Spain has three levels of public holidays. Madrid residents enjoy 14 official paid holidays each calendar year.
The three levels of holidays
Public holidays in Madrid are split into national, regional, and municipal holidays.
There are 8 national holidays celebrated across all of Spain. The regional government of Madrid chooses 4 additional holidays.
Finally, the Madrid city council adds 2 local holidays for the municipality. This brings the total to 14 days.
List of public holidays in Madrid
Madrid celebrates 14 public holidays each year. These holidays include national, regional, and municipal events.
| Date | Official Spanish name | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| January 1 | Año Nuevo (New Year’s Day) | National |
| January 6 | Día de Reyes (Epiphany) | National |
| March or April | Jueves Santo (Holy Thursday) | Regional |
| March or April | Viernes Santo (Good Friday) | National |
| May 1 | Fiesta del Trabajo (Labor Day) | National |
| May 2 | Fiesta de la Comunidad de Madrid (Day of the Community) | Regional |
| May 15 | San Isidro (patron saint of Madrid) | Municipal |
| August 15 | Asunción de la Virgen (Assumption of Mary) | National |
| October 12 | Fiesta Nacional de España (National Day) | National |
| November 1 | Todos los Santos (All Saints’ Day) | National |
| November 9 | Virgen de la Almudena (patron saint of Madrid) | Municipal |
| December 6 | Día de la Constitución (Constitution Day) | National |
| December 8 | Inmaculada Concepción (Immaculate Conception) | National |
| December 25 | Natividad del Señor (Christmas Day) | National |
Some holidays are unique to the city or region. On May 15 and November 9, municipal holidays only apply to the city of Madrid.
The custom of the “puente”
Spains public holiday calendar has a popular custom. This custom is called a puente (bridge).
If a public holiday falls on a Tuesday or Thursday, people take the adjacent day off. They connect the holiday to the weekend.
For example, if a holiday is on Thursday, they take Friday off. This creates a four-day weekend.
Many businesses operate with reduced staff during a puente. Some small shops close completely.
Questions and answers
Do shops close on public holidays in Madrid?
Yes, mostly. Large department stores in the center might open. However, supermarkets, public offices, and local shops always close.
What happens if a holiday falls on a Sunday?
It moves to Monday. If a national holiday falls on Sunday, the regional government usually moves the day off to Monday.
Are restaurants open on public holidays?
Yes. Most restaurants, bars, and cafes in Madrid stay open on holidays. They are popular days for eating out.
Do museums close on holidays?
Sometimes. Major museums like the Prado usually open on holidays. They only close on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
