For our first New Year’s Eve abroad, we wanted to party in Madrid. The celebrations in Madrid, Spain are regularly touted as one of the top places to ring in the New Year – and we were excited to experience it!
Puerta del Sol, the plaza in the Madrid city center, was where the midnight masquerading would be happening.
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Revelers gather around the base of the Casa de Correos building clock tower and count down to midnight.
We were ready for an epic New Year in Madrid. However, we missed a few key details that rendered our plan utterly useless and we managed to get it all wrong.
This story is about how we spent our Madrid NYE. Later, we share our tips for what to really do in Madrid on New Year’s Eve!
Prepping for New Year’s Eve in Spain: Madrid Celebrations
New Year’s in Spain – called Nochevieja, which means Old Night – is a jubilant holiday marked with big festivities and fun superstitions.
Before we decided to be in Madrid at New Year, we had only a basic understanding of the events, but had heard that it’s one of the world’s Best NYE Destinations.
We assumed it would be similar to the NYE’s of our past. Dinner with friends, drinking at bars during the final hours of the year, gathering with the community for a big countdown and a bubbly toast when the clock chimed 12.
It wasn’t until the evening of December 31st that we learned that the New Year celebration in Spain is quite different than what we had anticipated.
Madrid New Year’s Eve: What Went Wrong
We had been briefed on the Spanish New Year traditions by our Airbnb host so that we could participate like locals.
We prepared ourselves for the New Year Eve celebrations by securing a handy 12-count pack of midnight grapes.
Then we practiced the countdown in Spanish (Diez! Nueve! Ocho!…) and learned how to say Happy New Year in Spanish (Feliz Ano Nuevo!). We were ready for the big night…or so we thought.
Madrid, Spain: New Year’s Eve Day
To keep ourselves from over-imbibing and ensure we made it to midnight, we spent the day exploring on our Self-Guided Walking Tour.
In the afternoon, we continued our sightseeing by checking out the less-visited, but more modern, northern neighborhoods of Madrid.
Home to foreign embassies and high-end retailers, it was relatively quiet, which we had expected on a holiday.
As we headed back into the heart of the city in the early evening, we passed through Puerta del Sol where the Madrid New Year celebrations were due to take place.
We wanted to gauge just how Times Square-esque the celebrations would be.
There was a heavy police presence and wandering tourists like ourselves, but no one was taking claim to their spot for the big ball drop. Odd, we thought.
We moved on through Plaza Mayor, where we thought we would find last-day-of-the-year festiveness, only to find nearly every restaurant in the square closed.
The vendors from the Christmas Market were already packing up for the day – and it wasn’t even dark yet.
We had assumed the area would be gearing up for a big night, but it was quite the opposite. Strange, we thought.
Madrid New Year’s Eve Restaurants
We pushed on with high hopes of devouring some tapas. Afterall, delectable Spanish food was supposed to be one of the highlights of our Madrid Itinerary.
We had planned a classic tapas crawl down the famous Madrid tapas lane, Baja Cava. However, we faced disappointment as several recommended spots were closed.
The few places actually open were packed with people, but three times we walked in and were told they were no longer serving.
Beginning to feel desperate and a little unnerved, we finally found an establishment that was staying open until 7:00pm, so we wedged our way in and squeezed in at the bar.
When we asked for menus, we were told they were only serving drinks, no food. Our plan for a dinner of tapas seemed to be falling apart.
Stumped by the day’s bizarre events, we ordered glasses of Cava and started to wonder if we would find a place to eat.
NYE Madrid Traditions: What We Missed
We struck up a conversation with fellow patrons (all locals) and finally got the lowdown.
Everything – and they mean everything – closes by 9:00pm on New Year’s Eve so that people can spend time with their families.
According to Madrid traditions, they bring in the New Year with a huge…dinner at home.
Madrid New Year Party: After Midnight
It is only right before midnight that people rush to fill Puerto del Sol for the NYE countdown and celebration.
