As part of the New Year traditions in Madrid, tourists and locals alike head to Puerta del Sol by the 31st of December to all welcome the new year. A famous landmark in the city, all eyes in the country are on Puerta del Sol due to the clock mounted on the roof of the City Hall, also called the Ayuntamiento de Madrid, which chimes as the midnight strikes to mark the end and beginning of the old and new year, respectively. If you can’t be on the spot to welcome the New Year, you can also simply sit in front of your TV for a live coverage of the event; and while at it, it might also be good to take note of the advertisement that comes immediately after the last chime as that would be the year’s most expensive ad spot of the year!

Another tradition to take part in when in Madrid during the New Year is to eat grapes! Yep, not in wine or in raisin form, but the real grapes. This is a long standing tradition that the Madrileňos do on New Year’s Eve; each chime of the clock, one would have to swallow a whole grape, which means they are expected to have consumed a dozen of grapes as the 12th chime of the clock finishes. Many of those who go to Puerta del Sol to meet the New Year bring their grapes with them; many restaurants and bars in the city provide free grapes for their customers a quarter before 12 midnight.

After the grapes and the greetings, many of the youngsters in Madrid then head to some of the top bars and clubs and in the city. Here, they will party ‘til the morning light.

New Year in Madrid is a big celebration. When in the city, do not miss to take part in the merry-making and traditions to really feel what it is to celebrate the New Year in the Spanish city.

The Christmas atmosphere in the city usually kicks off with the opening of its Christmas market in Plaza Mayor. Although its official opening takes place on the first week of December, several stalls are already up for business on the last week of November. If you want to avoid the Christmas rush, coming to the city on its opening week to buy presents for your loved ones will pretty much help.

With the opening of the Christmas market, you can then expect other Christmas-related activities to take place. If you go to c/Ortega y Gasset and c/Goya, you will surely be fascinated with the spectacular Christmas lights that will cover the streets. Many department stores will also start filling up their stores with Christmas decorations too – so it’s just impossible for you not to feel the spirit of Christmas in the city.

If the lights and decorations aren’t enough to fuel you up, then head on to Plaza de Oriente on December 15 for a big show of performances. If you are traveling in the city with kids, you can take them to the Gardens of Discovery located near the Plaza de Colon for some sound and light display that the kids will surely enjoy. On Christmas Eve (December 24), the Retiro Park also holds an animal parade and other activities that will entertain your young travel buddies.

Other Christmas-related events that often take place in the city are the Nativity Scenes and the Three Kings Procession that start from El Retiro Park all the way to Plaza Mayor.

Since most attractions in Madrid close on Christmas Day, it would help to find yourself some alternative activities to do on December 25, but of course, this just makes sense since most of the locales will be spending their time with their families too during this time.

Merry Christmas!

But although the capital and the country in general, do not make a big fuss about the event, this does not necessarily mean of a zero celebration. A few spots in the city hold activities dedicated to Halloween (of course, this occasion gives reason to do business to the city’s tourists). Among the highlights in Madrid Halloween is the Semana Gotica de Madrid which takes place from October 24-November 1. Here, concerts, magic, and other ‘spectacles’ are to be expected. If you want some real Halloween feeling in Madrid, you must not miss the party in the Dark Hole – a gothic club located in c/Mesonero Romanos, near Gran Via. For kids, the Warner Brothers’ Park offers special Halloween-themed shows to keep the families entertained (it’s always great to look forward to something new after all). If you want some scare, the Zoo Aquarium and Faunia showcase something that has to do with that.

Our Lady of Almudena Cemetery

Sure, there’s not much partying in the city as there is in other places around the world, but your Halloween in Madrid should just be defined by the parties and costumes. One way to spend your Halloween in the city is to visit one of its famous cemeteries, the Our lady of Almudena Cemetery. The Cementerio de Nuestra Señora de La Almudena or the Our Lady of Almudena Cemetery in English is the largest cemetery in the city and one of the largest throughout the Western Europe. With an estimate of over five million bodies buried in the cemetery – which is actually larger than the population in the city – tourists will find visiting the place an interesting Halloween destination. Many famous personalities are buried in the cemetery; there are actors, actresses, singers, philosophers, and producers among others.

Despite the lack of merry-making and parties in Madrid during Halloween, tourists can still consider this time in the city as a perfect opportunity to get to know Madrid more.