If you are coming to Madrid during the holiday season, you will have the opportunity to experience some of the city’s seasonal traditions. ShMadrid will explain some of the traditions in this article.
Related article: Madrid’s Holiday Traditions
Index
The main celebration
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Madrid’s main New Year’s Eve celebration takes place at Puerta del Sol Square. Hundreds of people wearing wigs, hats and masks get together, with hands full of confetti and grapes, waiting for the clock to strike midnight. Puerta del Sol is a large square where the Post Office, a building with a large clock on top of it, is located. The fact that the square is so spacious are and the fact that it provides an excellent view of the clock have made Puerta del Sol the city’s official place to welcome the New Year. When the clock pointer finally reaches 12, people eat twelve grapes (one grape per month), which supposedly brings them luck for the following year, and toast with cava.
Nightclubs
Most of the nightclubs organize New Year’s Eve parties. The most popular ones are the parties thrown by Madrid’s top nightclubs. Joy Eslava is a popular nightclub located in a historic venue, the former Teatro Eslava. It was considered one of the references in night scene during the 80s, having been the stage to a series of concerts, parties and events. For New Year’s Eve, Joy Eslava is throwing a party that starts at 12:30 and finishes at 6:30 am. A table with Möet Chandon goes from 75€ to 100€ per person, while a table with Möet Chandon Magnum costs 125€. All tickets include drinks for the whole night and a show. The other nightclub to offer a major party is Kapital, a massive space with seven different rooms, each one dedicated to a particular style of music. If you want to celebrate your New Year’s Eve at Kapital, you will have to pay 50€ for each ticket, which allows you to have four free drinks. There is also the VIP ticket for two people, which costs 160€ and comes with a bottle of Champagne.
Related article: Five Clubs that Rule the Madrid Nightlife
Hotel Galas
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A series of high class hotels offer New Year’s Eve galas, which usually include a dinner and live music. Try the Ritz-Carlton gala for 710€ per person with a menu that includes seven courses, or Westin Palace Hotel, for an 8-course menu including lobster and caviar, followed by five hours of dancing for 515€. In the end, it doesn’t really matter the venue you choose. As long as you are in good company, you will spend a great New Year’s Eve!
Where do you plan to be on New Year’s Eve? Any advice?
