Madrid in November is something special. As the heat of summer fades, the city settles into a crisp, golden glow that makes fall in Madrid unforgettable. It’s the perfect season to explore historic neighborhoods, linger in cozy cafés, and take in the best places to visit in Madrid in autumn. From iconic landmarks to hidden corners, there’s no shortage of the best things to do in Madrid this time of year. And if you’re craving a quick escape, there are plenty of easy day trips from Madrid that showcase the colors of the season. Whether you’re here for the food, the culture, or simply those classic fall vibes, November is the perfect time to experience it all.
Before we dive in, we made a free Madrid travel guide with all our favourite places (restaurants, rooftop bars, top things to see, foods to try, and more). It’s fully hyperlinked so just click on the place and it will take you straight to google maps. You can download it in the description and use it to plan your trip or when you’re out exploring the city.
We also made an interactive map with all our favorite restaurants and brunch spots in Madrid, including some vegan-friendly choices as well as options to suit every budget.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Why Visit Madrid in November
- Things to Do in Madrid in November
- Best Places to Visit in Madrid
- Where to Eat in Madrid in Autumn
- Fall Day Trips from Madrid
- Where to Stay in Madrid
Why Visit Madrid in November?
You want to vist when Autumn in Madrid is in full swing. You don’t want to miss the crisp air and fall foliage.
In early autumn Madrid stays mild, then cools and shows full autumn colours by late October. Real fall weather starts mid to late October, not right after September 21. September days often still feel like summer, but by October and November mornings and evenings drop to about 11 °C to 6 °C (51 °F to 42 °F). Light rain is possible, though heavy showers are rare.
Because the temperature changes throughout the day, dress in layers. A short or long sleeve shirt, a sweater or cardigan, and a light jacket or coat. Closed shoes like boots or sneakers are best for walking and occasional rain. Carry a scarf and a small umbrella or a thin rain jacket, and if you skip packing an umbrella, souvenir shops sell inexpensive ones during rainy months.
Things to Do in Madrid in November
Grab a Coffee & Browse Cozy Bookstores
Nothing screams autumn vibes more than getting a coffee to go and browsing cozy bookstores or going to a coffee shop inside a bookstore. Some great options are:
- Olavide. This place also hosts book clubs.
- Librería La Mistral
- Mansilla Libros y Café. This spot isn’t necessarily a bookstore, but it has that cozy vintage bookstore aesthetic that is perfect during autumn.
- Ocho y Medio Cinema Books Bar
If you just want to visit cozy bookstores, we suggest:
Eat Churros and Chocolate (“Churros con Chocolate”)
Churros and chocolate are a Madrid classic because they’re warm, crispy, and perfect for dipping in the city’s famously thick, almost pudding-like hot chocolate. A top spot is Chocolatería San Ginés, serving them since 1894. It’s usually packed because it’s so popular, but worth it. We suggest ordering to go and strolling toward Plaza Mayor or the Royal Palace. We also love the churros and chocolate at Restaurante Ultramarinos Quintín in the Salamanca neighborhood.
Book a Tapa Tour
A tapa tour is a great way to try different places and making sure you skip the tourist traps. If you prefer to try tapas on your own, a great fall activity to try tapas in Madrid is to visit Mercado de San Miguel.
Visit Mercado de San Miguel
Mercado de San Miguel is a beautiful historic market near Plaza Mayor, known for its glass walls and 1916 architecture. Inside you’ll find stalls serving tapas, fresh seafood, Spanish wines, and sweet treats. It’s one of Madrid’s most popular spots, so it can get busy, but it’s worth a visit for the food and the vibe.
Go Thrifting in Madrid or Browse Vintage Stores
Another great fall activity is going thrifting or browsing vintage shops. Malasaña is a great neighbourhood to do this with plenty of second hand and vintage stores. Here are a few we suggest in different areas of Madrid:
- Alphaville Vintage Sport
- Alphaville Vintage shop
- Columbus Vintage Second Hand Clothes
- HUMANA Vintage
- Cocó’s couch
- Morgan Surplus
- Siloam Vintage
- Mucho Vintage
La latina hosts a massive flea market called El Rastro every Sunday morning from 9am to 3pm.
Best Places to Visit in Madrid in Fall
Palacio Real, Almudena Cathedral, Jardines de Sabatini & Campo del Moro
The Royal Palace of Madrid is the official royal residence, but today it’s used mainly for ceremonies and is open for tours. Right next to it is Almudena Cathedral, a beautiful church that we highly recommend visiting on the inside.
Beside the palace are the Sabatini Gardens and Campo del Moro, perfect for a quiet stroll among fountains and hedges. In autumn, a new tree-lined pathway connects the palace to Plaza de España, making the walk especially beautiful with all the fall colors.
The closest metro stops are: Ópera and Plaza de España.
Plaza de España & Gran Vía
Plaza de España itself is a must-see this season, with its wide open square, sculptures, and plenty of spots to relax and take in the autumn vibe. Plus, it’s right next to the iconic Gran Vía street, known as the main shopping street in Madrid with plenty of restaurants, cafés and theatres.
The closest metro stops are: Plaza de España, Gran Vía, Callao, Santo Domingo and Banco de España.
Museo del Prado (Prado Museum)
The Prado Museum is Madrid’s most famous art museum and a must-see, with masterpieces by Velázquez, Goya, Rubens, Bosch, and more.
Tickets are €15 or €20 with an audio guide, which is worth it for the pre-planned routes. Don’t miss Bosch’s Garden of Earthly Delights, Velázquez’s Las Meninas, and Goya’s La Maja Desnuda.
For more details, head to this blog post where we share everything you need to know about spending the day in the Prado Museum, from the best metro stop to get off at, places to eat nearby, where to buy tickets and what to expect.
Retiro Park
Retiro Park is Madrid’s main park right in the city center, once a royal garden. In autumn it’s especially beautiful. The tree-lined paths turn shades of gold and orange, the lake is calm, and the air feels crisp. Make sure you don’t miss the Palacio de Cristal, a stunning glass palace surrounded by trees and a pond with a fountain in the middle. Retiro is perfect for a nice walk, a boat ride, just sitting on a bench with a coffee or going for a run if you enjoy doing that.
The closet metro stops are: Retiro, Ibiza and Atocha.
Casa de Campo
We don’t come here often and every time we do, we say: why don’t we come here more often? It’s really a beautiful place to be in nature and there are plenty of restaurants with a view of the lake that offer menú del día (spanish for set lunch menu). Lots of families come here to enjoy the day and it always has such a great vibe.
The closest metro stop is Lago.
Barrio de Salamanca (Salamanca Neighborhood)
This neighbourhood is a must-visit during any season but especially during autumn and Christmas. It’s full of beautiful, sophisticated old buildings, glamorous hotels like the Wellington hotel, and stunning restaurants and cafés. This is the place you visit if you want that fall romcom vibe.
The closest metro stops are: Serrano, Velázquez, Colón, Goya, Lista, Núñez de Balboa, Príncipe de Vergara and Diego de León.
Where to Eat in Madrid for Comforting Autumn Food
Breakfast & Brunch
Café del Art
Up first is Café del Art in Lavapiés. This place has good coffee, really great breakfast options like the melted burrata on warm toast drizzled with honey. This place is laptop friendly and tons of people come here to work so if this is a business trip or whether you need to get some work done or not during your trip, this is a perfect option.
Close by you can walk around and see incredible street art, especially in Embajadores street, that’s where all the good ones are. So if this is something you’re interested in, definitely come to this area. The closest metro stop to Café del Art is Tirso de Molina, a five minute walk away.
Alma Nomad Bakery
This place is a little further north in an area called Chamberí. This bakery is relatively new and it already has many amazing reviews. And we can vouch for that. Everything they sell is freshly baked and made with sourdough and organic products. I went for the tomato, spinach and mozzarella quiche and it was so creamy and rich, I really enjoyed it. They of course also sell great coffee.
Just a heads up, this place is mainly for take away and only has a small counter with some bar stools, so it’s a great option if you just want to grab something quick on the go that is also delicious!
Balbisiana
A café started by an ex lawyer turned baker. Their branding is so beautiful, we absolutely love the soft, sophisticated vibe there every time we go. They make great coffee and we highly recommend trying their pistachio and white chocolate tart.
They also sell pre-made picnic and brunch boxes which are great to order in advance and enjoy in Retiro Park. Definitely try them out when in Madrid.
Bite Me Café
For a vegan-friendly option, Bite Me Café in Legazpi serves amazing coffee with plenty of plant based milk options, seasonal beverages and delicious vegan cinnamon rolls.
Lunch & Dinner
Castizo
For classic Spanish food in a beautiful, stylish setting with fair prices, definitely book a table at Castizo. They’ve got a few locations, but our favorite is the one in Serrano. We recommend trying the morcilla (blood sausage), pimientos de padrón ( little grilled green peppers), and the crispy pig’s ear — so good!
La Bistroteca
We only recently found this spot and were seriously blown away by how kind and professional the staff were. The nachos and burgers? Some of the best we’ve ever had. We definitely recommend checking it out — just be sure to book ahead because it fills up fast! There are two locations very close to each other, so make sure not to go to the wrong one!
Honest Greens
They serve fresh, healthy food made with natural ingredients—no additives or processed stuff but so delicious and full of flavour. Their menu is seasonal and includes many options, all inspired by Mediterranean, Asian, and Middle Eastern flavors. Our favourite things to order that are always available are the Piri piri chicken, the hot honey halloumi, the herb tofu and their garden bowls in general are really good. Definitely order the “Ben’s sweet potato fries” with beetroot ketchup and alioli. They are honestly soooo good!
Bel Mondo and Villa Capri
Another place we love and go to often is Bel Mondo (this restaurant is also great for dinner btw). That is in Velázquez street. It’s part of the Big Mamma group that has restaurants all over Europe. They serve incredible classic Italian food with a modern twist that is super affordable. I would say the decor is whimsical and quite cozy.
They also have another restaurant called Villa Capri close to the Alonso Martínez metro stop with a similar menu. We love many things on their menu, but genuinely all of their pizzas or anything they have with truffle is a good choice. Just make sure you make a reservation in advance for both of these as they tend to get fully booked quite fast.
Other Brunch Spots we love…
Here are some other bruch spots in Madrid we highly recommend. If you want an easy way to access all of our top brunch, lunch and dinner spots, download our interactive map with pinned locations that we update each month.
- Zenith Brunch & Cocktails
- Pum Pum cafe & Pum Pum bakery
- Superchulo
- 99 Cheesecake
- La Desayunería
- Nopa Bagels
- Frutas Prohibidas
- Federal Café
The Madrileños’ dining hours are probably very different to the ones you are used to so definitely go read this where we get into it, plus more things you have to know if this is your first time travelling to Madrid. Even People that have been living in Madrid for years said they learned something new from that video so make sure you don’t miss it!
Day Trips from Madrid
Aranjuez
The Spanish royal family used the Royal Palace of Aranjuez mainly as a spring and early-summer residence from the mid-1500s through the 19th century. When in Aranjuez you have to visit the Royal Palace (entry: 13€ – get your tickets here) and its gardens (the Jardines del Príncipe and the ones right by the Palace) that are extremely beautiful in autumn, especially the Estanque de los Chinescos. In Aranjuez, there is a farmer’s market called La Huerta that puts together a big pumpkin display every fall so definitely check that out.
Getting to Aranjuez is easy. You can take the 423 green bus or the C3 cercanías trains from Atocha.
San Lorenzo de El Escorial
San Lorenzo de El Escorial is a historic town just outside Madrid, known for its huge 16th-century monastery and royal palace complex. Surrounded by mountains and forests, it’s especially pretty in autumn when the hills turn shades of red and gold. The cooler weather makes it great for walking around the monastery, exploring the gardens, and hiking the nearby trails.
