The festivities continue into the first week of January. Once the capital has recovered from the New Year’s Eve celebrations, the Three Kings Parade moves through the streets on an evening in the first week of the month. See the spectacle, then warm up among the bodies and the flaming food stalls at San Miguel Market or make an indulgent pilgrimage to Chocolatería de San Ginés, which has been serving thick hot chocolate and crispy churros for 130 years.
Spring in Madrid: sunny strolling and sightseeing
Things start to heat up in the Spanish capital come mid-March, and the temperature jumps considerably to an average daily high of 60°F, climbing to 74°F in May. Summer (between June and August) can be overwhelmingly hot, especially when sightseeing is on the agenda, so late spring and early summer are the best time to visit Madrid to enjoy all the city has to offer outdoors. Opt for tourist hotspots rather than tourist traps with a sunny day in El Retiro Park; take rowing boats on the lake before a hearty picnic among the blooming flowers.
Visit Madrid around May 15 and mark the (rough) start of the festival season at Fiestas San Isidro, joining Madrileños to celebrate their patron saint, Isidore the Laborer, an 11th-century farmworker known for his piety towards the poor and animals. It’s not strictly a religious occasion though, as rock, pop, and electronic acts take to stages across Madrid while a program of activities involves all the family in the fun. Gastrofestival arrives in town just as the saintly festivities die down, so fuel up after all that dancing in the participating restaurants, markets, and bars as they run special menus for a few weeks.
