Madrid · Month comparison
April vs May
May ranks #1 overall vs April at #4. The best month: San Isidro festival, 22°C perfection, long evenings, terraces in full swing.
April
#4 of 12 months
Strong option
Near-ideal: 17–18°C, Retiro in full bloom, Semana Santa processions, and city energy returning.
- ↑Retiro Park at its annual peak — rose garden and glasshouse in bloom, rowing boats on the lake
- ↑Semana Santa (Holy Week) brings solemn, visually dramatic processions through central Madrid
May
#1 of 12 months
Best match
The best month: San Isidro festival, 22°C perfection, long evenings, terraces in full swing.
- ↑San Isidro (mid-May): Madrid's biggest annual fiesta — free concerts in Retiro, open-air verbenas, chotis dancing, bullfighting season opens
- ↑Perfect temperature window: 21–24°C with low humidity, long evenings, and every terrace in the city operational
| Factor | April | May |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 8 | 10 |
| Value score | 7 | 7 |
| Crowd score | 7 | 6 |
| Events score | 7 | 10 |
| Atmosphere | 9 | 10 |
| Avg high temp | 17.6°C | 21.7°C |
| Monthly rain | 44mm | 42mm |
| Daily sunshine | 8hrs | 9.5hrs |
April trade-offs
- ↓Semana Santa week triggers a significant price spike — book accommodation well in advance
- ↓April showers: occasional rain days require flexibility, though rarely sustained
- ↓Tourist numbers meaningfully up from winter: Prado and Reina Sofía now require advance booking
May trade-offs
- ↓San Isidro week: the city celebrates hard — some accommodation books out and noise levels rise around festival areas
- ↓Increasingly popular month: prices climb from April lows, booking lead times lengthen
- ↓Day trips to Toledo and Segovia also busier — go early morning to beat weekend crowds
Scores compare months within Madrid. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →