When is the best time to visit Madrid? It’s a buzzing city all year round, but the rhythm and activities vary from one season to another.
It’s an appealing destination with something interesting going on no matter when you go.
That being said, Madrid is such a diverse and multicultural city that it really depends on your preferences. Whether you like warm temperatures and titillation or fresh air with no crowds, you’ll enjoy Madrid at any time.
Deciding when to go depends on what you want to see and do:
- High season: June, July and December.
- Shoulder season: From March to May, September and October.
- Off-season: January, February, August and November.
Here’s my guide to help you decide the perfect time to visit Madrid.
When is the best time to visit Madrid?
OK, let’s get to the point.
In just a few words…
Short answer: late spring and early fall are the best time to visit Madrid.
- Best overall time to visit: October
- Most popular month: May
- Best weather: May, October
- Best month to avoid crowds: January
My personal advice on the best time to visit Madrid
The best time to come to Madrid is really a matter of personal choice. There’s actually no perfect time as every season has its pros and cons.
- If you have the flexibility to decide, go in either October or May:
- In October, with autumn in full swing and the kids back in school, the city begins to cool down, golden hues blanket the parks and you won’t have to worry about bumping elbows with hundreds of other tourists.
- In May, the intense heat of summer has yet to arrive and crowds are more manageable too.
- Alternatively, I also recommend you to consider visiting Madrid in January.
- Avoid visiting Madrid in December, and especially so during Christmas time and New Year’s.
- August is the month when Madrid is traditionally at its most peaceful, as many of its inhabitants are away on holidays. A large majority of the city’s restaurants and shops also decide that it’s time for a vacation and close for the month, though you’ll find enough for your needs. However, this is the hottest time of the year, and the time when the majority of tourists come.
- From November to February (except most of December!) the number of tourists is significant lower than other times of the year, so you can enjoy most of the sights and attractions at a more relaxing pace. while the weather can be a bit chilly, it rarely gets below freezing, and you’ll enjoy a wide variety of accommodation options along with lower rates.
High season (June, July and December)
June and July
This is not the best time to visit Madrid. It’s during this period when most visitors come to the city for different reasons.
First of all because of the many street parties and summer festivals happening in June and July, with Madrid Pride (June) being one of the highlights. In addition to this, most museums and attractions are exceptionally busy in July with schoolchildren on holidays and an influx of international tourists to the city. Therefore, I strongly recommend you to head out early each day and book ahead for the main attractions.
The second one reason to avoid this period is the heat. Madrid’s weather is particularly dry and there won’t be any rainfall except for a couple of summer storms. Days are extremely sunny, but also very hot with temperatures often breaking 40ºC (104ºF) throughout July. Actually, you should avoid being outside at midday and early afternoon.
December
During December, and particularly so during Christmas time, the city mutates into a frantic place – outsiders come to admire the street decorations and locals become crazy shopping everywhere. You may have a hard time finding a hotel room or an apartment, especially at the cheaper accommodations. And most sights, especially museums, have generally long lines to access (but you can still skip them!)
Shoulder season (From March to May, September and October)
Late spring and early fall are the best times for visiting Madrid. From late March to late October, Spain benefits from daylight saving time so days are extremely long. To give you an idea, from mid-June to mid-July the sun sets at 22:00, allowing plenty of time to visit the city.
Additionally, temperatures are usually mild and it’s a pleasure to walk around the Madrid de los Austrias, the oldest part of town, or the Barrio de Salamanca where you can find the best shops. There won’t be as many tourists as there will be in the high season, but you’ll still have long days to take advantage of for sightseeing.
All in all, May and October are definitely the best months to travel to Madrid because of their amazing weather and incredibly long days.
Off-season (January, February, August and November)
November, January and February
Winter is the slow season for visiting Madrid.
Besides December (including Christmas and the end of the year), the off-season is a very attractive time to visit. The number of tourists is significantly lower, the lodging offer is large, and the airfares are more attractive. You can visit most of the places at a relaxing pace and room prices are at its bottom.
Probably the only disadvantage to coming in the winter is that all the outdoor cafes (terrazas) are closed. This doesn’t mean you won’t be outside exploring the city during most of the day. While it’s true that the temperatures can be chill, it doesn’t go below freezing often.
August
August is traditionally the month of school and work holidays, so skip these dates if you can.
Bear in mind that not only tourists (whether they are backpackers or high budget travellers) choose this time of the year to travel, but you also need to know that Spaniards are also on holidays at that time of the year, especially in August. So people from other parts of Spain come to Madrid to visit, and Madrileños go on holiday meaning that many shops, bars and cafés are closed.
Best time to visit Madrid: monthly breakdown
- January: Madrid has low crowds. Because of this, the hotel prices are low.
- February: Things continue to slow down… Madrid Carnival celebrations’ are not as famous as Tenerife or Cádiz, but it can offer you intriguing music, costumes, and parades..
- March: You’ll notice some obvious signs that springtime has arrived in this part of the city. The chilly winds may stop you from putting down your favorite winter jacket.
- April: Holy Week’s Easter celebrations are usually underway. However, don’t expect anything fancy like you would see in other parts of the country, like Seville’s Semana Santa.
- May: It’s one of the busiest months to visit, but there is a reason for it – the weather is as perfect as it gets and there are lots of festivals going on.
- June: As the temperatures increase, tourists from all over the place start arriving. It’s also the month of celebrating the Pride festival.
- July: Madrid experiences tremendous heat and this is the peak of high season, so you can expect to have full crowds at some popular landmarks. The hotel prices also go up during the month of July.
- August: Locals hardly step out from their home, because of the scorching heat. Others head out to the beach, so don’t get surprised to see stores and restaurants closed. During this month, the city attracts dozens of tourists.
- September: Though September remains sunny, the tourists leave, and the accommodation prices fall.
- October: The most pleasant time of the year is October. This is the best time to visit Madrid as you’ll notice a minimal crowd pretty much everywhere.
- November: With winter around the corner, you’ll experience chillness in the air. It’s the low season at its best so take advantage of the low hotel prices and few crowds to explore the city.
- December: It’s one of the busiest months of the year. The number of tourists is increases significantly throughout this period of time.
If you’re still unsure about your trip dates and when is the best time to visit Madrid, have a look at the month-by-month events calendar. It details annual special events, holidays and insider top picks – those you won’t find on regular tourist guides or at your hotel’s lobby.