Weather | 8–17°C (46–63°F) | 10–20°C (50–68°F) | 14–24°C (57–75°F) |
Crowds | Rising, especially late month | Moderate, with spikes at Easter and marathon weekend | High, especially around San Isidro |
Atmosphere | Early spring, mixed skies, art crowd energy | Longer days, park bloom, terrace season starts properly | Festival-heavy, louder, warmer, more packed |
Key events | ARCOmadrid, Fashion Week, start of Holy Week | Semana Santa, Aitana dates, Book Day, Madrid Marathon | Dos de Mayo, San Isidro, bullfighting season, book fair build-up |
Public holidays | March 19 in 2026 | Good Friday on April 3 and Easter Sunday on April 5 in 2026 | May 1, May 2, and May 15 |
Budget | Usually fair value outside major event dates | Mid-range, but Easter and marathon dates lift prices | Higher than April, especially festival weekends |
Best for | Museum trips, lower-season city breaks | Balanced city breaks with culture and outdoor time | Festival fans, repeat visitors, spring nightlife |
Book early | Holy Week stays from late March onward | Easter hotels, Royal Palace, Prado slots, marathon weekend stays | San Isidro events, Las Ventas, top terraces |
Transport tips | Carry a rain layer; late-month events affect centre traffic | Use Metro on April 26; processions can block central streets | Expect busy central routes and packed nightlife districts |