Christmas is just around the corner! And with it, everything that it entails: gifts, meals with coworkers, family, and of course, decorating the house and buying gifts for all our loved ones.

And to decorate our home with the best and most fun decorations, there is nothing better than the traditional markets. In them we can find everything we need to create the best Christmas atmosphere in our home.

Plaza Mayor Market: History and Christmas tradition

The Plaza Mayor market has a long tradition. As early as the 17th century, a Christmas market was located in the nearby Plaza de Santa Cruz, where fruits and vegetables, as well as decorations or gifts, could be purchased. In the 19th century, the location in this space was stabilized and the sale was regulated.

From that moment on, the Plaza Mayor was the market for selling turkeys, nougat and sweets, while the Plaza de Santa Cruz was used for stalls selling nativity figures, zambombas, toys and joke items.

In 1944, the City Council decided to bring together the sale of all Christmas products, except food, in the Plaza Mayor, a rule that remains to this day.

Visiting the Plaza Mayor Christmas market is a tradition rooted in all Madrid residents and visitors, not only because they know that they can buy the best Christmas decorations there, but also to experience its familiar and endearing atmosphere, and to see the lighting of the Plaza at this time, which makes it one of the most visited and beloved places in Madrid. We can visit the Plaza Mayor market from November 28 to December 31.

Christmas Market in Plaza de España: News and Attractions

And very soon, the Christmas market in Plaza de España will also open its doors. This year, the market will have 40 stalls offering all kinds of artisanal products, perfect for Christmas gifts, as well as all kinds of culinary delights. The culinary offering will include a fast-food area that will include, among others, hot dogs, hamburgers, and “rejo” sandwiches and the traditional churros with chocolate from San Ginés, as well as the cozy indoor restaurant El Alpino.

And if there is something that makes the Plaza de España market unique, it is its ice rink. This spectacular rink, which has a surface area of ​​450 meters, will have passes every 30 minutes, from Monday to Friday from 12.00 a.m. 10.00 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 10.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m., except on December 24, 31 and January 5, when the rink will remain open until 6:00 p.m. Do not forget your gloves, they are mandatory!

Within the market we can also find space for solidarity, because we can never forget the most disadvantaged, and especially at Christmas, and for this reason, the Raíces Foundation will offer opportunities to young people at risk of social exclusion. As a novelty this year, we will see a new setting, as it will be decorated with natural elements, from trees to plants, which will highlight the connection of the initiative with nature.

Tips for enjoying the Christmas markets in Madrid

One of the best tips we can give you to enjoy the Christmas markets is to let yourself be carried away by their atmosphere. Forget about the clock and daily worries and let yourself be enveloped by their magic. Christmas markets are the perfect place not only to buy products for our home and buy gifts for our friends and family, but also to contemplate their spectacular decoration and experience their Christmas atmosphere.

And the other tip we can give you is that, if you want to fully enjoy the atmosphere of the markets, is to stay at Vitium Urban Suites. Its location, at 61 Gran Vía, next to Plaza de España, and just a few minutes from Plaza Mayor, makes Vitium the perfect starting point to begin your shopping and experience the Christmas atmosphere.

The magic of Christmas and Vitium await you!