What to pack for Madrid in December: sun and cold nights

The story

Madrid in December, and the morning is cold and bright. It’s 2 °C at eight, there’s frost on the parked cars, and the sky is a deep, clean blue. Madrid sits 650 meters up, on a high plain, and the air is dry: the cold feels sharp, not damp. You wear a warm coat, a scarf and gloves, and sunglasses.

By noon it’s 11 °C in the sun. You spend the morning at the Prado, where it’s warm enough to carry the coat, and walk out into the sunshine of the Paseo del Prado. In the shade of the old streets, though, it’s still cold, and the coat goes back on.

In the afternoon, the Christmas market fills the Plaza Mayor: stalls of nativity figures, decorations and joke-shop wigs. You stand around a while, and the cold comes up through your soles; your boots are thick, and you’re glad of them.

The lights come on along the Gran Vía and in the Puerta del Sol at dusk, before six. Dinner, as always in Madrid, is late: you sit down at half past nine, and the streets are still full when you come out.

On the way back, you stop at San Ginés for churros con chocolate, as half the city seems to do after midnight. It’s 3 °C, the air is still, and your breath shows under the streetlights.

Madrid in December is dry, sunny and cold, with freezing nights and mild middays. Pack a warm coat, layers for heated museums and shops, gloves and a scarf, and sunglasses for the low winter sun.

What to pack for Madrid in December

Pack a warm coat for the nights, and layers for sunny middays.

Clothes

A warm coat: nights often drop to freezing.
Layers underneath, a sweater over a long-sleeved top, easy to take off in museums and shops.
Jeans or warm trousers, and something smarter for dinner: people dress up to go out.
A scarf, gloves and a hat for evenings outdoors.

Shoes

Warm, comfortable boots or shoes with thick soles, for cold stone squares and long walks.
Warm socks.

For the day

Sunglasses: the winter sun is low and bright.
Lip balm and hand cream: the air is dry.
A small bag that closes, for the crowds at the markets and in the metro.

Documents, money and tech

Passport, or a national ID card if you’re an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen.
Your timed tickets for the Prado or the Royal Palace, on your phone.
A plug adapter if you come from outside continental Europe: sockets are types C and F, at 230 V.
A power bank.

Good to know

Weather: December runs from about 1 to 11 °C (34 to 52 °F). It’s mostly dry and sunny, nights are often frosty, and snow is rare in the city.
Holidays: December 6 and 8 are public holidays, and some shops close. On New Year’s Eve, crowds gather in the Puerta del Sol to eat twelve grapes at midnight; on January 5, the Three Kings parade fills the center, and January 6 is a holiday.
Meal times: lunch is from about 2 to 4 pm, and dinner rarely starts before 9 pm.
Plugs: types C and F, 230 V.
Money: euro (EUR). Cards are accepted almost everywhere.
Entry: Spain is in the Schengen area. If you’re not an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, check whether you need a visa or a travel authorization before you go, and expect the EU’s biometric border check on your first entry.