Reasons of the month · abril

What to do in Madrid in abril

The best month for Madrid is septiembre — New theater season opens — Teatros del Canal Sept 17 and Teatro Español Sept 19, with 90+ shows lined up throu…

The editorial plan

Why Madrid in abril

Holy Week through April 5 — all Thursday and Good Friday processions cross Puerta del Sol, 100 drums close Plaza Mayor on Easter.

Mutua Madrid Open April 20 to May 3 at Caja Mágica — ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 on clay, the build-up to Roland Garros.

Retiro, Madrid Río and the Paseo del Prado in full bloom — chestnut trees out, pleasant 18-22°C highs and long-light evenings.

Sources

Same place, another month

Madrid is worth visiting other months too

enero

Three Kings parade on January 5, 6-9 pm, from Nuevos Ministerios down Castellana to Cibeles with fireworks at the end.

febrero

Peak almond blossom at Quinta de los Molinos — by late February the whole park turns pink and white in full bloom.

marzo

ARCOmadrid contemporary art fair March 4-8 at IFEMA — 211 galleries from 30 countries take over the capital.

mayo

San Isidro festival May 7-17 — pradera dancing, chotis, vermut and fireworks on May 15 for the city's patron saint.

junio

Madrid Book Fair at Retiro May 29 to June 14 — 365 booths and roughly 7,000 author signings under the park's chestnut trees.

julio

MADO Pride parade down Castellana on July 4 — Europe's biggest pride march, stages at Plaza España and Pedro Zerolo all weekend.

agosto

Old-Madrid verbenas: San Cayetano (Aug 5-8), San Lorenzo (Aug 9-12), La Paloma (Aug 14-17) in Embajadores, Lavapiés and La Latina.

septiembre

New theater season opens — Teatros del Canal Sept 17 and Teatro Español Sept 19, with 90+ shows lined up through next June.

octubre

October 12 military parade down Castellana and Recoletos — National Day with a paratrooper carrying the flag and a flypast of 45 aircraft.

noviembre

Peak fall color in Retiro — the Paseo de Estatuas and Estanque framed by maples and oaks in gold and crimson at golden hour.

diciembre

Plaza Mayor Christmas market — traditional stalls, nativity scenes and lights across the Casa de la Panadería façade through January 6.

Year at a glance

When Madrid is at its best

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Plan for abril