Visiting Madrid during the Christmas lights is an enchanting experience. The city is illuminated with festive decorations and sparkling lights, creating a magical and festive atmosphere.
In this opportunity we leave you all the information for your visit to Madrid to enjoy the Christmas lights in Madrid, if you are staying at Vitium Urban Suites
When do the Christmas lights switch on in Madrid?
The capital will be among the first to switch on its traditional light show!
Make a note of this date
They will be switched on on Thursday 23 November at 19:00.
The starting signal will be given at Puerta del Sol and, as every year, the lights will remain on until Epiphany.
Although the times when the streets of Madrid will be illuminated by the Christmas lights have not yet been confirmed, it is estimated that they will be as follows:
- Sunday to Thursday: from 18:00 to 00:00 hours.
- Friday and Saturday: from 18:00 to 01:00 hours.
- 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 December: from 18:00 to 01:00 hours.
- 24 December and 5 January: from 18:00 to 03:00 hours.
- 31 December: from 18:00 to 06:00 hours.
Main streets and places for walking and enjoying the Christmas lights
The streets of Madrid will have 6600 luminous chains, 115 cherry trees, eleven large illuminated fir trees and figurative nativity scenes at the entrances to the Plaza Mayor and at the historic gates (Alcalá, Toledo and San Vicente).
This year the Madrid City Council will add to the Christmas lighting the proposals of the designers Roberto Verino, García Madrid and Marta Rota for Tot-Hom.
Roberto Verino will be the author of a new luminous fir tree that will be located in Plaza Mayor, while García Madrid will be in charge of bringing to life another luminous fir tree, in this case located at the junction of Calle Montera and Gran Vía. For its part, Calle Goya will have new motifs designed by Marta Rota for Tot-Hom.
We will also keep the big Christmas ball, which in 2023-2024 will change its location and will be at the back of the Plaza de España, next to the entrance of the Jardines de Sabatini, very close to our Hotel Vitium Urban Suites (click here).
A luminous menina on the Paseo del Prado, a giant nativity scene in Colón and will be lit up in the colours of the Spanish flag on the Juan Bravo and Raimundo Fernández Villaverde bridges.
To make sure you don’t miss anything, here are the streets and places to visit:
- Puerta del Sol
- Gran Vía Street
- Plaza Mayor
- Calle Mayor
- Calle Alcalá
- Paseo del Prado
- Plaza Cibeles
- Barrio de Salamanca
- Puerta de Alcalá
- Retiro Park
- Plaza de Colón
You can also take the Naviluz tourist bus, which offers a tour of Madrid’s main streets and illuminated monuments. It’s a great way to see the city from a different perspective.
Are you staying at Vitium Urban Suites? We offer you a route to enjoy the Christmas lights
Plaza de España
Start the tour in Plaza de España to admire its spectacular lights. There you will find a giant Christmas ball with a diameter of 12 metres and 43 000 LED lights that dance to the sound of soft background music.
Gran Vía and Calle Alcalá
Follow the route up Madrid’s Gran Vía, which at Christmas time becomes a magical artery illuminated by thousands of LED lights, until you reach the Metrópolis Building, at the junction with Calle Alcalá.
Plaza de Cibeles and Puerta de Alcalá
Continue from Alcalá to Plaza de Cibeles and Puerta de Alcalá. Seeing its well-known fountain, the façade of the town hall or the trees lit up for Christmas is unforgettable.
Salamanca neighbourhood
Then, take a stroll through the streets of the Salamanca neighbourhood with its rich lighting: beautiful Calle Serrano.
Plaza de Colón
From there, head to Plaza de Colón with its 10-metre high 3D nativity scene with the silhouettes of the Sagrada Familia.
The Paseo del Prado
Walk down the Paseo de Recoletos with the luminaires reproducing the Spanish flag and then along the Paseo del Prado. Between Cibeles and Neptuno, one of the big attractions is a giant Menina, 10 metres high and 7.5 metres wide, illuminated by 37,000 lights.
Botanical Garden
On the Paseo del Prado, the Botanical Garden of Madrid is another of the key points of the Christmas lighting. Enjoy its show “Naturaleza Encendida” (Lit Nature), which fills plants and trees with magic and colour.
Puerta del Sol
From there head to the iconic Plaza de la Puerta del Sol with its huge conical fir tree, 35 metres high and 14 metres in diameter.
Calle Mayor, Plaza Mayor and Plaza de Oriente
The illuminated entrances to the Plaza Mayor, the Christmas decorations on the Calle Mayor or around the Royal Palace and the Plaza de Oriente are another great landmark to end this tour of Madrid’s Christmas lights.
In short, Madrid is transformed into a magical place during this time of the year, and visiting it during the festive season is an unforgettable experience.
