Christmas plans in Madrid make use of all kinds of illusions: those awakened by Christmas Eve with Santa Claus, the family Christmas meal, the vacation days to rest, the New Year’s Eve grapes 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 2024 in Madrid
The official switching on of the Christmas lights in Madrid was on November 28, marking the start of the festive season. This year, the lighting will cover more than 230 locations and will feature designs created by elementary school children, as well as proposals from prestigious designers. Discover all the novelties that will illuminate the city with sustainability thanks to the use of LED bulbs.
📍 Location: different locations
🗓️ Dates: from November 28, 2024
Christmas markets
The best-known Christmas markets in Madrid 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 like the Xmas Shop of 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: different locations
Surreal Christmas at the CBA
This Christmas, the Círculo de Bellas Artes becomes an open space with its free program Surreal Christmas. From creative workshops and concerts to activities such as the “Toy Hospital” or a K-Pop experience, there are options for all audiences. The event seeks to offer an alternative to the consumerist maelstrom typical of these dates. See more details about the activities and dates in this special CBA program.
📍 Location: calle de Alcalá, 42(Círculo de Bellas Artes)
🗓️ Dates: December 21st to 29th
The official Marvel exhibition
One of the most obvious Christmas phenomena is what happens with the review of movies and the re-reading of books, comics… What a pleasure to read, to watch a movie with a blanket, while it’s cold and raining outside. This, which some experts call Hygge and also Comfort TV, has great successes during Christmas: Love Actually type movies , but also superhero fictions that take us to other planets and fictional situations.
But in Madrid, as always in this city, we go a step further: what if we get into these movies, these comics, entering a large official Marvel exhibition? The House of Ideas celebrates 85 years with this exhibition (Marvel: Universe of Super Heroes) which , located in IFEMA, is an absolute self-homage: there are interactive areas, with technology and large wraparound screens, there are spaces for the selfie, but there will also be collectibles for those who love the “coffee for coffee makers” of the comics.
📍 Avenida del Partenón, 5 (Barajas).
Museum of Illusions Madrid
What time of the year is synonymous with “illusion”? Undoubtedly, Christmas. A time of reunion, of celebration, of returning home (to that home we created with family or friends) and of letting ourselves be carried away by the most primitive illusion.
But illusion (long live the polysemy) is also a mirage, a phantasmagoria, in which imagination and fantasy act and deceive the senses. Precisely that, of these illusions, lives this peculiar museum in Madrid: Museum of Illusions is the place to test the limits of the human brain’s perception, letting ourselves be fooled by optical illusions, by amazing tricks that run through every experience.
Inside, experiences like the Vortex tunnel (in the picture) will make you rethink what is real. Do you dare?
📍Location: Calle del Doctor Cortezo, 8 (Tirso de Molina)
Tickets: from 10 € (children) and 14 € (adults).
Urban Planet Madrid: family activities without screens
In Madrid there are five temples dedicated to active entertainment: it is sport and adrenaline, yes; but it is also laughter and competitions among friends and for the whole family. Urban Planet Madrid could be defined as a trampoline park, the paradise of trampolines. But each of them has more, much more: obstacle courses, courts for playing soccer or dodgeball, balance games in the purest “gladiator” style?
With locations in Las Rejas, Rivas, Las Rozas, Leganés and Collado Villalba, we recommend that you check here all the activities that you can find in each of the spaces.
💸 Tickets: from 10€.
📍 Urban Planet Las Rejas (Polígono Industrial Las Mercedes, C. de Navaridas, 9, San Blas-Canillejas)
📍Urban Planet Rivas (Centro Comercial H2O, C. Marie Curie, 4, Rivas-Vaciamadrid)
📍Urban Planet Las Rozas (Heron City. Local 18, C. Camilo José Cela, 2, Las Rozas)
📍Urban Planet Leganés (Sambil Outlet Shopping Center, C. de Mondragón, Leganés)
📍Madrid Urban Planet Villalba (Centro Comercial Planetocio, Av. Juan Carlos I, 46, Collado Villalba)
🗓️ Urban Planet Las Rejas, Las Rozas and Villalba, will be closed on December 25 and January 1.
