What to do in Madrid this Holiday Season

December 21, 2017
cafe de oriente madrid navidad christmas
Cafe de Oriente

The biggest advantage of living in a big city is the wide variety of leisure options that you have. Madrid has so much to offer all year round and the holidays are no exception. I've put together a list of things to do in Madrid this holiday season whether you are here for a short visit or you are living here for a while. botilleria de oriente madrid navidad christmas
La Botilleria de Oriente

What to do in Madrid this Holiday Season: THE BEST FOOD AND DECOR

Pay a visit to Cafe de Oriente and/or its little sibling La Botilleria de Oriente for great food, service and decor. La Botilleria is currently offering a Christmas menu for 19€ that we got to try last weekend, it was so good!

El Invernadero de Salvador Bachiller. There's a beautiful "greenhouse" in the basement of Salvador Bachiller's store in Gran Via where you can have delicious food and the fanciest cocktails. Even the china is beautiful, we got to eat from a (china) pineapple and an aloe vera leaf. The menu is pretty similar to the one we had at El Jardin Secreto earlier this year.

The legendary Chocolateria San Gines is the best place for chocolate con churros in the capital of Spain. Definitely a must to recharge batteries on a cold winter evening.

Salon des Fleurs is not on the touristy area like the previous ones but worth a visit. This mixture of coffee and flower shop is probably the best thing I've seen so far.
botilleria de oriente madrid navidad christmas
Cafe de Orientecafe de oriente madrid navidad christmas
cafe de oriente madrid navidad christmas

What to do in Madrid this Holiday Season: SHOPPING

The most famous Christmas market is in Plaza Mayor. Unfortunately, this is very far from the traditional Christmas markets around Europe -I'd love to see more craftsmanship and less tacky knick-knacks- but it's still worth seeing the ambiance.

My favorite shops in Plaza Mayor are two traditional hat shops: Casa Yustas and La Favorita. I have already devoted a full post to shopping in Madrid which you can read here
mercado plaza mayor madrid navidad christmas
el invernadero de salvador bachiller madrid navidad christmas
El Invernadero de Salvador Bachiller
calle postas madrid navidad christmas
santarrufina madrid navidad christmas

What to do in Madrid this Holiday Season: MUSICALS

If you haven't seen The Lion King, you have to do it. It's going to be in Madrid until the end of April and tickets go fast. We watched it earlier this month and we wouldn't mind going again. Our mouths were wide open from beginning to end. The costumes, the dancers, the singers, the staging...it's all breathtaking.
Other musicals currently in Madrid are The Bodyguard, Billy Elliot and The Adams Family.

What to do in Madrid this Holiday Season: NAVILUZ

It's a Christmas bus that takes you around the city to see the lights of the main areas of the centre of Madrid.
teatro calderon madrid la familia adams musical
salon del fleurs madrid navidad christmas
salon del fleurs madrid navidad christmas
chocolateria san gines madrid chocolate churros
chocolateria san gines madrid chocolate churros
What are your favorite Christmas activities?
xo Cristina

BUNDLE UP



33 comments

  1. Beautiful photos! Looks like such a pretty place to visit :)

    Anika | anikamay.co.uk

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  2. Wonderful photos! Noting your recommendations for my next trip.

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  3. Thanks for linking up with us for Thursday Moda!
    xo,
    Kellyann
    http://www.thisblondesshoppingbag.com

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  4. I have never been but always wanted to go! Your photos are gorgeous!

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  5. Loved your honest and candid reviews and recommendations! Photos were great too!

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  6. this looks awesome! I'd love to spend some time in Madrid!

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  7. Me and my boyfriend go to Spain a lot (he's from there), but we mostly stay in the north in Galicia. He's already been to Madrid, but I haven't. Would love to go some day though!

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  8. Looks lovely! I would love a ride on the Christmas bus!

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  9. Madrid is on my to go to list! Thank you so much for these cute spots to go, and your pictures are gorgeous!

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  10. It always seems like the BEST food is usually only in the colder seasons... I love it!! Probably why winter is always my favorite, lol. Awesome blog and amazing photos! ♡

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  11. I've been to Spain lots of times but never to Madrid so it's still on my list!

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  12. Thanks for the share. I loved Madrid. Madrid has really revamped itself in the last decade. The Prado, Reina Sofia and Thyssen-Bornemisza museums have all got bigger and better, while the centre of the city has smartened up with new boutiques, delis, cafés and gastrobars opening up nearly every week. It’s perfect for a culture-rich long weekend or city break, with great food and a lively atmosphere at night.

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  13. I couldn't agree more! The museums are amazing and the gastronomy couldn't be better.

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  14. Thank you! I hope you can visit Madrid soon

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  15. Galicia is beautiful too! Breathtaking landscapes and amazing food. Happy holidays xo

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  16. These are beautiful photos!
    Thanks for linking up at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2017/12/a-word-ful-wordless-wednesday-on.html

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  17. I have never been! If only I could leave work and travel for the holidays! A 19 euro christmas menu sounds awesome! So reasonably priced!

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  18. I went to Madrid years ago but I have always wanted to go back as it was not enough time. What a lovely list you have put together here, my husband would love the Chocolateria San Gines I think he would be in there all day. That is ok though as you would find me in Plaza Mayor trying on all the hats

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  19. Oh my gosh, everything is just so beautiful! I would love to go there and see everything. I was lucky enough to see The Lion King on Broadway in New York, and you're right, it was amazing! I actually started to cry when the opening song began. I was so grateful to be there.

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  20. Oh, Madrid is so beautiful this holiday season. It's been quite a few years since I've visited, but I remember it being a gorgeous city to explore (in any season). Happy holidays!

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  21. Madrid looks absolutely enchanting!! I would love to have the chance to visit such a beautiful place especially during the Holidays.

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  22. What a gorgeous place, you have some really gret shots of Madrid here too dear. This place is actually on my bucket list. Thanks for sharing!

    Jessica | notjessfashion.com

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  23. Would love to catch the Lion King in Madrid,Such a beautiful city .On eday I will visit !

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Thank you for taking out the time to leave a comment!