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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.
Best time to visit Madrid, Spain
Month-by-month breakdown of weather, crowds, prices, and seasonal highlights.
| Month | Score | Weather | Crowds | Prices | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 5-12°C, generally sunny with occasional frost | low | low |
| |
| February | 7-14°C, crisp and often sunny | low | low |
⚠ Can be chilly, especially in the evenings. | |
| March | 10-17°C, increasingly sunny with mild temperatures | low | low |
| |
| April | 12-19°C, pleasant and sunny with occasional spring showers | moderate | moderate |
| |
| May | 15-22°C, warm and sunny | moderate | moderate |
| |
| June | 18-27°C, warm and sunny | high | high |
⚠ Can start to feel hot towards the end of the month. | |
| July | 20-33°C, very hot and dry | peak | peak |
⚠ Extreme heat is common; many locals leave the city. | |
| August | 22-35°C, extremely hot and humid | peak | peak |
⚠ The hottest month; many businesses close for holidays (Augusto). | |
| September | 17-28°C, warm and sunny, with cooler evenings | high | high |
⚠ Can still be quite warm in early September. | |
| October | 13-21°C, mild and often sunny | moderate | moderate |
| |
| November | 8-16°C, cool and often overcast with rain | low | low |
| |
| December | 5-12°C, crisp, often sunny but can be cold | high | high |
|
Annual events worth timing your trip around
Street parties, parades, and costume contests across the city.
Solemn religious processions commemorating Holy Week, with varying dates each year.
Madrid's main city festival honoring its patron saint with concerts, traditional dances, and food.
Summer arts festival featuring open-air concerts, theatre, and dance performances throughout the city.
Public holiday celebrating the region of Madrid with cultural events and festivities.
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.
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