Only then do Madrid New Year’s Eve parties ramp up, with many bars re-opening and the celebration going on until dawn.
The New Year’s Eve party – which actually kicks off in the wee hours of January 1 – is called Cotillion. It’s a fiesta of music, dancing and cava wine.
We even got an invite to join our new friends for a party that was kicking off at…2:00am.
Our New Year Celebration in Madrid
How did we get it so wrong? In everything we read about New Year’s Eve in Madrid, we never found these very important details of the late night New Year celebration in Spain.
The shock slowly set in that our big night was going to be celebrated far less spectacularly than envisioned.
We miraculously mashed ourselves into two more packed bars on our block – closing one down at 8:00pm and the next at 9:00pm.
We managed to get a few cheesy croquetas to go from the bar – then obtained the sad staples of defeat: cheap wine and frozen pizza from a corner market.
We made our way back to our Airbnb apartment…just before 10:00pm.
Our Not-So-Epic New Year’s Eve Madrid
Once we were in, the thought of an epic NYE in Madrid completely diminished. It was warm and cozy – and our long days of sightseeing during our 1-Week Spain Trip were catching up with us.
We settled for a not-so-epic game of Apples to Apples, pretty bad pizza and surprisingly good wine.
Although not the crazy Puerta del Sol New Year’s Eve party we had envisioned, it was a night spent in good company with a lot of laughs.
We stayed awake until midnight to eat our twelve grapes. Soon after, we fell asleep to thumping music as parties geared up in the apartments and bars around us.
Tips on What To Do in Madrid for New Year’s Eve
There is only one day a year to get New Year’s Eve right – and we failed. Miserably.
Our mis-steps resulted in a less than spectacular (albeit, now humorous) New Year Madrid celebration.
The silver lining is that we can use our experience to help other travelers know what to do in Madrid on New Year’s Eve.
Here are our tips of what we would have done differently to celebrate NYE in the Spanish capital.
#1 Take a Siesta
We love the Spanish tradition of the mid-day nap. Had we taken a late afternoon siesta, we would have been more likely to make it to the celebrations on Puerta del Sol.
#2 Make Plans for New Year’s Eve Madrid Dinner
It’s essential to understand that NYE dinner is typically celebrated at home with family and friends.
Visitors who make friends with a local family can secure an invite to the NYE in-home dinner. We are fairly certain will taste better than our frozen pizza!
Travelers can also opt to create their own meal in their accommodations. Most vacation apartments have kitchens – as do many hostels.
For a fun Madrid experience of classic fare and already prepared meals, we recommend gathering the necessities at Madrid’s famous Mercado de San Miguel, which is open from 10:00am until 7:00pm.
#3 Make Madrid New Year’s Dinner Reservations
If you can’t score a personal invite or do not have a kitchen, don’t fret. While there are not many Madrid restaurants open for NYE, there are a few options for a meal out.
On New Year’s in Madrid, restaurants that are open either offer a set dinner or a package deal. Places that only provide dinner will likely close before 11pm.
However, the restaurants that offer a full night of Madrid New Year’s Eve events – including dinner, entertainment, dancing and a cava wine toast at midnight – are a good option.
For example, guests can book a table at Platea for a Madrid New Year’s Eve Dinner and an evening of entertainment. It is best to secure tickets far in advance.
Hotels are another good option. The meal will likely be a set menu and getting a reservation early is imperative!
#4 Don’t Party Early
Our biggest tip for what to do in Madrid on New Year’s Eve is actually what not to do…and that is starting the party too early.
Unlike NYE celebrations in America that build up 12am, parties in Madrid for New Year’s Eve don’t really start until after midnight. If you want to make it until dawn, don’t start drinking at happy hour like we did!
#5 Secure Your Spot in Puerta del Sol
Although far from the chaos of the New York City NYE celebration, the Puerta del Sol square does get crowded!
Thousands of people gather before midnight – and it’s best to plan to arrive around 11:00pm if you care about getting a prime spot under the clocktower.
