If you land in Madrid for Christmas, plan the museums for 24 or 31 December or for 6 January, and keep the 25th for walking. On the two eves the Prado Museum opens until 2pm and the Thyssen until 3pm, and the Royal Palace sells tickets until 2pm. On Christmas Day itself, Metro de Madrid trains start at 8am, EMT buses between 7.15am and 8.45am, and the free CentroCentro nativity scene at Cibeles is open from 10.30am. The Reina Sofía keeps its main building shut on all five holiday dates.
Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and 6 January are national holidays in Spain, while Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve are working days with shortened hours.
What is open in Madrid on Christmas Day? On Christmas Day the Prado, the Thyssen, the Reina Sofía and the Royal Palace are all closed. The Metro opens at 8am, and the CentroCentro nativity scene at Cibeles opened 10.30am to 1pm in 2025. The exception is 6 January, a holiday when the Prado opens 10am to 2pm while the Royal Palace stays shut.
What can you do in Madrid on Christmas Day?
The day works best outdoors and in the morning.
- Morning. The CentroCentro nativity scene is free with a timed pass, taken at the door or booked online for a €0.50 fee. The Puerta del Sol scene closes that day, as covered in nativity scenes in Madrid.
- Evening. The Christmas lights come on at 6pm, and the full walk from Banco de España to Plaza Mayor is 2.2km, set out in Christmas lights in Madrid.
- What you lose. No big museum and no palace. Arriving on the 25th with only one day in town is the worst case.
Landing in Madrid on 24 or 25 December
Flights keep running over Christmas, but the city’s transport does not. This is how to get into town depending on when you land.
| You land | Best option | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 24 December, after 9.30pm | Exprés Aeropuerto or taxi | The last Metro trains leave at 9.30pm and the network shuts at 10pm |
| 25 December, before 8am | Exprés Aeropuerto or taxi | The Metro only opens at 8am |
| 25 December, after 8am | Metro, with the €3 airport supplement | Normal service, just a late start |
The Exprés Aeropuerto runs 24 hours a day for €5, paid on board, and at night it runs from Cibeles instead of Atocha, as explained in the Madrid airport express bus. A taxi from the airport to anywhere inside the M-30 ring road costs a fixed €33, with no supplements allowed, according to the Madrid airport taxi fixed fare.
Which holiday morning should you save for the museums?
The Thyssen gives the most time on the eves, until 3pm. The Prado lets visitors in until 30 minutes before closing, so the last entry on 24 and 31 December is 1.30pm.
For the Royal Palace, buy the ticket beforehand, because the ticket office shuts at 2pm and Patrimonio Nacional warns that the palace can close for state events. On 6 January, the Prado reopens for the morning and the Thyssen stays open, but the palace and the Reina Sofía do not. With a 2pm close, the Prado’s free evening slot does not happen on those days, and how it works the rest of the year is in free entry to the Prado.
Can you eat out and go shopping over Christmas?
Yes, but nothing is guaranteed. Each restaurant decides whether it opens on 24, 25 and 31 December and what it serves, so book and ask about the menu when you do. Lunch in Spain runs later than in the UK or the US. Tipping is voluntary and a restaurant may not add it to the bill by default.
Shops work the same way. Under the Comunidad de Madrid’s Law 2/2012 on trading hours, each shop sets its own holiday opening, so check the chain’s website that week, as explained in shops open on Sunday in Madrid.
How to get home on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve
Christmas Eve is the short night: after 10pm only night buses and taxis are left.
- Christmas Eve. The Metro closes at 10pm, with the last trains leaving the end of each line at 9.30pm. EMT daytime buses end at 8.30pm to 8.45pm, and night buses start at 10pm.
- New Year’s Eve. The Metro runs to its usual 1.30am, but Sol station is shut from 6pm. EMT daytime buses end at 9.30pm to 9.45pm, and a special service runs from Cibeles from 10.30pm until 7am.
- New Year’s Day. The Metro opens at 7am.
Until 6 January the Metro adds up to 131% more trains between 10am and 11pm on lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 10, according to the Comunidad de Madrid. Night buses are explained in Madrid Metro closing time and night buses, and the Sol countdown in New Year’s Eve at Puerta del Sol.
Frequently asked questions about Christmas in Madrid
Are museums open in Madrid on Christmas Day?
No. The Prado, the Thyssen, the Reina Sofía and the Royal Palace are all closed on 25 December and again on 1 January. The Prado and the Thyssen open on the mornings of 24 and 31 December, and the Prado also on 6 January.
Does the Madrid Metro run on Christmas Day?
Yes, but it starts late. According to the Comunidad de Madrid, the Metro opened at 8am on 25 December 2025 and at 7am on 1 January 2026, and it closed at 10pm on Christmas Eve.
How do I get from Madrid airport to the city on Christmas Day?
The Exprés Aeropuerto bus runs 24 hours a day for €5 paid on board, so it covers the early hours before the Metro opens at 8am. A taxi to anywhere inside the M-30 ring road is a fixed €33.
Is the Prado open on 6 January?
Yes, from 10am to 2pm, the same shortened hours as on 24 and 31 December, with last entry at 1.30pm. The Thyssen is the other big museum open that day, while the Royal Palace and the Reina Sofía’s main building are closed.
Is anything open on Christmas Eve night in Madrid?
Public transport winds down early. The Metro closed at 10pm on 24 December, EMT daytime buses ended between 8.30pm and 8.45pm, and night buses ran from 10pm. Plan the journey back from Christmas Eve dinner before you sit down.
In Madrid, Christmas Day belongs to the streets; see the museums on the mornings around it.