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Madrid in November 2025

November in Madrid is refreshingly low-key. You get a cultural capital rich in arts and architecture—minus the lines and heat. This is when locals take back their city, fall colors tint Retiro Park, and museums roll out blockbuster exhibits. Expect cozy café stops, autumn stews, and room to breathe.

Madrid in November 2025 at a glance

🌧️ Weather

Chilly but bearable—14°C / 57°F highs, 6°C / 43°F lows, with light rain.

☀️ Daylight

~10 h; sun sets by 6pm.

🎉 Key events

Festival de Otoño, JazzMadrid, Almudena Day.

👥 Crowds

Low, except during local holidays and weekend events.

🧳 What to pack

Jacket, scarf, layers, shoes for rain.

🍽️ Seasonal treats

Cocido madrileño, roast chestnuts, stewed mushrooms.

Top things to do in Madrid in November

Prado Museum entrance in Madrid with visitors and HOHO bus in the background.

Explore the Prado Museum in peace

  • When: Weekdays in November
  • Tags: Cultural experience, Tour

Cooler weather and thinner crowds make November perfect for savoring Goya, Velázquez, and Rubens at the Prado. Book an early slot to enjoy quieter galleries. Free entry last two hours daily.

Recommended experiences:

  • Museo del Prado Tickets with Optional Audio Guide
  • Museo del Prado Skip-the-Line Guided Tour

Catch a performance at the Festival de Otoño

  • When: All month
  • Tags: Cultural experience, Seasonal

Madrid’s top fall arts festival brings global theater, dance, and experimental performances. Many events are in smaller venues, so check listings and grab tickets early.

Crystal Palace in Retiro Park, Madrid, with a pond and lush greenery.

Wander El Retiro Park under fall foliage

  • When: Mornings or early afternoons
  • Tags: Outdoors, Explorer

Golden leaves and crisp air make November ideal for strolling Madrid’s 19th-century park. Row a boat, sip coffee by Palacio de Cristal, or simply breathe it all in.

Recommended experience:

  • Madrid's Royal Palace and El Retiro Park Guided Tour

Enjoy JazzMadrid concerts

  • When: Evenings throughout November
  • Tags: Cultural experience, Seasonal

This city-wide jazz festival features legends and up-and-comers at venues like Fernán Gómez Theater. Some shows are free; others need advance booking.

Cocido madrileño with chickpeas, meat, and vegetables in a clay bowl, Madrid cuisine.

Taste cocido madrileño at a historic tavern

  • When: Lunchtime (served noon–2:30pm)
  • Tags: Cultural experience, Foodie

November's chill calls for this three-course chickpea stew. Try it at Malacatín or Lhardy—booking ahead is wise, especially on weekends.

Shop early Christmas markets

  • When: Late November onward
  • Tags: Seasonal, Family-friendly

Plaza Mayor's market starts in late November. Browse nativity scenes, ornaments, and trinkets before December crowds arrive. Open daily till 9pm.

Street view in Barrio de La Latina, Madrid, with a person walking past traditional buildings.

Take a tapas crawl in La Latina

  • When: Late afternoons or weekend evenings
  • Tags: Explorer, Foodie

Hop bar-to-bar sampling vermút and montaditos. Cava Baja street is your anchor. Many spots open from 6pm; tables fill fast on Saturdays.

Circulo de Bellas Artes building with Madrid skyline in background.

Climb to the rooftop of Círculo de Bellas Artes

  • When: Clear afternoons
  • Tags: Tour, Outdoors

For panoramic city views with a fall-hued skyline, head to this central rooftop. Entry €5; on-site bar makes it ideal near sunset.

Offbeat experiences in November

Statue in Chamberi district, Madrid, surrounded by historic buildings and fountains.

Visit the Andén 0 Chamberí Ghost Station

A silent metro platform frozen in time

Peek into 1920s Madrid through this preserved subway station museum. With vintage ads and turnstiles, it's a nostalgia hit off the tourist trail.

📍Where: Chamberí, Line 1 Metro

Teatro San Carlo facade with arches and classical columns in Naples, Italy.

Experience Spanish puppetry at Teatro San Pol

Local theater with charm and whimsy

Catch a traditional puppet show in a venue known for children's productions and old-school ambiance. Many are weekend matinees.

📍Where: Calle de San Pol de Mar, Argüelles

Crowded El Rastro market in Madrid with stalls selling colorful textiles and hats.

