Christmas markets in Madrid return this year to occupy squares, streets, and ad hoc spaces to buy decorations, food and gifts for these dates. They join the festive atmosphere with other classics such as Christmas lighting, Christmas concerts by candlelight or of course, Cortylandia. Everything adds up to make this holiday season worthy of a wait that for many begins in mid-November.
In the streets the presence of the Christmas spirit is gaining strength, and one of the unmistakable symptoms of this is the return of the traditional Christmas markets. Here we compile some of those that are already a hallmark of Christmas in the capital.
1. Plaza Mayor Christmas market
A Christmas tour of Madrid has to pass through the Plaza Mayor. For more than 100 years traders have been setting up shop in this emblematic square of the capital to sell their products, which range from Christmas decorations or nativity scenes to joke items.
Their stalls will once again occupy the emblematic square from November 28 at 4 pm, and will remain open until December 31. The opening hours will be from 10 am to 9 pm from Sunday to Thursday and from 10 am to 10 pm on Fridays, Saturdays and eve of holidays, without closing at noon.
🗓️ Dates: November 28 to December 31
📍Location: Plaza Mayor
2. Mercadillo del Gato
Born in Madrid to “promote creative and sustainable companies”, the Mercadillo del Gato is one of the great markets that has already become an emblem of Christmas in the capital. Itinerant, ephemeral and known for being located in emblematic buildings of the cities it visits, after months of inactivity now returns with force in a new edition.
Admission is free and the schedule is uninterrupted from 11 am to 9 pm. Among its stalls visitors will find women’s and men’s fashion, accessories, jewelry, costume jewelry, handicrafts, cosmetics, children’s fashion, home fashion and art.
🗓️Fechas: from December 14 to January 6
📍Location: Centro Cultural de los Ejércitos (Gran Via, 13)
3. El Corte Inglés Christmas Market in Nuevos Ministerios
The El Corte Inglés Christmas market in Nuevos Ministerios returns from November 14 to January 5. This market is famous for its wide gastronomic offer with foodtrucks such as La Cocreta, Rodilla and San Ginés sweets, as well as booths with Christmas decorations, flowers, candles and more. The event also features a music and light show, all with a festive atmosphere ideal for the whole family.
📍 Location: Calle de Raimundo Fernández Villaverde, 65 (Nuevos Ministerios)
🗓️ Dates: November 14, 2024 to January 5, 2025
4. Xmas Shop by Sally Hambleton
Sally Hambleton’s Xmas Shop unites flowers and the most carefully chosen Christmas decorations. This year the physical store will split its dates to make room for holiday floral decorating workshops. This pop up will be open from November 14 until December 7, the week of December 9 will be dedicated to workshops and the Christmas market will return from December 16 to January 4, 2025.
Here you can find all kinds of decorations for the Christmas tree, table decorations (tablecloths, napkins, glasses, candlesticks, candle holders and candles, among others) and, of course, natural Christmas wreaths that you can buy ready-made, or sign up for one of their workshops to make them yourself.
🗓️ Dates: until January 4
📍Location: Gabriel Lobo Street, 11 (El Viso)
5. Plaza de España flea market: La Navideña
From November 21 until early January (exact dates are yet to be confirmed) the Plaza de España will be one of the Christmas epicenters of Madrid. Last year it hosted a flea market with 40 craft and food stalls, an ice rink of 450 square meters, and this year changes the fir tree for a giant ball of light located just behind the park.
🗓️ Dates: from November 21 to early January 2025
📍Location: Plaza de España
6. Feria Mercado de Artesanía de la Comunidad de Madrid (Craft Market Fair of the Community of Madrid)
More than 155 artisans from all over Spain come together at this fair that has been held since 1988. It is organized by the Asociación Madrileña de Oficios Artesanos (AMOA) and you can find stalls of jewelry and costume jewelry, toys, ceramics, leather goods, pottery or bookbinding, among others. Its opening hours will be uninterrupted from 11 am to 9 pm, except on Christmas Eve (which will be open until 3 pm) and December 25, which will be closed.
🗓️Fechas: from December 1 to 30
📍Location: Paseo de Recoletos (between Colón and Cibeles).
Strolling through the stalls of these markets, some with more than a century of history, you can find everything from Christmas decorations, handicrafts and joke items to typical sweets.
Whether you take some of their items home or not, what is certain is that a stroll through these ephemeral markets is one of the best plans to enjoy this magical time of the year.