Autumn is one of my favorite times to revisit Madrid. Following my recent trip to the Spanish capital, I wanted to share the best temporary events in the city, what to expect from the weather, and where to enjoy the beautiful fall foliage and atmosphere of autumn in Madrid.
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Madrid in Autumn: Best Events, Weather, and Fall Foliage
Why I Love and Recommend Visiting Madrid in Fall
Madrid is one of those cities that has a special charm during the fall season. Its central park, El Retiro, is beautiful with its autumn foliage, and all the popular foods of the city, like churros con chocolate and cocido madrileño, are essentially Spanish comfort foods that you always enjoy more during the fall season.
The weather is also great for coffee, shopping, and spending time outside – not as hot as in summer and not as cold as in winter. Though I admit that I also love Madrid in December because of all the Christmas decorations.
Those of you who have been reading the blog for a while know that I return to the city every few months (you can find all my Madrid tips and itineraries under the hashtag #madrid), but I would say that I am always twice as happy to visit in fall. It’s the combination of my favorite season and one of my favorite Spanish cities that makes it irresistible.
This is where I stayed in Madrid during my fall getaway: an apartment by Erase un Hotel, close to Chamartín train station and just 20 minutes by metro from the city center.
Weather in Madrid in Autumn
Autumn in Madrid can feel very different from September to late November. September can still feel like summer, while October and November usually bring cooler temperatures and the first real signs of fall.
In my last Madrid vlog, filmed at the end of September, you might have noticed that the weather still felt like summer. September has an average daytime high of 81°F (27°C) and an average nighttime low of 59°F (15°C).
October is usually when the city starts to feel more autumnal, with average daytime temperatures of 68°F (20°C) and nighttime temperatures of 50°F (10°C). The weather is still perfect for enjoying time outside, with cooler mornings and evenings, changing leaves, and seasonal foods appearing on menus.
In November, the average daytime high in Madrid is 57°F (14°C), while nighttime temperatures can drop to around 41°F (5°C). I’d say November can get quite chilly in Madrid overall, yet on a sunny day, it still feels really nice outside.
Compared to many other European capitals, Madrid usually has plenty of sunny days in autumn, but rain becomes more likely in October and November. I recommend bringing layers for your Spain packing list, especially for the mornings or evenings.
Mid-October and November are usually the best months to enjoy autumn colors in Madrid. Although it is chillier than in September, these months are still my favorites because they really feel like autumn.
Fall Foliage in Madrid: Where to See Autumn Leaves
Madrid’s Retiro Park is one of the city’s most beautiful places to enjoy fall foliage. It is centrally located and has a sophisticated atmosphere, with tree-lined paths, gardens, and lovely spots to sit and enjoy the changing season.
While I love visiting Retiro in May, when the roses were in full bloom, but autumn gives the park a different kind of charm. The golden leaves and softer light make it a wonderful place for a walk or a quiet break from sightseeing.
If you want to explore more of Madrid’s parks and enjoy the fall foliage, you can also visit Casa de Campo, Jardín del Capricho de la Alameda, and Parque Juan Carlos I.
What to Eat in Madrid in Autumn
Autumn is a perfect moment to enjoy comfort food in Madrid, especially Spanish soups and stews. It is also mushroom season in Spain, so you will find a wonderful variety of mushrooms in Madrid’s markets and grocery shops that may not be available at other times of the year.
During this time of year, I especially enjoy Spanish rice with secreto ibérico and mushrooms, as well as potato stew with mushrooms.
And, as in almost every corner of the world, fall is also pumpkin season in Madrid, with pumpkins everywhere! You can check out this post for more Spanish pumpkin recipe ideas.
An autumn trip to Madrid is also perfect for discovering new coffee spots and bakeries. This time, I tried a basil crepe at Prepe La Crepe, enjoyed a cinnamon roll at Yupik, and discovered a French bakery called Pierre Croissant. I found the snail pastry quite average, although I visited in the afternoon, so it may have been baked earlier in the day. I imagine everything tastes delicious when it is freshly baked!
You can check out my favorite breakfast and coffee spots in Madrid here.
Autumn Shopping in Madrid
Autumn weather is perfect for exploring Madrid’s shops, and you can find my guide to Spanish brands in this post.
During this fall getaway, I enjoyed discovering a few new places:
- Mitu Ceramica al Peso (Calle de Andrés Mellado, 8): A lovely stop for fans of pottery.
- Pinturas Galileo 40 (Calle de Galileo, 40): A shop for painting materials and crafts, with beautiful Meninas you can buy and paint as a creative Madrid souvenir.
- El Alma del Olivo (Calle de Galileo, 45): A shop focused on olive oil, which is a great option for food souvenirs.
- Miss Calcetin (Calle de Andrés Mellado, 7): A place to look for warm socks made in Spain.
- Ojo con el Duende (Calle Martín de los Heros, 66): A vintage clothing shop.
Autumn is also a good time to shop for Spanish cheese. You can find more ideas in my detailed guide here.
