The best time to visit Madrid varies, and it depends on what you're looking for on your trip to Spain. Poolside lounging and people-watching in plazas under guaranteed sunshine is possible between mid-spring and early autumn, but the height of summer can make outdoor sightseeing a little unbearable. Madrid’s restaurants are fabulous year-round, and the food scene is thriving like never before, but there’s a charm to scouring the local markets and following fellow foodies as they spill into sprawling parks to tuck in either side of the midday sun. Here, we run through the seasonal highlights of the Spanish capital, explaining why it’s possible to uncover a new side to the city every month of the year.
A version of this article originally appeared in Condé Nast Traveller UK.
December is the best time to visit Madrid for fans of all things festive.
December is the best time to visit Madrid for fans of all things festive, when the city transforms into a cheery utopia. More than 100 stalls sell their wares at Plaza Mayor Christmas Market, welcoming travelers in to peruse nativity scene figures, children’s toys, and playful trinkets to take home. Wrap up warm and wander through the city’s winding streets, where colorful scenes consume windows and Christmas lights twinkle overhead. New Year's Eve is an even brighter spectacle. Celebrate in one of the countless charming restaurants or join the thousands who descend on Puerta del Sol to eat 12 lucky grapes to the 12 Real Casa de Correos clock chimes.
The festivities continue into the first week of January. Once the capital has recovered from the New Year's Eve celebrations, the Three Kings Parade moves through the streets on an evening in the first week of the month. See the spectacle, then warm up among the bodies and the flaming food stalls at San Miguel Market or make an indulgent pilgrimage to Chocolatería de San Ginés, which has been serving thick hot chocolate and crispy churros for 130 years.
In the spring, Madrid’s temperature jumps to an average daily high of 60°F, climbing to 74°F in May.
Things start to heat up in the Spanish capital come mid-March, and the temperature jumps considerably to an average daily high of 60°F, climbing to 74°F in May. Summer (between June and August) can be overwhelmingly hot, especially when sightseeing is on the agenda, so late spring and early summer are the best time to visit Madrid to enjoy all the city has to offer outdoors. Opt for tourist hotspots rather than tourist traps with a sunny day in El Retiro Park; take rowing boats on the lake before a hearty picnic among the blooming flowers.
Visit Madrid around May 15 and mark the (rough) start of the festival season at Fiestas San Isidro, joining Madrileños to
The website maxtravelz.com is an aggregator of news from open sources. The source is indicated at the beginning and at the end of the announcement. You can send a complaint on the news if you find it unreliable.
Whenever you're dreaming of cosmopolitan cities, glistening lakes, and verdant mountain vales—that's the best time to visit Switzerland. If the mood strikes you to dip into Lake Geneva in the summertime, or cozy up in the winter for a dinner of raclette-covered everything, you need to go to Switzerland as soon as you can. As for the actual logistics of how to time your visit to this landlocked European country of centuries-old culture and commerce, it all depends on what you want to get out of your trip.
The years-long bureaucratic tangles that plagued passport renewals and first-time applications since the pandemic are finally over. Not only have US passport processing times bounced back to pre-pandemic rates—they're the shortest they've been in years.
Where to eat and drink is a high priority for many travelers. For those who work in the industry, that’s especially the case. I’ve been in the wine business for more than 10 years, first as a wine buyer for a retail store in New York City, and then as a journalist for the past seven years. Finding the best places to get a glass in a new destination is one of the first things I research. This past summer, I headed to Athens for the first time and was intrigued by the city’s wine scene before even hitting the ground.
Psst. We’re going to let you in on a secret. Lake Tahoe doesn’t disappear after Labor Day… but the summer crowds do. That means less traffic, fewer hikers on the trails, and beaches you barely have to share. Campsites get easier to book, too, so you can marvel at the autumn hues reflecting on Big Blue on a spur-of-the-moment getaway.
Many families dream of traveling around Europe because it's a great continent for kids. I've been to every country in Europe (except Russia), and in my opinion, one of these countries provides the ideal destination for toddlers: Ireland. I recently went with my own 3-year-old, and we had an amazing time.
Whether you're a fan of the traditional, handheld soft taco or enjoy modernist interpretations with different types of meats, veggies, and sauces, there's a taqueria in every US state to suit your tastes.