Christmas Markets in Madrid 2024-2025

Many holidays are enlivening the streets of Madrid, but none of them adorn the city as a whole like Christmas. The streets, squares, and houses are illuminated with millions of light bulbs that meet the most stringent environmental and energy-efficient requirements. Famous designers, architects, and graphic designers work on creating the Christmas illumination in the city, which can be called a "fashion show of lights."

Plaza Mayor Christmas Market (November 28–December 31, 2024)

Plaza Mayor has hosted the most famous Christmas market (Mercado de Navidad) in Madrid since the 19th century. It features over 100 tiny red stalls where you can buy handmade gifts, decorations, and nativity scene figurines. Designer and craft fairs are held there on public holidays.

The most popular items at El Mercado are nativity scenes, known as Belenes in Spanish, and funny figurines popular in Spain. The Plaza Mayor Christmas Market opens in late November and works through December, from 10 am to 9 pm (on Fridays, Saturdays, and Holiday Eves, it is open till 10 pm.) The market also features a "solidary stand" occupied by various NGOs promoting their humanitarian projects.

Organized by the Plaza Mayor Christmas Market Association, this century-old fair is one of the city's most cherished traditions.

Christmas Market in Castellana (November 14, 2024–January 5, 2025)

Another Madrid Christmas market in Castellana is located in the shopping center El Corte Inglés near Nuevos Ministerios. Thanks to numerous stalls with colorful decorations, gifts, and food in the courtyard area, this market ignites cheerful Christmas vibes. Visitors can grab a cup of traditional Glühwein (mulled wine) and enjoy the Spanish Christmas atmosphere. Besides the atmospheric stalls in the purest European style, the El Corte Inglés Christmas Market provides food trucks where everyone can eat and drink authentic delicacies. The market is typically open from noon to 11 pm.

Cortylandia (November 28, 2024–January 5, 2025)

At the entrance of the El Corte Inglés on Maestro Victoria Street, visitors can enjoy the annual Cortylandia show. For over 30 years, this display on the store's façade has delighted children with its festive charm. Each 15-minute show, performed multiple times a day, features a new theme every year but consistently includes large, animated puppets singing Christmas carols and holiday songs. Also, in the Corte Inglés, the royal pages and Papa Noël (Spanish Santa Claus) are awaiting letters from children.

Madrid Arts and Crafts Fair (December 1-30, 2024)

The Crafts Fair of the Community of Madrid remains a key showcase for regional arts and crafts, offering a popular spot for holiday gift shopping. This year's fair will run from December 1 to 30 on Paseo de Recoletos, between Plaza de Colón and Plaza de Cibeles, featuring 130 stalls. The fair is a must-visit for people interested in local craftwork. They can find here fantastic ceramists, potters, jewelers, leatherworkers, engravers, goldsmiths, fabric decorators, and many others.

Other Christmas Entertainment in Madrid

The city opens ice skating rinks and traditional carousels for the whole family in the Plaza Oriente and Santa Cruz. In the cultural centers of Conde Duque and CentroCentro, as well as in most of the capital's theatres, there are numerous performances for children (fairy tales, puppet shows, concerts). Since 2012, the Royal Theatre has been hosting one of the main Christmas events in Spain—the Christmas Festive Lottery, on the morning of December 22.