Browse secondhand at El Rastro midweek

Iconic flea market, minus the Sunday crush

Stalls spill onto side streets on weekdays too. Dig for vintage books, cast-iron pans, and random treasures with fewer elbows in your way.

📍Where: Around Ribera de Curtidores, La Latina

Churros preparation at a Madrid street market with strawberries and cooking tools.

Warm up with churros at Chocolatería San Ginés

A sweet tradition since 1894

Dip crispy churros into molten chocolate at this historic haunt. Best in the quiet mid-mornings before tour groups descend.

📍Where: Pasadizo de San Ginés, near Puerta del Sol

Wax figures of famous personalities at Wax Museum Madrid.

Get spooky at the Museo de Cera (Wax Museum)

Lifelike figures, oddly eerie halls

Beyond celebrity waxworks, Madrid’s wax museum has creepy corridors ideal for off-season goosebumps. Bonus: short lines in November.

📍Where: Paseo de Recoletos, Barrio Salamanca

Festivals and events in Madrid this November 2025

Festival de Otoño

  • Dates: 1–30 Nov 2025
  • Event type: Cultural Festival
  • Location: Various theaters citywide

International artists bring drama, dance, and innovation. Multilingual programs; check individual venue policies for English subtitles.

JazzMadrid

From smooth sax to modern fusion—November's soundtrack is rich. Buy headliner tickets early; many small shows are walk-in.

Día de la Almudena

Madrid honors its patron saint with masses, floral offerings, and pastries. Public holiday; museums open, but small shops may close.

Black Friday Sales

The American-style discount day now packs Spanish stores. Expect crowds and real markdowns on fashion, electronics, and gifts.

Highlights for different traveler types

Visitors viewing a painting at Prado Museum, part of Paseo del Arte 3-Museum Pass in Madrid.

Culture vultures

  • Wander through the Prado and Reina Sofía at a relaxed pace, enjoying world-class masterpieces without the usual crowds.
  • Immerse yourself in November-exclusive cultural experiences with live jazz performances and boundary-pushing global theater at the Festival de Otoño.
  • Take advantage of the city’s shoulder-season charm, where lower ticket and entry prices make Madrid’s cultural treasures more budget-friendly to explore.
Roasted chestnuts in a red pan with pine branches nearby.

Foodies

  • Tuck into cocido madrileño, the city’s slow-simmered stew of chickpeas, meats, and vegetables that defines Madrid’s hearty November fare.
  • Warm your hands on paper cones of roast chestnuts from street vendors, their smoky sweetness filling the autumn air.
  • Treat yourself to churros con chocolate or explore Chamberí’s seasonal tasting menus, where chefs highlight wild mushrooms and other local harvests.
Toledo skyline with Alcázar in the background, near Madrid in November.

Value hunters

  • Take advantage of November’s dip in hotel rates and flight prices, making Madrid a far more affordable getaway than in peak months.
  • Enjoy major museums like the Prado and Reina Sofía without long queues, giving you more time to explore at a relaxed pace.
  • Visit midweek to score early Black Friday bargains in Madrid’s boutiques and grand department stores, from fashion to electronics.

Your perfect 3-day Madrid in November itinerary

Boats on the lake in front of the Alfonso XII monument in El Retiro Park, Madrid.
  • Morning: Start at the Prado; opt for the 10 am slot. Pause at Velázquez’s Las Meninas.
  • Breakfast: Grab a tostada and café con leche at Café Murillo, right behind the museum.
  • Midday: Walk through Retiro Park—see Palacio de Cristal amid fall colors.
  • Lunch: Try cocido madrileño at Malacatín. It's hearty and iconic.
  • Afternoon: Browse books at Cuesta de Moyano stalls.
  • Evening: Catch a Festival de Otoño show at Teatro Abadía (book in advance).
Royal Palace Madrid exterior with arched windows and dome.
  • Morning: Visit the Royal Palace; time your slot before 11 am tours.
  • Breakfast: Churros and chocolate at San Ginés, best enjoyed pre-crowds.
  • Midday: Walk from Almudena Cathedral to Plaza Mayor via Calle Mayor.
  • Lunch: Sit down at La Campana for bocadillo de calamares.
  • Afternoon: Tour the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium (metro to Nuevos Ministerios).
  • Evening: Rooftop drinks at Círculo de Bellas Artes—dress warm.
Reina Sofia Museum entrance with glass elevators and visitors in Madrid.
  • Morning: Explore El Rastro flea market (arrive by 9:30 am).
  • Breakfast: Have coffee and pastries at Café del Art, near La Latina.
  • Midday: Wander Lavapiés' murals and galleries.
  • Lunch: Taste global tapas at Mercado de San Fernando.
  • Afternoon: Siesta or museum time at Reina Sofía (closed Tue).
  • Evening: Head to a JazzMadrid concert (venues vary; check schedule).

