Best Time to Visit Madrid

Madrid sits on a high plateau in the middle of Spain, about 650 metres above sea level, and that shapes its weather more than its latitude. Summers are hot and dry, winters are colder than visitors expect, and the best months are the ones in between.

April to June is our first choice. Days are warm, evenings are long, the terraces fill up and Retiro's rose garden is in bloom by May. Mid-May brings the festival of San Isidro, the city's patron saint, when some Madrileños dress up as chulapos, in flat caps and polka-dot dresses, for dancing in the Pradera de San Isidro. Easter week is busy and processions pass through the old centre.

September and October are almost as good. The heat breaks, the city is back from its August break, and the terraces stay busy into the evening.

July and August are hot. Afternoons above 35°C are common, and the heat builds up in the streets well into the evening. The city adapts: people stay indoors in the afternoon and come out at night, and the Veranos de la Villa festival puts on open-air concerts and theatre. July also has one of Europe's largest Pride celebrations, centred on Chueca. In August, many locals leave for the coast, and some family-run bars and shops close for weeks, which makes the city quieter but also flatter.

From November to February days are cold, bright and dry, with frost on some mornings and the odd snowfall. It's a fine time for museums, which are calmer. In December, the Plaza Mayor holds its Christmas market, the streets are lit up, and on 5 January the Three Kings parade through the centre, a bigger event here than Christmas Day.

Month by month

• March to May: mild, sunny, busy at Easter and San Isidro.
• June: warm to hot, long evenings, terraces at their best.
• July and August: very hot afternoons, late nights, quieter in August.
• September and October: warm, lively and less crowded.
• November to February: cold and clear, Christmas lights, lowest prices.

In any month, plan outdoor sights like Retiro and the Royal Palace gardens for the morning, and save the museums in our museums guide for the heat of the afternoon. What to pack for each season is in our what to wear guide.