Explore Madrid, Spanish Traditions
1. Go to a Christmas market
Nothing better to feel the christmas like a Christmas market.
The one in the main square is the most famous, but beware, it is also the busiest. The center of Madrid can be a bit overwhelming on weekends and holidays, and this situation increases significantly during these dates. This is a market composed of more than 100 booths dedicated to the sale of traditional Christmas products: nativity scenes, sweets, decorations and the big star for children, joke items.
If you want to get closer to a market where you can move more smoothly, you have the independent design market Nómada Market, Christmas edition. In the Market of the barley and only for a few days (December 14, 15 and 16) you will be able to get the creations of many artists, also, you can find street food and fun activities.
El Rastro is the best-known market in Madrid on Sundays throughout the year, and at Christmas it is not far behind. It is located in the neighborhood of La Latina and is so well known that, if you miss the map, anyone from Madrid can tell you how to get there.
2. Ice skating
In winter, several places are enabled to enjoy this fun activity in Madrid. The main and best-qualified place is the ice palace, and also the one that is open the longest during the year.
On these dates you can also find “Pop Up” tracks through different parts of the city. Perhaps the most spectacular is the Crystal Gallery of the Cibeles Palace, where children and adults can enjoy a 400m² track next to a large Christmas tree.
3. Watch a Christmas play or musical
Nothing better to take refuge from the cold and escape from the world than to go to see a play, or for the most musical, listen to it. In Madrid the offer is huge: from classic Christmas stories like the nutcracker, to more modern plays. Another good option is to choose a holidays that is not related in terms of themes with Christmas but which are especially enjoyable during these dates. Like the super blockbusters as The Lion King. You will find tickets for practically everything in ticketea.
4.The Navibus
Are you crazy about Christmas lights? Well now there is a double-decker bus with a duration of 50-60 minutes that will show you the most magical part of Madrid illuminated by the lights while actors tell you the legends that accompany the tour. Here you have the offer tickets.
5. Visit Madrid Río
Madrid Río dresses as a Christmas from December 21st at 7:00 pm, starting with a light parade, from there on there will be concerts, shows… it will even be transformed into a great ballroom on December 30th. In Matadero Madrid there will be a lot of activities, mostly free, that we leave here.
6. Museums for childrens
Whenever you visit a city, you like to see some museums. But doing it with children can complicate things. Do not worry, many of the museums in Madrid are totally adapted to the taste of the youngest of the house. The Prado Museum has an itinerary for children, with a children’s audio guide available on its official website. The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum has an initiative for children called EducaThyssen and a large number of museums follow them.
Christmas is a good time to take advantage of these initiatives since in these dates there are more events and workshops than in any other.
Happy holidays from Heima Homes!
Decor, Heima news
Travelling with kids can be either a wonderful experience or a daunting challenge. At Heima Homes we have designed and created kid-friendly apartments so you can introduce your kids to the exciting adventure of discovering new places without turning your vacation into a total nightmare.
1. A lot of space
Is there anything worse than spending your vacation in a small hotel room with barely any space? Children need enough space to play around and keep learning. Our spacious apartments will make the whole family feel at home and will allow you to fully enjoy your vacation in Madrid.
2. Sleep
Yeah, we agree. Having enough space is key. But having a bedroom for each family member is even better. Forget about waking up early in the morning and walking silently trying to avoid making any noises that could wake up the other family members. At Heima Homes all our apartments are equipped with a bunk bedroom for toddlers and another bedroom for youngsters.
3. Extras extras!!
Some of the perks of staying at Heima Homes include a separate playroom for kids, a PlayStation 4 with different games or an activated Netflix account so you can enjoy movie nights as a family! Once thing is for sure: you won’t get bored at Heima Homes.
4. Hunger
Do you hate waking up early during your vacation so you don’t miss the hotel’s breakfast service? We hate it too, but luckily you don’t have to worry about that at Heima Homes. We have fully-equipped kitchens with everything you need to prepare meals and snacks at home so you don’t have to establish eating schedules, just eat whenever and wherever you want!
5. Location
Our apartments are at walking distance from the top tourist attractions of the city and they are also close to entertainment activities for children such as the cable car from which you will be able to see the city from a bird’s eye view or the rowing boats at El Retiro Park. A bit further you will find Atlético de Madrid and Real Madrid football museums, amusement parks such as Parque de Atracciones or Parque Warner and Aquópolis water parks.
We hope you can enjoy your holidays as a family at Heima Homes! See you soon!
Travel tips
You should definitely plan these 5 things not to miss in Madrid before you leave. But don’t worry if you don’t have time for all, sometimes the most charming places get discovered, and the best experiences happen when you get lost and have no other choice than improvise.