While most places see September as the beginning of fall, summer fun is still in full swing here in Madrid.
The city enjoys pleasantly warm temperatures, but not the scorching heat common in July and August. And as locals return from their beach vacations, the city retains its authentic atmosphere.
If you’re visiting Madrid in September, here’s what should be on your agenda!
If you’re planning on visiting Madrid in September, great choice—you’ve picked one of the best times of year to visit the Spanish capital. It’s less hot and crowded than the summer, with more going on than later in the fall…in other words, all the makings of a perfectly relaxing trip!
Here’s everything you need to know to make sure your trip goes off without a hitch.
Weather in Madrid in September
September weather in Madrid is still quite warm, and the early part of the month in particular can still feel almost summery. Temperatures tend to stick around the low 70s Fahrenheit overall (21–23 degrees Celsius) during the day, and sunshine is plentiful throughout the month.
Later in September, nights and early mornings can start to get a little chilly. If you’re visiting in the latter half of the month, pack a light jacket just in case—but overall, you’ll find that the temperatures are generally quite pleasant.
September is also one of the least rainy months in Madrid, with just a smattering of 20 millimeters (about ¾ inch) of precipitation expected throughout the entire month. Bring a small umbrella if it gives you peace of mind, but you likely won’t need it (and can always buy one here!).
Things to Do in Madrid in September
1. Explore Art Galleries During Apertura Madrid
Love modern art? This one’s for you.
For several days in mid-September, some of the best galleries and museums in town inaugurate their new exhibitions during the Apertura Madrid Gallery Weekend. The best part: All events are free.
During its short but powerful annual run, the event transforms the city into the temporary modern art capital of the world. Attracting international art collectors, dealers and fans, Apertura Madrid one of the most important gallery weekends in the world, second only to its counterpart in Berlin in number of visitors.
Still not convinced? Keep in mind as well that many of the participating galleries and museums are offering supplemental activities such as brunches, guided tours and more to go hand-in-hand with the exhibition openings.
2. Enjoy a picnic in an undiscovered park
Madrid is one of the greenest capitals in Europe, with dozens of gorgeous parks made for relaxing and enjoying the beautiful weather. And seeing that temperatures fall from overwhelmingly hot to pleasantly balmy in Madrid in September, there’s no better time of year to explore one of the city’s green spaces.
Everyone knows about Retiro, but there are plenty more lovely parks in Madrid just waiting to be discovered. Pick up some delicious local goodies from a neighborhood market and head to the nearest one to enjoy a picnic!
3. Shop at Fashion’s Night Out
Whether you fancy yourself a fashionista or simply like to casually browse the latest styles, you won’t want to miss Fashion’s Night Out.
Hosted by style bible Vogue every year in September, this can’t-miss event features more than 160 stores in the swanky Salamanca district offering incredible deals and sneak peaks at up-and-coming trends. You’ll also be able to listen to live music, enter exclusive prize drawings and sip on plenty of champagne. If that’s not a stylish evening, we don’t know what is.
4. Rock out to live music at DCODE
Good news for all you music lovers: Summer concert season isn’t over just yet. But it does end with quite a bang in Madrid in September, in the form of the annual DCODE Festival.
The massive event takes place on the Complutense University campus, transforming it into a full-on musical wonderland for one September weekend. If you want to squeeze one last music festival into your summer, this is the place to be.
Madrid in September FAQs
The weather in Madrid in September is extremely pleasant overall, and warm enough not to need a jacket most of the time. Later in the month, nights and early mornings do get a bit chillier, but only mildly so.
September is a great time to visit Spain! The crowds of the summer high season have left, but the weather is still beautifully warm and sunny in much of the country. This makes it the perfect time of year to explore in a more relaxed setting while getting plenty of fresh air.
This post was originally published on July 2, 2018 and was updated with new text and photos on May 4, 2021.