Giving the Gift of Cinema: Cinesa’s annual UNLIMITED subscription
What could be more Christmassy than going to the movies and soaking up the winter premieres with some popcorn? Cinesa’s 14 cinemas in Madrid are buzzing with premieres such as Vaiana 2 or the anime of The Lord of the Rings (already in theaters) and the next ones for this holiday season, as appetizing as Kraven (December 13), Mufasa (December 20) or Sonic 3 (December 25).
This is why Cinesa is launching (and never better said) a pioneering cinema subscription program in our country that can become the perfect Christmas gift for the most movie buffs in the house. Those who have this Unlimited Card will be able to enjoy the year’s premieres as many times as they want throughout the year, as an “infinite cinema”. And watch out, 2025 comes with movies like Captain America, the new Bridget Jones or Snow White.
This card also includes a 10% discount on bar products and invitations to special screenings and other exclusive benefits. There are two types of subscriptions (Standard, with additional surcharges for Luxe cinemas; and Luxe, which includes access to this premium cinema).
💸Unlimited card annual: 149€ ; Unlimited Card annual Luxe: 189€.
📍 Location: Cinesa La Gavia, Cinesa Manoteras, Cinesa Méndez Álvaro, Cinesa Nassica, Cinesa Parquesur, Cinesa Príncipe Pío, Cinesa Proyecciones and Cinesa Heron City las Rozas; Luxe cinemas in Cinesa La Moraleja, Cinesa Intu Xanadú, Cinesa Oasiz, Cinesa Equinoccio and Cinesa Plaza Loranca 2.
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.
Various locations
Have one of the best roscones in the city.
The roscón de Reyes is the quintessential Christmas sweet. In Madrid there are bakeries 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.
Several locations
The Tomorrowland Immersive Experience
It’s already the magical time of the year. A season of family, illusion and fantasy. The Tomorrowland Immersive Experience is a plan for all audiences that we will find in the Crystal Room of the WiZink Center, the door to a magical world, to fantastic, impossible, unique universes…
All this magic comes from a festival: the world-renowned Tomorrowland. To celebrate its twenty years of history, the organizers have created an experience that highlights its identity through these magical worlds that year after year invade the festival: different dreamlike themes such as The Story of Planaxis, The Book of Wisdom or The Elixir of Life, which come to life in Madrid these months. Pure imagination to live among digital installations and a Virtual Reality experience in one of the largest halls in the world.
🗓️ When:Monday to Friday from 17.30h. Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am. Special opening hours on holidays and Christmas.
📍 Location: Sala de Cristal of WiZink Center: Calle Fuente del Berro 50, Puerta 50 avenida de Felipe, II (Salamanca💸 Admission: from 18,50€. Special prices for children, families and groups.
Alcalá de Henares is transformed into a Christmas village.
Just 30 km from Madrid, Alcalá de Henares celebrates Christmas with a spectacular flea market in the Plaza de Cervantes, an ice skating rink, a carousel and a little train that surrounds a 20-meter tree. In addition, the program includes concerts, shows and activities for all ages. Don’t miss the start of the festivities on November 29 with the lighting of the Christmas lights and the Christmas crier. Find out more details about the attractions and events in Alcalá’s complete Christmas agenda.
📍 Location: Alcalá de Henares
🗓️ Dates: November 29 to January 6
Candlelight Christmas Special
At Christmas, the Candlelight concert series prepares special shows with all the magic of these dates. For example, a musical evening with ballets from Swan Lake or Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker performed by the Madrid Dance Company or string or piano concerts with Christmas classics such as Let It Snow, Silent Night or Jingle bells. And, of course, not all of them, illuminated only with thousands and thousands of candles.
