, Arganzuela)
🗓️ Dates: from November 26
💸 Price: tickets from 16€.
Skating on the ice rinks
Although there are permanent ice rinks, Christmas -and the cold of this season- brings to the center of Madrid the possibility of skating outdoors. The usual rinks are those in Plaza de Colón and Plaza de España, which also have a market around with food and crafts to complete the festive plan. The Matadero rinks, where there will be exhibitions by the Madrid Winter Sports Federation, and the one at the Cibeles Palace, with 400 m², are also usually extended until the beginning of January.
Location: Various locations
Have one of the best roscones in the city.
The roscón de Reyes is the quintessential Christmas sweet. In Madrid there are pastry shops where they elaborate it with mastery. You can choose between the classic, which has candied fruit and almonds laminated on top, and more innovative versions, with cream, chocolate, cream or even pink panther.
Location: Several locations
A virtual reality experience to travel to Peru (without leaving Madrid) this Christmas.
Machu Picchu: journey to the lost city, is a different trip. To begin with, because it starts from Nuevos Ministerios and, to continue, because no means of transport is needed: just put on the virtual reality goggles. So we can explore, for about 45 minutes of experience, the sacred city of the Incas. A plan designed to enjoy alone, as a couple or as a family and make this holiday an unforgettable memory. Please note: you can take your own postcard with you.
📍 Location: Fever Hub Madrid (access from Orense, on the street between Orense 3 and Orense 5).
🗓️ Dates: open from Wednesday to Sunday (closed on 24, 25, 30 December and 1 January)
💸 Price : tickets from 19€.
Nativity Scenes
The most traditional Christmas plan. Nativity scenes are part of the typical itinerary of the outings and routes through the city at this time. There are two aspects: the traditional representations that for example can be seen in the City Hall of Madrid or the Museum of History of Madrid, with its hundreds of clay figures, and the more alternative versions are in light format in Plaza de España and floral crafts in the Casa de Mexico Foundation.
Location: Various locations
Having churros with chocolate
After walking in the cold through the illuminated streets, visiting the Christmas markets and buying some gifts, it’s time to sit down for a drink: churros with chocolate is what the body is asking for these days.
Chocolatería San Ginés(Pasadizo de San Ginés, 5) is an infallible classic. But if you want to try a modernized version and almost as traditional as the typical churrerías, try Manosanta (Calle Hermosilla, 97).
Location: Various locations
Navipark: the Christmas theme park in Móstoles.
Navipark 2025 returns to Móstoles from November 22 to January 6 with a Christmas proposal full of light, festivities and experiences for everyone. Located in Finca Liana Park, its great success is the new indoor ice rink with disco on skates, a 30-meter Ferris wheel, more than 40 attractions and Santa Claus Village.
The enclosure triples the number of luminous figures and expands its gourmet area, and incorporates inclusive measures for people with sensory sensitivities. It is thus consolidated as one of the hot spots to experience Christmas in the Community of Madrid.
📍 Location: Finca Liana Park, Móstoles.
🗓️ Dates:November 22 to January 6
Quiz Room
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Christmas is a time for reunions and also for making plans that go beyond catching up over a cup of coffee. Quiz Room is an experience designed to be enjoyed in teams and to generate that good competitiveness that arises in groups of friends when a game of quick answers and agility is proposed. The format, moreover, emulates the big TV sets. The excitement is served.
📍 Location Calle de Sancho Dávila, 8 (Ventas)
🗓️ Dates: closed on December 24, 25 and January 1.
💸 Price: starting at 20€.
MAVIDAD Bernabéu
The Santiago Bernabéu stadium will host MAVIDAD, a huge Christmas event between December 24 and 31, featuring the world’s largest snow globe and a varied program of shows, music, workshops and restaurants. Visitors will be able to tour themed areas such as the Plaza de los Sueños or the Galería de los Copos, while the renovated façade will become a screen for videomapping projections.
Tickets will be available from November 7 on the official website and there will be limited seating with three daily passes.
📍 Location: Santiago Bernabéu Stadium
🗓️ Dates: December 24 to December 31