Madrid is one of the cultural centers of Europe. The city comprimises centuries of history and have annual events that keep men and women from around the globe coming each year. If you are planning a vacation to Madrid this year, consider some of these exciting special events that will take place. Many of them are even free or very cheap. As you will notice, the football matches of Real Madrid and Athletico Madrid are not mentioned in this article, the reason for this is that the cheapest tickets can cost as much as 30 euros (almost $50).
Winter and Spring
Early in the year, you can enjoy the performances and religious ceremonies of Carnival, which starts on Fat Tuesday and finishes up on Ash Wednesday. Also in February sis ARCO – the modern art fair famous throughout the world for its displays and announcements of new talents. March sees the International Theater Festival, followed by the Jazz festival. The bullfighting season also starts in March, and lasts until October at the Plaza de Toros Monumental de Las Ventas.
Spring and Summer
In April, the Antique Music Week and Cumbre Flamenco showcase music and dance that are Spanish in nature. The FINART festival is a worldwide craft fair and the Mozart Festival kicks off, lasting through June. On May 2nd, Madrid Day is celebrated to commemorate the 1808 rebellion against Napoleon. The 15th of May is Dia de San Isidro, celebrating the patron saint of Madrid.
Jumping into June, the city’s largest street party takes place between June 9th-June 13th as Aan Antonio del la Florida.
Summer and Autumn
The summer months are rather quiet, as most people take to the nearby beaches to stay cool and relax, but you can enjoy the Verbanas celebration in August. Moving into September, there are a number of events, including Pasalera Cibeles, Musica en las Ventas, and Festival de Otono – which lasts until November as a performing arts festival with acts from around the world.
If you really need a beach to lay down on during the sizzling hot Madrid summer, you need to pack your bags and head for the southern coast of Spain, or alternatively, the eastern coast. Madrid is situated in the middle of the country, and either way you will need to calculate a travelling time of 3-4 hours by car, or 1 hour by plane. The fast train connections will get you to the coasts within 2 hours.
Autumn and Winter
November sees the Feast Day of Nuestra Senora del Almudena on the 9th, and the International Jazz Festival, which is celebrated throughout Spain, also takes place in November. December then sees a shift to the winter holidays, with Christmas Fair in Plaza Mayor and Feria de Artesenia taking place in Paseo de Recoletos.
Whatever you are interested in, you will find a wide array of activities to keep you busy throughout the year in Madrid, without having to pay a fortune to enjoy them. As long as you are smart and manages to research a bit before you arrive, you will enjoy a spectacular budget holiday in the Spanish capital.
Ken has a special relationship with Madrid. He often writes articles to support his living in Madrid budget. At his Madrid travel guide he has a list of typical Madrid drink prices in order for you to know how much to pay for your beverage when visiting the Spanish capital. Sand has also published a norwegian travel guide about Madrid.
