Halloween in Madrid

Thanks to globalisation in the 21^st century, we've been able to learn more and more about other cultures. Centuries-old traditions from different countries now go hand in hand with each other. And that's why around the 1 November in Madrid, not only will you find traditional sweets, such as huesos de santos (or "saint's bones") and buñuelos (fritters), but you can also see candy, pumpkins, sweet bread for the Day of the Dead and sugar skulls. Remembering loved ones is now accompanied with zombies, dead people of all shapes and sizes and elaborate La Catrina skull make-up. Theme parks, restaurants, cultural centres, etc. all join in this fusion of Spanish, Anglo-Saxon and Mexican cultures. Welcome to Halloween in Madrid!

Typical Spanish traditions

All Saints' Day: visiting our relatives at the cemetery with flowers

Cemeteries in Madrid are full of colour on All Saints' Day. Special flowers are laid on the graves, memorial niches and pantheons of loved ones. Streets become packed with people so that no one is forgotten on this special day. And walking through La Almudena Cemetery becomes a floral journey through history, art and the final resting place of some of the country's most famous people.

Saint's Bones and Fritters

The festivity's traditional sweet dishes are full of flavours. Saint's bones (huesos de santo), which are stuffed with an egg yolk syrup, and fritters (buñuelos), which are filled with cream, can be found in endless colours and flavours for all tastes: chocolate, coconut, yogurt, cream…!

Children give adults the perfect excuse to accompany them while they sample some of these classic treats. Don't feel bad for eating too many of them, as tradition has it that for every fritter you eat, a soul is saved from purgatory!

• Try them at one of the many artisan cake shops in Madrid!
• See the "wind fritters" recipe from one of the most emblematic patisseries in the city, La Mallorquina.

Don Juan Tenorio

Theatre performances of this play by Spanish poet and dramatist Zorrilla traditionally take place on All Saints' Day, as the final act is set on this very night. Many Madrileños recall the famous line "Oh, my angel of love, do you see that on this secluded shore the moon shines clear and pure, and one breathes more easily?" in the neighbouring UNESCO World Heritage City, Alcalá de Henares around this time of year. Here, it has been performed for over 35 years at the Huerta del Obispo Garden, inside the walls of the Archbishop's Palace.

A trip to Mexico for the Day of the Dead

Frida Kahlo once said that she hoped that when she died, she would never return to this world. However, in Mexico, the Day of the Dead is a huge celebration as it's believed that the souls of loved ones come back to earth on this very day, and are therefore greeted with their favourite food and drink.

The Day of the Dead at Casa de México

The Casa de México cultural centre has organised different activities to celebrate the Day of the Dead. Films, workshops and performances, as well as courses, not only honour this important day, but they also encourage us to learn about a tradition that has become a national symbol.

Throughout October and November, visitors can come and see the altar of the dead for free. Don't miss out on the chance to witness a giant 6-metre high and 1-metre wide La Catrina skull!

And in true American style...

Parque de atracciones

Throughout the month of October and right up to All Saints' Day, Halloween takes over the streets of Madrid's Parque de Atracciones attraction park. Get ready to experience the next level in terms of adrenalin and thrills.

The Parque de Atracciones boasts the Old Cottage, its legendary passage of terror, which has frightened so many thousands of visitors. It also has a Scare Zone named Area 51, an immersive experience in which the mysteries and secrets of the Area 51 high security zone can be discovered.

The park also has other terrifying experiences, such as: The Temple of Shanarkai which hides a terrifying curse dating back thousands of years; the macabre scenes full of zombies in The Walking Dead Experience (not included in the entrance ticket to the park); and the Asylum experience, set in a psychiatric centre, which has been taken over by the patients.

2024 brings major new features to the Auditorium Theatre, such as a revamped version of the Scream Show and a new show for children, Nickelodeon Halloween Party, which offers a collaborative experience with the audience that will surprise families.

Furthermore, from the beginning of October until 1 November, children can enjoy the best Halloween with a special programme that they won’t want to miss for anything in the world. 

Warner Theme Park Madrid

At this time of year, the Warner Park also prepares a special programme that includes sinister passages, horror zones, musical shows and themed characters, offering visitors an experience that is only suitable for the most daring.

The 2024 season featured the new horror passage, The Nun, located at Movie World Studios, which invited visitors to enter the ruins of St. Charter's Monastery to discover the truth of the horrific events that took place there.

Warner Park also hosts the season’s most exclusive and eagerly awaited event, Halloween Scary Nights: unforgettable nights in which more than 100 characters invade the park across three Terror Zones to scare us all.
 

Zoo Aquarium and Faunia

From the beginning of October until Halloween, the Zoo Aquarium and Faunia also put together their own spooky offerings.

Halloween at Faunia becomes a great option for kids, who have a great time doing Trick or Treat!, going down themed passages or discovering terrifyingly fun stories. This time of the year, special themed talks are organised in which an educator explains the mysteries and legends of some of the most poisonous and enigmatic animals, among pumpkins and Halloween decorations.

The night of 31 October also features Sleeping with Penguins, in which children will experience a terrifyingly fun evening. They can come dressed up and will meet and learn about some of the most poisonous animals on the planet, as well as going around the park to discover new animals and they will sleep in the polar ecosystem.  

In mid-October, the most mysterious Halloween kicks off at the Zoo Aquarium, among pumpkins and enigmatic animals for adults and children alike to enjoy themselves to the full. At this time of the year, fun themed talks are organised and some animals are fed along with pumpkins.  The best workshops have been organised to spend Halloween at the Zoo.

Trick or Treat?

The Sweet Space Museum, a paradise for chocolate and sweet lovers in the ABC Serrano shopping centre, celebrates Halloween with some great decorations. Enjoy getting dressed up and going trick or treating around the complex. 

Ghost Tour Around Madrid

On this tour you can discover the legends and tormented spirits that roam the city's streets after dark. The route starts in Plaza de Cibeles and finishes in Plaza de Santo Domingo, and includes a visit to Linares Palace, the headquarters of Casa de América, which has been the subject of a number of paranormal studies. The iconic House of the Seven Chimneys, whose walls and rooftops hide ghost stories, also feature on the tour. 

Other neighbourhoods around the city also have special tours to celebrate Halloween, such as Lavapiés and Huertas, where the most sinister and terrifying tales concealed in their alleys and street corners are told by Cuéntame Madrid.

Engimatium Room

Who would have thought that in the centre of Madrid it would possible to have a unique dinner experience in a restaurant located inside a former Spanish Civil War bunker? Well it is! This escape room lasts approximately 3 hours and you'll have to solve enigmas and riddles if you want to be set free at the end of the evening.

Another fun activity for families with children is to form teams and get dressed up. Games include The Refuge, where participants travel back in time to experience a real story, and Around the World, where a series of attacks is wiping out major cities.

La Casa de los Horrores

Located in Aranjuez, this rural house of terror, whose stories and activities have appeared in the media, is the best known of its kind in Spain. It's a very unique set-up, thanks to both its location and its tales that, whether they're true or not, continue to surprise the guests. The experience includes dinner with a free bar, a show, karaoke, games and entertainment, enigmas and a diptych to use while solving a real-life cluedo.

Madrid Terror Escape Room

You'll find this escape room in the heart of Madrid, in a space with more than 200m² where you'll participate in a terrifying yet exciting experience designed for those who love being frightened or those who simply themselves as clever in nerve-racking situations. Activities also include special (and easier!) sessions for families, such as Paranormal Experience and Horror Club.