🗓️ Different dates in December
Different locations
Naviluz
Seeing the Christmas lights from a bus is almost a tradition in Madrid. Naviluz is the special bus service that runs through some of the most central areas of the city. It is a perfect plan for children to enjoy the Christmas decorations without getting tired. This year it will be held until January 6.
If maintained, the schedule of this Christmas bus is from 18h to 22:00h, with intervals of between 5 and 10 minutes between one bus and the next. The price of the general Christmas ticket is 10€.
Departure from the Jardines del Descubrimiento (Serrano street in front of number 30).
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 sides: 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.
Various locations
El manantial de los sueños: El Origen de la Navidad (The Spring of Dreams: The Origin of Christmas)
El manantial de los sueños: El Origen de la Navidad is a Christmas festival hidden in a park in Madrid (specifically, in the Royal Botanical Garden Alfonso XIII) that opens its doors from November 28 until January 5 with a schedule of 16:00 to 22:00h.
The space, open to all audiences, has shows, ice rink, flea market and Santa Claus’ house, which will make the occasional visit. The Botanical Garden of the Complutense University will become a unique universe full of experiences throughout the Christmas season. Tickets for El manantial de los sueños are already available and the price ranges from 12 to 25 euros.
Avenida Complutense, s/n (Royal Botanical Garden Alfonso XIII, around the Complutense University)
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: some 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).
Various locations
Ballet of Lights
It’s a very winter plan and also a perfect Christmas gift. Ballet of Lights reinvents the traditional dance show concept and combines it with illuminated costumes. A dance show in the darkness of light that comes to Madrid to bring classic stories like Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella and Peter Pan closer to new generations and make them more accessible to all audiences.
🗓️ Different dates from November to January
Círculo de Bellas Artes and Espacio Madriz
A Christmas boat in Aranjuez with Santa Claus and his elves
The tourist boat of Aranjuez is transformed during Christmas to welcome Santa Claus and his elves. This 60-minute tour includes karaoke, contests and a photo with Santa. It is a perfect Christmas plan to enjoy with the family, with prices starting at €9.99 per person, and young children get in for free.
📍 Location: Aranjuez, Community of Madrid
🗓️ Dates: Starting November 30
Navipark: the Christmas theme park in Móstoles
Navipark, the new Christmas theme park in Móstoles, will open its doors on November 30 at the Finca Liana park. Covering more than 100,000 square meters, it will feature a variety of attractions for all ages, such as a 30-meter Ferris wheel and an 800-square-meter natural ice rink. There is also an illuminated forest and many other activities. Navipark will be open until January 6, offering a magical experience for the whole family. For more details about the attractions and opening hours, visit this article about Navipark.
📍 Location: Finca Liana Park, Móstoles
🗓️ Dates: November 30 to January 6
San Lorenzo de El Escorial Christmas
Christmas in San Lorenzo de El Escorial offers a varied program with activities for all tastes. From the lighting of Christmas lights, the monumental Nativity Scene, to an ice skating rink in the Parque de los Romeros, there are options for the whole family to enjoy. In addition, free concerts are included, such as the finalists of La Voz Kids and the traditional Christmas concert of the City Hall. The Gran Cabalgata de los Reyes Magos will be the culminating event. For more details on the activities, check the full program here.
📍 Location: San Lorenzo de El Escorial
🗓️ Dates: December 6 to January 6
Casas Bajas: a photographic exhibition on the memory of Vallecas
Santi Vaquero, photographer and chronicler of life in the low houses of Vallecas during the 70s and 80s, presents a free exhibition at the Centro de Creación Contemporánea Quinta del Sordo (CCCQS).
Through his photographs taken with his Nikon FM, Vaquero portrays daily life, neighborhood struggles and the arrival of bulldozers that marked the end of those slums. The exhibition, accompanied by texts by the collective La Liminal, will be open until May 30, 2025 and pays tribute to the combative and supportive memory of a Vallecas that no longer exists, but whose spirit remains alive.
📍 Location: Centro de Creación Contemporánea Quinta del Sordo (CCCQS) (Calle del Rosario, 15).