The scene looks like something out of a Disney movie: the landscape surrounding an imposing castle, the colors of the sky enveloping the balloons in flight… The snapshot could not be more cinematic and yet it is not: it belongs to the celebration of the Balloon Festival, an event just 1 hour from Madrid.
From this morning until Sunday July 20, Segovia hosts this event in which both exhibition and competition hot air balloons and other passenger balloons take to the sky, where the most daring can climb to live the experience.
To travel in them is necessary to reserve a place and during the festival the price of the trip is 225 €. However, you can also enjoy the show for free and from the ground, as well as the activities parallel to the flights.
Balloon Festival 2025 program
Friday, July 18 – Segovia Balloon Field
- 7:00 h. Takeoff of exhibition and regular passenger balloons. The entrance to see the show is free, and you can take pictures and even approach the field from 1h before to meet the pilots competing.
- 20:30 h. Exhibition and competition flights of the participating balloons.
Starts the photo contest Segovia the City of Balloons. The winner will get a private balloon flight (see the rules in this link).
Saturday, July 19th
- 7:00h. Exhibition flights of the 8 participating balloons. Segovia’s balloon field.
- 11:30h. Solidarity balloon in the paving of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption and San Frutos. It is a balloon lying on the ground in which Segovians and visitors can enter to take pictures inside the candle. A donation will be asked for and will be destined to a solidary cause.
Balloon afternoon and party – Segovia’s Ballobodrome
- 18:30h. Disco truck with music, food trucks, information, stores…
- 19:00h. Solidarity balloon.
- 20:30h. Exhibition and competition flights of the participating balloons.
- 22:30h to 23:30h. Balloon night show: the eight balloons will be on the launch field, anchored to the ground with the burners illuminating them like gigantic light bulbs.
Sunday, July 20
- 7:00 h. Exhibition and competition flights of the participating balloons. Segovia balloon field.
- 13:00h. Closing of the festival in the garden of the Torreón de Lozoya with pilots and authorities.
During the days of the festival there is also the option to watch the takeoffs and flights from high places of the city while having breakfast or a snack for less than 10€: all the information can be found here.
How to get to the Balloon Festival from Madrid?
The event can be enjoyed from the balloon takeoff field, in the Segovia Balloon Field, a privileged enclave 500 meters from the city wall where “you can see the sunrise with the cathedral in the background, and on one side the Alcazar“, emphasize its organizers.
The indications to go from Madrid by car are:
- Take the AP-6 towards A Coruña.
- Take exit 61 towards AP-61 SEGOVIA and exit 88 towards SG-20 Ávila/Soria.
- Follow the signs N-110 ÁVILA and join the N-110.
- Take exit 14 of the N-110, Segovia/Arévalo/Hospital.
- Park around the Hospital or nearby.
- Walk back to the Hospital traffic circle, where you will find the Camino Natural del Eresma, with signs to the balloon field.
For more detailed directions you can visit their website.