Best day trips from Madrid in November

Toledo City Hall with flags and historic architecture under a blue sky.

Toledo

🚄Travel time: ~35 min by train
In fall light, Toledo’s hilltop cathedral and medieval lanes feel cinematic. Fewer tour groups than summer. Bring layers; it gets windy.

Plaza Mayor in Segovia with Segovia Cathedral in the background.

Segovia

🚄Travel time: ~1 h by train
See the Roman aqueduct and eat cochinillo (roast suckling pig) indoors while it drizzles. Ideal for a misty-day excursion.

Segovia day trip from Madrid
El Escorial Monastery surrounded by lush greenery in San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Spain.

El Escorial

🚄Travel time: ~1 h by train or bus
Spain’s royal monastery looks extra moody in November. The mist and solemn courtyards pair well with history lovers.

Royal Palace of Aranjuez facade with blue sky, Madrid, Spain.

Aranjuez

🚄Travel time: ~45 min by Cercanías train
Fall colors in palace gardens are gorgeous this time of year. Less crowded and easy to stroll.

Go shopping in Madrid in November

Nativity scenes, tree decor, wigs, toys—this historic square goes full festive by late November.

  • When: Year-round (Black Friday spike late Nov)
  • Where: Gran Vía boulevard

Department stores and global brands roll out big discounts and window displays just before holiday shopping kicks off.

Casa Paca restaurant entrance at Salamanca Place with a staff member outside.

Chic designer shopping, with some early Black Friday deals in luxury boutiques by late November.

Best for antiques, vintage, and secondhand oddities. Go early for calm browsing.

Pro tips for visiting Madrid in November

  1. Book jazz tickets early for top JazzMadrid acts; many sell out fast even in off-season.

  2. Layer up: Mornings and evenings are chilly; waterproof shoes help if it rains.

  3. Skip Sunday El Rastro crowds by browsing on a weekday; many stalls stay open then.

  4. Día de la Almudena (Nov 9) is a local holiday—expect some closures but festive vibes near the cathedral.

  5. Tapas start late: Most bars get lively after 8pm. For earlier bites, try Mercado de San Miguel.

  6. Museums have free hours: Prado after 6pm (Mon-Sat), Reina Sofía after 7pm.

  7. Avoid Metro rush (8–9:30am, 6–8pm); buses may be a better option midday.

  8. Check show subtitles: Festival de Otoño events vary in language—look for English-friendly listings.

Frequently asked questions about visiting Madrid in November

Is November a good time to visit Madrid?

Yes—mild weather, low crowds, and fall festivals make it an ideal month for culture and value.

Do attractions close in November?

Most stay open, though some small shops close on Nov 1 (All Saints) and Nov 9 (Almudena Day).

Is it cold in Madrid in November?

Cool, not freezing. Expect 14 °C / 57 °F highs and chilly evenings around 6 °C / 43 °F.

What should I pack for Madrid in November?

Bring layers, a jacket, scarf, and shoes for rain. Daytime is mild but mornings and nights get brisk.

Are museums crowded in November?

No. You’ll enjoy shorter lines and quieter galleries—a great time for art lovers.

When do Christmas markets start in Madrid?

Most open late November. Plaza Mayor kicks off first; others follow in early December.

Are restaurants open late in Madrid?

Yes. Lunch is 1–3pm; dinner starts after 8pm. Reserve weekends if dining at popular places.

Is public transport reliable in November?

Yes. Metro and buses run on full schedules. Watch for holiday tweaks around Nov 1 and 9.

Is Madrid walkable in November?

Very. Dress warm and explore parks and historic zones on foot. Light rain is possible, but walkable areas are scenic.

Do I need to book anything in advance?

For JazzMadrid, Festival de Otoño, and top restaurants—yes. For most museums or day trips, walk-in is fine.