My many visits to Spain were alway during the spring months or in October.
I would love to see Madrid ( + possibly Barcelona ) decorated for the Christmas Season .
Is the first week in December too early ?

Too early for what?

I am looking to go to visit Barcelona in January although the average high will be only 15. I think in Madrid it is even cooler than that. For me there would be some advantages to January such as price, less tourists and no heat to deal with. Not sure what goes on in Madrid in December.

danon,
The first week isn't too early, as the Christmas lights will already be illuminated, the Christmas treats and gourmet gift baskets will all be displayed in the shop windows, the Craft Fair (a showcase of 155 or so artisan workshops) on the Paseo de Recoletos will start on Dec. 1, the ice rink should be open on the Plaza de Colσn, and on the Paseo de la Castellana the food trucks and other stands should be open in front of the El Corte Inglιs,
Also the Belιn, the beautiful Nativity Scene should be on display (starting the end of Nov.) at the Casa de Correos.
The Plaza de Espaρa will probably have its skating rink open and the Chocolaterνa de San Ginιs will have its churros and chocolate stand open there as well, I imagine.
I think it opens the end of Nov.

https://www.navidadmadrid.com/en

Check the esmadrid tourist web site for the program from last year
https://www.esmadrid.com/agenda-navidad-madrid

Maribel,
This is exactly the information I was looking for. Thank you very much.

Hi danon,
I like the first two weeks much better, as the streets are less crowded. As you know, the Christmas season is my very favorite time to be in Madrid, as it's so festive, and I enjoy taking the Naviluz bus around (packed with families) to see all the lights. They really pull out all the stops in Madrid (and Mαlaga) with the Christmas season illumination.

Sounds wonderful . I hope to be there !

🔔🎉🎅🎁🎄

I wish I could convince my partner to spend a few days at the end of our Valencia/Denia/Alicante trip in Madrid......!!!
If we skip Alicante altogether and fly back to Madrid from Valencia, after Denia......(??)

I've never been to the city, and I'm not sure I've been to any European city, in December.....we used to travel a lot in January but mostly to Rome, so I've never seen any of the festivities leading up to the holiday....

But since he cannot walk more than a mile, and even that might be a problem......I have to think about this.

Gracias, Danon, to bring up an interesting alternative for us....

eks,
Yes, you could skip Alicante and train back on the AVE to Madrid. You could do this on the last weekend of Nov., when the Christmas lights will be illuminated. And you know that you have a very long list of tempting restaurants to try out and some to repeat. And of course, taxis are abundant for your partner.

Last year Valencia's Christmas lights were illuminated on Friday, Dec. 1 so perhaps this year, the date will be Friday, Nov. 29. Too soon to know for sure.

And in Madrid we'll be following our own ritual of having a cup of sherry-laced consomι downstairs at the venerable Llhardy on Carrera San Jerσnimo, along with its famous cocido croquettes, plus a slice of Roscσn de Reyes in the back room at El Riojano or a slice of panettone in the tea salon of the exquisite La Duquesita by Oriol Balaguer in Salesas near your favorite hotel.

BTW, the Mercado de la Paz has just added a lovely pastry shop on the right at the Lagasca entrance by David Torreblanca plus the Peruvian-Asian fusion counter, Triperito by Tripea.

De nada, eks
I have also never seen a major city ( except NY) all decorated .
My husband stoped traveling overseas a few years ago. I keep going …

Thank you ! ..this will be a new experience in the city I love to visit.

Danon, I'm sorry your husband had to opt out but good for you to keep going. I fear I will be in a similar position before too long but I will NOT stop traveling!

I thought, for a quick minute, about asking the partner to come to the Vejer area with me sometime soon, but I decided not to even broach the subject.

Sometimes it's more fun/freeing to travel alone, and I hope others here facing a similar situation looming in the future, will take heart.
Oddly, I was always ok with going alone to Asia and Africa but the thought of driving alone in Europe but me in a twist...I took the leap a couple of years ago and now feel confident about driving in Spain solo. (Have not tried Italy yet).

I think in most of Asia and Africa a Caucasian (or any obviously Western) person is so obviously a foreigner and somehow that is good, for me, anyway...no one expects anything of us....everyone knows we are outsiders and might have behaviors unusual to that place and time. So we are allowed our behavioral errors. I am not explaining this well but maybe you can get the idea....

I am SO GLAD I took the plunge about renting a car alone in Andalucia, just a few yers ago. Why was I so scared????? It's so easy!!! Even is you make a traffic mistake, which I did, the police might be more lenient knowing you are an outsider..at least that is what happened to me.....and NO ONE asked for an IDP or any documents.

“
I am SO GLAD I took the plunge about renting a car alone in Andalucia, just a few yers ago.”


You were able to visit small, interesting towns best reached by car.
And all the fabulous restaurants you wrote about !

MH and I traveled together for many years.
Now, he prefers to play golf ! Occasionally , I travel with a friend .
Undeniably it is more enjoyable to share dinner hour with someone but
one’s own company is not that bad 😀 either !