What to Do in Madrid in November: Weather, Almudena and Events

November weather: cool, with rain

Source: AEMET, normal values for the Madrid-Retiro station (1981-2010). These are averages: a mild, sunny week or a cold snap are both possible. The sky is often clear between weather fronts, but the morning and evening cold is noticeable: dress in layers. The plane and chestnut trees of the Retiro take on their autumn colours early in the month. For the whole season, see Madrid in autumn.

Crowds, public holidays and prices in November

November is one of the quietest months of the year for sightseeing: queues at the big museums are short, especially on weekdays. Sunday 1 November (All Saints' Day) is a public holiday in Spain; Monday 9 November, Nuestra Señora de la Almudena, the city's patron, is a local public holiday in Madrid: shops closed, reduced hours in many places and a long weekend for Madrileños. Hotels are generally more affordable than in October, except on conference and major match weekends. The month ends with the first Christmas lights: see below. To choose an area, see where to stay in Madrid, and to estimate your spending the Madrid travel budget.

November 2026 events

Monday 9 November: feast of the Virgin of the Almudena

On 9 November Madrid celebrates its patron, whose statue is venerated in the Almudena Cathedral. Masses and religious ceremonies take priority over sightseeing; check the archdiocese and city programmes for times. The holiday means closures: check the hours of the Royal Palace of Madrid, museums and restaurants before planning your day. In the bakeries, look for the corona de la Almudena, the seasonal ring pastry.

6 to 8 November: Open House Madrid

That weekend, more than a hundred buildings, often closed to the public, open their doors free of charge. Queues are long for the best-known ones: book or arrive early, and choose three or four visits at most.

6 to 29 November: Festival de Otoño

This performing-arts festival (theatre, dance, music) takes place at several venues in the region. Tickets are paid and sold per show: check the language and surtitles before buying if you don't speak Spanish. JAZZMADRID26 continues until 30 November in several venues in the city. For more ideas, see concerts in Madrid and musicals in Madrid.

Late November: Christmas begins

The city switches on its Christmas lights on a Saturday in late November at Plaza de Cibeles (22 November in 2025), and the Plaza Mayor market opens its stalls around the same time (27 November in 2025). The 2026 dates will be announced by the city in November: see Christmas in Madrid and what to do in Madrid in December. If you are American, see Thanksgiving in Madrid.

What to wear in November

• A warm coat for morning and evening, with a jumper underneath for the afternoon.
• A scarf and light gloves: the dry wind from the sierra is noticeable in the evening.
• A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes for rainy days.
• Clothes that are easy to take off: museums and cafés are well heated.

The best things to do in November

• The big museums: the Prado, the Reina Sofía and the Thyssen are easier to visit than in spring; see also the Paseo del Arte.
• The Retiro: a stroll early in the afternoon, before the light fades, in the Retiro Park.
• Historic cafés: a hot chocolate or a coffee in one of the historic cafés of Madrid, or at San Ginés.
• A day trip: Toledo or Segovia offer clear but colder days; see also day trips from Madrid.
• Rainy days: see what to do in Madrid when it rains.

November 2026 at a glance

Going further

November follows what to do in Madrid in October and comes before what to do in Madrid in December. To compare every season, read the best time to visit Madrid, and for the festivals of the year, the popular festivals of Madrid.