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Madrid in February?

Hello travelers and happy 2025!

To break up the dreary Canadian winter, my husband and I are contemplating a week-long get away in Madrid during the last week of February. We've visited Barcelona in September and absolutely loved it, but we know that Madrid being inland and a higher elevation will likely be chilly in February. As long as it isn't raining every day, the weather will be better than at home.

I'd like to visit the Prado and my husband just wants to stroll and eat. It looks like there's already plenty to do and see in Madrid, but we're considering a day trip to Toledo. Any other suggestions for things worth seeing and doing in and around the city? Any recommendations for a hotel? We haven't decided whether a hotel or a short-term rental is the better option. I know the Puerta del Sol is Madrid's main square. Is it the best neighbourhood to stay in or too touristy?

Thanks in advance for your advice!

Posted by
7234 posts

The main tourist area is by the Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol. They are within a couple minutes walk from each other. That area has more restaurants than some other areas of the city.

There are plenty of good areas to stay in. If your main focus are the Prado and Reina Sofía museums, and Retiro Park, you may want to stay in that area. It’s also close to Atocha station where you get the train to Toledo. From Atocha to the Plaza Mayor is a 15 minutes walk.

We’ve stayed at Hotel Europa right at the Puerta del Sol the past 3 years. My wife likes its location. There are plenty of nice hotels to choose from.

For things to see, search on top sights in Madrid, or look under things to see on TripAdvisor to see what is of interest to you. Weather could play into your plans, so a nice mix of indoor and outdoor activities would give you options.

Posted by
28314 posts

Additional possible side-trips in case you run out of high-priority things to do in Madrid:

  • Segovia (aqueduct and interesting architecture; rail fare varies a bit)

  • Cuenca (nice hilltop medieval district and houses hanging over a ravine, but train ticket likely very costly if not bought soon)

  • Alcala de Henares (lots of cheap transportation to this old university town)

I haven't been to central Spain in the winter and can't comment on expected weather. I think Cuenca might not be at its most pleasant on a windy day.

Posted by
26 posts

And Happy New Year to you as well!!

We were in Madrid two years ago and will be going back in mid February on our way to a month’s long stay in Sevilla. Like before, we are staying at the Hotel Liabeny in Madrid. Location was wonderful and hotel was lovely. If you or your husband are over the age of 65, most of the sites including the Prado, Renia Sofia and Royal Palace of Madrid are half price. All they require is proof of age (we used our passports).
There is also a free city bus that connects to several tourist attractions such as the Prado, Renia Sofia, El Retiro park and Atocha station. The bus number is 001 and it runs from Atocha to Moncloa. There is a second free bus (number 002) which runs from Puerta de Toledo to Arguelles. We never took the 002 so I can’t comment on it. The 001, however, was great! We boarded at a stop on the Grand Via which was very near our hotel. If you google “ free bus 001 Madrid” you can read all about it.

Regarding other cities as possible day trips, one you might want to consider is Cordoba. It is a two hour trip from Madrid via a fast train and worth it if only to see the Mezquita-Catedral. It is jaw dropping. We spent three nights in both Cordoba and Toledo and really enjoyed both places.

I hope you and your husband have a wonderful trip.
We are certainly looking forward to our Spain getaway too!

Peg

Posted by
8162 posts

I have been in Madrid in February twice (for a conference) for a week each time. I found it very pleasant, it was in the fifties, but not miserable, and not much rain, February is reasonably dry in Madrid. Toledo and Segovia would be nice day trips. I have stayed at the Hotel Indigo on Gran Via, that area, and Puerta del Sol are decent areas, well located. If you go further out, just make sure you are near a Metro stop.

For food, I suggest spending some time on YouTube, lots of blogs listing great places. Specifically I would recommend the videos by James Blick and his Spain Revealed channel. Mercado San Miguel can be great fun, lots of stalls selling wine and drinks, and many more selling small bites to full plates. It can however get packed. There are other markets like Mercado San Anton that have similar stalls, but many fewer tourists.

My husband and I (from upstate NY, so similar weather to Canada) are also visiting Madrid this February for an entire week. And I've been planning for quite a while! We have an AirBnB in the Las Letras district which seems like we'll be able to walk just about everywhere we want to go in city center of Madrid.

In addition to a day in Toledo, we are doing another day in Cordoba. It's a 2 hour train ride... but it looks well worth it. We will be touring the magnificent looking Mosque there.

Feliz Viajes!
CB