The square is cleared around 9pm and revelers must pass through security to gain access. It’s fine to bring in beverages…just no glass. Of course, don’t forget your 12 Grapes!
#6 Enjoy the Madrid Nightlife
The clubs in Madrid are in full swing after midnight on New Year’s Eve and are the perfect place to dance and celebrate.
That said, most charge a cover fee – and it is highly recommended that you get tickets in advance!
#7 Make Alternate New Year’s Eve Plans in Madrid
If the traditional Madrid celebrations are not your style, there are a few other ways to ring in the New Year in the city.
Consider attending a Flamenco Show. Performances typically last an hour and going to one on NYE is an excellent way to celebrate Spanish culture.
Those traveling with family or young kids can enjoy an early celebration. Be in Puerta del Sol at noon for the practice run of the midnight affair!
Visitors can also opt to enjoy a special (albeit early) celebratory lunch, as most restaurants are open on New Year’s Eve during the day.
#8 Prep for New Year in Spain Traditions
There are numerous Spain New Year’s traditions – like drinking bubbly Cava wine to celebrate at midnight and wearing red underwear for luck in love for the upcoming year.
The most popular tradition is eating grapes. One grape is eaten with each chime of the bells at midnight – as it’s said to bring good fortune. You can pick up convenient 12-packs from grocery stores.
Eating Chocolate con Churros is another one of the Spain New Year traditions. Fried churros are consumed with piping hot chocolate at the end of the night. Maybe we should have tried this one!
On New Year’s Day in Spain, the tradition is to eat lentils. The dish, which is usually served as a stew with spicy chorizo, is said to bring good luck, wealth and prosperity.
It also happens to be a good hangover cure, which we doubt is just a coincidence!
Planning a Madrid New Years Eve Trip
Now that you know how they celebrate New Year’s in Madrid, we have a some advice for planning your trip!
Traveling to Spain for NYE
We think Spain is a superb winter destination! There are New Year celebrations in Spain in all the major cities – and most of the smaller towns, too.
In addition to the large festival in Madrid, there are big celebrations in Barcelona, Valencia and Granada.
Most of the Spain New Year celebrations are very similar to Madrid and are highlighted by outdoor gatherings, fireworks and fun New Year’s traditions (after dinner at home, of course).
Christmas in Spain
For those planning to spend the holidays in Spain – including Christmas – we have heaps of advice.
Before traveling to Madrid for NYE, we spent Christmas in Barcelona. Between Xmas and NYE, we navigated our way through the Best Neighborhoods of Seville, goring ourselves on the delicious tapas.
In our opinion, Spain is one of the Best Places To Spend Christmas in Europe. The weather is typically cool, but not cold, the cities are decorated in lights and there is merriment in the air.
Organizing Your Spain Trip
As you begin to make your plans for your NYE trip to Madrid, you will need to stay on top of your trip specifics.
We recommend using our Printable Travel Planner so that nothing falls through the cracks and your night goes off without a hitch, unlike ours!
Travelers coming from overseas, might find it helpful to start with our complete Guide to Planning a Trip to Europe.
Getting To Madrid, Spain
Madrid is well-connected to major cities around the world. There are several direct flights to Madrid (MAD) from the United States (even in winter).
To find the best deals on airfare, we recommend using SkyScanner – but first, read our Tips on Booking Flights for Cheap!
Where To Stay in Madrid
As a popular NYE destination, accommodations get booked very early. To find top properties at great rates, use our Guide to Choosing Hotels – then start your search on Booking.com.
What To Pack for Madrid
The weather in Madrid in wintertime is typically mild, but it does get quite cold at night.
If you plan on celebrating in the main square, be sure to pack layers of warm clothes. Also grab our FREE Checklist before you get started!
Start planning your trip to Spain! Search for the lowest airfares, the best accommodations and fun things to do…then start packing! Want additional advice? Head over to our Travel Planning Page and for country-specific information, take a look at our Travel Guides Page!
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