This year quite an extensive programme of Christmas activities has been organised by Madrid’s City Council. I will break the information down into various articles over the next couple of days.
Christmas Market in the Plaza Mayor – the main Christmas market in the city and a place where you will find all things related to Christmas, from trees and tinsel to nativity scenes and christmas trees.  It runs up until the 31st December. And don’t forget to look out for the wonderful Christmas lights that adorn the Plaza.

Madrid offers a wonderful selection of ‘Belénes’ or nativity scenes which you will find in museums and churches across the whole city at Christmas time – they really are quite spectacular. Here are a selection of some of the most popular ones:

Municipal Museum
Plaza de la Villa.
Created by José Mayo (this will be his third year) it occupies an area of 70 square metres and includes Herod’s Palace and a Hebrew mill.
Open from 7th Dec – 6th Jan: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; 24th and 31st Dec and 1st Jan: 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Madrid City Council
Napolitan Nativity Scene
Tues-Fri: 9.30 a.m – 8 p.m
Sat, Sun and 24th and 31st December: 10 a.m – 2 p.m.

Royal Palace
Naptolitan Figures from the 18th Century
13th Dec – 8th Jan. Mon-Sat: 9.30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sundays and Fiestas
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Address: c/ Fuencarral, 78

Other highlights include:

Almudena Cathedral
Designed by Father Félix Castedo
25th December – 22nd January
9 a.m. – 10.30 p.m. 
Address: c/ Bailén, 10

Basílica de San Francisco Grande
24th December – 7th January
Mon, 8 – 11 a.m
Tues – Sun 8 a.m. – 12.30 p.m
& 4 – 6.30 p.m.
Plaza de San Francisco

Real Iglesia de San Ginés
Barroque Nativity Scene
17th and 18th Century figures Designed by
Cayetano Ramírez
and Bernardo Toribio
24th Dec – 8th Jan
9 a.m – 1 p.m. and 6 p.m – 9 p.m.

Real Iglesia de San Andrés
Neapolitan Nativity Scene in Ivory from 18th Century
1st Dec – 18th Jan
Address: Plaza de San Andrés, 1

Real Monasterio de la Encarnación 
Nativity Scenes from the 19th century and the Madrid School
13th Dec – 8th Jan
Tues, Wed, Thurs and Sat: 10.30 a.m. – 12.30 a.m & 4 – 5.30 p.m.; Fri: 10.30a.m – 12.30 p.m.; Sun: 11.30 a.m – 1.30 p.m.; Mon closed