10 Things to Do in Madrid in November

If you travel to Madrid in November you will find a month full of festivals, exhibitions, concerts and fairs that showcase the cultural greatness of the Spanish capital.

In November you welcome the end of the year season full of magic and you can enjoy the many things to do and see in Madrid. Take note!

On 9 November, the Day of the Virgin of La Almudena, patron saint of Madrid, is celebrated and the Cathedral becomes a meeting place for thousands of believers who attend the Catholic rites and the procession to the Plaza Mayor, which passes through the city's Sal, Postas, Esparteros, Mayor and Bailén streets. Attending this event allows you to connect with the local culture, history and religiosity.

Don't miss the Corona de la Almudena, which is only eaten at this time of year and is usually decorated with a figurine of the virgin. It is said that the original recipe dates back to 1978, when confectioners wanted to create a new dessert in honour of the virgin, similar to the traditional roscón de Reyes.

I highly recommend taking a tour on one of Madrid's tourist buses to learn more about the Almudena Cathedral and other iconic places in the city. The cathedral also offers tours inside the temple, where you can have an audio guide to complement your tour.

From late October and early November, the Suma Flamenca Festival takes place in various venues in the capital of Madrid. Year after year it brings together troubadours, singers and dancers from all over the country in this event with nearly 200 artists on stage.

When we talk about Spain, we usually think of tapas, good food and, of course, flamenco. This rhythm that has taken the sounds of the country, the magic of its dancers and the tradition of many families that has been passed down from generation to generation.

For me, this is one of the essential artistic experiences in Madrid at any time of the year, not to say obligatory for those who come from far away looking to discover the city.

I recommend a few shows:

• Flamenco show at the Corral de la Morería in Madrid - from £46.
• Flamenco show at Teatro Flamenco in Madrid - from £58.
• Flamenco showat Torres Bermejas in Madrid - from £24.

One thing that characterises the lively life of Madrid is going out for tapas. There are tapas for all tastes and trying them is an activity in itself, not only on a gastronomic level but also on a social and cultural level.

You can enjoy them on your own in any bar in the city, but you can also find several tapas tours that will take you through the most traditional flavours.

I recommend two that I think are very complete and interesting:

• Madrid Tapas Tour - from £70.
• Retiro and tapas tour in Madrid - from £24.

Towards the end of autumn, Madrid begins to transform itself to enjoy the Christmas season.

If you happen to catch the end of November, it is a good idea to visit the Christmas markets that are set up in various areas of the city and enjoy the lights that begin to be seen in the main streets of the city.

From the end of the month and throughout December, Madrid's Plaza Mayor becomes a market of colourful stalls, where residents and visitors can find nativity scenes, decorative figures, Christmas musical instruments, lights and toys that promote the local economy of traders who, for a century, have sold their products in this historic place.

On the last Friday of November each year, the city's Christmas lights are officially inaugurated. On foot, on board a tourist bus or by bicycle, you can enjoy a work of urban art that year after year features the proposals of designers, artists and lighting specialists.

Traditions such as Black Friday are also experienced in Madrid and the last week of November will be ideal to take a tour of the city's shopping centres to take advantage of the sales and start your end-of-year shopping.

But beyond these specific dates, if it comes to shopping, Madrid has numerous options. From street markets to shopping centres with luxury shops. One place you can't miss if you like these plans is Las Rozas Village, a shopping centre on the outskirts of Madrid, which offers luxury shops and good brands, with heavily discounted prices.

Strolling around there is a plan in itself, as it is outdoors, has a very elegant and attractive aesthetic and gastronomic offer to spend a pleasant day, while you do your shopping.

If you are a follower or fan of the performing arts, you should know that in November the city fills up with the main national and international theatre, dance and performance proposals.

More than ten theatres and twenty venues in the city join the Autumn Festival initiative, one of the most important and eagerly awaited theatre festivals on the international circuit, where you can discover the most innovative and forceful productions.

Live arts, immersive theatre, performance, contemporary dance, experimental music and drama, film and poetry labs are available almost all month long and all over the city.

If you want to know about all the shows available, you can access the official website of the Community of Madrid and find out about capacity, prices, schedules and much more.

Cinema also has its place in Madrid in November. On your visit to the Spanish capital, you may be looking for much more than the best tours of the city and want to find a different cultural proposal. The Lame Eye Festival is one of them.

With a selection of feature and short films, documentaries and fiction, animations and experimental cinema, this circuit brings together directors from countries on all continents to discuss issues that represent major challenges for society.

The festival is held in various public spaces in the city, including the French Institute, the Quinta del Sordo, the Acción Triángulo Foundation and other independent venues.

Another essential event in October is the Madrid International Jazz Festival, an event for lovers of the genre where you can enjoy concerts, but also a programme with photography exhibitions, screenings and conferences, as well as markets with specialised literature and meetings for music lovers.

Theatres, independent venues and bars in the city come together to host this festival where you can enjoy the enormous musical richness of the genre, appreciating experienced artists but also discovering new talents on the Madrid jazz scene.

As one of the festival's flagships is inclusion, many of the stages are adapted for people with reduced mobility or disabilities and tickets are available at affordable prices, making jazz an experience for everyone.

The imminent arrival of winter and the increasing cold that characterise the final months of each year are the golden opportunity for the city to reinvent itself.

And that is the case of Plaza Colón, which from the end of November until January, is transformed into a huge ice skating rink in the heart of the Madrid capital. 800 square metres of fun available for all ages.

The rink is also known as the Javier Fernández ice rink, who, in case you didn't know, is a decorated Spanish world and Olympic figure skating champion and the driving force behind this initiative every year.

In addition, part of the proceeds from the tickets go to support the activities of the Down España centre, an organisation that works for the inclusion and defence of human rights for people with Down syndrome.

While you skate you can watch a giant screen with DJ sessions and also enjoy a merry-go-round and a street market as an early preview of the lights and colours of Christmas.

The rink is open from 10:00 to 22:00 hours from Monday to Friday. You should arrive early as tickets are sold on site only and are on a first come, first served basis.

In November it starts to get cold in Madrid and you will want to warm up, so I recommend you try churros, a sweet, rich and crunchy fried flour dough that is a favourite of many Madrilenians for breakfast, snacks or even to eat in the early hours of the morning after a party. Of course it is accompanied by a hot, thick cup of chocolate.

A plan that will make you feel like a local and with which you can discover some of the most iconic churrerías in the city. One of the most renowned places is La Antigua 1913, a place that has a churro recipe with more than 100 years of history. Today it is a restaurant and bar with an extensive menu for breakfast and snacks.

But don't worry, wherever you go, the experience will be worth it. It is also a very economical plan, as a portion of 4 churros can cost 1.90 euros. Don't forget to accompany it with a good chocolate to keep the tradition going.

Although November is the coldest month of the year, you can still enjoy sunny days, and there is not much rain. Temperatures are around 13° / 6°C.

I recommend you dress warmly enough to go for walks around the city and enjoy outdoor events. It is definitely an ideal month to explore Madrid and enjoy the magic of autumn.