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Best time to visit Madrid

Month-by-month weather, crowds, prices, and festival calendar — so you know exactly when to book.

Photo by Jorge Fernández Salas on Unsplash

Best time to visit Madrid, Spain

Month-by-month breakdown of weather, crowds, prices, and seasonal highlights.

Month	Weather	Crowds	Prices	Highlights
January	5-12°C, generally sunny with occasional frost	low	low	• Post-holiday sales (Rebajas de Enero) • Cozy tapas bars
February	7-14°C, crisp and often sunny	low	low	• Carnival celebrations • Fewer crowds for museums ⚠ Can be chilly, especially in the evenings.
March	10-17°C, increasingly sunny with mild temperatures	low	low	• Spring bloom in parks like Retiro • San Isidro preparations begin
April	12-19°C, pleasant and sunny with occasional spring showers	moderate	moderate	• Semana Santa processions (variable dates) • Vibrant floral displays • Ideal for walking tours
May	15-22°C, warm and sunny	moderate	moderate	• Fiesta de San Isidro (mid-May) • Outdoor terraces (terrazas) fully open • Perfect weather for exploring
June	18-27°C, warm and sunny	high	high	• Start of summer festivals • Long daylight hours ⚠ Can start to feel hot towards the end of the month.
July	20-33°C, very hot and dry	peak	peak	• Veranos de la Villa festival begins ⚠ Extreme heat is common; many locals leave the city.
August	22-35°C, extremely hot and humid	peak	peak	• Veranos de la Villa continues ⚠ The hottest month; many businesses close for holidays (Augusto).
September	17-28°C, warm and sunny, with cooler evenings	high	high	• Return of locals, vibrant nightlife • Still warm enough for outdoor activities ⚠ Can still be quite warm in early September.
October	13-21°C, mild and often sunny	moderate	moderate	• Autumn colors in parks • Cultural season in full swing
November	8-16°C, cool and often overcast with rain	low	low	• Pre-Christmas atmosphere begins • Museums and indoor attractions are less crowded
December	5-12°C, crisp, often sunny but can be cold	high	high	• Christmas markets and lights • New Year's Eve celebrations • Post-Christmas sales start late in the month

Annual events worth timing your trip around

February

Carnaval

Street parties, parades, and costume contests across the city.

March

Semana Santa

Solemn religious processions commemorating Holy Week, with varying dates each year.

May

Fiesta de San Isidro

Madrid's main city festival honoring its patron saint with concerts, traditional dances, and food.

July

Veranos de la Villa

Summer arts festival featuring open-air concerts, theatre, and dance performances throughout the city.

May

Día de la Comunidad de Madrid

Public holiday celebrating the region of Madrid with cultural events and festivities.

September

Noche en Blanco

An annual event where museums, galleries, and public spaces offer free, late-night cultural programming.

Insider timing tips

•August is Madrid's 'sleepy season' as many Madrileños escape the intense heat, leading to some business closures but also fewer crowds for those who remain.
•While summer is hot, the city's extensive metro system and numerous parks offer respite. Evening activities become the norm.
•The shoulder seasons (April-May and September-October) offer the best balance of pleasant weather, manageable crowds, and reasonable prices.
•Book accommodation and flights well in advance for major festivals like Semana Santa and Fiesta de San Isidro, as prices surge.
•Madrid's 'siesta' culture is less prevalent in the city center and tourist areas, but smaller shops might close for a few hours in the early afternoon.