Last Modified: 09/24/26
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Madrid Winter Trip at a Glance
- Trip: 4 days in Madrid, Spain during winter break for a family of 5 after 4 days in Barcelona
- Highlights: Palace of Madrid and the Madrid Zoo
- Costs:
- Out-of-pocket for flights, trains, hotels: $3500 plus 30K Amex Points and 270K Hyatt points
- Cost of activities for Madrid $280
- Food:
- Breakfast in the dining room or lounge every morning and heavy hors d’oeuvres every night with the Guest of Honor certificate.
- Large, late lunch in town and typically tried to find a menu del dia that ranged from 11-15 euros per person.
Why visit Madrid in winter? (weather, crowds, Christmas lights)
We had just taken our first big international trip in June of this year. While I was able to book most of the flights with points for that trip, we paid cash for hotels in London and Scotland. I had been trying to learn more about the Hyatt system and had a lot of Chase and Hyatt points saved up, with the goal of booking a trip without any out-of-pocket hotel costs.
Randomly, one night, I saw a deal pop up on Thrifty Traveler for direct flights from CLT to MAD in cash. I was able to transfer about 30K spare Amex points to Avios. This got it down to 5 direct, round-trip flights with extra legroom for about $600 per person. Booking in cash felt like a deal considering it was pretty last-minute and a direct flight.
Continuing on our Winter Break trip in Spain, after 4 days in Barcelona we took the train back to Madrid for 4 days before flying home.
4-day Madrid itinerary with teens
| Day 1 | Train from Barcelona to Madrid |
| Day 2 | Tour Royal Palace of Madrid Pizza at Trattoria Malatesta Tour of Santiago Bernabeu Stadium (Real Madrid FC) |
| Day 3 | Madrid Zoo The Prado Museum |
| Day 4 | Day Trip to Segovia El Retiro Park Dinner at Mad Mad Vegan for beer & burgers |
| Day 5 | Flight home to CLT |
How we got to Madrid: Points plus Cash
Since we had booked round trip tickets, we were able to take the same route back to Madrid via Barcelona-Saints station to Madrid Puerta de Atocha. It was Christmas Day so not much was open anyway, making it a great travel day.
The upper class served a really nice lunch with vegan chicken and rice/veggies. We also had a mini panettone with coffee for dessert.
Madrid winter weather & what to pack
The average temperature while we were in Spain was 45-50 degrees during the day and dropped into the low 40’s and mid-30’s at night. We packed good shoes for all the cobblestones in Barcelona, a rain jacket (though we didn’t need it), and a lightweight winter coat. The North Face Thermoball was more than enough.
Other than good walking shoes, we didn’t need anything special. There were plenty of grocery stores and department stores for anything that we may have needed. There was also a really nice laundromat near our Madrid hotel, and we were able to wash a load of clothes to reduce packing.
Where to stay in Madrid with family
For the second leg of our trip, we stayed at the Hyatt Regency Hesperia Madrid in two rooms: one with 2 twin beds and the other with a king for 18K each night per room.
The hotel is located in more of a business and shopping area that is close to many restaurants, convenience stores, a mall, and the Real Madrid stadium. It is within a 2 minute walk to a bus and metro stop. So, we could access the central/tourist areas of Madrid within 15 minute ride.
The rooms had everything that we needed and were very comfortable. Our GoH certificate gave us access to the lounge for snacks and heavy hors d’oeuvres in the evening. The breakfast buffet was well stocked and kept us full for most of the day.
The lounge was a small alcove attached to the area for breakfast and was separated by a curtain. But the food was great and had plenty of glass-bottle sodas for the kiddos.
Getting Around Madrid
We used the subway or bus to get from our hotel to the center of the city daily and then mostly walked around. We did purchase the Tarjeta Multi Card card, however, transit wasn’t free for the younger kids like it was in Barcelona.
What To Do in Madrid in Winter, Day by Day & the best day trip
Day 1: Arriving in Madrid on Christmas Day
After a late breakfast in Barcelona, we spent most of Christmas Day on the train back to Madrid. This was strategic because most of the activities that we’d be interested in doing weren’t open for the holiday.
Since we’d booked upper class train tickets, we had super comfy seats, a full lunch, drinks (coffee, teas, soda, and beer), and a dessert.
The Madrid Atocha station was a quick metro ride and then a 3 minute walk to our hotel. We spent the evening in the hotel and grabbed dinner at the hotel lounge.
