Has anyone been to Madrid in December? We are planning a trip in mid December. I know the weather can be cold and rainy, but we thought we’d take advantage of low airfares and hotel rates and just bundle up. Any suggestions for side trips? We’ve already been to Toledo and Segovia.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23626 posts
You are correct in that Madrid can be be cool and damp at that time of year. Madrid sits on a high plain so it can be cooler other parts of Spain.
Posted by
Washington DC
28082 posts
Seville would probably be a lot warmer, and it's only about 3 hours from downtown Madrid by train. It's not a side trip; it's at least a 4- or 5-night destination. Remember--days will be very short in December.
Cordoba's even closer to Madrid. It's worth 3 nights, I think, but many folks day trip there from Seville.
For that matter, Barcelona's also readily accessible from Madrid by train. Although it's farther north, it's on the coast and usually has considerably more moderate temps than Madrid. Personally, I'd choose Cordoba/Seville at that time of year.
It would be smart to buy train tickets to any of those destinations in advance. It's likely to save money (read change/cancellation rules), and those mainline trains can most definitely sell out if you wait until a few days ahead to buy the tickets.
Posted by
Hudson Valley
2267 posts
While I haven't been in Madrid in December, I have been in late November and early January. Sure, it's not a balmy time to be there, but it's not arctic, either. If you're from the Northeast or Midwest it might even be warmer than home. Madrid is always bustling, and even more so over the holidays. There's the holiday market in the Plaza Mayor and Christmas decoration lights are a point of pride that people travel to see. (That said, it's a lot of people that descend on the center evenings and weekends in December—maybe not a great place for agoraphobes...)
Teacups of hot consume, 'cocido madrileño', and churros with chocolate can all warm you up.