Natural skincare in Madrid
You know that I love natural cosmetics and self-care rituals, and I think autumn is the perfect time to slow down and embrace both.
You can find my list of favorite natural skincare brands and products here.
On my last visit to Madrid, I stopped by the local Spanish brand Freshly Cosmetics. During this particular fall trip to Madrid, I only had time to visit an Avril shop, a French natural skincare brand whose only physical shop in Spain is in Madrid. Their products are really budget-friendly, so I couldn’t miss the chance to stop by and try more of them.
Also, the serum I am showing in my Madrid Fall Vlog, which I am obsessed with, is from the Spanish brand LisaMar. This is not an affiliate link or sponsored integration; I genuinely love it, although it was gifted to me for my Instagram. My readers can still enjoy a special discount (with code Anna25) when shopping on their Spanish website here.
Temporary Art Exhibitions & Events in Madrid
This autumn, I added a few temporary exhibitions to my list of secret museums in Madrid. Here are three art and cultural events I visited during my trip.
Teatro de Grandeza: Madrid Barroco
This exhibition explores Madrid’s transformation from a village of around 7,000 people into a capital with more than 90,000 residents. It brings together more than 180 artworks across ten sections, including works from the Biblioteca Nacional, the Prado, and the Vatican Museums.
- Where: Teatro Fernan Gomez. Centro Cultural de la Villa
- When: October 20, 2026, to January 17, 2027
- Admission: €6; free on Tuesdays
Panoptico by SpY
This large-scale installation by urban artist SpY stands in Plaza de Cibeles. At 18 meters tall, it invites people to pause and look at the city from a different perspective, rather than simply passing through the square.
- Where: Plaza de Cibeles
- When: October 20–24, 2026
- Admission: Free
El Infierno de Dante. Dore y Rauschenberg
This dark and fascinating exhibition at Fundacion Canal is another interesting cultural stop for art lovers visiting Madrid this fall.
- Where: Fundacion Canal
- When: Until January 5, 2027
- Hours: Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday to Sunday, 11 AM–8 PM; Wednesday, 11 AM–3 PM
- Admission: Free
Books & Coffee Table Books to Enjoy This Fall
I also feel that fall in Madrid is the perfect season for bookish inspiration. You can find my Madrid for Book Lovers guide here.
On my September trip to Madrid, I did some book shopping and bought a few new-to-me contemporary Spanish authors, as well as some international bestsellers in Spanish.
However, during this fall trip to Madrid, I didn’t have time for bookshops. I did, though, bring home a coffee table book. This one was available for sale at the temporary exhibition Teatro en Grandeza, and I am currently using it as inspiration this fall at home, enjoying some of the best artworks depicting Madrid and its streets.
You can find my list of Spanish coffee table books in this post, and you can also read my thoughts on why I cultivate the habit of looking through coffee table books here. You can also check out what I am currently reading and watching this fall in this post.
Day Trips from Madrid in Fall
As I mentioned in the vlog, I got my train tickets through Omio, where I usually find good deals for traveling around Spain, especially when booking in advance. Until November 20, you can also get an extra 10% off with the code NOVEMBER8.
If you plan to explore day trips from Madrid by train this fall, my favorite destinations during this time of year are Aranjuez, Cuenca, and Valencia.
You can find my full article on the best day trips from Madrid here.
For more Spain travel tips check out my Pinterest board Spain Travel Collection and Flipboard Travel to Spain.
- Accommodation: For short stays, I usually book via Agoda and Booking
- Tours&excursions: My favorites for guided tours are GetYourGuide, Viator, and Eatwith
- Museums&attractions: Get mobile tickets for attractions via Tiqets (use ATC5 code for a 5% discount via this link)
- Semi-private & private tours: LivTours is my favorite place for unique & crafted experiences in Europe
- Top E-Sim: To avoid roaming fees, I like Holafly (use ATLIFESTYLECROSSROADS for for a 5% discount)
- Flights: Find the best deals with Skyscanner and Kiwi
- Train&bus tickets: Currently, I book via Omio
- Car rental: To find the best deals, I use Discover Cars
- Shop My Level8 Suitcase: get 15% off with the code ATC15 here
- Travel Wellness: Track your sleep, recovery and jet lag with the Ultrahuman Ring (10% off with code UHLIFESTYLEC10)
- Transfers: For individual transfer services, I like Welcome Pickups and Kiwitaxi
- Suitcases&Luggage: Discover where to store your luggage on the go with Radical Storage
- Travel Insurance: Find the best trip insurance plans via VisitorsCoverage
- Compensation for delayed/canceled flights: Check out AirHelp
- Renting Bikes: To find motorcycles, scooters, quads, and bicycles, I use BikesBooking
- Website Owners: For hosting services, I work with and recommend Lyrical Host (get 10% off with my code ATC10)
- Internet Security on the road: Connect safely to public Wi-Fi and bypass censorship with NordVPN
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