It’s an easy day trip from Madrid, you can take the C8-a cercanías train line from Atocha to El Escorial.
Day Trip to Toledo Spain from Madrid
Take a quick 35 min train ride from Atocha station and you arrive in Toledo. It’s a beautiful old city sitting on a hill with lots of medieval charm, which pairs perfectly with autumn weather. Here, you must visit the Catedral Primada de Toledo, the Alcantara Bridge, the Alcázar de Toledo fortress, walk through all the little streets and, if you love marzipan, Toledo is known for their marzipan treats (mazapán in spanish) you can find at any bakery or pastry shop (“pastelería”).
La Granja de San Ildefonso
La Granja de San Ildefonso is a gorgeous royal palace just outside Segovia, known for its grand gardens and fountains inspired by Versailles. You can walk through the palace’s ornate rooms for about €9 (gardens are free to enter) and see the glass factory museum for a small extra fee if you like. In fall, the tree-lined paths turn golden and the mountain air feels crisp, making it perfect for a relaxed day trip from Madrid. It’s an easy way to mix history, nature, and a bit of royal luxury without the crowds.
Where to Stay in Madrid
If you’re feeling splurgy…
- The Ritz Mandarin Oriental Located next to the Museo del Prado. The closest metro station is Banco de España.
- The Four Seasons Madrid This hotel isright in the heart of Madrid. The closest metro stations are Sevilla and Sol.
- Gran Hotel Inglés Madrid Located in El Barrio de las Letras, just a 5-10 min walk from Sol metro station.
- Gran Meliá Fénix This hotel is right next to the Plaza de Colón Christmas Market. It is located very close to Retiro Park and Puerta de Alcalá (10 min walk away).
- Riu Plaza España Madrid This hotel is the iconic tall building towering over the Plaza de España. The closest metro stop is Plaza de España.
- Rosewood Villa Magna The closest metro stop is Serrano.
- Wellington Hotel & Spa Madrid The closest metro stop is Retiro.
Some not so splurgy (medium budget options)…
- Only You Boutique Hotel Madrid Located between Plaza de Colón (Colón metro station), Chueca metro station and Fuente de Cibeles (Banco de España metro station).
- H10 Madrid Hotel. Closest metro station is Gran Vía.
- The Dear Hotel located on the corner of Gran Vía and Calle de los Reyes. The closest metro station is Plaza de España, or Santo Domingo which is 4 mins away by foot.
- NH Collection Hotels Madrid The closest metro station is Gran Vía.
- Radisson Blu Hotel, Madrid Prado The closest metro station is Estación del Arte.
- Barceló Torre de Madrid The closest metro station is Plaza de España.
- Hotel Atlántico The closest metro station are Callao or Gran Vía.
- Petit Palace Plaza del Carmen The closest metro station are Gran Vía, Sol or Callao.
- Emperador The closest metro station is Santo Domingo.
- Sercotel Gran Hotel Conde Duque The closest metro station is San Bernardo.
Budget-friendly hotels in Madrid
- Sercotel Alcalá 611 The closest metro station is Canillejas.
- Eurostars i-hotel Madrid The closest metro station is Colonia Jardín.
- Exe Getafe The closest metro station is Getafe Central.
- NH Alcorcón The closest metro station is Parque Oeste.
- Be Casa – San Sebastian de los Reyes The closest metro station is Hospital Infanta Sofía.
- Eurostars Madrid Foro The closest train station is the Tres Cantos Cercanías Renfe line. Keep in mind, this hotel is accessible, but not on the metro line, which can make a day trip quite inconvenient.
Other helpful blog posts to plan your next trip to Madrid…
Learn how to move around Madrid to travel confidently during your next trip by following our complete step-by-step guide to using public transport in Madrid.
If you’re planning your first trip to Madrid, in our Madrid 101 post we’re giving you everything you need to know before your trip. From when to visit, where to eat, how to get around, where to stay, budget hacks, tips on local customs, and even a secret day trip at the end you might not have thought of!
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