Festive Delights: Best Things to Do in Madrid in December

what can you do in madrid in december

If you are spending December in Madrid, you are going to have a great time. They love a good Christmas in Madrid. The streets are filled with lights and decorations, artisan markets pop up all over the city and there is a real joyous and family atmosphere. 

The streets of Madrid are usually busy with people, but during December there is a noticeable crowd on the streets all of the time. People take the end of the year a little slower Here in Madrid and really take the time to celebrate it.

It is a month of work parties, family gatherings, meeting friends of old to have a drink or four!  

Madrid is an amazing place to spend the xmas and new years alone, as a couple or with a family, there is so much to do. You can go and pick yourself up some handmade xmas decorations from the market in Plaza Mayor. 

Maybe you want to buy yourself a fur hat, a new leather wallet, maybe just get yourself a warm mulled wine and watch some live music in Plaza Colon. And if you spend new years even, you can go watch the famous ball drop in Sol and ring the new year in with a mouth full of grapes. 

There is a lot of tradition here, but I want to give you a list of more original ideas for possible plans for things to do in Madrid in December. 

The Christmas Market in Plaza Mayor

xmas market in plaza mayor

The Xmas market in Plaza Mayor is a staple here in Madrid. Everyone that lives here or visits Madrid will go and walk around the square. 

The market starts on the 24th of November and runs until the end of December. There will be 104 stalls this year, selling toys, handmade decorations, clothing and not to forget the practical jokes stands.

Pixar World Exhibition At Ifema

pixar world exhibition

Pixar has been around for a long time now, so for adults and kids alike there is something to relate to here. 

The Pixar Exhibition in Madrid’s Ifema is the biggest in the world and has been through a number of cities already before arriving here in Madrid with rave reviews. It’s an immersive experience with over 3,000 m2 filled with activities and life size scenes from some of Pixar’s most beloved movies.

You really feel like a child again when you walk among the giant 3d models of characters you related back to your younger years. Words really don’t do it justice, you have to be there yourself to take it in.

The Berlin Wall Exhibition, Madrid

exhibitions in Madrid in December

An exhibition about one of the most significant symbols of division. The Berlin Wall exhibition in Madrid is one of the first of its kind with over 300 original objects shown to the public for the first time. 

It also features many unpublished accounts from both sides giving you insights never heard before. They also have on display over 20m of the original Berlin wall, an exhibition that really reflects on the division and consequences of this period in time. 

It is a sombre exhibit, but a very important one to understand that we are not that far removed from what happened there, and should take note and learn from this. 

Legally Blonde, The Musical, Madrid.

theatre show in Madrid December

Everyone has seen the movie Legally Blonde. If you enjoyed the movie, you will definitely love the musical. 

The musical has had huge success on Broadway and has racked up numerous international awards all around the globe. The cast of professional dancers and actors really take the show to a higher level. 

A really fun way to spend the afternoon and when you come out you will be in La Latina to carry on the night in one of the numerous bars and restaurants. 

WAH Madrid

plans for Madrid in December

WAH Madrid has been called one of the most unique and possibly best shows on earth. Boy do they deliver. 

I´m a foodie, so before we even got to the show I was amazed at the amount of world class food they had in the food court, a collection of some of the best dishes from around the world. 

Then there’s the show that is so far out there in terms of entertainment, sound, visuals, you are just sitting there with your mouth open the whole time. The show mixes the best of Broadway with the greatest hits in the history of music. 

If you are here as a family, kids under 12 go for free and they will have a ball of a time, mine did !

Amazonia Exhibition by Sebastiao Salgado

December plans in Madrid

Of all the things to do in Madrid in December 2023, this is the standout exhibit of the year. 

The Amazonia Exhibition is the culmination of seven years Sebastio spent in the Amazon, for which He received the Prince of Asturias Award in 1998. 

It’s a multisensory experience with many never before seen photographs of how these tribes live in the Amazon, the largest nature reserve on the planet! 

The exhibit has already been to cities such as Rome, Paris, London and has had over a million visitors to date. 

Live Music at Thundercat – Alex Wall Performing

live music in Madrid in December

This is a one night night thing and something unique to do in Madrid. See one of the most talented up and coming artists play an acoustic set in a venue where you get to be close to the artist. 

The set will be of his latest album “Antinirvana”, you can get a little taste of his music on spotify to have an idea of the type of music he plays. After the concert, the venue carries on until the early hours of the morning.

There’s also a raffle at the end of the night where you can win a Zadig & Voltaire fragrance pack.

Candlelight Live Music

live music in Madrid in December

I cannot stess how this is one of the things you have to do in Madrid in December. These shows take place in some of the most amazing spots in Madrid. It could be in a theatre, outdoors in a park, in a beautiful square somewhere. 

Each of the events has a different musical theme, it could be Bach, Coldplay, ABBA, Hans Zimmer, all played with classical instruments. The experience is something you will never forget. 

Sitting outside with hundreds of candles, the music playing, drinks flowing, it makes for one of the best dates in Madrid I can tell you that from experience. 

These events take place throughout the year, but during December they are a little more special. The city is lit up all around with xmas decorations, it adds to the charming atmosphere.

Bullring and Museum of Las Ventas

Las-ventas-bullring-in-madrid

Are there bullfights in Madrid in December? No, the season does not run in the winter, but the venue is used for other events like concerts and markets. 

You may not like bullfighting, I don’t either. But, this shouldn’t stop you from visiting one of the prettiest buildings in Madrid. Things to do in Madrid would not be complete if you don’t visit the Las Ventas Bullring in Madrid. 

Each brick on this building has beauty, the design of the facade is really stunning and you can see the influences of all the cultures past. Standing in the middle of the arena, you get a sense of what it feels like to stand there with thousands of people cheering you on. 

There is also the museum dedicated to bullfighting, something that has captivated many generations here in Spain and around the world. 

These are some of the most popular things to do in Madrid in December 2023. But not the only things. 

You should definitely get yourself some hot Chocolate and Churros whilst in Madrid. The cold weather is the perfect time for this, the thick hot chocolate in Madrid is some of the best you will every try. 

If you are with kids in Madrid in December, then you should check out the Cortylandia display on the side of the El Corte Ingles Building in Plaza Callao. It’s an interactive display full of lights made for kids. It is a really popular thing here in Madrid, so expect a big crowd. 

I like to just take a walk up calle Alcalá on a Saturday afternoon and just follow the sound and the lights. Madrid is such a beautiful city, you should experience a Christmas here, you will really like it.

I would really like to hear about your experiences in the comments. Maybe you find a gem I have not come across yet.