Day 2: The Royal Palace, City Lights Walk, & Bernabéu Stadium
We were up early, had breakfast at the hotel, and headed out to explore Madrid. Everything was still decorated for the holidays and a bit cooler than Barcelona.
The plan for the morning was touring the Palace of Madrid and boy are we glad we booked ticket ahead. The line for same day tickets was down the street. Even with our tickets we waited in a queue long enough for me to walk down the street and come back with hot chocolate and lattes for everyone.
The wait was worth it though. The decor and style was so different from French and UK palaces and it was nice to see the contrast.
While walking around the central area of Madrid, we grabbed a late, large lunch at Trattoria Malatesta. They had really amazing brick oven pizza and pastas. Most of seating was deep in the basement with exposed bricks and archways.
In the evening we walked from the hotel to the Real Madrid stadium, Bernabeu, for a tour. There aren’t typically games scheduled during winter break but it was still fun to see the stadium.
Day 3: Madrid Zoo & the Prado
My youngest daughters and I got up early and went to visit the Madrid Zoo. I wasn’t expecting much since it pretty small. But we were pleasantly surprised to see a Panda Bear and get to pet some small animals. The crowds were low in the morning but started picking up as we were leaving. I’d love to visit again when we have a bit more time.
In the afternoon, we spent most of the day the Prado Museum. While it is not as big as the Louvre, there is so much to see and we could have spent 4 to 5 hours there if the kids were up to it.
After a nice lounge dinner, we walked to the mall, El Corte Inglés Castellana, that was a few blocks from our hotel to shop a bit.
Day 4: Day Trip to Segovia & evening in Retiro Park
We saved a day trip to Segovia for our last day in Madrid and it was absolutely amazing. The Roman Aqueducts are much larger than the photos give credit. We also explored the city, the Jewish Quarter, and the Castle.
We walked around Retiro Park on our last evening in Spain.
Transit Home
It was time to fly home and we took a cab from the hotel to make it easier. I was so glad we booked a direct flight to CLT because we were able to rest on the flight and then drive about 2 hours home.
How much does 4 days in Madrid cost? Points & Cash breakdown of our full Spain Trip
| Points | Out of pocket costs | Value* | |
| CLT→MAD on AA booked via BA | 30K Avios via Amex plus cash | $3000 | $3500 |
| Hyatt Barcelona Tower, 5 nights (2 rooms) plus breakfast and Lounge | 9K/night/room 90K total | $0 | $2500 |
| Hyatt Regency Madrid, 5 nights (2 rooms) plus breakfast and Lounge | 18K/night/room 180K total | $0 | $3000 |
| Madrid↔Barcelona train | N/A | $500 | $500 |
| Madrid → Segovia Train | N/A | $150 | $150 |
| 270K Hyatt pts + 30K Avios | $3650 in out of pocket costs | $9650 estimated trip value |
*Trip Value is based on the equivalent cash price. This will vary wildly depending on the time of year and how advanced the trip was booked. Many points & miles people calculate CPP (cents per point). I don’t typically do that.
| Palace of Madrid | $90 |
| Real Madrid Stadium Tour | $70 |
| Prado Museum | $70 |
| Madrid Zoo | $85 |
| Segovia Alcazar w/o Tower | $35 |
| $280 Total for Activities |
Favorite Things about Madrid during Winter Break with Teens
Segovia was really amazing and it was super easy to get to from Madrid. Madrid felt more metropolitan than Barcelona.
Lessons Learned: Book Royal Palace of Madrid Timed Tickets
So glad we bought timed tickets for the Royal Palace of Madrid. The queue was really long for those who didn’t have them.
Madrid in Winter: FAQs
Is Madrid a good location for winter?
Absolutely! The crowds were low, the weather was really lovely, and lots of activities for our kids.
How many days do you need in Madrid?
It depends? There is so much to do. It felt more like Paris than Barcelona. Lots of shopping, fine dining, and museums. I could have easily spent a week there but 4 days perfect!
Is Segovia worth a day trip in winter?
Omg! Yes. Segovia was my favorite part of the trip. It is such a well preserved Roman city and felt like we were in another world.
Final Thoughts: Is Madrid a Good Trip for a Family and Teens During Winter Break?
Madrid and Barcelona were fantastic choices for us for Winter Break. Though the out of pocket costs were higher because we paid cash for the flights, it was still a really great deal. The weather was warmer than home, the crowds were low, and there were lots of activities for all of us.
Ready to dive into Points and Miles? Start with my Points and Miles 101 and Multipliers & Points Potential.
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