Climate
Spring and fall are ideal times to visit Madrid. May and October are the best months, in terms of both weather and crowds. In my view, however, the balmy month of May (with an average temperature of 61°F/16°C) is the most glorious time for making your own discovery of the Spanish capital.
In summer, it's hot, hot, and hotter still, with Madrid at times feeling like the inside of an oven. The Spanish capital has dry heat; the temperature can reach 95°F (35°C) or more in July, 75°F (24°C) in September.
August is the month when Madrid is at its most peaceful -- that's when many of its inhabitants have escaped to the mountains or are sunning themselves on the Atlantic or Mediterranean coasts. About 75% of the city's restaurants and shops also decide that it's time for a vacation, but visitors usually find enough for their needs. The only problem is the heat, which can sometimes reach afternoon maximums of 104°F (40°C), though the abundance of air-conditioned locales and soothing lack of crowds produces a unique daylong siesta atmosphere.
Holidays
Holidays include January 1 (New Year's Day), January 6 (Feast of the Epiphany), March 19 (Feast of St. Joseph), Good Friday, Easter Monday, May 1 (May Day), June 10 (Corpus Christi), June 29 (Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul), July 25 (Feast of St. James), August 15 (Feast of the Assumption), October 12 (Spain's National Day), November 1 (All Saints' Day), December 8 (Immaculate Conception), and December 25 (Christmas).
No matter how large or small, every city or town in Spain also celebrates its local saint's day. (In Madrid, it's May 15 [St. Isidro].) You'll rarely know what the local holidays are in your next destination in Spain. Always try to keep money on hand, because you may arrive in town only to find banks and stores closed. In some cases, intercity bus services are suspended on holidays.
On Time in Spain -- In Spain, a time change occurs the first weekend of spring. Many unsuspecting visitors have arrived at the airport late and missed their planes. If you're visiting the country in early spring, always ask when the time change occurs.
